Itinerary
- Day 1
Chioggia
You'll board your cruise ship and settle into your stateroom in Chioggia, a fishing village at the southern end of the Venetian Lagoon. The main pedestrian street, Corso del Popolo, runs through town with shops, bars and restaurants serving fresh seafood. It's a good time to get oriented and grab dinner after boarding.
Optional Activities
- Explore Chioggia's canals and bridges
- Walk Corso del Popolo pedestrian street
- Dine at local seafood restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Chioggia Corso del Popolo - Day 2
Venice
Head into Venice to see how the city developed under the Venetian Republic over a thousand years. You'll notice Byzantine and Islamic architectural influences along the canal banks. The water transport here is iconic, from the Grand Canal vaporettos to traditional gondolas. Both get you around, though the vaporettos are practical and gondolas offer a more leisurely pace.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Venice
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride
- Vaporetto (water bus) tour of Grand Canal
- Explore Byzantine and Islamic architecture
Landmarks/POIs Venice Grand Canal - Day 3
Split
After docking in Split, you'll walk through one of Croatia's oldest cities built around the Roman Palace of Emperor Diocletian. The palace ruins blend right into the modern city, so the old and new are difficult to separate. Check out the Ethnographic Museum, walk through the ancient basement passages, and visit Diocletian's mausoleum, now functioning as a cathedral.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Split
- Visit to UNESCO Site (Diocletian's Palace)
Optional Activities
- Explore Diocletian's Palace
- Visit Ethnographic Museum
- Shop in palace basement passageways
- View cathedral (former mausoleum)
Landmarks/POIs Diocletian's Palace Ethnographic Museum - Day 4
Dubrovnik
You'll spend the day in Dubrovnik's Old Town, which has medieval streets dating to the 12th century surrounded by tall medieval walls. The structures here are well-preserved, which explains why George Bernard Shaw called it a 'paradise on Earth.' Visit the 14th-century Franciscan Monastery and Apothecary, which has the world's oldest working pharmacy still in operation.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Dubrovnik
- Visit to UNESCO Site (Dubrovnik Old Town)
Optional Activities
- Walk medieval walls
- Visit Franciscan Monastery and Apothecary
- Explore Stradun street
- Browse ancient stone houses
Landmarks/POIs Dubrovnik Old Town Dubrovnik City Walls Franciscan Monastery and Apothecary Stradun - Day 5
Kotor
Your ship sails to Kotor, Montenegro's capital situated between mountains. You can walk through one of the Adriatic's best-preserved medieval Old Towns with its red-roofed buildings and narrow streets. The Romanesque cathedral towers don't match, which adds to the character. The Venetian walls built in 1420 surround much of the old town.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Kotor
Optional Activities
- Explore medieval Old Town
- Visit Romanesque cathedral
- Walk Venetian walls
- Enjoy dramatic mountain scenery
Landmarks/POIs Kotor Old Town Kotor Cathedral Kotor Venetian Walls Kotor Bay - Day 6
Corfu
In Corfu, you'll explore the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town and Fortress, both shaped by the Venetian Republic. The narrow streets lead to one of Europe's largest public squares, and there's a nice promenade to walk along. Later, check out the Paleopolis archaeological site or the Vlacherna Monastery if you want something quieter.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Corfu
- Visit to UNESCO Site (Corfu Old Town & Fortress)
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Town and Fortress
- Visit Paleopolis archaeological site
- See Vlacherna Monastery
- Visit former Greek royal villa
Landmarks/POIs Corfu Old Town Corfu Fortress Paleopolis Vlacherna Monastery - Day 7
Katakolon
After arriving at Katakolon, a harbor town with colorful fishing boats, you can head to nearby Olympia. It's a legendary ancient city surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and orchards. The ruins of the ancient Olympic Games are well-maintained, and the Olympia Archaeological Museum has impressive statues from that period.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Katakolon
Optional Activities
- Visit ancient Olympia ruins
- Explore Olympia Archaeological Museum
- Tour the ancient Olympic Games site
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Olympia Olympia Archaeological Museum - Day 8
Athens
You'll see Athens as the birthplace of democracy. The Acropolis Hill functions as an open-air museum with the Parthenon, built over 2,600 years ago. Temples dedicated to Athena and Zeus line the area, and it's where ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle developed ideas about government that still influence us today.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Athens
- Visit to UNESCO Site (Acropolis)
Optional Activities
- Explore Acropolis Hill
- Visit the Parthenon
- Tour temples to Athena and Zeus
Landmarks/POIs Acropolis Parthenon - Day 9
Athens (Plaka District)
This time in Athens takes you into the Plaka District for a closer look at the city. Walk through cobblestone lanes lined with neoclassical buildings, browse small shops, and find quiet corners you might miss otherwise. Local restaurants serve traditional meze and ouzo, which gives a real sense of how Athenians spend their time.
