Italy & Greece Highlights & 7-day Aegean Cruise
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.
Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights) On arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in time to relax before meeting your Tour Director this afternoon for a Welcome dinner of pasta and wine in local trattoria. Tonight, why not join in with the Romans on their evening 'passegiata'" (Welcome Dinner)
Day 3 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure A morning sightseeing tour with a local guide comprises a walking tour including the Forum with views over the Colosseum & the Circus Maximus. On the other side of the Tiber we enjoy a guided visit of the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. This evening why not enjoy a concert of Italian music over dinner" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - Rome — Pompeii — Bay of Naples (2 nights) We drive south today into the Lazio and past the Abbey of Monte Cassino, scene of fierce fighting during the Second World War, into the fertile land of the Campania. Here we visit the excavations of the town of Pompeii on our guided walking tour using our audio system. When the town was engulfed by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 — it was literally petrified into the incredible testimony of Roman life it affords us today. Soon we arrive at our hotel in the Bay of Naples — in the shadow of the now dormant volcano. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 5 - Bay of Naples — Sorrento - Excursion to Capri We drive to Sorrento for an orientation of the resort and visit to the Inlaid wood workshop to see how some of the local crafts are produced. Then to the port of Sorrento to embark on our cruise to the Isle of Capri. We ascend by funicular through lemon trees and olive groves to the Piazzetta in Capri Town, where we will enjoy a walking tour using our effective audio system, which will take us to admire breathtaking views over the Faraglioni rocks. We return across the Bay of Naples to our hotel for dinner tonight. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 6 - Bay of Naples — Bari - At Sea Today our journey takes us past Salerno and Potenza to continue East to the port of Bari. Here we board our overnight ferry for the sea-crossing to Patras in Greece. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 7 - At Sea — Patras — Olympia We cross the Ionian Sea, arriving in the greek port of Patras in the morning. Then we join our coach for the journey to Olympia where we will visit the world's oldest Olympic Stadium, where the first Olympic games took place in 776 B.C., plus the Temples of Zeus and Hera on our visit of this Archaeological site. Tonight we will "join the Gods" for dinner. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Olympia — Delphi Today, we make our way back to Patras for a ferry to mainland Greece. Then it's a pretty drive to Delphi, where, as part of our guided walking tour we consult the famous Oracle and predict the future! Then walk the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo and visit this ancient Archaeological site. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Delphi — Athens (2 nights) This morning after breakfast, we continue our journey past Thebes, birthplace of Oedipus and on to Athens for our two-night stay. On arrival, our sightseeing tour includes a walking tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon. We also visit the Acropolis Museum, and view the Agora where Socrates taught, plus see the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, before heading to the stadium built for the first modern Olympic games in 1896. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 10 - Athens at leisure Our morning is free to explore the city further, to take a coffee on Constitution square. Later you may wish to enjoy a meal in the Plaka. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 11 - Athens — Piraeus Your morning is at leisure before a late afternoon transfer to Piraeus. Here we board our ship and cruise towards Turkey. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 12 - At Sea — Istanbul Relax on board as we cruise towards Istanbul. It's an early evening arrival with views of Mosques and minarets. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 13 - Istanbul A full day at leisure to enjoy this fabled city. Perhaps take an excursion to see the highlights of Istanbul. Later, why not be entertained with some Turkish belly-dancing before we cruise to the playground of the rich and famous, Mykonos at approximately 6.00pm" (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 14 - At Sea — Mykonos Relax on board and enjoy the ships facilities. A mid-afternoon arrival in Mykonos where we spend a few relaxing hours. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 15 - Patmos — Kusadasi An early morning arrival at Patmos, with time for an excursion to the Fortress-Monastery. Then we set sail for Turkish Kusadasi arriving mid-afternoon. Here an excursion to Ephesus is a must! (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 16 - Rhodes An early morning arrival at Rhodes. There's time here to take an optional shore excursion to explore the Old Town and Lindos. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 17 - Heraklion — Santorini An early morning arrival at Heraklion on the island of Crete. Next we set sail to spectacular Santorini arriving late afternoon. Perhaps take an optional shore excursion to Akrotiri. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 18 - Disembarkation — Athens An early morning arrival at the port of Piraeus. Here we transfer to our hotel in Athens. On our arrival there's time to relax or maybe do some last-minute souvenir shopping. (Breakfast)
Day 19 - Athens - USA Farewell as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Breakfast)
Day 20 - Cruise Ships operating this itinerary Perla or Sea Diamond
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