Venice is the heart and soul of romance. Cast your eye on the rounded domes of San Marco, take a deep breath at the Bridge of Sighs, gaze on the golden lions and the Renaissance glories of the Doge's Palace, listen for the ghosts of Verdi, Puccini, and Caruso at La Fenice Opera House, gape at the classic Palladian proportions of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, or glide in a gondola down the Grand Canal. Know that love is always in the air in Venice.

The warm sands of Cikat Bay, situated near the port of Mali Losinj where we anchor, are an irresistible magnet for beachgoers. And no wonder, the beach is 30 kilometers long and offers every water sport imaginable. For those who prefer to wander farther afield, our bicycle tour takes you around the island past the fortified town of Veli Losinj.

The heavenly scent of lavender perfumes the air in the fields and valleys around the island of Hvar. Idyllically located just off the Dalmatian Coast, the island and the little port named after it have been a favorite getaway ever since the time of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, and even Austro-Hungarian royalty.

It was George Bernard Shaw who said, “Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik.” Indeed, Dubrovnik is a treasure by any measure made more precious by its miraculous restoration. Crowned by the Minceta Tower, the 10th-century city walls are the proud symbol of Dubrovnik's colorful history.

This stunning rock-walled chasm splitting the coastal mountains of Montenegro is the longest arm of the sea in southern Europe. Boka harbors one of the prettiest, unspoiled towns you'll ever see, the medieval city of Kotor. Founded by the Romans, fortified during the Byzantine era, then ruled by Venice for much of its history, Kotor has been naturally preserved by its isolation.

The lushest (and some say the loveliest) of all the Greek Islands, Corfu lies just a stone's throw from the Albanian coast. Nowhere is the stunning natural beauty of Corfu more evident than in the small village of Paleocastritsa, where legend says Odysseus was washed ashore to be rescued by Nausicaa.

The beach at little Katákolon is an inviting diversion, but you may want to go inland to Olympia for bigger game. Set in a stunningly lovely valley overlooked by Kronos Hill, Olympia began hosting athletic games in the 11th century BC. Walk through the sacred Temples of Zeus and Hera, stand on the still visible starting line in Stadium, and imagine the chariots about to hurtle around the Hippodrome.

The island of Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. Around 1500 BC, a volcanic eruption destroyed the center of the island, leaving a crescent-shaped rim of cliffs around a harbor formed in the volcano's caldera.

One of the most cosmopolitan of all the Greek Islands, Mykonos is a contrast of rocky hills and beautiful beaches. Hora, the capital, spreads around a colorful harbor, a popular meeting place, overlooked by a variety of tavernas, in which fishing boats nestle side by side with luxury yachts.

Walking in the shadow of the Acropolis in the Agora, you can almost hear the voices of Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle arguing about who was the greatest philosopher. Ancient Athens, the birthplace of democracy and epicenter of western civilization, is a city for all eternity. Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent trip back home.