Arrive in Athens and board the Sea Cloud. Attend dinner as the ship sets sail.

A ship will come...", declared the singer Melina Mercouri to the port of Piraeus. Later, as Greek Minister for Culture, she made Athens the first European Capital of Culture in 1985. The city is considered the birthplace of Europe, of philosophy and of democracy, and is the embodiment of the Olympic ideal. World-famous and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, its landmark is the magnificent Parthenon temple, lying high up on the Acropolis in all its glory. At the foot of the Acropolis hill is the Plaka, the oldest quarter of Athens, and the world's most modern archaeological museum, the new Acropolis Museum, has been here since 2009.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck

Visit Ithaca, a Greek island located in the Ionian Sea, off the northeast coast of Kefalonia and to the west of continental Greece. Ithaca's main island has an area of 96 square kilometers (37 sq mi) and 3,229 inhabitants. It is the second-smallest of seven main Ionian Islands, after Paxi. Ithaka's capital is Vathy or Ithaki.

When the Sea Cloud drops anchor next to the Dalmatian island of Korcula, you are greeted by a breathtaking view from the deck. With its defiant walls and towers, red rooftops and cathedral, the old town looms over the sea like a medieval castle. Once inside this fortress, find narrow alleyways that lead to picturesque courtyards, small cafés and restaurants.

In the afternoon visit Corfu, a wondeful place that found fame as a popular traveler’s destination as early as the 19th century. Bored of life at court, Empress Elisabeth of Austria travlled to the island and chose it to realize her dreams. She ordered a palace to be built in the style of Greek mythology and dedicated it to her favorite hero, Achilles. It is called the Achilleion.

Enjoy this day offshore, relaxing and taking in the smell of the fresh ocean breeze up on deck

Next stop is at the Adriatic island of Korcula, one of the greenest in the region. Vineyards and olive groves stretch across rolling hills. The island's main town of the same name is protected by a city wall. It is one of the best-preserved medieval Mediterranean towns. Some buildings evoke the time when the maritime power of Venice ruled. Tintoretto is immortalized in the cathedral, and in one of the narrow streets you can search for the house where Marco Polo was born.

Visit Split, the most beautiful cultural center and secret capital. Gothic, Romanesque, Venetian, Roman and Baroque - a stroll through the old city of Split is like a journey through time. Diocletian's Palace, once the Emperor's retirement retreat, is at the heart of the beautiful old city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A vast palace complex of around 30,000 square meters (322,917 square foot) was erected in just 10 years at the end of the 3rd century AD, a city within a city.

Visit Rovinj, a magic spot that lies on the western coast of Istria. The old town was built on a hill and was part of the Republic of Venice for over 500 years. St Euphemia's Basilica sits above the terracotta roofs in solitary splendor and its tower has become the town's landmark. A stroll through the winding lanes transports you straight into the Mediterranean lifestyle and the region's culinary delights. Istrian wines seem to embody the sun's rich heat, the oak forests conceal precious white truffles, and the region's olive oil is among the finest in the world.

Arrive in Venice in the morning and disembark after breakfast for your continued independent journeys.