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Important Information

Italy & Malta: Strait of Sicily Gay Cruise
Ease into the Mediterranean way of life aboard this luxurious gay cruise.
SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS

This tour is subject to special payment terms. A 25% deposit is required to secure your space, a second 25% deposit 6 months before departure, and final payment due 90 days prior to departure. The following cancellation penalties apply:

  • up to 90 days before departure, we will hold 100% of your payment as a credit for future travel, less unrecoverable costs. If you have paid more than the minimum deposit(s) and require a refund, we will retain the minimum deposit(s) and refund the balance.
  • between 45 and 89 days before departure, we will hold 100% of your payment as a credit for future travel, less unrecoverable costs, or provide a 25% refund.
  • under 45 days, we will retain the full amount of your booking as a cancellation fee.

If full payment is not received 90 days prior to departure, Out Adventures reserves the right to cancel your booking based on the above cancellation terms.

Country info

VISAS: Visas are typically not required for Americans, Australians, Canadians, and residents of the United Kingdom visiting Italy and Malta for up to 90 days. However, some exceptions do exists. Click here to learn more.

CULTURE SHOCK: Both Italy and Malta are highly-developed Western European countries. Serious crime rates are very low and the two nations are generally safe. Theft and tourist scams are common, however, and we recommended you leave valuables at home or in your hotel room.

LOCAL LGBT SCENE IN ITALY: Italy presents quite the conundrum for LGBT travellers. On the one hand there’s plenty of reason to think Italy is on track to becoming a largely gay-welcoming country as young Italians seem in favour of our rights. At the same time, Italy is the epicenter of the Roman-Catholic church and much of the country remains steadfastly Christian, often maintaining outdated Christian ‘values’. Consequently, LGBT PDA—especially in rural regions—can and does ruffle feathers.

LOCAL LGBT SCENE IN MALTA: Although steadfastly Roman Catholic and PDA-adverse (gay or straight!), Malta is often described as “gay-friendly”. The small country legalized homosexuality in 1973, began accepting civil unions in 2014 and finally recognized same-sex marriage in 2017. Annual Pride parades have celebrated diversity and inclusion in the country’s major cities since the early aughts. Overall, gay and lesbian travellers will likely feel comfortable and safe visiting this Mediterranean destination.

WEATHER: July tends to be very hot throughout the Mediterranean. Expect mostly sunny skies and 30C+/86F+ temperatures.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: Out Adventures requires proof of full Covid-19 vaccination from all guests, following recommendations by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more details please see our Covid-19 FAQ.

OTHER VACCINATIONS: Based on the entry requirements, there are no other immunizations needed for entry to Italy or Malta. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, consult with your doctor or a travel medical clinic. Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.

ELECTRICITY: In Malta the power plugs and sockets are of type G. Meanwhile in Italy, the sockets are type F and L. The standard voltage in both countries is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. For more information visit https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/italy/ or https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/malta/ 

CONNECTIVITY: We should have (somewhat) reliable Wi-Fi throughout this cruise. Feel free to tweet, pin, post and share your experience with your friends and family at home.

How we travel

Out Adventures is all about good times with likeminded guys. Whatever’s on the itinerary—from fireside camping to five-star decadence—our goal is to make the experience magical. We’re also committed to supporting the communities we visit by hiring local guides, staying at locally-owned accommodations when possible, and celebrating local cuisine. It all adds up to a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.

Travel Insurance

For everybody’s peace of mind, medical travel insurance is required on all Out Adventures tours. At a minimum, your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, with a minimum medical coverage of US $200,000.

Click here for more details on our requirements and how to obtain coverage. We highly recommend that you insure your full purchase, including trip cancellation and medical.

Your guide

All Out Adventures are led by a gay (or gay-welcoming) guide. Whenever possible, we hire destination locals. And we can also connect you with the right people if you’d like to delve deeper into the local culture. If you’re pleased with your guide, we recommend a tip of US $5-10 per person, per day…they’ll certainly appreciate it!

Fellow adventurers

Out adventures are a great way to meet people from around the world and all walks of life. Bear in mind that everybody’s there for a good time, so mutual respect will go a long way. Please be on time for any meet ups, empathetic to the needs of others, and ready to roll with whatever the adventure brings.

Although we can’t tell you who your fellow travellers will be for privacy reasons, we can tell you many great friendships began with an Out Adventure. And just because we’re a gay tour operator doesn’t mean we’re exclusive: friends and family are always welcome to join the fun.

Flying solo

If you’ve never travelled on your own, it’s an amazing way to get to know yourself while making new friends along the way. We can arrange for you to share a room with people in your age range at no charge, or you can pay a supplement for your own room. If there’s an odd number of solos, we’ll rotate a single room on a random basis.

Itinerary disclaimer

The itinerary is correct at time of publishing. If anything, it will only improve with feedback from prior travellers and our own research. It’s best to reference your final trip documents, rather than our website, in case there have been any changes that affect your departure.

Optional activities

Every Out Adventure offers optional excursions that are not included in price of this trip. Please see the daily itinerary in your final pre-trip packet to learn what’s available.

