cruises offered
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Istanbul to Athens
At its height in the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire stretched well beyond the boundaries of modern-day Turkey and encompassed the most coveted lands surrounding the Black Sea. This voyage explores the empire's treasures, presenting jewels like the Roman ruins in Ephesus, and the Ukraine's historic Sevastopol, where you might shop for beautiful embroidery. As a perfect complement to Bulgaria's medieval Nessebur, you will spend an evening in Istanbul, where its vibrant history is evident in the architecture. Don't miss the chance to sample the dolmas, delectable stuffed grape leaves.
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Rome to Barcelona
During the first week of this unforgettable voyage, you will focus on the joys of Italy. Learn firsthand how to prepare southern Italian cuisine on an excursion to the much-acclaimed Sorrento Cooking School. Admire the Moorish-style homes tucked into the steep slopes surrounding Positano for a vibrant landscape painting or locally made jewelry. France is equally delightful, as you will discover while meandering through Corsica's starkly beatiful countryside, or perhaps when purchasing Provencal potttery in historic hilltop villages near Marseille. And don't miss the storybook hamlet of Valldemosa and the charming windmills dotting lovely Palma de Mallorca.
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Athens to Barcelona
On this voyage, each port leaves an indelible memory, a snapshot of the Mediterranean's incredible diversity. Stroll along Marseille's classically French waterfront, where the Greek founders landed in 600 B.C. Shop for couture clothing and exquisite perfume in fabled Monte Carlo. Enjoy a casual lunch of freshly made pasta and local Sicilian wine in medieval Messina, which liese only a few miles from the Italian mainland. For a taste of Greece, nothing satisfies like picture-perfect Santorini. One of our many shore excursions here brings you to the island's mountaintop villages of Oia and Fira for a panoramic view of the impossibly blue Ionian Sea.
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Rome to Athens
Stretching from the Italian Riviera to the Greek Isles, this voyage presents a wealth of breathtaking seaports, each one an icon of the region. Florence and Pisa represent the genius of Italian architecture and art as seen in the masterpieces of Brunelleschi, Michelangelo and Botticelli. Historic Valletta on beguiling Malta proudly shows the depth of its medieval culture, which was dominated by the Knights of St. John. You might even delve further back in time by visiting the islands amazing Neolithic temple complex at Tarxien. The fabled Greek isles are incredibly rich in history as well, much of it immortalized in mythology. Rhodes was supposedly once inhabited by dog-headed demons that forged Poseidon's trident, and Of course, you will also delight in shopping for beautiful gold jewelry on Mykonos.
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Istanbul to Rome
These are Europe's most fabled destinations, lands with a draw so magnetic that they are impossible to resist. To maximize your time in port, Nautica has generously allotted three evenings ashore and but one day at sea. Begin with an overnight stay in Istanbul, a city that sits astride two continents, both of which can be experienced on a boat cruise down the graceful Bosphorus, dividing them. In Greece, whose landscape is dotted with revealing ruins, be sure to see the fabulous Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, and Athens' fine Dionysos Theatre, where Euripedes' plays were performed. This voyage finishes with a flourish - two overnight stays, allowing for easy access to the artistic treasures in Florence and Pisa and all the wonders of imperial Rome.