Emerald Azzurra sailing on August 15th, 2026

About Istanbul

Istanbul is not only where Europe meets Asia; it's where history, built upon empire after empire, meets modern-day commercialism. Explore Old Istanbul's mosques, hippodromes and opulent palaces. Discover remnants of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Test your bargaining savvy with the merchants at the Grand Bazaar and visit the awe-inspiring Ayasofya (Church of Holy Wisdom). Istanbul is the perfect place to step far back in time and admire incredible cultural accomplishments. Don't forget your camera!

Istanbul Attractions

Journey to Istanbul's Sultanahmet neighborhood to experience the astounding Ayasofya (also know as the Church of Holy Wisdom or the Hagia Sophia), an incredible example of Byzantine architecture. The original cathedral was completed in A.D. 537, using columns and marble from other temples around the empire. Earthquakes, crusaders and successive rulers have all left their mark on the Ayasofya. The original mosaics, which were once plastered over, have been gloriously restored. Simply put, this is a sight you will always remember.

Istanbul Activities

Equally affecting is the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), a grand, bulbous monument to Islam. With 260 stained glass windows, six minarets and liberal use of decorative tile, the Blue Mosque is an amazing visual adventure. Take a tour of Dolmabahçe Palace and see how the sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived.

About Dardanelles

Dardanelles is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey, 38 miles (61 km) long and 0.75 to 4 miles (1.2 to 6.5 km) wide, linking the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. The city of Dardanus in the Troad (territory around ancient Troy), where Mithradates VI (king of Pontus) and Sulla (the Roman general) signed a treaty in 85 bce, gave the strait its name. The Dardanelles lies between the peninsula of Gallipoli in Europe (northwest) and the mainland of Asia Minor (southeast). It has an average depth of 180 feet (55 metres) and reaches a maximum depth of 300 feet (90 meters) in the narrowest central section. There is a rapid surface current from the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean and a compensatory undercurrent returning more saline water. Important ports along the shores of the Dardanelles are Gallipoli, Eceabat, and Çanakkale. Many famous castles stand along its banks. The waters are rich in various kinds of fish that migrate between the Black and Aegean seas via the Bosporus strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles.

About Kepez

Kepez is a seaside town in the Cannakale province of Turkey. From here you can visit the ancient city of Troy, where excavations have revealed the ruins of nine cities built on the same site from the 13th century BC onwards. A replica of the famous Wooden Horse stands on the site.

About Kusadasi

The gulf city of Kusadasi has miles of isolated beaches and is a rather lively resort. A tour of nearby Ephesus establishes the areas early religious importance and is considered one of the seven wonders of the world for its ruins. Among the most visited sites are the home where the Virgin Mary lived until her death, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Street of Curates.

Kusadasi Attractions

When you're in the area, don't miss the chance to visit the once powerful trading and religious city of Ephesus. Travel through the Magnesia Gate, the main entrance to the ancient city, and continue along marble streets grooved by chariot wheels. Gaze upon beautiful temples, porticoes, fountains and frescoes. Discover the three-story Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeum, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater.

Kusadasi Activities

Explore the 14th-century Turkish baths and the Isa Bey Mosque on your way to the Basilica of St. John. Visit the Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Less known than Ephesus are the ruins of ancient Miletus and Dydima. They include a well-preserved Roman theater at Miletus and the sacred Temple of Apollo at Dydima. It requires a day trip to visit these sites. They are favored mainly by guests with a keen interest in archaeology.

About Patmos

The Holy Isle of Patmos, one of the smaller Dodecanese Islands, occupies a narrow strip of land with numerous rocky hills and scant vegetation. The interior is sparsely populated with mostly shepherds and fishermen. In contrast, the waterfront areas see plenty of tourists during the summer months. There are only two main villages, Chora and Scala; whitewashed houses face Scala harbor or are scattered over the hillsides. The island's mild, healthy climate, year-round sunshine, delightful coves and numerous chapels combine to form a picture of unique beauty.

