Our first port of call brought us to Messina, the third-largest city on the island of Sicily. Located on the northeastern tip of the island, Messina sits just across the Strait of Messina from mainland Italy.
We were up early and ready to go because we had booked a shore excursion through the cruise line. When we reserved the cruise, each of us received onboard credit, so this seemed like the perfect way to put it to good use.
Our group of about 20 passengers boarded a coach bus and set off with an energetic Sicilian tour guide who kept us entertained throughout the day. As we drove through the countryside, we enjoyed beautiful views of vineyards, rolling hills, and Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Our guide assured us there was no reason to worry about its current activity, joking that residents are usually given a few hours’ notice if an evacuation is ever needed!
After about a 30-minute drive, the bus climbed a series of winding switchbacks toward the picturesque hilltop village of Castelmola. The roads became too narrow for the bus to reach the town itself, so we climbed the final set of stairs and walked the remaining distance.
Our first stop was a charming local café where we sampled several Sicilian pistachio specialties: a refreshing pistachio granita, a miniature pistachio cannoli, a pistachio fritter, and a shot of pistachio liqueur. The sweet treats were delicious, although the liqueur, which reminded me of amaretto, wasn’t my favorite.
We were then given about 30 minutes to explore Castelmola on our own. Despite the summer heat, it was fun wandering through the narrow streets, browsing the small souvenir shops, and taking in the spectacular views overlooking the Ionian Sea. Lindsey couldn’t resist stopping for a full-sized authentic Sicilian cannoli, and she definitely made the right decision!
After refilling our water bottles at one of Italy’s ever-present public fountains, we made our way back down the hill and rejoined our bus.
Our next destination was a small, family-owned winery located near the path of Mount Etna’s most recent lava flow. During a tour of the vineyard and production facilities, we learned how generations of the same family have produced wine using grapes grown in the rich volcanic soil surrounding the mountain.
The visit concluded with a tasting of four wines, including a newly released sparkling wine, each paired with a small local snack. The volcanic soil gives the wines their own distinctive character, making the tasting both educational and enjoyable. Before leaving, we also sampled several varieties of locally produced honey and the winery’s homemade grappa, a spirit distilled from leftover grape skins after the winemaking process.
With some jars of honey and other souvenirs safely packed away, we boarded the bus for the return trip to Messina.
The unsung hero of the day was our bus driver, Santo. Navigating a full-sized coach along Sicily’s narrow mountain roads was impressive enough, but at one point he even had to back the bus down a winding road to allow another tour bus to pass. It was a masterclass in patience and precision.
Back in Messina, Kelsey and I made one final stop before returning to the ship. Kelsey has made it a tradition to find a bubble tea shop wherever she travels, so naturally we visited Bubble Ninja, the local boba shop. While briefly exploring the town, we also stepped inside the beautiful Cathedral of Messina, whose impressive interior was well worth the brief visit.
Back on board, we had just enough time to shower, relax with a pre-dinner drink, and head to Tuscan, the ship’s Italian-inspired complimentary restaurant. No matter which restaurant we chose, Kelsey remained loyal to her favorite cruise dinner: shrimp cocktail, steak, and french fries.
That evening’s entertainment featured a high-energy production show by the ship’s performers. The singing, dancing, costumes, and staging were outstanding and noticeably more elaborate than the entertainment we experienced on our smaller cruise last summer.
To cap off the night, we joined one of our favorite cruise traditions: the Silent Disco. Everyone wears wireless headphones that can switch between three music channels, each identified by a different colored light. It’s hilarious to watch people enthusiastically singing and dancing to completely different songs while, to anyone without headphones, the room is almost silent.
It was the perfect ending to another memorable day.
Tomorrow, we’ll trade Sicily for the stunning walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia!
Hammond Adventures 