Meals

Breakfast daily, 6 lunch and 8 dinners are included on this trip.

Starting Point

UNAHOTELS Napoli
10, Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, 9,
80142 Napoli NA,
Italy

T: +39 081 563 6901

Finishing Point

The Palace Hotel
High Street, Sliema SLM 1542, Malta

T +356 2133 3444

Money

The currency in both Italy and Malta is the Euro (EUR). Debit and credit cards should be accepted and work throughout the country. We recommend bringing about $400 USD in case of an emergency, or if your credit/ATM cards are placed on hold.

Tipping

All gratuities for included activities and meals are included on this tour. If you’re pleased with your guide and the ship crew, we recommended budgeting $150 USD for a tip.

What to bring

Please keep your baggage under 20kg/44lb to avoid costly surcharges on domestic flights. You should also bring something smaller to carry a water bottle, your camera and souvenirs on day trips. This packing list is a guideline, not gospel, but we are happy to answer any specific questions about how much (or little) to bring.

Travel Documents

  • Passport/Visas/Flight Itineraries/Travel Insurance
  • Pre-trip packet
  • Credit/ATM card

General Personal Items

  • Eye mask, ear plugs
  • Smartphone, camera, charging cables and travel adapters
  • Daypack
  • Luggage lock
  • Guidebook, phrase book, reading material

Shoes

  • Socks
  • Walking shoes or trainers
  • Sandals or water shoes
  • A pair of shoes you’d feel comfortable wearing to a restaurant

Bottoms:

  • Underwear
  • Pants
  • Shorts
  • Swimwear
  • Pants you’d feel comfortable wearing to a restaurant

Tops

  • Short-sleeved shirts
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Sweaters (Just in case)
  • Shirts you’d feel comfortable wearing to a restaurant

Jackets

  • Light jacket for cool evenings

Other

  • Sunglasses/Hat
  • Small Umbrella
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Daypack

Health-related Items

  • Small First aid kit including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, zinc oxide tape and small scissors, blister pads, diarrhea tablets, dioralyte rehydration packs
  • Personal Medication
  • High protection sunscreen/lip balm
  • Insect repellent/bite cream/antihistamine
  • Antibacterial gel/wipes
  • Toiletries including toothbrush, toothpaste & deodorant
Groups within Groups

We love when groups of friends join us on an OUT Adventure, whether you’re celebrating a major milestone, or you just love to travel together. However, since we have travellers that will be flying solo, or as a couple, we would love your help ensuring everybody feels welcome and has an epic time. Here are some ways you can give us a hand, while also getting to know and befriending your fellow travellers:

  • Sit with (and get to know) different people at different meals
  • Mix up walking partners on excursions
  • Invite solo travellers to join you for an optional excursion or meal
  • Enjoy inside jokes in privacy, or let the group in on the secret ?

If you’d rather relish an exclusive escape with just your own party, we also offer private departures. This is a great way to create and manage your own holiday guest list, while possibly saving money as well. Please contact one of our Adventure Specialists if you’re interested in a customized quote.

Physical ratings & considerations

All Out Adventures guests must have a good level of health. All tours, regardless of activity level, involve uneven steps, stairs, walking tours, and you will be required to carry your own luggage from time to time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate individuals with limited mobility unless they are willing to absorb the cost of a private guide/assistant which varies by country and is only possible on a case by case basis. It is also your responsibility to advise Out Adventures of any pre-existing medical conditions that may increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that may affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of the tour by other participants.

Below is a breakdown of our Physical Rating guide.

1 – Relaxing

  • Very little or no hiking
  • Light activities such as walking, bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
  • Low altitude
  • Suitable for all fitness levels

2 – Light

  • Light walking and hiking (2 hours or less per day and at low altitude)
  • Light activities such as bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
  • Suitable for most fitness levels

3 – Average

  • Light walking and hiking (3 hours or less per day, rarely at high altitude)
  • Some activities such as biking, paddling or swimming. Active days are mixed with relaxed days
  • Suitable for an average fitness level

4 – Demanding

  • Walking, hiking is a component of the tour (can range from 2 hours to 6 hours per day, at various altitudes)
  • Activities such as biking, paddling or swimming may be mixed in
  • Suitable for a good fitness level

5 – Challenging

  • Walking, hiking, biking, paddling or kayaking are the vast majority of the trip (can range from 2 hours to 8 hours per day, generally at high altitude)
  • Activities will likely happen day after day with limited rest days
  • Suitable for above average fitness level

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE

We can’t wait to help you plan an awesome adventure, but due to a high level of fake inquiries we now record your IP address when you submit an inquiry. This helps local authorities identify and prevent harassment against Out Adventures, or any intended recipients.

CHOOSE YOUR DEPARTURE

Ask a Question

Ask a Question

We can’t wait to help you plan an awesome adventure, but due to a high level of fake inquiries we now record your IP address when you submit an inquiry. This helps local authorities identify and prevent harassment against Out Adventures, or any intended recipients.

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