Adriatic Jewels

On arrival in Athens, transfer to your ship. This evening, get to know your Cruise Director and fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception.

Early this morning, your ship will traverse the famous Corinth Canal, which is just 21.3 metres wide. Later, arrive in the Greek port of Itea and set off on an excursion to the sacred site of Delphi. In ancient times, Delphi was considered the centre of the known world. Explore the Sanctuary of Apollo and visit the partially reconstructed Treasury of the Athenians. You’ll also visit the impressive museum, which houses one of the greatest collections of archaeological treasures. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a Gala Welcome Dinner.

Located right in the heel of the Italian boot, Otranto’s scenic landscape often plays the protagonist in displaying the beauty of Puglia, Italy’s easternmost region. Facing the Adriatic sea, the seducing weather and pristine waters have made it a popular destination where on a clear day, wanderers can see the coast of Albania. Like much of Italy, the city boasts a rich and mixed history. Once a Greek and Roman port, it was later occupied by the Byzantines, the Normans and the Spanish before the Ottoman invaded in during their Jihad to conquer Europe. Remains of forts are still visible and are a living testimonial of the town’s rich history along with Otranto’s cathedral, which still encloses today the relics of martyrs who refused to convert to Islam.

This morning, relax on board with fellow passengers as your vessel sails towards Italy. After lunch, disembark in the picturesque port town of Otranto, located in Italy’s Puglia region. The afternoon is at your leisure to explore. Perhaps enjoy an optional guided city tour of Otranto or an optional tour to the historic town of Lecce.

Enhance Your Journey – Otranto City Tour Delve into Otranto, a picturesque seaside town reminiscent of Greece. This stunning location offers a unique blend of east and west due to its rich history of Byzantine, Norman, Aragonese and Ottoman influences. Explore its medieval charm through the 15th-century castle, rebuilt after Ottoman raids, and the 12th-century Cathedral, famous for its floor mosaic that harmoniously represents symbols from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Stroll through the labyrinth of streets and uncover the captivating beauty and layered history of this vibrant, historical gem.

Enhance Your Journey – Tour of Lecce Head out on an optional tour of Lecce, often referred to as the ‘Florence of the South’ for its elegance and harmonious architectural style. Learn about how the town expanded in the 17th century with grand churches and spectacular palazzi, all showcasing the best of baroque architecture. Admire the beautiful limestone buildings adorned with intricate features and visit the two main churches of the city, the Duomo and Santa Croce Basilica.

Backed by imposing mountains, tiny Kotor lies hidden from the open sea, tucked into the deepest channel of the Bokor Kotorska (Kotor Bay), which is Europe's most southerly fjord. To many, this town is more charming than its sister UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, retaining more authenticity, but with fewer tourists and spared the war damage and subsequent rebuilding which has given Dubrovnik something of a Disney feel.Kotor's medieval Stari Grad (Old Town) is enclosed within well-preserved defensive walls built between the 9th and 18th centuries and is presided over by a proud hilltop fortress. Within the walls, a labyrinth of winding cobbled streets leads through a series of splendid paved piazzas, rimmed by centuries-old stone buildings. The squares are now haunted by strains from buskers but although many now house trendy cafés and chic boutiques, directions are still given medieval-style by reference to the town’s landmark churches.In the Middle Ages, as Serbia's chief port, Kotor was an important economic and cultural center with its own highly regarded schools of stonemasonry and iconography. From 1391 to 1420 it was an independent city-republic and later, it spent periods under Venetian, Austrian, and French rule, though it was undoubtedly the Venetians who left the strongest impression on the city's architecture. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, some 70% of the stone buildings in the romantic Old Town have been snapped up by foreigners, mostly Brits and Russians. Porto Montenegro, a new marina designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest super yachts, opened in nearby Tivat in 2011, and along the bay are other charming seaside villages, all with better views of the bay than the vista from Kotor itself where the waterside is congested with cruise ships and yachts. Try sleepy Muo or the settlement of Prčanj in one direction around the bay, or Perast and the Roman mosaics of Risan in the other direction.

Cruise the stunning fjord of Kotor Bay in Montenegro. Upon arrival in Kotor, enjoy time at leisure to explore. Those feeling energetic may like to climb the 1,350 steps to the top of the town’s fortifications for stunning views, or alternatively, join an optional tour.

Enhance Your Journey — Kotor Walking Tour Head out on a guided walking tour through the enchanting Old Town of Kotor. Marvel at the towering St. Tryphon Cathedral as you learn about one of the best-preserved buildings in the town, dating back to the 12th century. Delve into the cathedral’s history and its significance to the town. Next, embark on a short drive to the Cable Car station where you’ll ascend to the summit of Lovćen Mountain. Here, spend time at leisure to soak in exceptional views over the Bay of Kotor and Lovćen National Park.

Enhance Your Journey — Montenegro Highlights Take in awe-inspiring views of the Budva Riviera as you travel towards Cetinje, the former royal capital of Montenegro. In Cetinje, head to the Museum of King Nikola and learn about Montenegro’s cultural and historical heritage. Make your way towards Lovćen Mountain and stop at the village of Njegusi for an immersive cultural experience, where you’ll learn about the production process of smoked ham. Then, savour a meal of smoked ham and local cheese with honey and wine at an authentic restaurant. Continue driving along the route that the Irish playwright Bernard Shaw followed at the beginning of the twentieth century to Montenegro. On returning to Kotor, explore the town at your leisure.

Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost

This morning, your ship will arrive in Dubrovnik. Learn about the city’s walls on a guided tour, then enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your leisure. Your ship will stay docked in port until late evening, so you may wish to disembark and enjoy dinner at your leisure at a local restaurant. 

Enjoy the morning at leisure in Mljet, then set sail for Korčula, the birthplace of Marco Polo. Enjoy time at leisure to explore, or perhaps join an optional tour. Choose to take a walking tour of Korčula’s Old Town and indulge in a wine tasting in Lumbarda, or set off on an in-depth exploration of the island.

Enhance Your Journey — Historic Korčula and Wine tasting Begin your walking tour of Korčula’s spectacular Old Town from the pier. Discover the stunning architecture and well-orchestrated urban planning. The streets were arranged to take advantage of the natural wind system, resulting in optimal airflow throughout the town. Visit the Cathedral of St. Mark, a fine example of the town’s stone artistry, and the birthplace of Marco Polo. Next, travel to the rural village of Lumbarda for a winery visit. Learn how a local family grew their wine production from a small winery to a larger scale business with a completely automatic system. Enjoy hearing about the history and sampling some of their vintages.

Enhance Your Journey — Korčula in Depth Traverse the island of Korčula and indulge in idyllic views of dense forest. On this tour, visit the Zlokic Olive Oil Production. Since 1995, the family-run establishment has been one of the leading olive oil producers on the island. See the variety of ancient tools used in the olive oil making process such as a 15th-century wooden olive press and an 18th-century hydraulic compression system. Then, visit Toreta Winery in Smokvica for a wine tasting. Explore this family-run boutique winery and learn about the indigenous grape varieties from which the wine is made.

Today your ship will dock in the town of Šibenik, where you’ll disembark for a special experience. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

Insider Experience – Krka National Park Head to beautiful Krka National Park to explore its dramatic waterfalls. The most famous is Skradinski Buk, a large natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and countless cascades at the other, as the rushing river forces its way through a barrier of tiny islets. Take a walk along wooden jetties and bridges to admire the falls, as well as the unique flora and fauna.

Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.

This morning after breakfast, disembark your ship for the final time and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.