Best of Italy and Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier

Day 1: Ciao Rome

Welcome to Rome, the 'Eternal City'. Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception and evening orientation drive to view some of this city's magnificent sites.

Day 2: Discover Ancient Rome and the Vatican City

Visit St. Peter's Basilica and view Michelangelo's Pietà with a Local Specialist. See the Circus Maximus where chariot races were held and visit the impressive Colosseum. There's time afterwards to explore the city on your own or simply relax and watch the world go by.

Day 3: Journey to Renaissance Florence

This morning, head to the Vatican Museums with a Local Specialist. Dive Into Culture as you ascend the Bramante staircase, then admire Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Later, drive north to Renaissance Florence in Tuscany. Tonight, Connect With Locals at a Be My Guest experience in the Chianti countryside.

Day 4: Venture to Venice

Your Local Specialist reveals Florence's rich cultural heritage during your walking tour. Visit Piazza della Signoria, with its impressive sculptures and imposing palazzi. View the marble Duomo and the famous Baptistery, renowned for its bronze doors with relief sculptures and the Ponte Vecchio. Learn about the quality and workmanship of one of this city's historic industries at a demonstration of Florentine leathercraft. Then travel through the Apennines and cross the Veneto plains to Venice. This evening, you may choose to take a gondola ride through the city’s enchanting canals.

Day 5: Explore the Floating City

Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to see the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica and the ornate Doge's Palace. Later, you’ll enjoy a memorable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you’ll Dive Into Culture and witness the ancient Venetian tradition of glassblowing. You’ll learn how the talented master craftsmen are using the same techniques their forefathers once did and how your visit helps to preserve this delicate art for generations to come. Don’t resist the urge to buy a souvenir to remember the special experience before enjoying the rest of the day to explore Venice your way. You could choose to spend a lazy evening watching the traffic on the busy waterways with a Venetian Spritz, or consider taking an Optional Experience to one of the islands in the lagoon.

Day 6: Board an Overnight Ferry to Greece

Travel south to the ancient port city of Ancona to board your overnight ferry to mainland Greece.

Day 7: Monasteries of Meteora on the way to Kalambaka

Arrive early at the port of Igoumenitsa and travel along the foothills of the Athamanika mountains before arriving at the UNESCO-listed monasteries of Meteora. These are some of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. Your Local Specialist will guide you on a visit to two of the six monasteries built on sandstone rocks that tower above the town. Dine tonight at your hotel.

Day 8: Onwards to Legendary Delphi

Drive south towards Mount Parnassos and Delphi, where we will stay overnight. Join a Local Specialist and see the site of the most important oracle in the classical world and walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo where athletes competed in the Pythian Games.

Day 9: Off to Historic Athens

We depart the 'navel of the earth' this morning and travel to Athens where we'll discover the city's rich heritage during our morning sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Marvel at the Agora, the Royal Palace, the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis. See Hadrian's Arch and the stadium where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. Indulge in a Farewell Dinner to celebrate the end of your trip.

Day 10: Embark and Cruise to Stunning Mykonos

Board your ship in Athens. Cruise to the island of Mykonos and spend time discovering the town and sparkling beaches.

Day 11: Continue to Ancient Ephesus and Patmos

Arrive early at the port of Kusadasi in Turkey where you will enjoy a complimentary Shore Experience to Ephesus. Continue on to Patmos, where you might join an Optional Experience to the cave where the Book of Revelation was written.

Day 12: A Day to Explore Beautiful Rhodes

Arrive in Rhodes. Explore the fascinating medieval Old Town on your complimentary Shore Experience.

Day 13: Cruise to Crete and on to Santorini

Disembark in Heraklion on the island of Crete, and perhaps visit the Palace of Knossos. Then cruise to the spectacular volcanic island of Santorini.

Day 14: Disembark in Athens

This morning, disembark from your ship for your transfer to the airport.