Greece & Italy Cruise: Olympia, Catania & Amalfi Coast (salerno)

Day 1 - Athens

Arrive: Sat 26 February 2028 / Depart: Sat 26 February 2028 at 18:00

You could spend a lifetime in Europe’s oldest city and still not see everything it has to offer. Settled over 3,500 years ago, Athens is like a mythological crossroads of the past and present, where modern buildings share the skyline with spectacular ruins like the Parthenon. To see a veritable “greatest hits” line-up, make your way to Vasilissis Amalias Street for the archaeological walk. Winding through the heart of the ancient city, the route leads to landmarks like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Agora, Arch of Hadrian, and of course, the Acropolis.

Day 2 - Souda Bay

Arrive: Sun 27 February 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 27 February 2028 at 17:00

Day 3 - Katakolon

Arrive: Mon 28 February 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 28 February 2028 at 14:00

This Greek seaside town is the gateway to the ruins of Olympia, where the ancient games began in 776 BC, and continued for over 1000 years, until they were outlawed as a pagan festival, after Rome officially adopted Christianity as the only legitimate imperial religion. The complex is made up of temples, workshops, and the training structures that have given us the word we still use today to describe such facilities – gymnasium. The games did not recommence until 1896, but their ancient roots are acknowledged when the modern Olympic flame is lit here every four years, before beginning its long journey to the host nation.

Day 4 - Syracuse, Italy

Arrive: Tue 29 February 2028 at 10:30 / Depart: Tue 29 February 2028 at 22:00

Siracusa is known for the archaeological and historical sights that define its grand past, as one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world in the 5th century BC. They include a Greek theater, still in use, where Aeschylus produced some of his plays; a dramatic necropolis with burial niches cut into the rock that include the tomb of Archimedes, famous mathematician, engineer, and inventor; and the Ear of Dionysus, a cave with amazing acoustical properties. The “modern” city was rebuilt in Sicilian Baroque style after the devastating earthquake of 1693.

Day 5 - Catania, Sicily

Arrive: Wed 01 March 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 01 March 2028 at 17:00

Between the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna lies the beautiful city of Catania, where it’s “if it ain’t Baroque don’t fix it” architecture has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Along with flamboyantly designed buildings, Catania is home to many ancient sites, like the Odeon and Amphitheatre—unearthed from under Mount Etna’s lava that covered the city at least seven times. These ruins can be viewed in the archaeological park, in the compact (AKA great for walking) city center.

Day 6 - Salerno

Arrive: Thu 02 March 2028 at 08:30

Day 7 - Salerno

Depart: Fri 03 March 2028 at 16:00

Day 8 - Rome

Arrive: Sat 04 March 2028 at 06:30 / Depart: Sat 04 March 2028

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications. Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter. Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.