Optional Activities
- Explore Plaka District
- Shop and browse local stores
- Dine on traditional meze and ouzo
Landmarks/POIs Plaka District - Day 10
Ephesus
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient cities, so you get a real sense of what daily life was like back then. The Library of Celsus has a towering facade that still impresses. The amphitheater once held 25,000 people, and you can see residential buildings decorated with frescoes. The Temple of Artemis site is here too, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Ephesus
- Visit to UNESCO Site (Ephesus)
Optional Activities
- Explore ancient city ruins
- Visit Library of Celsus
- Tour ancient amphitheater
- See Temple of Artemis site
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Library of Celsus Temple of Artemis - Day 11
Souda Bay
Your ship arrives at Souda Bay on Crete, positioned between the Akrotiri Peninsula and Cape Drapano. Historic Venetian fortifications sit at the mouth of this deep natural harbor. Beyond the water, Crete has generous beaches, mountains and rivers. Local cafes have mantinades, which are love couplets, and you can try tsikoudia, a local brandy.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Souda Bay
Optional Activities
- Explore Crete's beaches
- Visit Venetian fortifications
- Experience Cretan music and mantinades
- Sample tsikoudia brandy
Landmarks/POIs Souda Bay Crete - Day 12
At Sea
Today is a sea day as you sail through the gateway to the Adriatic, marked by Italy's southern coast and the western shores of Albania and Greece. You can relax on the ship and use its amenities, from walking the Promenade to working out in the Fitness Center or just reading by the pool.
Included Activities
- Access to Fitness Center
- Promenade activities
Optional Activities
- Walk the Promenade
- Use well-equipped Fitness Center
- Day 13
Messina
Messina in Sicily has been shaped by Greek, Byzantine and Roman civilizations over centuries. The island itself is surrounded by mountains, orange and olive groves, and vineyards. If you're interested in history, the city has WWII connections and stories about the 'Race to Messina' between US General Patton and British Field Marshall Montgomery.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Messina
Optional Activities
- Explore Sicilian cultural sites
- Tour mountain scenery
- Learn WWII history
Landmarks/POIs Messina - Day 14
Naples
You'll arrive in Naples, which sits in a beautiful seaside location and served as a major cultural center for Italy. The Piazza del Plebiscito is grand, with the San Francesco di Paola Church and Royal Palace facing each other. Naples was an independent kingdom's seat for 500 years, which is why you'll find so many fine architects and artists' work throughout the city.
Included Activities
- Complimentary shore excursion in Naples
Optional Activities
- Explore Piazza del Plebiscito
- Visit San Francesco di Paola Church
- Tour Royal Palace
Landmarks/POIs Piazza del Plebiscito San Francesco di Paola Church Royal Palace of Naples - Day 15
Disembarkation
It's time to say goodbye to fellow travelers and head home. Or if you'd prefer, you can stay longer and look into extensions that the tour operator offers. Either way, you'll have memories from ports across Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey.
Optional Activities
- Join optional tour extensions
