Fall in love with the ancient cities of the Mediterranean on this 8-day cruise from Athens to Istanbul. Begin in Athens and take a city tour of its most magnificent sites before sailing for Patmos and Kusadasi. Enjoy optional guided excursions to legenday Ephesus and marvel at its towering ruins and rich history. Ending in Istanbul, this small ship cruise delights travelers who seek a cultural and historical glimpse of the Mediterranean's past and modern present.

Activities

Small Ship Cruises

Places Visited

Europe
Greece
Mediterranean
Turkey
Athens
Kusadasi
Patmos
Dikili
Epheus
European Union
Istanbul

Activity Level: Relaxed

Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.

Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Athens / Embark

1 Dinner

Arrive in historical Athens and board the MS La Belle de L'Adriatique. Settle in to your cabin and meet the ship's crew over a welcome cocktail and dinner. Remain in port overnight.

Day 2: Athens

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Explore Athens! Set out on an excursion to visit the Acropolis and discover the sites of the legendary Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, which features graceful caryatids instead of columns. Round out your visit to the ruins with a tour of the Parthenon. Leave the Acropolis and take a panoramic tour of modern Athens and familiarize yourself with Greece's capital city. If you have already visited the Acropolis, join an excursion to the Apollo Coast and Cape Sounion. Jutting up from the Attic Peninsula, Homer referred to it as a "sacred cape" with remarkable views of the Aegean Sea and the Cyclades. In the afternoon, set sail through the Mediterranean.

Day 3: Patmos

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Dock in the Patmos harbor early in the morning. One of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese, Patmos is thought by some Biblical scholars be where St. John wrote the Book of Revelations. Begin with a visit to the Cave of the Apocalypse (shorts and low-cut shirts are prohibited), where St. John is said to have made his home on the island. According to Christian tradition, it was here that God came to him in a vision. He dictated his revelations to a scribe and this became the last book of the New Testament. Visit the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, which is built on top of the mountain and dominates not only the Chora, which is built around it, but the entire island. In 1088, a monk named Christodoulos was granted possession of the island to establish a monastery in honor of St. John. Today, this magnificent complex is a place of pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox learning. The monastery also has a museum displaying its precious collection. Return to the ship and spend the afternoon sailing for Kusadasi.

Day 4: Kusadasi / Ephasus

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey, and depart for an optional guided excursion to Ephasus, one of the world's oldest and most important Greco-Roman cities. Even f rocks and ruins don't impress you or you aren't fascinated by ancient history, you'll be mesmerized by this unique and exceptionally well-preserved site. There is a tradition that St. John settled here with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and possibly also wrote his gospel here. It is also believed that Cleopatra first met Mark Anthony here. Stroll the legendary marble streets and discover the Temple of Hadrian, the Trajan and Pollio Fountains, The Baths of Scholastikia, the magnificent Celsus Library, and the superb stadium. In the afternoon, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, believed by some to be where the Virgin Mary lived out the last years of her life. The house was discovered in the 19th century by following the descriptions in the reported visions of a Roman Catholic nun. Although the Roman Catholic Church has never pronounced on the authenticity of the house, it was elevated to the status of a Holy Place in 1950. Pilgrims drink from a spring under the house which is believed to have healing properties. A liturgical ceremony is held here every year on August 15 to commemorate the Assumption of Mary.

Day 5: Dikili / Pergamon

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Arrive in Dikili and leave for an optional guided visit of Pergamon the capital of the Attalid Dynasty which rose to prominence following the death of Alexander the Great. The city enjoyed centuries of prosperity that continued when it passed peacefully to Rome’s control in 133 B.C. Arrive on the site by aerial tram and begin your tour with the Acropolis and the podium where the Pergamon Alter once stood (it is currently sitting in the Berlin Museum). Cascading sharply down the precipitous slope towards the sea, the theater is one of the steepest of its kind. Discover the Temple of Trajan and the remains of the Temple of Athena, then tour the Asclepion, perhaps the world's most famous ancient medical center. Aalso visit the Hellenistic and Roman fortifications, the Red Basilica, and the Sacred Way.

