Friday, November 7 - CIVITAVECCHIA (Rome), ITALY (Embarkation)
Departure 7:00 PM
All roads lead to Rome, and with good reason - this city is one of the world's most thrilling, offering unmatched history along every street. An evocative, inspiring, and utterly artistic capital of unrivaled cultural impact, Rome is a city of back-to-back landmarks that will take you on an exhilarating journey through the ages. This may be one of the world's oldest cities, but it's well-kept and truly lived in. The ruins are punctuated with murmuring cafes, and the restaurants' outdoor seating sprawls out across piazzas, enticing you to sample tangles of creamy pasta and crispy pizzas. Rome's incredible Roman Forum is littered with the ruins of its ancient administrations, which have stood firm for 2,000 years, since the times when the area was the center of the Western world. Few sites are more simultaneously beautiful and haunting than that of the storied Colosseum, which looms deep into Rome's rich blue sky. Take a tour to learn details of the grisly goings-on within. The best way to experience Rome is to wander its streets, gelato in hand. There is a lot to see here -whether it's the domed spectacle of the Pantheon, or the elaborate flowing waters and artistry of the Trevi Fountain. Vatican City is an astonishing, colossal display of Catholic grandeur, while the Spanish Steps - crowned by the Trinità dei Monti church - offer a beautiful spot to gather and soak up the lively atmosphere of this humming city. With so much on the to-do list, you'll relish the breaks taken, enjoying simple pleasures like a strong espresso, or fresh pasta with tomato sauce and ripped basil.
Saturday, November 8 - LIVORNO (TUSCANY) ITALY
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 9:00 PM
There are a few more elegant places to salute the sunset than Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno's refined chessboard piazza. A historic port, and a beachy gateway to Tuscany, Livorno welcomes you ashore to explore this enchanted Italian region's sun-soaked beauty, rich flavors, and world-renowned fine art. Stay in Livorno to explore 'Piccolo Venezia', or 'Little Venice' - a quarter of the town is laced with canals, little marble bridges, and plenty of tempting eateries. With its bustling market, fortresses, and iconic waterfront, there's plenty to keep you busy, while most will be tempted to venture inland to explore more of Tuscany's many charms and artistic wonders. Test your nose, as you breathe in the subtleties of Tuscany's vineyard-craped scenery, and visit wineries showcasing the best of the renowned flavors of the Bolgheri wine-growing area. Or head out to Prato, where you'll find tightly woven textile history. Pisa's showpiece tower is within reach as if Florence's city of immense and imaginative renaissance beauty. Admire the delicate carving of Michelangel's masterpiece, the David statue, and note the provocative stance as he casts a dismissive glance towards Rome. Stand before the city's majestic black and white cathedral - the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - with its colossal brick dome. The view down over Florence's river and grand dome from Piazzale Michaelangelo, meanwhile, is one of Italy's finest. However you choose, spend your time in Tuscany, discovering an artistic region, filled with beauty designed to appeal to every sense.
2 Included Shore Excursions:
Florence on your Own
Medieval Lucca
Sunday, November 9 - MONTE CARLO, MONACO
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 7:00 PM
Glitzy, glamorous, and unashamedly luxurious - live the high life in Monte Carlo. From the super-yachts jostling for position in the harbor to the lavish bars splashing out iced champagne, tiny Monaco's only city is a high-rolling, decadent affair - and a gloriously indulgent, sun-soaked taste of the good life. Famed for its low tax statues - and the Formula One race that roars through its hairpin bends and tight streets each year - Monaco is the ultimate playground of the rich and famous. Monaco may be the world's second-smallest country - only the Vatican has a smaller footprint - but Monte Carlo has a confident impact and appeal that few can match. The gilded Royal Palace adds an air of regal glory, and whether you want to soak up the culture at the opera or raise the stakes at a casino - executing your finest 007 impressions - you'll feel very much at home here. Soar above the high-rise hotels and glorious casinos in a helicopter, see the city from above, and admire landmarks like the cathedral where Grace Kelly married the Prince of Monaco in 1956. High-end fashion, fragrances, and fancy adornments await in the gold-label shops of Monte Caro's lavish shopping streets, while the old town's pink and lemon floral facades offer an authentic balance of historical character to counterpoint the well-heeled excesses. A wonderful escape, revel in old-world glitz and glam, as you admire twinkling chandeliers and wander between palatial architecture while enjoying your time in Monte Carlo's abundant wonderland. Before you leave, explore the storied fortress that protected this tiny state's independence for so long.
