Day 1 – Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Departs 06:30 pm.

The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens’ destiny. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece. Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens’ port of entry for over two millennia.

Day 2 – Crete (heraklion), Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 10:00 pm.

Archaeological evidence shows that Heraklion probably arose during the 9th century B.C. and was named in tribute to the Greek goddess Rhea, mother of Zeus. And like most Mediterranean cities, Heraklion has a long and turbulent history. Officially founded by the Saracens in the 9th century, the Byzantine Empire invaded in 961 only to lose control to the Crusaders who sold Crete to the Venetians in 1211 for a thousand silver coins.Heraklion finally flourished under the Venetians. Throughout the city you’ll find stunning reminders of their influence: the Loggia, Venetian Walls, and Fountain of Morosini are just a few must-see examples.But Heraklion is probably best known as the gateway to the breathtaking 4,000 year-old Minoan ruins at Knossos and to the famous windmills stretched across the Lassithi Plateau.

Day 3 – At Sea

Day 4

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 5 – At Sea

Day 6 – Sardinia (cagliari), Italy

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

The views from the Terrazza Umberto I are panoramic: one looks out over Sardinia’s capital, a city ancient even in Roman times. Mountains frame the azure waters of the gulf. Nearby lagoons harbor flocks of flamingos and egrets. Welcome to one of the most intriguing ports in the Western Mediterranean. Founded by Phoenician traders in the 7th century B.C., Cagliari has been a Carthaginian colony and a Roman seaport. Those fine old walls supporting the Terrazza Umberto I were erected in the 13th century by the Italian city-state of Pisa. In addition to its fine old Italian architecture, Cagliari boasts superb light, inviting waters and excellent beaches.The city-state of Pisa and the Kings of Aragon vied for control of Sardinia for two centuries. The cathedral, built by Pisans in the 13th century, holds the mausoleum of a 15th century Aragonese prince.

Day 7 – At Sea

Day 8 – Gibraltar

Arrives 09:00 am, departs 02:30 pm.

The Rock crouches over the sea like an ancient stone beast, looking Sphinx-like to Africa. Beneath the white cliffs of this natural fortress grows a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers thrive here, some not found anywhere else on Earth. Gibraltar’s stunning setting is matched by its history – five countries have battled for 13 centuries to control the passage between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The result made for a cultural melting pot. Veiled Moroccan women in caftans and vacationing Englishmen and Spaniards stroll along the narrow, steep lanes. The locals revert to a liquid Spanish when talking among themselves. And visitors to a 15th-century cathedral pass through a blue-tiled courtyard, once part of a 13th-century mosque.Helmeted bobbies, pillar-boxes and pubs make for a bit of Britain in the Mediterranean. Gibraltar is a fascinating place, from its caves and batteries to the Barbary apes gamboling on the slopes of the Rock.

Day 9 – At Sea

Day 10 – At Sea

Day 11 – Southampton (for London), England

Arrives 06:00 am.

The south of England boasts a dramatic coastline that encloses some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain. The landscape of hills and heaths, downs and forests, valleys and dales, is without rival. Southampton serves as your gateway to the countryside – and to a wide variety of historic sites, national landmarks and charming. And of course, London is a two-hour drive by modern highway. The United Kingdom’s premier passenger ship port, Southampton was home for many years to the great transatlantic liners of yesteryear.