Day 6: At Sea

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Spend the day afloat as the ship sails for Istanbul. Attend lectures on board and marvel at the beauty of the passing scenery.

Day 7: Istanbul

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Arrive in Istanbul and take a guided tour of its historical center, where the city’s most famous monuments and the ruins of several great civilizations are located. Begin at the Hippodrome of Constantinople, which contains two impressive obelisks and the Serpent Column. Then, tour Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years. It contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry. The 7,535,000 sq. ft. palace complex features hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the most important are accessible to the public today. Also visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, (the Blue Mosque). After the unfavorable result of the war with Persia, Sultan Ahmet I decided to build an enormous mosque in Istanbul to reassert Ottoman power. The mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.

In the afternoon, head to the Hagia Sophia. Originally a Greek Orthodox basilica and later an imperial mosque, it is now a museum. Also visit the Basilica Cistern, known as the Underground Palace, which once stored up to 80,000 cubic meters of water for Constantinople.

Day 8: Istanbul / Disembark

1 Breakfast

Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking the ship at 9 AM. Transfer into the city or to the airport for your continued independent journeys.

Ship/Hotel

MV La Belle de L'Adriatique

Name: Mediterranean Cruises & Tours
Brand: Adventure Life
Rating: 4.8 (175 reviews)

MV La Belle de L'Adriatique

The MV La Belle de L'Adriatique is a beautiful ship which cruises along the Croatian Islands, Montenegro, Cyprus, and Greek Islands. Built in 2007 and accommodating 198 passengers in just 99 cabins, she is a comfortable vessel upon which to enjoy your vacation.

Dates & Prices

Per person starting at

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First Deck- Cat A

24 cabins featuring twin beds and portholes. All cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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First Deck- Cat B

8 double cabins featuring twin beds and portholes. All cabins are equipped with a shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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First Deck- Cat C

5 double cabins featuring twin beds and portholes. All cabins are equipped with a shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Main Deck- Cat A

25 cabins with portholes (24 twins, 1 smaller cabin with 2 adjustable twin beds) equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Main Deck- Cat B

7 Double cabins with portholes equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Main Deck- Cat C

14 double cabins featuring twin beds and portholes. All cabins are equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Embarkation Deck - Cat B

22 cabins (18 twins, 4 smaller cabins with 2 adjustable twin beds) equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Embarkation Deck - Cat A

22 cabins equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Embarkation Deck - Cat C

4 double cabins equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Upper Deck - Cat A

10 double cabins - Equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Upper Deck - Cat B

15 double cabins | 1 PRM cabin Equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

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Upper Deck - Cat C

2 double cabins |1 single cabin Equipped with shower and toilet, hairdryer, satellite TV, radio, safe.

Notes

20% discount on children between 2-10 years
30% discount for 3rd person in triple cabin

Payment Details

Terms & Conditions

Operated by CroisiEurope

Included

7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners

Map

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Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!

Justin Chappelle

TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews

TrustScore 4.8 of 5

Based on 175 reviews on

1 day ago

The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!

Susan Campo

3 days ago

The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent. Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio. In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day. Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took. Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.

Kenneth Dropek

4 days ago

Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.

Tina

5 days ago

Rapid response.

kym

5 days ago

Jess and her non pushy salesmanship!!!!!

Cristen Crawford

Athens to Istanbul

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Athens / Embark

Day 2: Athens

Day 3: Patmos

Day 4: Kusadasi / Ephasus

Day 5: Dikili / Pergamon

Day 6: At Sea

Day 7: Istanbul

Day 8: Istanbul / Disembark

Ship/Hotel

MV La Belle de L'Adriatique

MV La Belle de L'Adriatique

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Notes

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