Tauck

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Istanbul

   Turkey

   

   For more than fifteen centuries, Istanbul has been the pivot upon which empires turned — Byzantium, Constantinople, the Ottoman capital — and nowhere else on earth compresses so much history into a single horizon. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace form an incomparable trinity of architectural genius along the Golden Horn; the Grand Bazaar's four thousand shops offer a sensory immersion unlike any other marketplace. Must-dos include a Bosphorus sunset cruise and a meal of mezze along the waterfront at Karaköy. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most gracious climate for this inexhaustible city.

2. Day 2

   Istanbul

   Turkey

   

   For more than fifteen centuries, Istanbul has been the pivot upon which empires turned — Byzantium, Constantinople, the Ottoman capital — and nowhere else on earth compresses so much history into a single horizon. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace form an incomparable trinity of architectural genius along the Golden Horn; the Grand Bazaar's four thousand shops offer a sensory immersion unlike any other marketplace. Must-dos include a Bosphorus sunset cruise and a meal of mezze along the waterfront at Karaköy. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most gracious climate for this inexhaustible city.

3. Day 3

   Istanbul

   Turkey

   

   For more than fifteen centuries, Istanbul has been the pivot upon which empires turned — Byzantium, Constantinople, the Ottoman capital — and nowhere else on earth compresses so much history into a single horizon. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace form an incomparable trinity of architectural genius along the Golden Horn; the Grand Bazaar's four thousand shops offer a sensory immersion unlike any other marketplace. Must-dos include a Bosphorus sunset cruise and a meal of mezze along the waterfront at Karaköy. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most gracious climate for this inexhaustible city.

4. Day 4

   Istanbul

   Turkey

   

   For more than fifteen centuries, Istanbul has been the pivot upon which empires turned — Byzantium, Constantinople, the Ottoman capital — and nowhere else on earth compresses so much history into a single horizon. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace form an incomparable trinity of architectural genius along the Golden Horn; the Grand Bazaar's four thousand shops offer a sensory immersion unlike any other marketplace. Must-dos include a Bosphorus sunset cruise and a meal of mezze along the waterfront at Karaköy. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most gracious climate for this inexhaustible city.

5. Day 5

   Lemnos

   Greece

   

   Lemnos is a windswept Aegean island rich in mythology and history, home to possibly Europe's oldest city at Poliochni, the staging harbour for Gallipoli at Mudros, and outstanding local wines and cheeses largely unknown beyond Greece. Must-do experiences include exploring the Bronze Age ruins, tasting Muscat wine and melichloro cheese, and windsurfing in the reliable meltemi. May through October offers the best conditions, with peak winds in July-August.

6. Day 6

   Mykonos

   Greece

   

   Mykonos is the Aegean at its most seductive — a labyrinth of bougainvillea-draped whitewashed alleys designed to disorient pirates (and occasionally visitors) leading to Kástro, the medieval hilltop quarter overlooking Little Venice, where balconied houses hang directly above the sea. The island's famous windmills, perched on a ridge above the old harbour, are best photographed at golden hour as pelicans patrol the waterfront below. Visit the sacred archaeological island of Delos — a 30-minute boat crossing — for one of the most significant ancient sites in the Greek world. May, June, and September offer the perfect balance of warmth, light, and bearable crowds.

7. Day 7

   Kusadasi

   Turkey

   

   Kuşadası owes its place on the world's cruise itineraries to one extraordinary proximity: the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the greatest metropolises of the Greco-Roman world, lies just seventeen kilometres from the port. Ephesus — with its two-kilometre marble colonnade, the Library of Celsus, and the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) — demands at least half a day of unhurried exploration. The House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site believed to be where Mary spent her final years, adds a profound spiritual dimension. Kuşadası itself is a lively Aegean resort; the season runs April through October, with May and September offering ideal temperatures and smaller crowds.

8. Day 8

   Bodrum

   Turkey

   

   Bodrum is the site of ancient Halicarnassus and one of the Seven Wonders, now a whitewashed Aegean resort town where the Knights Hospitaller castle houses the world's finest underwater archaeology museum. Visit June or September via Explora Journeys or Virgin Voyages for peninsula village dining, Bronze Age shipwreck treasures, and Turkey's most seductive balance of ancient heritage and contemporary Mediterranean sophistication.

