An Extended Journey through Greek Splendour, Byzantine History & Timeless Piazzas

Overview

A 14-night voyage aboard EXPLORA I, departing Venice (Fusina), Italy on 19 Aug 2028 and arriving in Athens (Piraeus), Greece, calling at 13 destinations along the way.

Cabin prices

Live prices per person based on two sharing. Select a grade to see its fare options.

1. 1

   Day 1 ·Fusina (Venice)Embark

   19 Aug 2028

   Depart 19:00
2. 2

   Day 2 ·Koper

   20 Aug 2028

   Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00
3. 3

   Day 3 ·Hvar

   21 Aug 2028

   Arrive 09:00Depart 20:00

   Receive a warm welcome in carefree Hvar, with its smattering of historical monuments and Venetian-era stone houses that cling to hills above a palm and superyacht-lined harbour. Call into the Grand Piazza, complete with baroque cathedral and Venetian castle. Beyond the fortified capital, view an ocean-backdrop monastery and the legendary ‘Last Supper’ painting. Reach tiny pine-coated Pakleni islets for some secluded wellbeing, grasp glamour at sea-lapping Carpe Diem and set off through wafts of lavender to isolated Humac or Stari Grad. A warm welcome awaits in the historical elegance of carefree Hvar.
   
4. 5

   Day 5 ·Dubrovnik

   22 Aug 2028

   Arrive 12:00Depart 22:00

   Marvel at this chic walled city paved with a wealth of aristocratic palazzi, ancient forts and epic Adriatic views. Enter grand Pile Gate to lose yourself in intricate alleys, stage-set squares, museums and baroque churches. Ease out of town to kayak around sturdy ramparts, taste Dalmatian wines in the Konavle countryside, and visit archaic Cavtat and history-packed Mostar. Escape the crowds to cacti-clad Lokrum for a spot of yoga and botanical walking, or join in to graze at trendy restaurants on the rocks. It’s no wonder the glitterati flock to the strength of this charming and inspiring medieval Dalmatian marvel.
   
5. 5

   Day 5 ·At Sea

   23 Aug 2028
6. 6

   Day 6 ·Monemvasia

   24 Aug 2028

   Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00

   Slow down to enjoy some whole-hearted peace and quiet. Rising high over the inky blue sea, Monemvasia is a mirage carved into the face of Peloponnese rock. Divided into a magical upper and lower sea-level town, the former is home to fallen streets, ancient Agia Sophia and Byzantine architecture. Wander through cobbled streets in the lower town amongst restaurants and residents. Listen to cicadas sing, watch black-clad grandmothers cook in divine tavernas and perhaps sample some Malvasia wine. This spectacular town sums up silence, sky and a sense of Mamma Mia.
   
7. 7

   Day 7 ·Syros (Syra)

   25 Aug 2028

   Arrive 09:00Depart 20:00
8. 8

   Day 8 ·Piraeus (Athens)

   26 Aug 2028

   Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00

   Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.
   
9. 9

   Day 9 ·Skíathos

   27 Aug 2028

   Arrive 09:00Depart 19:00
10. 10

    Day 10 ·Thessaloniki

    28 Aug 2028

    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00

    Breeze into a beguiling mix of vintage and modern, awash with a thriving art, culture and history scene. Crowded with museums dedicated to the past plus an extraordinary 15 UNESCO sites – there’s much to learn. Admire ramparts built to last; the impressive Galerius Palace, the beautiful domed multi-serving Rotunda, a bevy of Byzantine churches and the curious 15th century White Tower. Dig deeper into the past to trace pre-historic times at the Archaeological Museum. Rove around Ladadika narrow streets and charming squares that emit a Parisian air, absorb Greek produce in the Market’s holy halls and soak up modern art on the lively waterfront. Raise hairs at Heptapyrgion, take coffee in Aristotelous Square or head out of town to peer at Alexander the Great’s birthplace in Pella and Vergina’s royal tombs. Perfectly poised on the placid Thermaic Gulf, Thessaloniki brings past and present together in remarkable harmony.
    
11. 12

    Day 12 ·Istanbul, Turkey

    29 Aug 2028

    Arrive 16:00

    Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience. Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food. Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in. By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.
    
12. 12

    Day 12 ·Istanbul, Turkey

    30 Aug 2028

    Depart 17:00

    Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience. Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food. Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in. By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.
    
13. 13

    Day 13 ·Mytilene (Lesbos)

    31 Aug 2028

    Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00
14. 14

    Day 14 ·Milos, Greece

    1 Sept 2028

    Arrive 09:00Depart 19:00
15. 15

    Day 15 ·Piraeus (Athens)Disembark

    2 Sept 2028

    Arrive 07:00

    Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.
    

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