An Extended Journey through Storied Marble Streets & Ancient Echoes

Overview

A 20-night voyage aboard EXPLORA II, departing Athens (Piraeus), Greece on 25 Mar 2027 and arriving in Venice (Fusina), Italy, calling at 16 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 ·Piraeus (Athens)Embark

   25 Mar 2027

   Depart 19:00

   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.
   
2. 2

   Day 2 ·Volos

   26 Mar 2027

   Arrive 08:00Depart 20:00

   Volos deals a perfect blend of architectural gems, scented archaic landscapes and beach-fringed salty bays. Discover treasures in the mythical home of Jason and the Argonauts before bearing off to Pelion, homeland of the mythical Centaurs. Zig zag through a network of old cobbled donkey tracks linking villages and wander a botanist’s dream of eucalyptus, fruit trees and thyme-scented woodland. Dip in blissfully quiet Pagasitic waters, bring history to life on gorge and bridge crossing Moutzouris and paddle past secluded coves into eerie sea caves and the Secret School. Visit Damouchari for a riot of bougainvillea and silvery olive trees, Tsagarada for the oldest plane tree in Greece and Milies for murals and absurd acoustics. This playground of the gods remains a quiet memory of Greek gone by - the Centaurs have protected it well.
   
3. 3

   Day 3 ·Mykonos, Greece

   27 Mar 2027

   Arrive 09:00Depart 22:00

   If you start early, you’ll have Mykonos to yourself. Stroll narrow streets famous for Cycladic architecture and getting lost; white-washed cubed buildings, alluring boutiques, orthodox churches and traditional windmills. Join glitterati guests at elegant events on iconic beaches, sink into saltwater pools, tour vineyards and dance at bars where beats evolve in tempo (and volume). When the heat of the day dies down, drop into the sacred isle of Delos to explore remarkable ruins; amphitheatres, temples, public squares, marketplaces and shrines to Greek Gods. Take a table in central Chora for perfectly-cooked, local dishes with generous views; mounds of flaky filo, Greek salads, halloumi and sea urchin, washed down with freddo. When the sun sets, head for a signature sundowner with views across the ocean. After dark, follow the fun to legendary bars and clubs. Progressive and profoundly beautiful.
   
4. 4

   Day 4 ·At Sea

   28 Mar 2027
5. 5

   Day 5 ·Istanbul, Turkey

   29 Mar 2027

   Arrive 09:00

   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.
   
6. 6

   Day 6 ·Istanbul, Turkey

   30 Mar 2027

   Depart 14:00

   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.
   
7. 7

   Day 7 ·At Sea

   31 Mar 2027
8. 8

   Day 8 ·Corfu

   1 Apr 2027

   Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00

   Revel in a heady mix of Ionian landmarks amid spirit-boosting views. Sit beneath the iconic Liston arches in the atmospheric Old Town, span Spianada Square where skinny streets radiate off past churches and cross the moat to the Old Fortress. Slip into homey tavernas where chefs work meze finesse, skip aboard a caique, mountain bike, horse ride or shop ceramics. Head for staggering Paleokastritsa views strewn with pines, firs and sleepy Corfiot villages, bird spot in lush wetlands and climb Mount Pantokrator to capture rare icons. An enticing and scenic jaunt through an eternal Greek classic.
   
9. 9

   Day 9 ·Kotor

   2 Apr 2027

   Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00
10. 10

    Day 10 ·Split

    3 Apr 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00

    Sheltered by mountains and hills of pine, Split casts a sirenic spell, its terracotta-tiled rooftops spilling straight down to the sparkling Adriatic. Wander within the ancient walls of Diocletian’s seafront palace to its collonaded courtyard and cathedral, the sinuous streets and sunny squares abuzz with cafes and shops, and everyday life ongoing amid the palace’s atmospheric alleyways. From here, people-watch over coffee on the Saint Tropez-esque Riva promenade; climb to the hilltop park, small churches hidden along the way, for a sundowner; or seek the sandy Bacvice beach, swimming the shallows as Splicani play picigin (ballgame), and perfecting the Dalmatian art of fjaka, the sweetness of doing nothing.
    
11. 11

    Day 11 ·Fusina (Venice)

    4 Apr 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 19:00
12. 12

    Day 12 ·Zadar

    5 Apr 2027

    Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00

    Head back in time through impressive walls and city gates to a treasure trove of architecture and natural beauty. Hike, ride or climb through an enchanting heartland of national parks; cruise up pine-cloaked rivers, swim under a crescent of cascades and spot sapphire dragonflies over emerald pools. Dance across the Monument to the Sun, follow whispers to remote turquoise shallows and hear the rhythm of the ocean from an underwater Sea Organ. Visit the Venetian towers, atmospheric wells and a superbly carved Romanesque Cathedral or climb a bell tower with far-reaching views. Infused in sunshine, Venetian charm and (according to Hitchcock) the world's best sunset - intriguing Zadar is a cultural gem resplendent.
    
13. 13

    Day 13 ·Dubrovnik

    6 Apr 2027

    Arrive 09:00Depart 18:00

    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.
    
14. 14

    Day 14 ·At Sea

    7 Apr 2027
15. 15

    Day 15 ·Piraeus (Athens)

    8 Apr 2027

    Arrive 09:00Depart 19:00

    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.
    
16. 16

    Day 16 ·Kusadasi, Turkey

    9 Apr 2027

    Arrive 09:00Depart 19:00

    Walk in Cleopatra’s steps as you journey through fields bursting with cotton, olives and peaches until the hills broaden, to reveal the magnificent Roman ruins of Ephesus. Dedicated to Artemis, visit monuments, shrines, columns and ruins, where Popes pray and pilgrims drink holy water. Immerse yourself totally in this ancient place of worship; wish for good health and meditate in the sacred thermal pools of Pamukkale. Travel out to Orthodox villages combining Turkish-Greek culture and feast on organic filo, feta and spinach. Study Turkish weavings, natural dyes and textiles; see looms in action, knotting carpets and kilims. Steeped in history and with terrain as diverse as the culture, it won’t just be the traditional Turkish coffee that makes you sit up straight.
17. 17

    Day 17 ·Syros (Syra)

    10 Apr 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00
18. 18

    Day 18 ·At Sea

    11 Apr 2027
19. 19

    Day 19 ·Bari

    12 Apr 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 19:00
20. 20

    Day 20 ·Trogir

    13 Apr 2027

    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00
21. 21

    Day 21 ·Fusina (Venice)Disembark

    14 Apr 2027

    Arrive 08:00

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