Cruise Description

28 Night Cruise sailing from Athens roundtrip aboard Explora I.

Highlights of this cruise:

Athens
The port of Piraeus is one of the last old-style Mediterranean ports from where you can catch ferries to all of the Greek islands and travel a short distance to Greece's capital city Athens.

In the heart of the city lies the ancient Plaka district, with its honeycomb of streets, little shops - and tavernas that come alive at night. Situated on the north and east slopes of the Acropolis, it is rich with historic sites, such as ancient monuments and churches. Within Athens there are eight large hills, including the Acropolis, and on the outskirts, Mount Parnitha, Mount Pendeli and Mount Hymettos surround the city. A trip to Athens' most famous tourist attraction, the impressive Parthenon built on the Acropolis around 2,500 years ago, will be memorable to say the least.

There are an extraordinary number of historic tourist sights in Athens and many of these are known world-wide. Some of the top Athens attractions include the Agora - a grand, ruined Roman building, Hadrian's Arch - originally the city gate linking the Roman quarters with original town of Athens and the stunning Dionysos Theatre - the world's oldest theatre where many great plays have been performed over the years.

Istanbul
Istanbul is Europe's most populous city (the world's 4th largest city proper and 20th largest urban area) and Turkey's cultural and financial center. The city covers 27 districts of the Istanbul province. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait, and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country.

Part of Istanbul’s great attraction is its unique position on two continents, divided by the Bosphorus. Most of the population live on the European side; the Asian sector is reached via the high-level Bosphorus Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or by ferry. With 13 million inhabitants Istanbul offers all the excitement of a cosmopolitan city. Its numerous monuments, mosques and museums, plus the famous Grand Bazaar, make it one of the world’s great destinations.

Rhodes
The Island of Rhodes is the sunniest place in Europe; it averages 300 days of sunshine per year. It is the fourth largest island in Greece. Occupied by Italy until only 56 years ago, it is now “occupied” by thousands of enthralled international visitors.

The “palia poli” (the old city) is the medieval city of Rhodes, surrounded by a high defensive wall. It is one of the few medieval cities still inhabited in its largest part, excluding its museums, of course. Walking along its cobbled streets one is reminded of iron-armored horse’s hooves clapping, and steel swords clashing and clanging

The New Town of Rhodes, just a short distance from the Old Town, is where the beaches lie, and where hotels, shops, restaurants, discotheques, and even a casino, are packed together to create a lively ambience. A walk in Rodini Park is a must. This park is perhaps the first landscaped park in the world. It is a couple of kilometers away from the Old Town, and one can see part of the ancient aqueduct system of Rhodes within it.

No visit of Rhodes is complete without visiting Lindos. You'll find Lindos at a distance of 55 kilometers from Rhodes town, on the eastern side of the island. Built in the 12th Century B.C., it is now a top-class resort, with a fine sandy beach and a tiny lagoon, which reflects the whitewashed houses and the Lindos Acropolis above. The village contains many houses dating from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, which are known as “the houses of the captains.” Their architecture and decoration are unique in the Greek world.

Rovinj
Rovinj is a city in Croatia situated on the north Adriatic Sea. It is located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula and is a popular tourist resort and an active fishing port. It retains a strong Italian flavour with cobblestone streets and a central promenade. A casino in town also attracts visitors, and Rovinj also makes an excellent base from which to visit other Istrian towns such as Porec and Pula.

Rovinj is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic coast, retaining its medieval character as well as its elegant Venetian piazzas and houses. Known as the Monmartre of Istria, it is an artists colony featuring many galleries and a Baroque town gate built by one of the local families.

Brindisi
Brindisi is an ancient city in the Italian region of Puglia, the capital of the province of Brindisi. In the 21st century, Brindisi serves as the home base of the San Marco Regiment, a naval brigade originally known as the La Marina Regiment. The city has plenty to offer in terms of quaint little streets, a cosmopolitan atmosphere and interesting nightlife.

Brindisi has many beautiful sandy beaches which can be easily reached. The water is a pleasant temperature and is ideal for windsurfing and sailing. There are also plenty of nearby attractions such as the plateau of Le Murge, the Salentine Peninsula and the mountains, forests and beaches of the Gargano Promontory.