Patmos Attractions

Exploration of the island should include a trip from the port town of Scala to the island’s tiny capital, Chora, a visit to the Cave of St. John and to the stunning fortress-monastery that dominates the town of Chora. Scala, built around the harbor, is where most of the island's social and economic life is concentrated.

Patmos Activities

Chora, the island's historic capital, boasts more than 20 churches and monasteries. Its most notable attraction is the fortress-like Monastery of St. John. Chora can be reached via a 20-minute drive on a winding, uphill road. Although an adventurous climb, the sunsets from atop Mt Profitis Ilias cast a spectacular glow worth the effort. The island's best beaches include Psili Ammos, Kambos, Lambi and Cribos. To reach them requires taxi transportation.

About Delos

A religious center as early as the third millennium BC, Delos is the legendary birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, children of Zeus. The archaeological pearl of the Aegean and sacred to ancient Greeks, the ruins found here are among the best preserved and most interesting in Greece. They include a town of the Hellenistic period comparable to Pompeii, sacred caves, Panhellenic shrines and the temples of Apollo.

Delos Attractions

The small Sacred Lake in its circular bowl, now dry, is a topographical feature that determined the placement of later features. The Minoan Fountain was a rectangular public well hewn in the rock, with a central column; it formalized the sacred spring in its present 6th century BC form, reconstructed in 166 BC, according to an inscription. Tightly-laid courses of masonry form the walls; water can still be reached by a flight of steps that fill one side. There are several market squares. The Hellenistic Agora of the Competaliasts by the Sacred Harbour retains the postholes for market awnings in its stone paving. Two powerful Italic merchant guilds dedicated statues and columns there. The Temple of the Delians is a classic example of the Doric order; a pen-and-wash reconstruction of the temple is illustrated at Doric order The Terrace of the Lions dedicated to Apollo by the people of Naxos shortly before 600 BC, had originally nine to twelve squatting, snarling marble guardian lions along the Sacred Way; one is inserted over the main gate to the Venetian Arsenal. The lions create a monumental avenue comparable to Egyptian avenues of sphinxes. (There is a Greek sphinx in the Delos Museum.) The meeting hall of the Poseidoniasts of Beirut housed an association of merchant, warehousemen, shipowners and innkeepers during the early years of Roman hegemony, late 2nd century BC. To their protective triad of Baal/Poseidon, Astarte/Aphrodite and Echmoun/Asklepios, they added Roma. The platform of the Stoibadeion dedicated to Dionysus bears a statue of the god of wine and the life-force. On either side of the platform, a pillar supports a colossal phallus, the symbol of Dionysus. The southern pillar, which is decorated with relief scenes from the Dionysiac circle, was erected ca. 300 BC to celebrate a winning theatrical performance. The statue of Dionysus was originally flanked by those of two actors impersonating Paposilenoi (conserved in the Delos Museum). The marble theatre is a rebuilding of an older one, undertaken shortly after 300 BC. The Doric Temple of Isis was built at the beginning of the Roman period to venerate the familiar trinity of Isis, the Alexandrian Serapis and Anubis. The Temple of Hera, ca 500 BC, is a rebuilding of an earlier Heraion on the site. The House of Dionysus is a luxurious 2nd century private house named for the floor mosaic of Dionysus riding a panther. The House of the Dolphins is similarly named from its atrium mosaic, where erotes ride dolphins; its Phoenician owner commissioned a floor mosaic of Tanit in his vestibule.

About Mykonos

Beautifully reflected in a golden light, the white-washed fishing lodges, charming chapels and windmills of Mykonos present visitors with a picture-perfect enchanted island. Spend private time on one of many beaches or wander through the Venice Quarter where tiny cottages perch precariously on cliffs above the sea.

Mykonos Attractions

Mykonos is famous for its sand and sea. Get lost looking out at the endless waters of the Aegean Sea as you grab a little sun on one of its beautiful beaches.

