All Inclusive luxury cruise sailing including Italy, Croatia and Greece.
Rich with cerulean waters, tradition, culture and oodles of history, this voyage through Italy, Croatia and Greece is a must. Departing from Venice’s serene shores, weave your way first to the treasure trove town of Trieste, then across the Adriatic to Croatia’s gems: Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. Greece’s islands – Corfu, Cephalonia, Crete and Santorini add some picture perfect views to your journey. Disembark in the mother of all cities – Athens.
Your cruise begins in Venice, Italy, a floating city of canals, bridges. and masks in a place of eternal beauty and enduring elegance. Navigate the sparkling waterways by romantic gondola, or on a cruise along wide canal boulevards. Visit Piazza San Marco to be immersed in Venice's elegant glory. Basilica San Marco transports you back to the wealthy days of the Doges, who ruled for over 1,000 years. Nearby the Campanile di San Marco bell tower offers views over the rooftops of times gone by
The next morning you arrive in Trieste, Italy, a treasure which sits on a historical frontier of civilizations and cultures. Nestled on the coast by the Slovenian border, this city soaked up many influences before returning to Italy in 1954. Wealth as a trading hub helped to shape Trieste's grand piazzas and soaring artistic architectural achievements. Piazza Unita d'Italia is the grand, central square, and it opens up to the lap of blue waves at one end. The God of the Sea, Neptune, is honored in a fountain at Piazza del Borsa nearby. Canale Grande is a centerpiece and was build in the 18th century to allow boats to unload their wares and trade. Glorious castles crown the area, towering from esteemed vineyards.
On the their day of your cruise you'll head to Croatia's capital of Cool, Zadar, a dazzling mesh of influences and creativity. Romans founded the city before the Venetians, Austrians, French and Italians all had their say, leaving a wealth of architectural interest. See the old town, with its robust city walls, boasting decorative stone gateways and marble streets. Glorious turquoise water beaches and heavenly waterfalls also lie with easy reach. The sparkling Adriatic's waters calls you, and Kolovare Beach is a mere ten-minute stroll from the old town. A day trip to Koran National Park - which incorporates the Zadar Archipelago's immaculate scattering of beach-fringed islands, or to the divine waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park, will introduce you to more of Croatia's thrilling natural beauty.
On day 4, you'll visit Split, a city of romantic beauty, built around an extraordinary - still beating - historical heart. Diocletians's Palace, a Roman remain of incredible scale and detail is truly bewitching. While immensely historic, Split hasn't been afraid to move with the times, and the stone walls encasing the streets are alive with buzzy bars and quiet nooks, where bottles of red wine are uncorked and delicious meals devoured. The expansive seafront promenade is all palm trees, buzzing bars and eateries, and further out you'll find the peace of Marion Hill - where you can climb some of the best views in town, or take the far less wander to Sustipan cemetery's breathtaking panorama of sea, city, and distant islands.
Next your cruise takes you to Croatia's crowning glory, Dubrovnik, which rears up vertically from the tranquil waters for the Adriatic. A daunting fortress town is truly an imposing sight to behold. Encircled by chunky stone walls so thick and dramatic they could have been purpose-built as a film set, this city's unmatched old town is the setting for countless films and shows - from Star Wars to Robin Hood, Game of Thrones and every production in-between seeking a truly authentic medieval flavor. These walls kept Dubrovnik safe when it was a maritime republic and they were besieged as recently as 1991, when Serian and Montenegrin forces attacked as Yugoslavia broke apart. Tapering alleys rocket up from the central boulevard of Stradun, offering spectacular views down, but you'll need to walk the city walls to appreciate the fortress city's full scale. Nearby beaches like Banje, and hidden bays reward the intrepid who venture out beyond the old town
You'll then head to Corfu, the sickle-shaped island of Mediterranean bliss. Having cherry-picked the best influences of from Venetian, French and British occupiers, with over 3,000 years of history, The Grand Lady of the Ionian has played a starring role in Greek history and mythology. Explore sparkling beaches, mountains splashed with wildflowers, and historical, perched fortresses. Corfu's UNESCO World Heritage List Old Town brings together Corfu's mesh of European influences, with its romantic stone floors and vine-clad cafes. Take a hike up to the 13th-century Paleokastritsa Monastery, where you'll be escorted by the resident goats, and have to step over cats contentedly rolling around your feet on arrival. Wander out among the groves to views of Corfu's never-ending sea reaching out to the horizon below you. Corfu's sweeping sand beaches and hidden coves display the full spectrum of vivid Mediterranean seaside colors.
