Sicily

Sicily is two cruises in one. The Aeolian islands off the north coast are seven volcanoes rising out of deep water, Stromboli still lit at night, with anchorages that are deep and sometimes rolly and villages that reward the effort. The Egadi islands off the west coast are the opposite: low, shallow, calm and quiet.

Between them the coast runs from Palermo past Cefalù to the Strait of Messina, with Taormina and Etna on the eastern side. It is a long island; a fortnight covers one side well rather than both badly.