9. Day 9

   Santorini

   Greece

   

   Santorini, the ancient volcanic caldera rising from the Aegean, is Greece's most theatrical landscape — a crescentic island of sheer white cliffs plunging into an indigo sea, its clifftop villages of Fira and Oia draped in bougainvillea and culminating in the world's most photographed sunset. The island's unique Assyrtiko wine, grown on ancient ungrafted vines in volcanic pumice, is one of the Mediterranean's greatest expressions of terroir. Byzantine frescoes of extraordinary beauty fill the Prehistoric Museum of Thera. The volcanic black and red sand beaches of Perissa and Perivolos are unlike any others in Greece. April through June and September through October offer the finest conditions.

10. Day 10

    Methoni

    Greece

    

11. Day 12

    Athens (Piraeus), Greece

    Greece

    

    Piraeus, the bustling port city of Athens, is a vibrant blend of ancient history and modern charm, inviting travelers to explore its rich culture. Must-do experiences include savoring traditional Greek dishes at the Varvakeios Agora and embarking on day trips to nearby islands like Symi and Nydri. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowds are fewer.

12. Day 13

    Athens (Piraeus), Greece

    Greece

    

    Piraeus, the bustling port city of Athens, is a vibrant blend of ancient history and modern charm, inviting travelers to explore its rich culture. Must-do experiences include savoring traditional Greek dishes at the Varvakeios Agora and embarking on day trips to nearby islands like Symi and Nydri. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowds are fewer.

13. Day 14

    Athens (Piraeus), Greece

    Greece

    

    Piraeus, the bustling port city of Athens, is a vibrant blend of ancient history and modern charm, inviting travelers to explore its rich culture. Must-do experiences include savoring traditional Greek dishes at the Varvakeios Agora and embarking on day trips to nearby islands like Symi and Nydri. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowds are fewer.

Cabin Categories

Balcony Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2BS

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+6

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Balcony Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2BS1

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries ProvidedRoom Service AvailableTVSafe+6

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Star Balcony Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SBS1

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an open living area for a more welcoming entrance. Drift off to sleep by the window in your queen bed as you watch the same stars that sailors used to navigate the seas hundreds of years ago.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Star Balcony Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SBS

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an open living area for a more welcoming entrance. Drift off to sleep by the window in your queen bed as you watch the same stars that sailors used to navigate the seas hundreds of years ago.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Ocean View Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S1

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Ocean View Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S2

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVHair DryerTelephone+6

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Ocean View Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S3

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVHair DryerTelephone+7

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Ocean View Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVWi-Fi (Additional Cost)+5

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Star Ocean View Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SS1

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an open living area for a more welcoming entrance. Drift off to sleep by the window in your queen bed as you watch the same stars that sailors used to navigate the seas hundreds of years ago.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Star Porthole Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SP

These rooms represent a nod to the sailing tradition of porthole windows. And while sailors might have had cramped quarters, your 277 square foot stateroom is wonderfully spacious and furnished with all the modern amenities and comforts of home.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+6

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Classic Suite

Suite

400–530 sq ftMax 2CS

Relax in 400 to 530 spacious square feet. Your living area offers beautiful views from the forward-facing window and French doors onto your private veranda. Two spacious closets give you plenty of room to unpack.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerBathToiletries ProvidedTV+6

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Deluxe Suite

Suite

468 sq ftMax 2DS

Brand new Deluxe Suites welcome you with 468 square feet of casually elegant living space and an ocean viewing French balcony. All these suites feature 3rd berths, and a sleep-inducing queen bed easily converted to twins.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+6

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Owner's Suite

Suite

575 sq ftMax 2OW

With 575 square feet, your Owner’s Suite offers separate living room and dining areas. A veranda, two flat-screen TVs and DVD players, and a full master bath and separate powder room indulge you in spacious comfort.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerBathTVWi-Fi (Additional Cost)+7

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