Optional tours are available from most ports for an additional charge.
Itinerary
Day Venice, ItalyDeparts 05:00 PM "When I went to Venice, my dream became my address," wrote Lord Byron, just one of many famous figures who found a haven in this fantasy city. This enchanted land was built on stilts, set into the water by ancient Venetians seeking refuge from the harsh realities of landlocked life. And Venice, Italy still offers a palpable feeling of escape from the real world today. When you cruise into the lagoon and step onto what passes for solid ground, you'll still be very much on the water. Venice is a floating labyrinth of reflections, with mirror and glass sights everywhere, from glorious Venetian architecture echoed in the canal waters to the marble palaces that shimmer in the sky. And although Carnivale is only held once a year, being in Venice on any day is like going to a festival with plenty of vibrant things to do and attractions to see. Locals seem to love the many sightseeing visitors who arrive each year, and Venice will openly reveal her charms even to those who are only here for a few hours, an afternoon or a magical evening.
Day Split, CroatiaArrives 10:00 AM Departs 11:00 PM "Croatia's second-biggest city oozes small-town charm, thanks to its quaint, narrow streets and the easygoing lifestyle that the Dalmatians are known for.
With a busy ferry port, Split is the point of access to the many islands up and down the coast. Much of its old town is within the walls of Diocletian's Palace, a 1,700-year-old UNESCO-listed fortress on the Adriatic seafront. Roman Emperor Diocletian built the palace as his retirement home on the sea and through the centuries many conquerors have taken refuge within its thick walls."
Day Korcula, CroatiaArrives 08:00 AM Departs 04:00 PM Croatia's sixth-largest islandâonce known as Melaina Korkyra (Black Korkyra) because its vast oak forests reminded Greek settlers of Corfuâis covered in pine trees, olive groves and vineyards. As you glide down the Strait of PeljeÅ¡ac, admire the peninsula's dramatic karst slopes dropping off into the Adriatic Sea and the 19 islets of the archipelago around the canal.
Korčula Old Town is the island's treasured highlight and a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate. Its stone architecture and historic ambiance reflect almost four centuries of Venetian rule, with towered gates, lion statues, magnificent palazzos and elaborate stonework peppering the charming streets. Venturing out of the Old Town, you will encounter historic villages, picturesque bays, waterfront promenades and welcoming locals.
Korčula is one of the last places on earth where knightly games like the MoreÅ¡ka dances are still regularly performed and where medieval fraternities still keep up their centuries-old traditions. The island truly is a treasure trove of history, nature and serenity.
Day At Sea
Day Thira (Santorini), GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Santorini, the jewel in the crown of Greece's Cyclades, is best known as the island with the giant volcanic caldera at its heart. All but the largest ships can anchor here in this stunningly scenic bay. Cruise visitors who come for an afternoon or a day can immerse themselves in the art, food and legendary wines of this island that some believe may have been the site of the lost civilization of Atlantis. On Santorini you can do as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, would do and sample the island's wonderful wines or play Indiana Jones and explore the archaeological treasures of ancient Thera. Santorini's pleasures will likely leave you with a taste for more and planning your return.
Day Rhodes, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM "Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese (the name translates as ""twelve islands""), draws more visitors than most other Greek islands. Its capital, Rhodes Town, offers an enduring blend of history and architecture, and the island's interior is filled with lushly forested hills. To the south, Lindos, one of the most stunning villages in all of Greece, is watched over by a picture-perfect ancient ruin on the hill above.
The island owes its rich history to a good climate and a strategically valuable position between Asia and Europe. Adding to this is a fine natural port where its former main attraction, an immense statue of the sun god Heliosâthe Colossus of Rhodesâonce stood. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the statue made Rhodes a must-visit destination for ancient world travelers until it collapsed in an earthquake in 226 B.C.E. Even the statue's ruins were grand enough to bring curious travelers to Rhodes for another 800 years until the metal pieces were melted and sold off by an occupying army."
Day Kusadasi (Ephesus), TurkeyArrives 07:00 AM Departs 07:00 PM "Kusadasi in Turkey is the gateway to one of the most legendary cities of the ancient world: Ephesus. St. Paul preached in its Great Theater, while the facade of the Celsus Library survives as a testament to the city's role as a center of learning and culture.
Not far from Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis (also known as the Temple of Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, once stood, drawing pilgrims from around the Mediterranean. While it no longer stands, it is possible to walk amongst its foundations and the remains of its towering columns.
Other historic sites can also be found nearby: The House of Mary is believed to be the home of Jesus's mother at the end of her life, and the Basilica of St. John, constructed in the 6th century, marks the location of his tomb. (Like Mary, he spent his final years in Ephesus.) Nearby, the Selcuk fortress reflects the period of Byzantine and Ottoman control of the region."
Day Mykonos, GreeceArrives 11:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM One of the most visited of Greece's Cyclades Islands, Mykonos is also known by the lyrical name of "the island of winds." The name comes from its first ruler, Mykons, son of the god Apollo. Today, you'll see what look like the descendants of the gods lounging on Mykonos's beachesâthe island is known for being a lure for the rich and beautiful and was once a favorite vacation destination of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and her entourage. Although a mystique of money and hedonism still lingers around the island, there's lots to see, do, taste and buy in Mykonos that's accessible to us mere mortals. There's also the simple beauty of Greek windmills, whitewashed houses clinging to the hills and charming tavernas with terraces open to the sky and the sea air.
Day Souda (Chania), GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Souda Bay (or Suda Bay) is located in western Crete, 6 km east from the city of Chania and south of the Akrotiri peninsula.
The north coast within the Bay is prohibited to be approached by ships and boats, because is a military territory of the Greek and NATO naval bases.
At the southwestern part of the bay is located the port, which is the main passenger and commercial port of the prefecture of Chania and of the western Crete, since the early of 20th century when the old harbor of Chania stopped to be used as a port.
Day Katakolon (Olympia), GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 04:00 PM "The port of Katakolon is the gateway to the Peloponnese, one of Greece's most intriguing and least well-known areas. Beyond the region's famous site of ancient Olympiaâone of the most treasured remnants of the classical worldâthe Peloponnese gets little of the glory given the Greek islands and Athens. And it deserves much more, as you're about to discover.
A distinctly Greek welcome can be experienced here like nowhere else. The region reveals what it means to be Greek: traditions that go back thousands of years, simple but delicious and healthy cuisine, towering mountains, crystal blue seas and, above all, the true hospitality of the people. In Greek, xenos means ""stranger,"" but the word also means ""guest,"" and a respectful traveler will be treated like a favored friend."
Day At Sea
Day Venice, ItalyArrives 07:00 AM "When I went to Venice, my dream became my address," wrote Lord Byron, just one of many famous figures who found a haven in this fantasy city. This enchanted land was built on stilts, set into the water by ancient Venetians seeking refuge from the harsh realities of landlocked life. And Venice, Italy still offers a palpable feeling of escape from the real world today. When you cruise into the lagoon and step onto what passes for solid ground, you'll still be very much on the water. Venice is a floating labyrinth of reflections, with mirror and glass sights everywhere, from glorious Venetian architecture echoed in the canal waters to the marble palaces that shimmer in the sky. And although Carnivale is only held once a year, being in Venice on any day is like going to a festival with plenty of vibrant things to do and attractions to see. Locals seem to love the many sightseeing visitors who arrive each year, and Venice will openly reveal her charms even to those who are only here for a few hours, an afternoon or a magical evening.