7 nights. Turkey, Greece

Day 2

At sea

Day 3

ephesus (kusadasi), turkey

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Day 4

bodrum, turkey

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Day 5

rhodes, greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Day 6

santorini, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 21:00

Day 7

chania (souda) -crete - greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Day 8

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 05:00

Day 1

istanbul, turkey

Departure: 17:00

Istanbul's historical significance and its incredible cultural and architectural legacy can be attributed to its ideal strategic location, spanning the Bosphorus straits that divide Europe and Asia Minor. Throughout most of its 2,500-year history, the city (initially known as Byzantium, then Constantinople, and since 1930, Istanbul) has been a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of over 13 million is predominantly Turkish, with many of its residents being recent migrants from rural Turkey, drawn by the prospect of employment and career opportunities in this dynamic, rapidly expanding city. Although Istanbul is no longer the capital of the country, it remains Turkey's economic and cultural hub - a status emphasized by its designation as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the UNESCO World Heritage recognition of many of its key landmarks. These range from breathtaking Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs, to the pillars of Hellenistic temples and the remnants of enormous medieval city walls. However, Istanbul offers more than just Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A rapidly growing economy has led to a thriving arts and music scene, with an abundance of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants, and designer fashion stores.

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Day 3

ephesus (kusadasi), turkey

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Kusadasi is a seaside resort town located in the Aydin Province of Aegean Turkey. It's a favored destination for tourists, known for its numerous beaches and as Turkey's most active cruise port. Many cruise ship passengers visit the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most significant and well-preserved Greco-Roman sites in Turkey. There are several appealing beaches both to the south and north of Kusadasi. All these beaches are commercialized with hotels surrounding them. To the south of Kusadasi, you'll find the Ladies Beach, Lost Paradise Beach, and the Long Beach. Kusadasi serves as the entry point to Ephesus, an intriguing ancient city that features baths, gyms, an acoustic theater, temples, arches, and much more. The Roman Ruins at Ephesus are truly breathtaking. Within the town, you can visit the City Walls, Kaleiçi Camii, the Öküz Mehmet Pasha Caravanserai, and the Guvercin Adası peninsula. Kusadasi is one of Turkey's more cosmopolitan and vibrant resorts.

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Day 4

bodrum, turkey

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Bodrum is a globally recognized vacation spot and vibrant resort that is always alive with activity. Situated on the southern Aegean coast of Turkey, Bodrum attracts tourists from all corners of the globe due to its warm weather, deep-blue sea, natural beauty, stunning coves, and rich history, not to mention its thrilling nightlife. Bodrum presents an intriguing contrast between the ancient city and the contemporary resort. The Castle of St Peter, which dates back to the medieval era, is a stunning fortress that dominates the harbor area. Within the Castle of St Peter, there is also an underwater museum, the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Other key attractions in the city include the Bodrum Amphitheatre, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Myndos Gate, and Karakaya Village. There is a wealth of sights to see and activities to partake in Bodrum, including a wide array of shops and large bazaars where locals sell an assortment of goods. Evenings in Bodrum are best spent leisurely at one of the many restaurants, enjoying fresh seafood and other Aegean delicacies.

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Day 5

rhodes, greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Rhodes is the biggest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of land size and is also the historical capital of the island group. Administratively, the island is a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the South Aegean region. The main town of the island and the seat of the municipality is Rhodes. It is situated northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens, and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. Rhodes is also known as The Island of the Knights. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Asklipio Inland from Kiotari. Inside the small church, there are intriguing exhibits that honor the continuity of the healing cult from ancient times to a modern midwife and nurse. • Cape Prasonisi. This is the southernmost point of Rhodes. A sand bar connects a peninsula to the main island. • Castle with acropolis over Lindos. • Castle of Kastellos. • Castle of Monolithos. • Epta Piges. • Filerimos Hill. This site features medieval remains, a monastery, and a chapel. • Kamiros. This site features ancient ruins. • Tsambika Peak. • Rhodes Old Town - Palace of the Prince Grand Master. - Street of Knights. - Fortifications. • Valley of the Butterflies.