The 7th day of your cruise brings you to the clear, calm waters of Cephalonia island, which rises majestically out of the Ionian's emerald green haze. A place of simple, fundamental pleasures, discover this island where lazy waves lap against long, sweeping expanses of silky sand, and contented laughter echoes above tables groaning with platefuls of fresh seafood and generously splashed wine. Having survived German and Italian occupations - and the bloodshed of the Greek Civil war - Cephalonia was finally overcome by a devastating earthquake in 1953, which razed practically every structure during a hellish half-minute destruction. Nowadays, Cephalonia is a heavenly mirage of idyllic beaches, all overlooked by the huge rise of Mount Aenos - a black-pine coated mountain where wild ponies roam freely. Spectacular - if a little hair-raising - roads lace the island, and you can venture out to Vouti Beach to discover crystal-clear waters shifting in hue through the full ombre of blues.
The next day, you'll enter Souda Bay to land on Greece's largest island, and explore the sun-soaked charms of this fascinating land of legends, landscapes and luxuries. Packed with beautiful beaches and rich maritime history, Souda Bay's huge natural harbor is a spectacular entrance, opening up the treasures of Crete's many well-stocked museums, rich archaeological sites, and charming Venetian fishing towns. This site is an interesting spot for military history - with a huge NATO base here, as well as Souda Bay War Cemetery, which honors Allied soldiers of World War II. Soak up the sun at luxurious white sand beaches, explore olive groves, renowned wineries, and sample Vilana grape wines. Rethymnon's old town and star-shaped, seafront fortress are impressive to explore, or you can head to Akrotiri to discover the Arkadi Monastery's role in the Cretan resistance. Crete retains its independent spirit, but has gathered countless influences over its history. The island's most beautiful port - Chania - is close by, and its picturesque old town and collage of historical influences are a highlight of any trip.
Santorini is your next port. Romantic, and scenic, the azure domes and whitewash buildings that cascade down Santorini's slopes are prime honeymoon material - and relentlessly romantic. Santorini is startlingly pretty, and its white windmills and dazzling villages are easy on the eye. 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 amphitheatre - so enjoy the show, as you sip a local, volcanic-mineral enhanced white wine, and fall in love all over again. 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. Visit the archaeological site that has revealed and preserved the village, which was lost to time below the pumice and ash. Some whisper that this destroyed town may even be the fabled Atlantis.
Your cruise ends in Athens, Greece, a city of legend civilization and enduring culture. Extraordinary elegance and grace combine with grit and graft in Greece's capital, where highways encase ruins from antiquity, and gleaming museums and galleries stand beside concrete sprayed with edgy street art. Piraeus' giant port and naval base welcome you to the edge of the Athens' urban area. From there it's a simple jaunt to the centre. The majestic ancient citadel of the Acropolis dominates an elevated platform and is a constant presence as you explore the city. The wonderful remains of the columned temple of the Parthenon - which date back to the 5th century BC - stand here, representing the pinnacle of classical architecture. The nearby Acropolis Museum adds context to your visit and frames the broad views from its giant glass windows. Or rise up Mount Lycabettus, to be rewarded with perhaps Athens' best panorama of the Acropolis sitting high over the city on its grand stage. See the marble horseshoe of the Old Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, for more of the city's enduring legacy. Elsewhere, golden beaches and temples stretch out along the coastline, should you wish to explore a little further afield.
As a Distinctive Voyages guest, you'll enjoy a private welcome reception so you can meet likeminded VIPs, and a complimentary shore excursion, making your adventure even more special.
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Silversea Venice to Athens Itinerary: Day Date Port 1 Nov 01 VENICE, ITALY Depart 7:00 PM 2 Nov 02 TRIESTE, ITALY 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM 3 Nov 03 ZADAR, CROATIA - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 4 Nov 04 SPLIT, CROATIA - 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM 5 Nov 05 DUBROVNIK, CROATIA - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 6 Nov 06 CORFU, GREECE - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 7 Nov 07 ARGOSTOLI (CEPHALONIA), GREECE - 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM 8 Nov 08 SOUDA BAY (CRETE), GREECE - 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM 9 Nov 09 SANTORINI, GREECE - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM 10 Nov 10 ATHENS, GREECE - 7:00 AM - Disembark AM
Silversea Silver Spirit With one of the highest space to guest ratios in the business and eight superlative luxury dining options, Silver Spirit offers its guests one of the most complete cruise experiences available. Spacious decks leave plenty of room for relaxation, yet the cosy niches make sure that there is something for everyone. Meet like-minded friends; enjoy first class dining and relax in what is possibly the best place between sea and sky.