Mykonos Activities

Visit the birthplace of Apollo on the historic island of Delos. Dating back to the third millennium B.C., Delos is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world. Marvel at the ancient ruins from famed architectural sights. Visit the Archaeological Museum on Mykonos, featuring important finds from the ruins on neighboring Delos. Spend an enchanting afternoon exploring the charming cobblestone streets and two-story, whitewashed shops and homes of these beautiful islands. The best beaches are Aghios Stephanos, Psarou, Kalafatis, Onros, Panormos and Elia.

About Santorini

Perched at the very top of precipitous cliffs, Santorini towers above its original harbor and was once reached only by foot or mule. Today a cable car is the best route. The island scenery is unique in all the world with jagged outcroppings of red and black lava and stairways cut deep in the cliffsides. Buried under volcanic ash in a cataclysmic explosion during the 16th century BC, the ruins of ancient Thera are a great "find" for archaeologists.

Santorini Attractions

Santorini's spectacular caldera is a vestige of what was probably the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded history, believed by some to have caused the disappearance of Atlantis. The island's violent volcanic history is visible everywhere you look - in black-sand beaches, earthquake-damaged dwellings and raw cliffs of lava plunging into the sea.

Santorini Activities

Visit the architectural site of Akrotiri, a once-powerful Minoan kingdom. See the amazing ruins that have been excavated there, buried some thirty feet below the earth's surface after the eruption of the island's volcano. Discover the ancient city's squares and cobblestone streets and peer into some of the houses and shops. Stop at a Santorini wine producer to enjoy a glass and explore the important role wine has served in the island's growth. Stroll through the scenic village Oia, a haven for artists and artisans, and explore their shops, enjoy a drink or a traditional dinner while watching the sun sink into the caldera.

About Milos

About Athens (Piraeus)

Piraeus is the port of Athens. Serving as the gateway to the past and civilization as we know it, Athens is far more than the Acropolis. Nowhere on earth are mans past accomplishments more dramatically displayed as a backdrop to a modern metropolis. Spend time exploring ancient ruins, viewing incalculable treasures or just relax as another day evolves in the cradle of civilization.

Athens (Piraeus) Attractions

No visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the Acropolis. There you'll find the Parthenon, the largest building in the Acropolis and one of the world's most awe-inspiring sights. It was built as a temple to Athena and is still a remarkable structure today.

Athens (Piraeus) Activities

Visit Plaka, the old neighborhood of Athens. Explore the narrow streets and alleys, single-story houses, neoclassical villas, taverns and many tourist shops. Experience the traditional flea market of Monastiraki, the neighborhood next to Plaka. Explore the National Archaeological Museum, home to a formidable collection of the world's antiquities. Pay a visit to ancient Agora, ancient site of the religious and political heart of Athens. The Archaeological Museum is known to have the finest collection of Greek art in the world. Exhibits include the sensational finds from the excavations at Mycenae and the remarkably well preserved frescoes from a 3,000-year-old civilization discovered at Akrotiri on the island of Santorini. There are also classical statuary, pottery, stone carvings and jewelry from excavations throughout Greece. The Benaki Museum has recently undergone thorough modernization. Its three floors house more than 30,000 items, all illustrating the character of the Greek world. Located near Kolonaki, the Goulandris Museum features a fantastic collection of Cycladic and ancient art spanning 5,000 years. The exhibits were assembled by ship owner Nikolaos P. Goulandris. Its treasures include many of the slim marble figurines that fascinated artists like Picasso and Modigliani. Mount Lycabettus, Athens' highest hill, is only a 10-minute walk from Syntagma Square. It borders the fashionable Kolonaki residential area. A steeply inclined funicular climbs to the summit, which is crowned by a small, white chapel. Pollution permitting, the view from Mount Lycabettus is the finest in Athens. Plaka stretches east from the Agora, this lovely quarter, with winding alleys, neo-classical buildings, whitewashed, bougainvillea-framed houses and tiny churches, is worth your exploration. Agios Eleftherios is a 12th-century Byzantine church and Athens' former cathedral is known for the fanciful figures and zodiac signs that adorn its walls.