2 Included Shore Excursions:
Riviera Corniches
The Rock of Monaco & Oceanographic Museum
Monday, November 10 - MARSEILLE, FRANCE
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 6:00 PM
France's sunniest and oldest city may not have the glamour of some of its Cote D'Azur neighbors, but what it lacks in glitz; it certainly makes up for authenticity and cultural depth. France's second-biggest city, Marseille served as the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and is a fantastic hub of museums, creativity, and color. The Le Panier district is a vivid illustration with its faded streets revitalized by overflowing flowerpots and pretty naturally-distressed doorways. Look down to the yacht-crammed port - where fishermen still unload fresh catches - from the viewpoint at the spectacular Notre-Dame de la Garde - a true crowning glory. Standing over walled fortifications - and capped by an elegant dome - the soaring golden statue of Madonna and Child rises high into the air and is visible all over the city. The huge Marseille Cathedral is equally impressive, with its stunning zebra-striped exterior. Palais Longchamp, built in 1862, twinkles with flowing water, and its saturated gardens and splashing fountains were built to celebrate the engineering feat of successfully redirecting water to the city. You can't leave Marseille without tucking into its famous fish stew - bouillabaisse. Flavored with thyme, garlic, and hunks of Mediterranean fish and plump prawns, it's a bold and delicious taste of Provence. Wash your hands clean after, with some of Marseille's traditional soap, created using a fragrant recipe of rich olive oil. Escape the hubbub of the city, to soak in the natural glory of Calanques National Park. Hike, kayak and sail through a treasure trove of limestone cliffs, dropping off to hidden beaches.
2 Included Shore Excursions:
Marseille Highlights
Charming Aix-en-Provence
Sunday, October 12 - KUSADASI, TURKEY
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 11:00 PM
Explore the towering columns, and storied remains of Ephesus - one of the most spectacular cities left by the Ancient Greeks. Kusadasi welcomes you to the Turkish coastline and is your base for exploring these majestic remains, which sit just 10 miles inland from the port. The Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site is a true archaeological gold mine and an amazingly well-preserved site - once home to 150,000 people. The grand Temple of Artemis rose majestically here and was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before its destruction. The grand city was a fitting location for such a wonder, and with a mere 20% estimated to have been uncovered, Ephesus's scale and majesty are hard to comprehend as you walk its ancient streets fully. Visit the precious Library of Celsus - a gorgeous, double-layered façade of columns and artistry - and enjoy the city's gently illuminated, atmospheric venues - which still host stirring evening concerts. Ephesus's museum adds context to the 25,000 treasures that are exhibited within. After a long hot day exploring, recharge with a perfectly charred and seasoned kebab or vegetable and rice stuffed grape leaves like dolma. In Dusadasi itself, you can discover a lively seaside city with a buzzing Aegean beach scene, and a glut of restaurants and cafes to kick back in.
3 Included Shore Excursions:
Ephesus & Archaeological Museum
Easy Ephesus
Virgin Mary's House & Ancient Ephesus (Wheelchair Accessible)
Monday, October 13 - PATMOS, GREECE
Arrival 9:00 AM
Departure 6:00 PM
The seahorse-shaped Patmos is a Greek island of stunning seascapes and immense cultural significance. Rising from the Aegean Sea, Christians embark on pilgrimages here from all across the world, seeking out the small hillside cave, said to be the place where St. John penned the Book of Revelations, in AD 95. Whether you're religious or not, there is something of the divine in this gorgeous island - a place of sanctuary fringed by crystal-clear waters and blissful beaches. Sleepy, whitewash towns gleam in the strong sunshine, while cats slink between the crumbling walls of this ruggedly beautiful island. High on their hillside, above the cobalt-blue bay, you'll find the sacred chapel, where an exiled John of Patmos is said to have entered the Cave of the Apocalypse and prophesied of the end of the world's fire and brimstone - a striking juxtaposition with the peaceful serenity of the calm location. Higher up you'll find the 11th-century Monastery of St. Joh, which offers spectacular views of the island's mounds curving around like a scorpion's tail. It stands watch over the island like a fortified crown. Sun-wrinkled, black-robed, mons climb the streets up to this World Heritage site, where bells peel out melodically. Inside, vaulted chambers and stunning frescoes tell stories amid the striking religious iconography. Chora's incredible narrow streets - molded white - are an enchanting place to lose your bearings, spreading below the monastery. Elsewhere, blissful beaches stretch out across the coastline, or this remote Greek island's curves can be admired while bobbing offshore in a sailboat.