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Day 6

santorini, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 21:00

Created by a massive volcanic eruption that is believed to have inspired the legend of Atlantis, Santorini is the most visually stunning island in the Aegean Sea. The island is essentially the outer edge of a submerged volcano, with its entire eastern coast consisting of a series of small towns situated on tall hills. Fira, the island's dramatically located capital, is perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Fira, along with the Parthenon, is one of the most recognized images of Greece. Its narrow streets are filled with souvenir shops, charming boutiques, and numerous jewelry stores. It is home to two beautiful churches, the Greek Orthodox and the Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, as well as a small local museum. Fira also boasts a vibrant nightlife, with excellent restaurants and bars, and a few nightclubs. The city itself is a spectacle, especially at sunset. Another great spot to watch the sunset is the town of Ia, a small village perched on the rocky point of land at the northern tip of the island, 300m above the sea. The beaches in Santorini are unique compared to other Greek beaches due to their distinctive geographical features. Red and black volcanic pebbles cover the shores of Santorini's beaches, and steep cliffs create a scenic atmosphere. The most famous of these beaches is the Red beach, while Perissa, Kamari, and Perivolos are also very popular. Santorini is a truly magnificent destination. The placement of some of its main towns along the cliff-top edge of the caldera is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful sights in the world. The buildings seem to defy gravity as they cling to the cliffs and are stacked one on top of the other like a pile of sugar cubes. The sandy, multicolored beaches are just the cherry on top.

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Day 7

chania (souda) -crete - greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Chania, on the northwest coast of Crete, is a compact, walkable city where Venetian elegance, Ottoman heritage, and traditional Cretan life come together. Its centerpiece is the Old Town, a maze of narrow alleyways lined with pastel-colored mansions, flower-filled balconies, and small artisan workshops. The picturesque Venetian Harbor, with its 16th-century lighthouse and former arsenals, is ideal for a leisurely sunset stroll followed by dinner at a waterfront taverna. Beyond the harbor, Chania’s neighborhoods each have a distinct character. The former Jewish quarter, Evraiki, is home to boutique hotels and quiet cafés, while Splantzia offers a more local feel, with shaded squares, traditional kafeneia, and historic churches standing beside old mosques. Museums such as the Maritime Museum of Crete and the Archaeological Museum shed light on the island’s long and turbulent history, from Minoan civilization to World War II. Chania is also an excellent base for exploring some of Crete’s most striking landscapes. Day trips can take you to the pink-tinged sands of Elafonisi, the dramatic Samaria Gorge, or the turquoise waters of Balos Lagoon. Closer to town, there are several easy-to-reach beaches such as Agii Apostoli and Marathi, where calm, shallow waters are perfect for families. Food is another highlight of any stay in Chania. Local tavernas showcase Cretan cuisine at its best, with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh seafood, wild greens, and cheeses like graviera and mizithra. Be sure to try dakos (Cretan barley rusk salad), slow-cooked lamb, and a glass of raki shared with welcoming locals. Whether you’re wandering backstreets, relaxing by the sea, or heading into the mountains, Chania offers a rich mix of culture, nature, and authentic island charm.

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Day 8

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 05:00

Here is the text adapted into standard American English: Piraeus is a port city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens urban area, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) southwest of downtown Athens (the municipality of Athens), along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 within its administrative limits, making it the fifth-largest municipality in Greece and the second-largest within the urban area of the Greek capital, after the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and four other suburban municipalities form the regional unit of Piraeus, sometimes called the Greater Piraeus area, with a total population of 448,997. It is part of the Athens urban area. Piraeus has a long recorded history dating back to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when this area was chosen to become the new port of classical Athens and was developed as a model harbor, concentrating all of Athens’s import and transit trade. During the Golden Age of Athens, the Long Walls were built to fortify Athens and its port (Piraeus). As a result, it became the main harbor of ancient Greece but declined gradually after the 3rd century BC. It grew again in the 19th century, after Athens was declared the capital of Greece. In the modern era, Piraeus is a large, busy city and an integral part of Athens. It is home to the country’s largest harbor and has all the characteristics of a major maritime and commercial-industrial center. The Port of Piraeus is the main port of Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second-largest in the world, serving about 20 million passengers annually. With a throughput of 1.4 million TEUs, Piraeus ranks among the top ten European ports for container traffic and is the leading container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The municipality hosted events in both the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest universities in Greece and has the country’s second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department in the field of finance.

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What you should know:

Itinerary

The order of the ports may vary depending on the date of departure.
Check your itinerary for exact departure and arrival times. The hours correspond to the local time of the port.
Itineraries can change at any time without prior notice.

Boarding and landing

For safety reasons, all passengers must board 2 hours before departure on day 1 of the cruise.
Disembarkation usually begins 2 hours after docking on the last day of the cruise.

7 nights. Turkey, Greece

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