10 nights. Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, Spain

Day 9

At sea

Day 10

palma de mallorca, spain

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Day 11

barcelona, spain

Arrival: 07:00

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 2

ephesus (kusadasi), turkey

Arrival: 13:00 - Departure: 21:00

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 3

santorini, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 22:00

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 4

mykonos, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 20:00

Mykonos is a favored vacation spot located in the Cyclades group of Greek islands, nestled in the heart of the Aegean Sea. In the 1960s, Mykonos emerged as a bohemian hotspot and has since evolved into one of the most glamorous holiday resorts in the country, proudly showcasing its vibrant style and reputation. For many years, this central Cyclade was the top Mediterranean destination for gay travelers, although recently Mykonos has been working to attract a more diverse crowd. Despite this, the nightlife remains very gay-friendly and the island is a haven for any party-goer with its loud and lengthy nights. The main town on the island is Chora, or Mykonos town, which is filled with narrow, winding streets, buildings painted white with blue accents, delightful restaurants, clothing and jewelry stores, a fish market, and a vegetable market. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and bustling towns in the Aegean. Apart from Chora, there is only one other town on the island, Ano Mera, which is quieter and less frequented by tourists. While visiting, be sure to see the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, a traditional Greek Orthodox Church featuring a beautiful iconostasis. The island itself is arid and barren, but it boasts some excellent sandy beaches, the most famous of which are Paradise and Super Paradise. However, there are many other beaches to explore around the island. From the quaint port, you can take a boat to the beaches or to Delos, transitioning from the present to the ancient past, from one set of myths to another.

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Day 5

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 05:30 - Departure: 16:00

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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Day 6

katakolon, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 16:00

Olympia is a city in the Peloponnese region of Greece. This was the location of the original Olympic Games. These games, which took place every four years in honor of the Greek god Zeus, continued throughout the entire Classical Age. The main sanctuary, or Altis, contained temples, altars, shrines, and public buildings for both religious and secular uses. The flame for each modern Olympic Games is still ignited in this city, using a reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror, and then transported by torch to the location where the games are to be held.

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Day 7

valletta, malta

Arrival: 11:00 - Departure: 20:00

The small capital of Malta, Valletta, is less than 1 square kilometer in size but offers a wealth of experiences for tourists. Known as one of the most densely packed historical sites in the world, Valletta boasts 7,000 years of history. It's no surprise that the city was officially designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. Constructed by the Knights of St John in the 16th and 17th centuries for military and strategic purposes, Valletta was later transformed into a stunning example of baroque decorative art, particularly evident in the beautiful interiors of St John’s Co-Cathedral in the city center. The city's narrow, shady alleyways connect grand squares, and magnificent palaces coexist with bars and shops. Recently, Valletta has undergone significant changes to enhance its urban appeal, including the renovation of the main City Gate, the construction of a new parliament building, and the restoration of the bombed-out Opera House. Valletta's natural deep-water port, the Grand Harbour, is the largest and most impressive in the Mediterranean. For thousands of years, it has been the hub of Malta’s maritime activity. Evidence of this includes the 19 historical warehouses that still stand, dating back 250 years, and the historic Quay Wall, where the Knights of St John and European merchants once unloaded their goods. The Valletta Waterfront serves as the entrance to Malta’s capital city. As one of the most successful Mediterranean ports, the Port of Valletta welcomes over half a million cruise passengers into this open-air museum each year. The waterfront has recently been revitalized into a lively hub of shops, bars, and restaurants, and is especially romantic when lit up at night. The city’s moderate climate allows for a variety of outdoor activities, from diving and sailing to cycling and rock climbing, providing plenty of options for adventure-seeking tourists. However, don't expect Valletta to be bustling all night - its tranquility is a significant part of its allure.

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Day 8

catania,sicily,italy

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Catania is the second largest city in Sicily. It has been buried seven times due to violent eruptions from the Etna volcano and numerous earthquakes, resulting in the destruction of many of its monuments. However, the old town has been well preserved, to the extent that it was designated a World Heritage Site in 2002. Visitors to the city center can appreciate the city's main feature: its baroque architecture. The primary examples of this are the Cathedral Square, Piazza del Duomo, with the Elephant Fountain, the ornate Cathedral, which was founded in the 11th century on the ruins of ancient baths, and the impressive 13th century Ursino Castle. The remnants of the city's Roman and Greek heritage can still be seen at the former Acropolis of Katane, which includes the Roman Theatre, built by the Greeks and rebuilt by the Romans, the Odeon, and the Amphitheatre. Catania's nightlife is chaotic, loud, and lively, with hundreds of bars, clubs, and restaurants available for visitors to experience the city's infectious zest for life.

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Day 10

palma de mallorca, spain

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Palma de Mallorca, the vibrant capital of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is a city where beach life, history, and Mediterranean charm blend effortlessly. Stroll along the palm-lined seafront promenade, Passeig Marítim, and you’ll see luxury yachts bobbing in the harbor, terraced cafés buzzing with locals and visitors, and the golden silhouette of the city’s Gothic cathedral dominating the skyline. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Palma is an ideal base for exploring the island or simply soaking up the relaxed coastal atmosphere. At the heart of the city stands La Seu, the magnificent cathedral that has watched over Palma’s bay for centuries. Its soaring buttresses and intricate façade are impressive from a distance, but step inside to admire the colorful stained glass, including one of the largest rose windows in the world, and design elements reimagined by Antoni Gaudí. Just a short walk away, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the labyrinth of narrow streets in the old town reveal Palma’s layered past—from Moorish rule to medieval Christian reconquest. Palma is also a city for leisurely discovery. Get lost in the historic quarter among honey-colored stone buildings, hidden courtyards, and boutiques tucked into centuries-old houses. Pause in a traditional café for an ensaïmada, the island’s famous spiral pastry, or sample fresh seafood and tapas at the lively Mercat de l’Olivar. As evening falls, the city’s terraces fill with people enjoying a glass of local wine or a gin and tonic while the sun sets over the bay. Beyond the urban core, Palma offers easy access to some of Mallorca’s most beautiful beaches and scenic routes. A short drive or bus ride brings you to sandy coves with turquoise waters, while inland roads lead to charming villages such as Valldemossa and Deià in the Tramuntana mountains. Whether you’re drawn by culture, cuisine, nightlife, or nature, Palma de Mallorca is a destination that invites you to slow down, explore, and savor the Mediterranean way of life.

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Day 11

barcelona, spain

Arrival: 07:00

Barcelona is a coastal city in northeastern Spain. It's the capital and biggest city of the autonomous region of Catalonia, and the second most populated municipality in Spain. The city has a population of 1.6 million within its limits, but its urban area, which extends to many neighboring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona, is home to approximately 4.8 million people. This makes it the fifth most populated urban area in the European Union, following Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. Barcelona is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, situated on the coast between the mouths of the Llobregat and Besòs rivers. It's bordered to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the highest peak of which is 512 meters (1,680 feet) tall.

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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.

10 nights. Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, Spain

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