2 Included Shore Excursions:
St. John's Patmos & Churches
Patmos Island & Scenic Drive
Tuesday, October 14 - RHODES, GREECE
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 7:00 PM
With an endless sun-soaked season, earthy history, and vibrant culture; the island of Rhodes has it all. At the crossroads between many mighty civilizations throughout its tumultuous history. Part of the Dodecanes Islands, which are sprinkled across the blissfully blue Aegean Sea, dive into the island of dazzling beaches, historic medieval towns, and whitewashed villages crusted with turrets and walls, alluding to its strategic significance over the years. Unexpected history has been left behind, and the cobbled streets of the UNESCO World Heritage site listed Old Town are some of Europe's best. Wander back through time, with occasional minarets from Ottoman-era mosques rising from the tangle of Medieval history, and the smells of cinnamon, cumin, and pepper lingering above stone-paved streets. Discover inviting outdoor restaurants, which spill across flower-filled courtyards, and enjoy fresh Greek cuisine with an Eastern influence. The preserved columns of Linds's spectacular Ancient Greek Acropolis watch out over electric blue water, and the Gothic Medieval stronghold of the 14th-century Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes, adds fascinating history to explore. Fragrant, pine tree-coated hills, and gorgeous beaches of eye-watering blue water, offer your choice of unbridled relaxation or thrilling action, and you can raise the pulse with water sports, or shelter in coves with shocks of turquoise water and monolithic rock formations.
2 Included Shore Excursions:
Medieval Rhodes
Panoramic Rhodes
Wednesday, October 15 - HERAKLION, GREECE
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 11:00 PM
It may not be the prettiest place in Crete, but Heraklion's patchwork of history, bustling activity, and cultural intrigue make it the perfect pace change. This is certainly no sleepy island fishing village; and Greece's fifth-largest city is adorned with a rich collection of quality museums, ancient ruins from antiquity, and a lively culture of it sown. A refreshing shift-up from the many quaint beach towns and fishing villages you'll encounter in the Greek islands, Heraklion - also known as Iraklio - has great shopping, and extraordinary history and is the ideal base for ventures to the archaeological treasures of Crete. Traded by the Arabic, Venetian, and Ottoman empires over the years, Heraklion is a multi-layered place with fascinating tales to tell. The city's impressive Venetian fortress, which waits over the gently rolling waves of the gleaming Mediterranean, welcomes you ashore. A stroll out along the seawall, alongside creaking fishing boats, will take you to the squat fortifications that have stood since 1540. Climb to the top for views across the water, back towards the city's waterfront. The sun-roasted earth outside the city hides treasures from the realms of history, including the Bronze Age remnants of Europe's oldest city, Knossos. A visit to the fantastic Archaeological Museum of Heraklion ties this history together and exhibits relics from the civilizations and eras of Crete's past. Elsewhere, Daidalou's pedestrianized paving is a charming stroll through Heraklion's shops, with streets branching off to café-lined plazas and twinkling fountains. Stop to try local food - like fresh feta and olive-sprinkled dakos mezze - all washed down with a sample of local raki brandy.
3 Included Shore Excursions:
Heraklion & Archaeological Museum
Scenic Lassithi Plateau
From King Minos to Saint Paul
Thursday, October 16 - SANTORINI, GREECE
Arrival 8:00 AM
Departure 7:00 PM
Breathlessly romantic, and incredibly scenic, the azure domes and whitewash buildings that cascade down Santorini's slopes are prime honeymoon material - and relentlessly romantic. A true gem of the Cycladic island groups, Santorini is startlingly pretty, and its white windmills and dazzling villages are incredibly easy on the eye. Envy-inducing and evocatively beautiful, Santorini's sunsets are legendary, and the island is a highlight of any voyage to the Greek islands. Look out over the endless expanse of blue waves, filling the massive volcanic caldera of Santorini - and absorb one of the most spectacular views in the world. The sheer rock shoulders of the caldera create an immense, natural amphitheater - so enjoy the show, as you sip a local, volcanic-mineral enhanced white wine, and fall in love all over again. Any meal is well rounded off with the famous wine, Vinsanto. The east side, of the island may lack the incredible panoramas, but it's ideal if all you want to do is recline on volcanic-sand beaches - which range in hues from charcoal-black to flame-red. This beautiful island was forged by powerful volcanic activity, and you can learn more about the huge eruption of 1,600 BCE - which wiped out the Minan city at Akrotiri. The eruption sank the middle of the island forming the moon-shaped topography we see now. Visit the archaeological site that has revealed and preserved their village, which was lost to time below the pumice and ash. Some whisper that this destroyed town may even be the fabled Atlantis.
2 Included Shore Excursions:
Discover Oia on your own
Villages of Santorini
Friday, October 17 - ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE (Disembarkation)
Arrival 7:00 AM
Disembark this morning in Athens for your flight home or you can extend your stay.