| Date |
Port / Location |
Arrival Time |
Departure Time |
Notes / CME Details |
| July 29th |
Athens (Piraeus) Greece |
|
5:00pm |
|
| July 30th |
Mykonos, Greece |
7:00am |
7:00pm |
|
| July 31st |
Ephesus (Kusadasi) Turkey |
8:00am |
6:00pm |
|
| August 1st |
Rhodes, Greece |
8:00am |
6:00pm |
|
| August 2nd |
Santorini, Greece |
7:00am |
5:00pm |
|
| August 3rd |
Zakynthos, Greece |
10:00am |
5:00pm |
7:00am - 9:30am |
| August 4th |
Dubrovnik, Croatia |
12:01pm |
10:00pm |
8:00am - 11:00am |
| August 5th |
Kotor, Montenegro |
8:00am |
5:00pm |
|
| August 6th |
At Sea |
|
|
8:00am - 12:00pm |
| August 7th |
Venice (Ravenna) Italy |
5:00am |
|
|
Detailed Port Descriptions
Day 1 Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Athens brough the world drama, history, poetry, and philosophy. Once home to the world’s most powerful and civilized empires, Athens is now the world’s foremost archaeological playground. The towering columns of the Parthenon still stand in homage to the virgin goddess Athena. The Parthenon sits atop the Athenian Acropolis and watches over the city where it can be seen from just about anywhere in Athens. Make it a point to visit the incredible Acropolis Museum on your cruise to Athens. The joint effort between two architects, one American and the other Greek, this outstanding building was completed and opened to the public in 2009. It focuses primarily on the Greek period dating to 5 B.C., considered to be the apex of art, culture, and philosophy in ancient Greece, but it also has artifacts from the Bronze, Roman and Byzantine Ages. In addition to an abundance of historical riches, modern Athens has plenty to offer—from scenic beaches to restaurants with superb Mediterranean cuisine and bus-tling central markets.
Day 2 Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is know for its whitewashed villages sprinkled with blue and jade green. It’s also famous for its sophisti-cated nightlife. The most popular island in the Cyclades is bustling with activity, awash in beautiful alleyways, and home to alluring sandy beaches.
Day 3 Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey
Once the capital of the Roma province of Asia Minor, this coastal town is now an archeologist’s dream. The UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Ephesus impress even those familiar with the world’s other ancient cities. Though excavations have been underway for 150 years, only 20 percent of the city has been uncovered. This former Greek banking and trading centre is rich with historic sites, including the Greek Theatre, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Day 4 Rhodes, Greece
Rhodes (pronounced “ro-dos”), a Greek island northeast of Crete and southeast of Athens, is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture and thousands of years of history conveniently at your fingertips. Here is your chance to experience winding Byzantine streets in Old Town, see ancient ruins, and venture on the northernmost point of Rhodes to other age-old cities link Lindos or the beach Faliraki.
Day 5 Santorini, Greece
Here on the island of Santorini, you’ll find a classic Greek seascape—whitewashed houses accented by sea-blue roofs. This is a treasure trove for both professional and amateur archelogy buffs, with sites that include tombs that date back to the 9th century and the sanctuary of Apollo. The island’s volcanic past has also produced delicious grapes for excellent wines that are well worth investigating at one of the local wineries.
Day 6 Zakynthos, Greece
A Greek island in the Ionian Sea, the popular summer resort Zakynthos is also known by its Italian name, Zante. Surrounded by bright turquoise waters, the island boasts wonderful sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and woods so captivating, they were a favourite spot for godly twins Artemis and Apollo, according to ancient myths. Popular beaches like Agios Nikolaos, Alykanas and Tsilivi offer swimming and water sports. Accessed only by boat, Instagram-worthy Navagio beach is the site of a famed 1980 smugglers’ shipwreck resting in a sandy cove dramatically framed by towering limestone cliffs. This morning we will have CME.
Day 7 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Established 1,300 years ago on the far southern tip of the Dalmatian Coast, this city once rivaled Venice in terms of its importance. Take a walking tour to the Dominican Monastery and marvel at the finest collection of Renaissance paintings, including a painting by Titian. Prepare to be riveted when first laying eyes on the old walled city on your cruise to Dubrovnik. This land has had many invaders including the Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Romans, Hungarians, and French, to name a few, and it has resulted in a fiercely independent citizenry with dynamic cultural influences. The views of the Adriatic from its rooftops are truly awe-inspiring. If beach-going is on the agenda, make sure to wear appropriate footwear as the beaches here tend to be of the pebbly variety. That said, the beautiful emerald green waters and coves make the slight inconvenience more than worthwhile. And, there’s plenty of seafood, specifically mussels and oysters, deliciously prepared in authentic regional styles on offer at restaurants throughout town. This morning we will have CME.
Day 8 Kotor, Montenegro
A cruise to Kotor, Montenegro offers up some of the most well-preserved architecture in all the Adriatic coast, with landmarks such as the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. Built in 1166, there are frescoes dating back hundreds of years, and much of the gold and silver relief work done by the city's master craftsmen of that time are held for safe keeping within its walls. Tucked at the secluded tip of a tranquil bay and watched over for millennia by the surrounding mountains, Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. The town’s history dates back before the epic age of Homer, but it’s the medieval wonders in Old Kotor that draw acclaim today. Marbled avenues meander with no apparent order, and, even for locals, it’s quite common to get turned around. The good news is, few places are more fun to get lost in than Kotor. Cruises to Montenegro would not be complete without sampling the local cuisine. Fresh seafood is always on the menu and the “domestic fish thick soup” is a tradition not to be missed. Old churches, shops, and bars line the avenues, and don’t be surprised to wander upon a charming piazza right out of the blue. Come summer, the lavish yachts of the ultra-rich fill the marina, presenting a striking contrast to the rustic romance and ancient beauty of Kotor.
Day 9 At Sea
Today is a full day of CME. We will finish the day at 4:15pm with closing comments and will provide your CME certificates.
Day 10 Venice (Ravenna), Italy
Arrive back in Venice (Ravenna) at 5:00am this morning for your train or transfer back to Venice or surrounding airport for your flight home or onward journey.
