7 nights. Greece, Croatia

Day 1

venice (ravenna) - italy

Departure: 17:00

Welcome to the heart of Italy, Ravenna - a dazzling gem in the Emilia-Romagna region. Known as the city of mosaics, Ravenna is a paradise for art lovers, history buffs, food connoisseurs, and everyone in between. As you step onto the cobblestone streets of Ravenna, you'll immediately be surrounded by the echoes of a rich and fascinating past. This city, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, is home to no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Basilica di San Vitale, Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, and Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, to name a few, are adorned with some of the most exquisite Byzantine mosaics in the world. The vibrant colors and intricate designs will leave you in awe, as they've done for countless visitors over the centuries. But Ravenna is not just about the past. It's a bustling, vibrant city brimming with contemporary culture. Wander around its streets and you'll discover a plethora of charming shops, trendy bars, and restaurants serving up Emilia-Romagna's renowned culinary delights. From the local piadina flatbread to the deliciously creamy gelato, your taste buds are in for a treat. For nature lovers, Ravenna's location offers the perfect combination of coastal beauty and lush countryside. Just a short drive away, you'll find the golden beaches of the Adriatic Sea - perfect for a day of relaxation or watersports. Alternatively, venture inland to explore the peaceful marshlands of Po Delta Park, a haven for bird-watching and cycling. The city also hosts a myriad of events throughout the year. Whether it's the Dante-themed poetry readings, the Ravenna Festival of music and dance, or the vibrant Notte D'oro with its night-long festivities, there's always something to keep you entertained. Ravenna is a city where the past and present intertwine seamlessly, offering a unique blend of art, history, gastronomy, and natural beauty. Whether you're exploring its world-class heritage sites, sampling local delicacies, or simply soaking up the Italian sun on the Adriatic coast, Ravenna promises an unforgettable visit that will leave you longing to return. Come and experience the magic of Ravenna, where every corner holds a story waiting to be discovered.

Read more

Read less

1

Day 3

santorini, greece

Arrival: 14:00 - Departure: 23:00

Formed by the massive volcanic eruption which gave rise to the Atlantis legend, Santorini is the most striking island in the Aegean. The island is actually the outer rim of a sunken volcano, its entire eastern coast is a succession of small towns perched on high hills. Fira is the island’s dramatically situated capital. Perched on the cliffs, overlooking the sea, the town of Fira shares with the Parthenon the fame of the best known images of Greece. The narrow streets are filled with souvenir shops, lovely boutiques and a lot of jewellery shops. It has two beautiful churches, the Greek Orthodox and the Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. It also has a small local museum. Nightlife in Fira is also quite lively with good restaurants and bars, plus a few nightclubs. The city is a spectacle in itself, with a climax at sunset. Another great place to enjoy the sunset is the town of Ia, a small village clinging to the rocky point of land at the northern tip of the island, 300m above the sea. The beaches in Santorini are much different than other beaches in Greece due to their special geographical features. Red and black volcanic pebbles lay the shores of Santorini beaches and steep cliffs provide a picturesque ambience. The most famous of Santorini beaches is the Red beach, while particularly popular are Perissa, Kamari and Perivolos. Santorini is a truly wonderful destination. The siting of some of its major towns along the clifftop rim of the caldera is one of the most spectacularly lovely sights in the world. The buildings seem to defy gravity in the way they cling to the cliffs and are stacked one on top of the other like so many sugar cubes. The sandy, multicoloured beaches are simply the icing on the cake.

Read more

Read less

2

Day 4

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 20:00

Piraeus is a port city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens urban area, 8 kilometres southwest from its city centre (municipality of Athens), and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 people within its administrative limits, making it the fifth largest municipality in Greece and the second largest within the urban area of the Greek capital, following the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and four other suburban municipalities form the regional unit of Piraeus which sometimes called Greater Piraeus area, with a total population of 448,997, and is part οf Athens urban area. Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when this area was selected to become the new port of classical Athens and was built as a prototype harbour, concentrating all the import and transit trade of Athens. During the Golden Age of Athens the Long Walls were constructed to fortify Athens and its port (Piraeus). Consequently, it became the chief harbour of ancient Greece, but declined gradually after the 3rd century B.C., growing once more in the 19th century, after Athens' declaration as the capital of Greece. In the modern era, Piraeus is a large city, bustling with activity and an integral part of Athens, acting as home to the country's biggest harbour and bearing all the characteristics of a huge marine and commercial-industrial center. The port of Piraeus is the chief port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe and the second largest in the world, servicing about 20 million passengers annually. With a throughput of 1.4 million TEUs, Piraeus is placed among the top ten ports in container traffic in Europe and the top container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The municipality hosted events in both the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest Greek universities and has the country's second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department in the area of finance.

