Optional tours are available from most ports for an additional charge.
Itinerary
Day Athens, GreeceDeparts 05:00 PM Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age. In the 5th Century BC (the âGolden Age of Periclesâ) â the culmination of Athens' long, fascinating history â the city's values and civilization acquired a universal significance. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments - a rare historical palimpsest. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with unrivalled charm.
Day Delphi, Itea, Greece / Katakolon, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 11:00 AM / Arrives 03:00 PM Departs 09:00 PM Before there were fortune cookies there was the oracle of Delphi, dating back to 1400 B.C. The oracle gave cryptic guidance to the leaders of the day and was so highly respected that Delphi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became known as the center of the world. An optional tour lets you go exploring, from the Temple of Apollo to the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which contains some of the finest works of art in Greece.
Katakolon, Greece
Charming and scenic Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia, the original home of the Olympic Games and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit this memorable site only 30 minutes away and see the fertile Peloponnese valleys along the way, full of strawberries, tomatoes, corn and olive trees.
Day Katakolon (Olympia), GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 03:00 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 Chania, Crete, GreeceArrives 09:00 AM Departs 10:00 PM Lying along the north coast of Crete is Chania, the second largest city of the island. Chania is bordered by endless stretches of seashore, with inlets and islands of exotic beauty and sandy beaches tucked away at the foot of the island's forbidding mountains. This is a self-sufficient region that is blessed with rich flora and fauna, as well as impressive gorges, holy caves, rivers and lush, green plains blanketed with citrus groves. The city of Chania is comprised of two sections, the old town and the larger modern city. Situated next to the old harbor, the old town is the focal point from which the urban area has developed. Some of the eastern and western parts of the original old Venetian fortifications from the 1500s that surrounded the town have survived and can still be seen.
Day Santorini, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM As our ship approaches the spectacular cliffs rising from the deep azure sea, youóll understand the magic of this area, where some say the ruins of Atlantis remain hidden. Visit the village of Oia and see the iconic Santorini blue domes or take a guided tour of Bronze Age excavations at the UNESCO site of Akrotiri. Toast the day with a crisp, cold glass of local Assyrtiko wine.
Day Kusadasi (Ephesus), TurkeyArrives 08:30 AM Departs 11:00 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 Scenic Cruising DardanellesArrives 04:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM The Dardanelles, also known as Hellespont (Sea of Helle) is a natural strait and a significant waterway that is 38 miles (61 km) long, almost 4 miles wide, and 180 feet deep. It forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia, and connects the Sea of Marmara with both the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas while being a passageway to the Black Sea.
Day Myrina, Nisos Limnos, GreeceArrives 08:00 AM Departs 01:00 PM "Limnos is an arid, volcanic island located near the mouth of the Dardenelles. The volcano and sulphurous springs on the island inspired many legends in ancient times. Limnos was the mythological home of Hephaistos (Vulcan), who was cast off Mount Olympus by his father Zeus and landed on Limnos, breaking his leg in the process. Lame ever since, the God of Fire lived on the island and toiled at his forges, the volcanoes of the island, teaching the people of the island the art of metalworking."
Day Athens, GreeceArrives 05:00 AM Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in the Neolithic age. In the 5th Century BC (the âGolden Age of Periclesâ) â the culmination of Athens' long, fascinating history â the city's values and civilization acquired a universal significance. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments - a rare historical palimpsest. In 1834, it became the capital of the modern Greek state and in two centuries since it has become an attractive modern metropolis with unrivalled charm.