The Best Of The Med - Istanbul to Barcelona Cruise

Day 1 - Istanbul

Arrive: Sun 19 October 2025 / Depart: Sun 19 October 2025 at 18:00

Bridging both Europe and Asia Minor, Istanbul is literally where “East meets West.” The city was founded by Constantine the Great and the history of this capital dates back sixteen centuries to the powerful Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Many of our voyages include overnight stays in this legendary city, allowing more time to explore Istanbul’s highlights. Shop among the winding byways of the Grand Bazaar and the exotic stalls of the Spice Bazaar. Tour the magnificent courtyards of Topkapi Palace, stroll among the treasures of the Blue Mosque with its unique six minarets, then view Dolmabahce Palace, the one-time residence of the sultans. Or you may cruise along the Bosphorus for a unique perspective of the city’s numerous seaside mansions, mosques and palaces.

Day 2 - Kavala, Greece

Arrive: Mon 20 October 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 20 October 2025 at 18:00

Explore ancient Kavala with its striking mountains, crystalline waters, and multicultural buildings hugging the cliffs. Both the fortress and the Kavala aqueduct date back to the 16th Century. Visit the marketplace, stop for a coffee, stroll through the new shops and galleries. Look for ceramics, great wine, fine leather, white marble, handmade cigars, and designer clothing. The Castle of Kavala and the castle at Palaiochori are not to be missed. Then one of the many museums – the Archaeological Museum or the Municipal Museum top the list. The Imararet, the home built by Mohammed Ali Pasha in the 19th Century boasts Ottoman architecture and spectacular views of the sea. Linger over a meal of local specialties, stuffed eggplant or grilled seafood. Enjoy a glass of wine, a coffee and pastry as you absorb the harmony of Kavala.

Day 3 - Izmir

Arrive: Tue 21 October 2025 at 08:30 / Depart: Tue 21 October 2025 at 16:30

Soak up the scenery in Turkey's third largest city, Izmir. Meander along the relaxing Kordonboyu oceanfront promenade. Enjoy fresh, perfectly grilled sea bass as you look out over the beautiful harbor. Try one of Izmir’s delicious shish kebabs or a traditional kumru sandwich as you head off to explore its beautiful beaches. Visit the historic Kemeralti Market or the Kizlaragasi Bazaar, which happens to be one of the oldest bazaars in the city, dating from the 18th century Ottoman period.

Day 4 - Athens

Arrive: Wed 22 October 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 22 October 2025 at 18:00

Piraeus is the gateway to the ancient city of Athens, known as the “Cradle of Western Civilization” because of its immense impact on cultural and political achievements throughout the world. Due mainly to tourism and the 2004 Olympics, Greece has redeveloped many sites in Athens. A historian’s delight, Athens is home to such magnificent wonders as: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the atmospheric winding streets of the Plaka, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Temple of Athena Nike, and the Archaeological Museum with the world’s finest collection of ancient artifacts.

Day 5 - Mykonos

Arrive: Thu 23 October 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 23 October 2025 at 18:00

Steeped in Greek mythological history, Mykonos was named after Apollo’s grandson, Mykons, and was the location of the grand battle between Zeus and the Gigantes. Today, this island is one of Greece’s most adored destinations due to its picture- postcard setting and growing nightlife. Mykonos is a superb example of Cycladic architecture, and by law even new buildings have to be built in the same style of whitewashed, organic, cube-like buildings. Be sure to plan a day trip to take in picturesque Little Venice, the unique Paraportiani church, and the archeological dig at Delos.

Day 6 - Cruising the Ionian Sea

Day 7 - Sicily

Arrive: Sat 25 October 2025 at 06:30 / Depart: Sat 25 October 2025 at 18:00

Messina, the third largest city in Sicily, was the most important port of departure for European knights on their way to the Crusades in the Middle Ages. Today, this extensively rebuilt port city still boasts many historically and architecturally significant landmarks, particularly the renowned cathedral with its unusual astronomical clock, the 12th century Catania Church and the ornate Teatro Vittorio Emanuele. Messina is also the starting point for a day trip to the peak of breath-taking Mt. Etna-Crateri Silvestri.

Day 8 - Naples, Italy

Arrive: Sun 26 October 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 26 October 2025 at 18:00

Naples, a city in southern Italy, sits on the Bay of Naples. Nearby is Mount Vesuvius, the still-active volcano that destroyed nearby Roman town Pompeii. Dating to the 2nd millennium B.C., Naples has centuries of important art and architecture. The city's cathedral, the Duomo di San Gennaro, is filled with frescoes. Other major landmarks include the lavish Royal Palace and Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle.

Day 9 - Rome

Arrive: Mon 27 October 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Mon 27 October 2025 at 18:00

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 10 - Florence/Pisa

Arrive: Tue 28 October 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 28 October 2025 at 20:00

Livorno is an Italian port city on the west coast of Tuscany. It's known for its seafood, Renaissance-era fortifications and modern harbor with a cruise ship port. Its central Terrazza Mascagni, a waterside promenade with checkerboard paving, is the city's main gathering place. The bastions of the 16th-century Fortezza Vecchia face the harbor and open onto Livorno's canal-laced Venezia Nuova quarter.

Day 11 - Cruising the Mediterranean Sea

Day 12 - Mahon, Spain

Arrive: Thu 30 October 2025 at 06:30 / Depart: Thu 30 October 2025 at 20:00

Visitors delight in Mahon’s charming shops and eateries, and the traditional Georgian buildings of its hilly old quarter. Explore the island and savor its dramatic views and landscape, quaint villages, farms and well-preserved taulas of the island’s megalithic civilization. Perhaps take in a castle or a monastery with impressive cliff-top views. Be sure not to miss the Plaza de Espana, with market stalls lining the arcades of the former Carmelite friary, where you can purchase local art work and souvenirs. Savor fresh seafood, some paella, delightful local wines, and its signature cheese at quaint local tapas bars.

Day 13 - Barcelona

Arrive: Fri 31 October 2025 at 06:30 / Depart: Fri 31 October 2025

One of Europe’s most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balances the medieval intimacy of its Gothic Quarter with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards in the Moderniste Eixample. It was the home of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell and Casa Milà are the most profound statements of Modernisme. View the splendid works at the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation, or discover Barcelona’s passionate ambiance at a flamenco show.