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A Seabourn luxury cruise ship will escort you into a wondrous world of history and culture with a sapphire jewel at its center. On a Mediterranean cruise with Seabourn, you will experience the best that the sea and the countries have to offer – gourmet food, wonderful people and memories of a lifetime.
Embarkation
Piraeus has been the port for Athens since 482 BC. The busy harbor is filled with ferries and cruise ships making their way to the Greek Islands and other Mediterranean cities. The busy metropolis of Athens and its treasure trove of antiquities lie just a few miles from the port. Even as the reality of the modern city took hold, with its high-rise apartments, crowded sidewalks and bustling traffic, the beauty of the Acropolis, the outstanding museums, charming cafés, sidewalk markets and startling views come together in a cultural mosaic for all to enjoy.
Although connected to the mainland by a causeway, the great hump of Monemvasia looming from the sea is an island. The medieval city seems to tumble down the sheer rock to the sea, crowned by the Byzantine church of Ayia Sophia nearly 900 feet above. In the Middle Ages, the famous Malmsey wine was made here.
At Sea
Colorful fishing boats line the busy little port of Marina Grande, entry to the famous isle of Capri in Italy’s Bay of Naples. Inhabited since the Stone Age and settled by the Greeks in the 8th century BC, Capri was the favorite retreat of Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius, who built numerous residences there. The island has remained a haven for A-listers ever since, as evidenced by the many elegant villas that dot its dramatic coastal cliffs. Your first view upon approach is of the iconic Faraglioni, a cluster of three rock formations said to be home to the mythical sirens who tempted Odysseus with their songs. Today’s travelers are enchanted by the spectacular views from Villa San Michele and atop Mount Solaro. Wander the Gardens of Augustus, take a boat ride inside the ethereal Blue Grotto, and explore the remains of Villa Jovis, the most impressive of Tiberius’s many island abodes. Stroll Capri Town’s narrow alleyways lined with exclusive boutiques, then grab a limoncello in the central piazza, La Piazzetta, and soak in the charm.
Set in a picturesque inlet, the town of Nydri is a favorite Ionian yacht harbor. Explore the vast olive groves that blanket Lefkada’s landscape, and the famous Nydri Waterfalls.
A scant few miles off the Albanian coast lies the island of Corfu, one of the most richly endowed of all the Greek Isles. Praised by Homer in ‘The Odyssey’ and selected by Shakespeare as the setting for ‘The Tempest,’ the island retains evidence of cultural heritage from each of its past rulers – Byzantium, Venice, France, Russia and Great Britain. Rolling acres of olive groves, small orchards of lemon and orange trees, tall cypress, oleander, and myrtle bushes lend a lush, verdant look to the island. While the oldest part of Corfu Town has cobblestone lanes so narrow only pedestrian travel is possible, the modern sector has wide avenues. Residents boast that its ‘Spianada’ is the largest and most beautiful square in all Greece.
Set on a peninsula between two arms of the Adriatic Sea, Brindisi was an important port of the Roman Empire, and later for the East India Company. In the 2nd century BC the Appian Way was built, linking the port to Rome, and a column near the harbor marks the end of that famous route. It is here that in 71 BC, the gladiator Spartacus led thousands of rebel slaves in an unsuccessful escape. Today visitors find Romanesque churches, a 13th-century castle and, in the surrounding Apulia region, remains of ancient Messapian culture.
Founded in the 7th century, Dubrovnik rose to greatness as a merchant state, independent republic and cultural crossroads. The traffic-free Old Town has been called a Croatian Athens. This UNESCO designated World Heritage Site is a living museum of the ages with fortifications, chapels, monastic cloisters and Europe’s second-oldest synagogue crowded into its ancient walls. Relax at a sidewalk café, listen to the chimes of the 14th-century bell tower or join the promenade down the palace-lined avenue known as the Stradun.
Itinerary was accurate at time of posting.
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