7 nights. Italy, Greece

Day 1

marghera - italy

Departure: 17:00

Mestre, just across the lagoon from Venice, is a handy and often overlooked base for exploring the area. Well connected by train, tram and bus, it offers quick access to Venice’s historic centre—usually in 10–15 minutes—while giving you a quieter, more residential feel. Places to stay and eat are generally better value than on the islands, making Mestre a smart choice for budget‑conscious travellers or anyone looking for a less touristy experience. The heart of Mestre is Piazza Ferretto, a lively pedestrian square lined with cafés, ice‑cream shops and boutiques. It’s where locals meet for an evening aperitivo, head out with the family for a stroll, or enjoy open‑air events in summer. Nearby, the Toniolo Theatre and modern shopping streets give the town a contemporary edge, while smaller side streets hide little bakeries, traditional trattorias and local markets where you can try regional specialities like cicchetti and freshly baked focaccia. Beyond the centre, Mestre has plenty of green areas and cycle routes. The vast San Giuliano Park, looking out over the Venice lagoon, is ideal for a run, a picnic, or taking in panoramic views of Venice’s skyline across the water. Cyclists will enjoy the network of cycle paths linking Mestre with nearby towns and the park, making it easy to explore at a relaxed pace and dodge the crowds without straying far from the city. Mestre is also a useful base for discovering more of the Veneto region. Trains and buses take you quickly to Padua, Treviso and Verona, as well as to the beaches along the Adriatic coast. With its strategic location, practical transport links and genuine local atmosphere, Mestre is more than just a gateway to Venice—it’s a destination worth getting to know in its own right.

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Day 1

venice, italy

Arrival: 17:30 - Departure: 19:00

Venice is a city like no other: a labyrinth of canals, marble palaces, and hidden courtyards floating on the Adriatic. Built on more than 100 small islands, it has no roads—only waterways and narrow alleys that suddenly open onto breathtaking piazzas. At its heart lies St. Mark’s Square, framed by the dazzling Basilica di San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the iconic Campanile. From here, you can wander under arcades lined with cafés and listen to live orchestras as the sun sets over the lagoon. The Grand Canal is Venice’s main thoroughfare, curving through the city like a glittering highway of water. Riding a vaporetto (water bus) offers a front-row view of Gothic and Renaissance palaces, their facades reflected in the rippling surface. For a more intimate experience, slip into one of the smaller canals on a gondola and glide beneath low stone bridges, passing quiet neighborhoods where laundry hangs over the water and church bells echo between the walls. Beyond the famous sights, Venice rewards slow exploration. Lose yourself in the districts of Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, where local bacari (wine bars) serve cicchetti—small Venetian tapas—alongside spritz and local wines. Cross the Rialto Bridge to visit its bustling market, where fishmongers and fruit vendors supply the city’s kitchens, and artisans sell Murano glass and traditional masks. Each sestiere (district) has its own character, from elegant San Marco to the more bohemian, artsy feel of Dorsoduro. Venice also makes an ideal base for exploring the lagoon islands. Take a short boat ride to Murano, famous for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition, where you can watch master glassblowers at work. Continue to Burano, a photographer’s dream with its brightly painted houses and lace workshops, and then on to Torcello, a peaceful island with ancient churches and a rare sense of quiet. Whether you come for art, history, or romance, Venice offers a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers long after you leave.

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Day 2

bari, italy

Arrival: 14:00 - Departure: 20:00

Despite the fact that Bari is quite a large modern city, it has managed to maintain the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city, ancient buildings and strict gothic castles sit side by side with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Take a stroll along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a masterpiece of Baroque art. In these winding streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church of San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly receives new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for leisurely walks in shady valleys, night turns Bari into one lively discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors until dawn.

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Day 3

corfu, greece

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 19:00

With its Venetian fortress, British palaces, and a French esplanade modelled on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, Corfu might not strike you as Greek at all. The most populated and cosmopolitan of the Ionian Islands, it is teeming with foreigners and foreign architecture. In legend, Corfu was the island where the shipwrecked Odyssey met the lovely Princess Nausicaa. Some locals claim it was also the magical isle conjured up by Shakespeare in The Tempest. Corfu Town, a small and pleasant city, is the largest and most important town on the island. This is where the airport is located and where most ships cruise and long distance ferries dock. The Old Fortress is definitely one of Corfu’s landmarks. Built by the Venetians in 1546 on the site of a Byzantine castle, the fortress is separated from the rest of the town by a moat. The Old Town is a maze of narrow streets dominated by the 16th century fortress. Around every corner you can find a chapel, old mansion or secret garden square. Between the Old Fortress and the Old Town, we find The Esplanade, with its arches and cafes, is considered the most beautiful esplanade in Greece. The Achillion Palace is ideally located in the picturesque village of Gastouri, 10 km south of the city centre. It was the summer residence of Empress Sissi from 1890 until her death in 1898. This beautiful building and its picturesque gardens overlooks the sea and Corfu town. On the north western tip of the island is the lively resort of Sidari. It's actually two small coastal villages connected by a long sweeping sandy beach. The Kanoni peninsula, with the 17th century monastery for women, is one of Corfu's best known landmarks and can be found on numerous postcards from the island. From the islet of Kanoni, it's possible to go by boat to another islet, the Mouse Island or Pontikonisi. Corfu's architecture is very diverse, influenced by the civilizations that once occupied the island. Mass tourism has turned parts of the island into eyesores but a surprising amount of the island still consists of olive groves, mountains or woodland. Corfu Town is a charming and elegant town, built between two fortresses. Corfu is considered one of Greece's most beautiful cities, and it is easy to understand why when you're strolling down the narrow streets and through the alleys, walking over spacious squares, visiting Byzantine churches and Venetian monuments. And of course, Corfu also has its natural beauty; the green-turquoise water that surrounds the town.

