Day 1 – Istanbul, Turkey

Departs 07:00 pm.

Istanbul rises from the Bosphorus, a vision of minarets and domes sparkling in the light. The capital of vanished empires, Istanbul is a true crossroad, the only city on Earth to span two continents. This meeting place of Europe and Asia, of Christian and Muslim, is one of the great adventures a traveler encounters. Browse the stalls of the world’s largest bazaar, explore ancient mosques and churches, and gaze at the stunning jewels in the Topkapi Palace.Istanbul has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus for 25 centuries. As Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, it was a metropolis of stunning splendor when the great cities of Europe were mere villages.

Day 2 – Canakkale, Turkey

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 3 – Volos, Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 4 – At Sea

Day 5 – Patmos, Greece

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 10:00 pm.

Day 6 – Symi, Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 7 – Santorini, Greece

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Did the catastrophic volcanic eruption that ravaged Santorini circa 1600 B.C. destroy Crete’s ancient Minoan civilization – and give birth to the myth of Atlantis? In 1967, archaeologists on Santorini unearthed the remains of a Bronze Age city that may have been home to as many as 30,000 people. Whether the Lost Continent of Atlantis is rooted in myth or reality, an undisputed fact remains. The eruption created a caldera – and one of the most dramatic land and seascapes in the entire Mediterranean. On Santorini, whitewashed buildings cling to vertiginous cliffs that plunge to a turquoise sea. Part of the Cyclades Archipelago, the three-island group of Santorini, Thirasia and uninhabited Aspronisi present the traveler with unforgettable vistas.The island has had a number of names throughout history – from Strongyle or “Round” to Thera in honor of an ancient hero. Santorini is more recent and stems from the island church dedicated to St. Irene – Santa Rini to foreign sailors.Note: Santorini is an anchorage port: passengers transfer to shore via shore tender.

Day 8 – Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 08:00 pm.

The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens’ destiny. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece. Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens’ port of entry for over two millennia.

Day 9 – Gythion (Sparta), Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 10 – At Sea

Day 11 – Itea (Delphi), Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 12 – Sami, Cephalonia, Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 13 – Brindisi (Lecce), Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 14 – Kotor, Montenegro

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.

Kotor lies at the head of Boka Bay. Bordered by towering limestone cliffs, the winding bay is actually Southern Europe’s longest and most dramatic fjord. The port itself is a medieval gem: its narrow, asymmetrical streets are lined with ancient stone houses, old palaces, and churches dating from the 12th century. Kotor is also your gateway to the cultural and scenic wonders of Montenegro, from the old royal capital at Cetinje to the marshes and wildlife of Lake Skadar National Park.Kotor is renowned for its nightlife: the streets of the old port are lined with pubs, taverns and cafés. The city is also host to a renowned summer carnival.Kotor is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship’s tender.

Day 15 – Dubrovnik, Croatia

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Dubrovnik is a beautiful stone jewel hugging the Adriatic Sea. This picture-perfect medieval walled city offers ancient stone buildings, narrow cobbled streets and fortified ramparts rising above red-tiled rooftops. Stradun is the city’s focal point and main artery while Dubrovnik’s streets are blessedly free of vehicular traffic. Despite the heavy damage inflicted by shelling in the early ’90s, Dubrovnik has been restored to its pre-war beauty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old city remains the pride of the Republic of Croatia.For six centuries Dubrovnik was an independent republic – an oligarchy ruled by patrician families. The Republic was overthrown by Napoleon in 1808.Note: All passengers must carry an original photo I.D. when going ashore: photocopies are not accepted.On occasion, Dubrovnik will be an anchorage port; passengers transfer to shore via ship’s tender.

Day 16 – Sarande, Albania

Arrives 09:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 17 – Taranto, Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Tucked into the instep of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula is the region’s second largest city, Taranto. Known as la Città dei Due Mari, or the City of the Two Seas, its heritage dates all the way back to the Spartans, who founded it in the 8th century BCE. Here, the past is always present. Walk in the footsteps of King Ferdinand II of Aragon with a visit to Castello Aragonese. Behold the otherworldly structures and UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Alberobello and Matera. And savor the flavors of southern Italy with visits to the Manduria wine region and Masseria, known for its centuries-old olive trees. Treasured history, architectural treasures, picturesque landscapes-this is what vacation is all about!

Day 18 – At Sea

Day 19 – Valletta, Malta

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Malta is the largest in a group of seven islands that occupy a strategic position between Europe and Africa. The island’s history is long and turbulent. Everyone from the Normans to the Nazis have vied for control of this small, honey-colored rock. For centuries the island was the possession of the knightly Order of St. John – the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta, Malta’s current capital, was planned by the Order’s Grandmaster Jean de la Valette to secure the island’s eastern coast from Turk incursions. Founded in 1566, Valletta’s bustling streets are lined with superb Baroque buildings and churches.Malta has a long history: the megalithic stone temples at Gozo may be the oldest freestanding structures on Earth. Malta has two official languages, Maltese (constitutionally the national language) and English. Malta was admitted to the European Union in 2004 and in 2008 became part of the eurozone.

Day 20 – Giardini Naxos (Taormina), Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 21 – Amalfi, Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 22 – Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome’s seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome’s Bohemian Quarter.Rome has been a magnet luring the world’s greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Day 23 – Porto Santo Stefano, Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 24 – Passing Isola di Stromboli

Day 25 – Trapani, Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 26 – Sardinia (cagliari), Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

The views from the Terrazza Umberto I are panoramic: one looks out over Sardinia’s capital, a city ancient even in Roman times. Mountains frame the azure waters of the gulf. Nearby lagoons harbor flocks of flamingos and egrets. Welcome to one of the most intriguing ports in the Western Mediterranean. Founded by Phoenician traders in the 7th century B.C., Cagliari has been a Carthaginian colony and a Roman seaport. Those fine old walls supporting the Terrazza Umberto I were erected in the 13th century by the Italian city-state of Pisa. In addition to its fine old Italian architecture, Cagliari boasts superb light, inviting waters and excellent beaches.The city-state of Pisa and the Kings of Aragon vied for control of Sardinia for two centuries. The cathedral, built by Pisans in the 13th century, holds the mausoleum of a 15th century Aragonese prince.

Day 27 – Olbia, Sardinia, Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 27 – Scenic cruising Bonifacio Strait

Day 28 – Calvi, Corsica, France

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 29 – Monte Carlo, Monaco

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 10:00 pm.

Day 30 – Portofino, Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 31 – St Tropez, France

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 32 – Sanary-sur-Mer, France

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 33 – Rosas (Roses), Spain

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 34 – Mahon, Menorca, Spain

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 35 – At Sea

Day 36 – Barcelona, Spain

Arrives 07:00 am.

The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew – Barcelona is one of the world’s greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain’s autonomous region of Catalonia. Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi’s Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic – also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler’s paradise.