Read more

Read less

3

Day 5

mykonos, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 19:00

Mykonos is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. In the 1960s, Mykonos became a bohemian mecca and is now one of the glitziest holiday resorts in the country that happily flaunts its sizzling style and reputation. This central Cyclade was for years the premier Mediterranean resort for gay travellers, though recently Mykonos has tried to reinvent itself for a more varied clientele, though nightlife is still very gay-friendly, it is a paradise for any reveller with loud and long nights. Chora or Mykonos town is the main town on the island. It is filled with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed buildings with blue trim, nice restaurants, clothing and jewellery shops, a fish market and a vegetable market. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean. Besides Chora, there is only one other town on the island, Ano Mera. Ano Mera is quiter and less touristy. While you are here, visit the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, a traditional Greek Orthodox Church which has a beautiful iconostas. The island is dry and barren, but there are some fine, sandy beaches, the two most well-known being Paradise and Super Paradise, but there are many other beaches you can seek out around the island. From the charming port, catch a boat out to the beaches or out to Delos, and you will be travelling from the present into the ancient past, from one set of myths to another.

Read more

Read less

4

Day 7

split croatia

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Split is the second-largest city of Croatia and the largest city of the region of Dalmatia, with about 250,000 people living in its urban area. It lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is spread over a central peninsula and its surroundings. An intraregional transport hub and popular tourist destination, the city is linked to the Adriatic islands and the Apennine peninsula.

Read more

Read less

Day 8

venice (ravenna) - italy

Arrival: 06:00

Welcome to the heart of Italy, Ravenna - a dazzling gem in the Emilia-Romagna region. Known as the city of mosaics, Ravenna is a paradise for art lovers, history buffs, food connoisseurs, and everyone in between. As you step onto the cobblestone streets of Ravenna, you'll immediately be surrounded by the echoes of a rich and fascinating past. This city, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, is home to no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Basilica di San Vitale, Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, and Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, to name a few, are adorned with some of the most exquisite Byzantine mosaics in the world. The vibrant colors and intricate designs will leave you in awe, as they've done for countless visitors over the centuries. But Ravenna is not just about the past. It's a bustling, vibrant city brimming with contemporary culture. Wander around its streets and you'll discover a plethora of charming shops, trendy bars, and restaurants serving up Emilia-Romagna's renowned culinary delights. From the local piadina flatbread to the deliciously creamy gelato, your taste buds are in for a treat. For nature lovers, Ravenna's location offers the perfect combination of coastal beauty and lush countryside. Just a short drive away, you'll find the golden beaches of the Adriatic Sea - perfect for a day of relaxation or watersports. Alternatively, venture inland to explore the peaceful marshlands of Po Delta Park, a haven for bird-watching and cycling. The city also hosts a myriad of events throughout the year. Whether it's the Dante-themed poetry readings, the Ravenna Festival of music and dance, or the vibrant Notte D'oro with its night-long festivities, there's always something to keep you entertained. Ravenna is a city where the past and present intertwine seamlessly, offering a unique blend of art, history, gastronomy, and natural beauty. Whether you're exploring its world-class heritage sites, sampling local delicacies, or simply soaking up the Italian sun on the Adriatic coast, Ravenna promises an unforgettable visit that will leave you longing to return. Come and experience the magic of Ravenna, where every corner holds a story waiting to be discovered.

Read more

Read less

7 nights. Greece, Croatia

Need help?

Balcony

Inside

Outside

Suite

Photo gallery

Other cruises available aboard the Explorer of the Seas