The whole of the Maltese capital Valletta is UNESCO World Heritage listed and occupies a peninsula in the northeast of the island. From the fountain of Tritons to Saint-Elme fort, there are as many majestic streets as there are narrow staircase vennels to explore. The painted loggia and carved corbels on the tall houses will accompany you in your explorations, and you’ll rarely be bothered by traffic. Among the city’s countless monuments, you can visit Saint-John's cathedral, the Grandmasters palace decorated with coats of arms and frescoes, not to mention the ramparts which have guarded the city since the 16th century. Arranged in terraces, the Barrakka Gardens will punctuate your promenade with a green and floral experience.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows offered on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the Ponant photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, you will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine life. A truly enchanted interlude combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Located in the south of the Peloponnese, Elafonisos is a small island at the entrance to the Laconian Gulf. It is renowned for its emerald green waters and its white sand beaches edged by cedar forests. The idyllic twin beaches of Fragos (Simos) and Sarakinikos, or that of Kato Nissi even have a certain Caribbean atmosphere. As for the village, it is like a veritable Greek picture postcard with its gently rocking wooden fishing boats painted in lively colors.

Sailing in the waters of Santorini caldera is breathtaking. The gigantic scale of the unique setting and the majesty of the high cliffs surrounds this ancient crater that was flooded in 2000 BC are highlights of the cruise. The colorful whites, greys, & reds of the volcanic rocks, the blue of the Aegean Sea, and the immaculate perched villages form a unique and marvellous spectacle.

It’s no accident that the island of Amorgos was chosen as a shooting location for Luc Besson’s film, The Big Blue. You too will fall under the charm of this island as your ship edges closer. Amorgos is the most easterly island in the Cyclades and stands out for its rocky inlets with crystal-clear water and its small, picturesque villages. This port of call will be your chance to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades, Chora, and discover its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses overlooked by a castle. Byzantine churches, windmills and courtyards brimming with flowers complete this typical tableau of timeless Greece.

Patmos is one of the legendary must-see islands in the Dodecanese. This is where Saint John resided, presumed author of the last book in the Bible. The cave of the Apocalypse and the Saint-John-the-Theologian Monastery are dedicated to him. These sites, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, are located at the top of a hillside planted with vines and orchards. On the shore, the crystalline coves of Kambos and Lampi offer absolutely gorgeous swimming areas. You’ll be drawn to the bustle in Skala harbor and its taverns, famous for their fish soup and tiropita, which is a type of pastry filled with fresh Patmos cheese.

This legendary Cyclades island of Delos stands just a few miles southwest of Mykonos. The ceremonial solemnity of this ancient holy sanctuary will not leave you indifferent. The sheer size and importance of this UNESCO World Heritage site which covers over half of the island is thrilling in itself. From the Stoa of Antigonos, the Terrace of the Lions, to the carved marble animal statues, you will make discovery after discovery, against a backdrop of the Aegean stretching to the horizon. The theater steps on the hillside are a particularly good place from which to enjoy the expansive view.

Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills.  You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian center, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
 

Located to the west of Mykonos, Syros is an attractive island in the Cyclades.  It has been inhabited since early antiquity, as you’ll discover by visiting the archaeological museum in Ermoupoli, its capital built in the shape of an amphitheatre and stretching out over two hills. Don’t miss the historical district, where the beautiful houses are evidence of the island’s strategic location for trade, between the East and the West. Admire the superb Agios Nikolaos Church or the Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.  Further on, in the medieval town of Ano Syros, succumb to the charms of its stairways and arched passageways, the small, white houses decorated with bougainvilleas, and the sweetness of the ambient air. 

Lesbos, this mountainous island whose volcanic origins explain the presence of many warm springs, does not only attract visitors for its magnificent sandy beaches or the memory of the poet Sappho. For example, the preserved Byzantine fortress of Molyvos, the best preserved in the Western Mediterranean, offers sumptuous panoramas from its ramparts. A petrified forest, the only one in the region, is a geological witness to the dense subtropical vegetation of giant conifers that covered the region 20 million years ago. Finally, the monasteries are active pilgrimage sites, particularly that of Taxiarchis (Archangel Michael), the patron saint of the island.

Located on the Bosphorus, Istanbul is one of the most beautiful of all Turkish cities. Named Byzantium when founded by the Greeks, and then Constantinople under the Roman Empire, this city is steeped in history and, for this reason, is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. On Sultanahmet hill, you’ll see the great Blue Mosque, the mysterious Hagia Sophia and the vast Topkapi palace and its countless mosaics. In the Beyazit district, you can admire the elegant covered passages of the Grand Bazaar. A little further away, the delicate aroma of loukoum and spices will draw your attention at the Egyptian Bazaar.