| | Sep 21 – Sat | Venice –Italy | | 16:00 |
Individual arrival in Venice ~ embarkation on the Seabourn Odyssey.
Described by many as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice, or Venezia in Italian, has been an important port city throughout history. Founded in the early 400s A.D., this city has been renowned for its beauty, architecture, musical and artistic culture, and of course its strategic maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Stretched across 117 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea, Venice was a wealthy city throughout most of its history; while tourism has been a major sector of its industry since the 18th century. Venice continues to impress its visitors as one of the most visited destinations in Italy, if not the entire Mediterranean! |
| | Sep 22 – Sun | Sibenik –Croatia | 10:00 | 18:00 |
| The city of Sibenik is located on the Croatian coast some 80 km north of the more famous town of Split. As it is positioned in the deep bay, it is one of the most naturally protected harbors on the Adriatic coast. Although Sibenik is less known than Dubrovnik and Split, it has its own personality and some great things to see and enjoy. The atmosphere in Sibenik is youthful and lively. Narrow streets lead to attractive squares where modern and stylish shop windows unite with the fine architecture of vanished centuries. One of the things not to be missed is Sibenik’s cathedral –Sveti Jakov. Built back in 1434, it is an important Croatian Renaissance building and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral lies just underneath the fortress walls of the town in the old area of Sibenik. Other places of interest in Sibenik include the town hall, the churches of St. Barbara and St. Fran as well as many small town palaces, fortresses and other churches all spread throughout the city. |
| | Sep 23 – Mon | Kotor – Montenegro | 08:00 | 16:00 |
| Located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor, Kotor is an old Mediterranean port on the coast of Montenegro. As one of the best preserved medieval towns in the Adriatic, surrounded by impressive city walls built by the Republic of Venice, Kotor has been honored with being title a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the shadow of the impressive St. John’s Hill, as one approaches the shores of Kotor, they can’t help but be in awe of the incredible natural landscape and of course of the picturesque city itself – it is immediately obvious that you have come to one of the world’s most beautiful bays. |
| | Sep 24 – Tue | Corfu – Greece | 09:00 | 23:00 |
| Corfu lies at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, between Italy and Greece in the Ionian Sea and is the second largest of the Ionian Islands. It is a very mountainous island with incredible landscapes, dense vegetation, golden brown sandy beaches, traditional villages, Byzantine churches, several museums, striking Venetian fortresses and one of Greece’s most beautiful main towns. Corfu town is the largest town in all of the Ionian Islands and is perhaps one of the most interesting cities in Greece. Built during the island’s Venetian rule, Corfu town stands between two fortresses and its architecture has been influenced by all the major civilizations that occupied the island, such as the Sicilians, Venetians, French and British. |
| | Sep 25 – Wed | Kefalonia (Argostoli) –Greece | 09:00 | 18:00 |
Located in the center of southern Kefalonia, Argostoli has been this beautiful island’s capital since 1757. With a population of approximately 14,000, Argostoli is a busy modern and cosmopolitan town; it is the island’s main port and main commercial center.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the coastal promenade and then venture into town to explore and see the Kefalonian way of life. Head to Plateia Valianou, the central square, which is full of restaurants, cafes and bars. If you’d like to do some shopping, the pedestrian street ‘Lithostroto’ is Argostoli’s main commercial street and offers many shops to browse. During your walk along Lithostroto, be sure to admire the beautiful church of Saint Spyridon and the clock tower of Campana Square.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of Kefalonia, the Archaeological Museum is home to interesting archaeological artefacts from the Mycenaean, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Additionally, you may like to visit Korgialenios History and Folklore Museum which is housed on the ground floor of the Korgialenian Library; it consists of a reconstruction of a traditional 19th century Kefalonian house and houses a rich collection of the island’s photographs.
If heading to a beach sounds more like what you have in mind, the closest beach resort is ‘Sami’, and is just a few kilometres from town. Sami is a very popular beach area that offers wonderful beaches, traditional tavernas, and of course lively summer bars. |
| | Sep 26 – Thu | Pylos – Greece | 08:00 | 17:00 |
Pylos is a modest, yet pretty coastal town that offers its visitors old town charm, pleasant narrow streets for a leisurely stroll, and a harbor full of cafes and traditional tavernas – just perfect for a panoramic view of the Bay of Navarino.
If you have included a True Greece guided tour of the Palace of Nestor, meet your driver and guide to explore and learn more about this fascinating site. Located on the hill of Ano Eglianos, the palace of famous King Nestor awaits exploration. Follow your local True Greece guide through this fascinating Palace consisting of four main buildings and several smaller structures. Explore the surrounding complex of more than one hundred ground floor apartments and premises. The beautiful town of Pylos retains its charming old quarter to this day, a setting that is even more enhanced by the historic significance of this region. Navigating the history of the Greek revolution, your True Greece guide will make this charming area come to life. |
| | Sep 27 – Fri | Nafplio –Greece | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| Çanakkale is a town located on the southern (Asian) coast of the Dardanelles strait. Like Istanbul, it is situated between the two continents of Asia and Europe and has been a crossing point from Asia to Europe for centuries; Persian King Xerxes crossed in 481 B.C., and Alexander the Great a century and a half later. During the days of the Ottomans, it was used by their armies to march into Europe. In the 19th century, the area witnessed one of the bloodiest wars of World War I in the nearby battlefields of Gallipoli. It is also the nearest city to the ancient site of Troy, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, discovered in 1865-66 by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. The area has been of great strategic and economic importance as the gateway to Istanbul and the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. |
| | Sep 28 – Sat | Athens –Greece | 07:00 | |
Arrival Athens ~ individual departure.
Disembark your cruise ship at Athens’ main port of Piraeus - Greece's largest port and gateway to the Mediterranean since 482 BC! If True Greece has arranged for your post-cruise experience, upon arrival at the Piraeus cruise terminal meet your private driver who will transfer you to your luxury hotel in Athens; then enjoy a True Greece guided tour of Athens and the Acropolis.
Together with your local True Greece guide, the highlights tour will expose you to this diverse city - birth place of modern democracy and cradle of western civilization. Follow your True Greece guide up the steps once taken by ancients like Socrates, Pericles and Plato, and gaze at the ‘sacred’ Acropolis, home to the magnificent and architecturally unique Parthenon. Allow your True Greece guide to bring the city of Athens and this exceptional experience to life, with a wealth of historical and cultural information. As part of your tour, you will also have the opportunity to visit significant and historically important sites, such as the Parliament Building, the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, the Columns of Olympian Zeus, and the Presidential Mansion.
If you have already had the opportunity of exploring Athens and its historically significant monuments, it would be our pleasure to arrange a guided tour to one of the many famous ancient sites outside of the city – perhaps Ancient Delphi or the Temple of Zeus at Sounio. Whatever your preferences, we can fulfil exactly what you are looking for…and more! |