Day Ermoupoli, Syros, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM Syros is an important island in the Cyclades, but rather off the tourist map. Just the sort of place we like. The town (named for Hermes) is the capital of the island group, and its airy Miaouli Plaza is a wonderful, palm-lined place to sit in a cafe and have a drink. The medieval Venetian village of Ano Syros crowns a hilltop nearby. Wander the narrow, cobblestone streets to the impressive 13th-century Agios Georgios church. Back in town, the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Assumption holds an icon by the Greek painter known as El Greco. A small archeological museum has some very fine Cycladic figures, and the Ermoupolis Industrial Museum recounts the island legacy of shipbuilding and other occupations.
Day Rhodes, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 11:00 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 Fethiye, TurkeyArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM This Turkish town is located on the site of ancient Telmessos, the capital of the Lycians. Their rock-cut tombs honeycomb the mountainsides, especially the impressive tomb of Amyntas from around 350 BCE. Manmade sites include more tombs at nearby Pinara and the ghost town of Kayakoy. Natural splendors include the dramatic gorge of Saklikent.
Day Bodrum, TurkeyArrives 08:00 AM Departs 09:00 PM Today Bodrum is a picturesque yacht harbor filled with traditional wood-varnished sailboats, charming outdoor cafes and streets bursting with small shops selling carpets, leatherwear, jewelry and local artwork. In antiquity, it was the site of ancient Halicarnassus. Under King Mausolus, the city prospered, and in death, the king left the city its most enduring legacy, his majestic tomb, from which we derive the term "mausoleum." Only its massive foundations remain today but it was the largest tomb ever built by the Greeks and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Models on the site recreate its form for visitors. Alexander the Great attacked the city in 334 BC, leveling all but the Mausoleum, which was later destroyed by an earthquake.
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 Spetsai, Nisos Spetsai (Spetses), GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Nicknamed âThe Isle of the Aromasâ, Spetsai is a delight to all of the senses. The island's historic old town is a yachtsman's paradise, boasting a stunning harbor, quaint shops and some of the finest restaurants in the Saronic Gulf. The rest of the island is relatively unpopulated and is ringed by a single road, along which you can travel in a horse-drawn carriage. As you pass by quiet, rolling hills, be sure to pause at one of the many quiet coves along the way to refresh yourself with a dip into the cerulean waters.
Day Monemvasia, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Monemvasia was once on the Peloponnese mainland. Then an earthquake turned it into an island. It is now joined to the mainland by a narrow causeway that limits access, originally for reasons of defense. The tall, flat isle is completely honeycombed with nooks and grottoes, narrow alleys and rock-carved rooms. Clearly it was a formidable redoubt in times of attack, and earned its nickname the Gibraltar of the East. The upper town, long uninhabited, has narrow pathways leading to the Byzantine Aghia Sophia church, and remains of the medieval fortress and walls. In the lower town, look for the bell tower that leads you to Elkomenos Square, with its namesake medieval Elkomenos Christos church and a small museum.
Day Katakolon (Olympia), GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 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 Nydri, Nisos Lefkada, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM Resting at the mouth of a picturesque inlet, the town of Nydri has long been a favorite of the sailing community, who prize this picturesque port as a safe harbor when sailing the Ionian. It feels natural, then, that our intimate Seabourn ship arrives alongside the impressive yachts that call here. Once ashore, the refreshing breeze brings with it the scent of fresh olives, calling you to explore the vast groves that blanket the landscape. Further afield, you'll find the famous Nydri Waterfalls. Afterwards, return to town and relax at one of the many chic tavernas along the shoreline.
Day Brindisi (Lecce), ItalyArrives 08:00 AM Departs 11:00 PM "The Puglia region of Italy is a well-kept secret that is just leaking out, so now is the time to visit as an insider before the word spreads. It is a land of orchards and endless forests of olive trees. Of baroque towns like Lecce, all warm pink stone embellished by talented and imaginative carvers with fruits and flowers, cherubs and monsters.
In the Middle Ages grand churches were built in Puglia's distinctive Romanesque style, and the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II had a string of castles erected. Still the most unique attraction is the area around Alberobello, with its clusters of whitewashed trulli, simple stone houses with conical roofs."
Day Zadar, CroatiaArrives 10:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM "It may sound like the name of some fantastic distant land or even a planet, but the only things out of this world about Zadar are its seaside views, delicious Croatian-Mediterranean cuisine and wines and the warm welcome when you arrive in this history-steeped Croatian town. Perched on a peninsula extending into the Adriatic, Zadar was a crossroads in the ancient world and a cornerstone of the Venetian Empire. As in many Croatian towns, layers of history and art are everywhere (keep your eyes open for the ubiquitous signature Venetian lions).
In recent years, Croatia has found some new fame as the backdrop for Game of Thrones, but Zadar's story of survival rivals anything that Hollywood could imagine. Caught on the front lines between the Allies and Mussolini's troops, some 60 percent of the city's buildings were destroyed in World War II. Today, however, the city that was once described as ""the Dresden of the Adriatic"" has been meticulously restored."
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.