Adriatic & Grecian Gems Cruise

Day 1 - Athens

Arrive: Sun 05 July 2026 / Depart: Sun 05 July 2026 at 17:00

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.

Day 2 - Gythion

Arrive: Mon 06 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 06 July 2026 at 17:00

Gythion, the small port town for Sparta, edges its way up the hillside, which surrounds the harbor. According to Homer, Paris and Helen spent their first night together here, on a tiny islet in the bay. To commemorate the occasion, Paris erected a shrine to Aphrodite, goddess of love, only to have it torn down by the vengeful Menelaus after he recaptured Helen. In its place Menelaus erected statues honoring Praxidica (Punishment) and Themis (Justice). Not far away, at the tip of the Peloponnese, lies the Mani, a distinctive area unlike anything else in Greece. This desolate region of underground lakes and rivers and windswept landscapes is strangely beautiful. To the north of Gythion lie Sparta and Mystra, well worth a visit.

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - Dubrovnik

Arrive: Wed 08 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 08 July 2026 at 22:00

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.

Day 5 - Hvar

Arrive: Thu 09 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 09 July 2026 at 18:00

Beautifully situated on a large natural bay, the ancient town of Hvar, on the island of the same name, served as an important harbor for Venice's Adriatic fleet from the 12th through the 18th centuries. Vestiges of this momentous time are reflected in the fortifications that still stand guard over the harbor, and in the very heart of the port, a large arsenal. Hvar today is a quiet spot reminiscent of the French Riviera at the turn-of-the-last-century. Sail and fishing boats bob and sway in the harbor and a 17th-century bell tower marks off the hours. Winding limestone lanes converge onto an expansive piazza, the largest in Dalmatia, which connects the older part of town to the ""modern"" side - that built after the 15th century. Inland, Hvar's green hills are woven with vineyards and lavender fields, and offshore tiny islets are scattered like pearls in a clear cobalt sea.

Day 6 - Zadar, Croatia

Arrive: Fri 10 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 10 July 2026 at 18:00

Located in central Dalmatia Zadar is one of the Adriatic's most historically interesting towns with a wealth of sightseeing and exciting nightlife. Zadar was founded by the Romans, attacked by the Turks, ruled by the Austrians and made part of Italy until 1943 when the Germans moved in. Allied bombing destroyed much of the historic centre which was rebuilt after the war only to suffer more attacks by Yugoslav forces in 1991. In recent years Zadar has undergone a startling revival. Cafes and bars are filled, museums and churches have been restored and tourists pour in to take boats to nearby islands.

Day 7 - Piran

Arrive: Sat 11 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 11 July 2026 at 18:00

From walled Piran, visit a medieval church with a fresco of the Danse Macabre, the UNESCO-cited caves of Skocjan, or Lipica stud farms, the home of the famed Lippizaner horses.

Day 8 - Fusina, Italy

Arrive: Sun 12 July 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 12 July 2026