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Day 4

argostoli, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 15:30

Welcome to Kefalonia, the largest of Greece’s Ionian Islands, where the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean meet lush green hillsides and layers of Greek history. This captivating island offers an unforgettable escape filled with pretty villages, gorgeous beaches and striking natural attractions. Start your Kefalonia break at Myrtos Beach, often named among the most beautiful in Greece. Its long sweep of white pebbles and crystal-clear turquoise water make it ideal for relaxing, swimming and taking photos. Framed by dramatic cliffs, Myrtos looks out over the Ionian Sea with views that are genuinely memorable. Stay for sunset to watch the sky and sea change colour in a spectacular evening show. Head inland and you’ll find the charm of Kefalonia’s villages, including Fiscardo and Assos. Fiscardo, with its colourful harbour and Venetian-style buildings, has an old-world feel, with small boutiques, waterside cafés and inviting tavernas. Assos, a quiet, postcard-perfect village, is known for its scenic bay and the impressive 16th-century Venetian castle on the hill above. Walking up to the ruins is rewarded with sweeping views of the coastline. Kefalonia’s natural wonders are unmissable. At Melissani Cave, an underground lake glows an almost unreal shade of blue thanks to the light streaming through an opening above; a short boat trip lets you drift through this magical space. Nearby, Drogarati Cave features vast chambers, stalactites and stalagmites, and surprisingly good acoustics that make it a favourite for visitors. Kefalonia is full of discoveries, from lazy days by the sea to cultural sights and outdoor adventures. Whether you’re after sunshine and sea, a taste of local life, or time in nature, this Greek island offers a little slice of paradise for every kind of traveller.

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Day 5

chania (souda) -crete - greece

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 17:00

Chania is an dara cathair is mó ar an gCreit agus is í príomhchathair aonad réigiúnach Chania. Tá sé suite ar chósta thuaidh an oileáin, thart ar 70 km (43 míle) siar ó Rethymno agus 145 km (90 míle) siar ó Heraklion.

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Day 6

rhodes, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 19:00

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of land area and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the South Aegean region. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Rhodes. It is located northeast of Crete, southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. Rhodes' nickname is The Island of the Knights. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Asklipio Inland from Kiotari. In the little church there are fascinating displays, honouring the continuity of the cult of healing from ancient times to a modern midwife and nurse. • Cape Prasonisi. The southern-most tip of Rhodes. There is a peninsula connected to the main island by a sand bar. • Castle with acropolis over Lindos • Castle of Kastellos. • Castle of Monolithos. • Epta Piges. • Filerimos Hill. Medieval remains, a monastery and chapel. • Kamiros. Ancient ruins. • Tsambika Peak. • Rhodes Old Town - Palace of the Prince Grand Master. - Street of Knights. - Fortifications. • Valley of the Butterflies.

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Day 7

mykonos, greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 23:00

Mykonos is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. In the 1960s, Mykonos became a bohemian mecca and is now one of the glitziest holiday resorts in the country that happily flaunts its sizzling style and reputation. This central Cyclade was for years the premier Mediterranean resort for gay travellers, though recently Mykonos has tried to reinvent itself for a more varied clientele, though nightlife is still very gay-friendly, it is a paradise for any reveller with loud and long nights. Chora or Mykonos town is the main town on the island. It is filled with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed buildings with blue trim, nice restaurants, clothing and jewellery shops, a fish market and a vegetable market. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean. Besides Chora, there is only one other town on the island, Ano Mera. Ano Mera is quieter and less touristy. While you are here, visit the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, a traditional Greek Orthodox Church which has a beautiful iconostas. The island is dry and barren, but there are some fine, sandy beaches, the two most well-known being Paradise and Super Paradise, but there are many other beaches you can seek out around the island. From the charming port, catch a boat out to the beaches or out to Delos, and you will be travelling from the present into the ancient past, from one set of myths to another.

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Day 8

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 06:00

Piraeus is a port city in the Attica region of Greece. It lies within the Athens urban area, about 8 kilometres southwest of the city centre (the municipality of Athens), along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 within its administrative boundaries, making it the fifth-largest municipality in Greece and the second-largest within the wider Athens urban area, after the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and four neighbouring suburban municipalities make up the regional unit of Piraeus, sometimes referred to as Greater Piraeus, with a total population of 448,997. This regional unit forms part of the Athens urban area. Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating back to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when the area was chosen to become the new port of classical Athens and was developed as a model harbour, concentrating all of Athens’ import and transit trade. During the Golden Age of Athens, the Long Walls were built to fortify both Athens and its port at Piraeus. As a result, Piraeus became the principal harbour of ancient Greece, but it gradually declined after the 3rd century BC, before expanding again in the 19th century, following the declaration of Athens as the capital of Greece. Today, Piraeus is a large, busy city and an integral part of Athens, home to the country’s biggest harbour and displaying all the hallmarks of a major maritime and commercial–industrial centre. The port of Piraeus is the main port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second-largest in the world, handling around 20 million passengers each year. With a throughput of about 1.4 million TEUs, Piraeus ranks among the top ten European ports for container traffic and is the leading container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The municipality hosted events during both the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest universities in Greece and includes the country’s second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department specialising in finance.

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What you should know:

Itinerary

The order of the ports may vary depending on the date of departure.
Check your itinerary for exact departure and arrival times. The hours correspond to the local time of the port.
Itineraries can change at any time without prior notice.

Boarding and landing

For safety reasons, all passengers must board 2 hours before departure on day 1 of the cruise.
Disembarkation usually begins 2 hours after docking on the last day of the cruise.

7 nights. Italy, Greece

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