14-night Mediterranean Cruise: Greece, Egypt & Italy

Piraeus: The Ancient City of Athens - 8 Hours

Dominated by the remarkable Parthenon, which has stood for over 2,000 years, Athens is a city of major architectural and archaeological treasures. At Piraeus Port you will receive a warm welcome from your guide and driver who provides a captivating insight into the city’s history and culture during your full day tour.

For most, the highlight of a visit to Athens is the world famous Acropolis and the Parthenon. Dedicated to the Goddess Athena, it is one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world. This afternoon, delight in the mesmerising display of eclectic Greek and Oriental art at the Benaki Museum. Complete your day with a drive past the Panethenaic Stadium, the pure marble masterpiece that served as the original site for the modern Olympics. At the end of the tour you are privately transferred back to your cruise ship.

Highlights:

• Ascend the Acropolis to the Parthenon, one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world
• Tour the Benaki Museum

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
  All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Piraeus: Cape Sounion - 5 hours

Meet your guide as you disembark your cruise ship in Piraeus and venture along the scenic coast to Cape Sounion where you visit the ancient ruined Temple of Poseidon. This temple is believed to date from the 5th century BC and was built to honour Poseidon, who ranked second only to Athena herself in terms of power. The Temple enjoys an impressive position, high on the cliffs, and has, over the centuries, been marked by many travellers’ carved signatures, including that of Lord Byron. After touring the site, you return to your cruise ship in Piraeus.

Highlights:

• Venture along the coast to Cape Sounion to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon

Bodrum and Halicarnassus - 4 hours

An English speaking officially licensed lecturer/guide will meet the guests at the exit of the cruise pier at 09:00 am for a private sightseeing tour of Bodrum.

The private tour will start with a visit to the Bodrum Castle built as the Castle of St. Peter by the crusader Knights in 1402. Located between the two bays that surround the town, this outstanding structure was built to defend the region of Southeastern Aegean. The fortress has beautiful gardens, housing the world-renowned Underwater Sea Museum.

Continue to the 4th C. BC Tomb of King Mausoleum in nearby Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The tour may end in the town at the guests’ hotel by 1.30 pm, or may continue for lunch at one of the small local restaurants by the yacht marina of Bodrum and possible shopping at the town’s local marketplace.

Added Value:

Bodrum Port - Private Culinary Experience (Full Day Tour)

• 1 full-day of private cooking class experience with lunch in Bodrum.
• 1 Round-trip transfer from/to the restaurant for cooking class experience in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• Officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Bottled water provided thoughout the tour. 
• VAT taxes.

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  • At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests.

Private Excursion of Bodrum

Highlights:

• Crusaders’ Castle of St. Peter including English Tower
• Etrim, Old Nomadic Village
• Exploring Bodrum Market Area

• Transportation by A/C non-smoking deluxe vehicle
• Service of an English-speaking professional private tour guide throughout the program
• All entrance and parking fees for the sightseeing
• Complimentary beverages on vehicle throughout the journey
• All taxes and service charges

• Meals and beverages
• Honorary gratuities for guide and driver
• Personal expenses

Crete: Knossos - Archanes - Heraklion Museum -5 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We will first visit the Archaeological Museum in the town centre and then continue with the exploration of the ruins of Knossos Palace. The palace is one of the major must-see archaeological sites in Greece, presenting visitors with a rare glimpse into Minoan civilization. Accompanied by a knowledgeable, qualified archaeological guide who will offer in-depth personal attention, you will browse through the restored palace. By examining the structures the Minoans lived in, you will have the best avenue for piecing together the threads of the Great Minoan civilization. After a walk through the award winning historically restored village of Archanes, you can enjoy lunch in its picturesque main square, before returning back to the pier.

Duration: approx. 5 hours

Notes:
Because of the extensive walk in Knossos, comfortable shoes and a hat are required.

Civitavecchia: Imperial Rome & The Vatican City - 8 hours

• Tour some of Rome's most iconic sites including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
• Explore the impressive museum collections in the Vatican City and the breath-taking masterpiece that is Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel
• Spend time in the Basilica of St. Paul, the largest church in the world

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to Colosseum, Imperial Forum and Vatican Museums
• All taxes

Civitavecchia: Rome for Repeat Visitors - 8 hours

• Visit the church of San Clemente and discover its fascinating history
• Explore the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a majestic royal residence of one of Rome’s most illustrious families, which houses a vast private art collection

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to San Clemente and Doria Pamphilij
• All taxes

Civitavecchia: Gastronomic Rome and Time at Leisure - 8 hours

• Uncover Rome's bohemian quarter, along with tastings of Italy's best loved delicacies 
• Car and driver at your disposal to discover Rome

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (3 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
• Food and wine tastings

Civitavecchia: Museums of Rome - Capitoline and Borghese - 8 hours

• Travel out to Capitoline Hill and visit one of the oldest museum complexes in the world
• Visit Villa Borghese, home to a collection of sculptures and paintings that are among the most important in Italy

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert English-speaking guide in Rome (6 hours)
• Entrance fees to the Capitoline Museums and Villa Borghese
• All taxes

Rome and the Vatican City: 8-9 hours

• Great way to see major sites of Rome in a day
• Major sites covered such as the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Vatican city
• Reservations for the Vatican museum - no waiting

• Deluxe car or van and private English speaking guide for the day
• Entrance tickets
• Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port

• Meals not included
• Gratuities
• Items of personal nature

Cardinals’ Villas and Parks - 8 Hours

The area around Viterbo, north of Rome, became a retreat for popes and cardinals during troubled times in Rome. Happily for us, they have left a legacy of beautiful villas and gardens, designed in one of Italy’s finest periods, the Renaissance and consequently models for the rest of Europe to copy. One of the finest villas is the Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola, a huge edifice, standing at the top of the town’s steep main street. Surrounding the palace are two magnificent gardens, a south-facing summer terrace and an east-facing winter terrace, each with appropriate plants and design. After lunch in a traditional local restaurant (not included), you will visit the Villa Lante in Bagnaia, another splendid Renaissance palace and built by Vignola, the architect of the Palazzo Farnese and considered to be his finest creation. Here though, it is the gardens that take pride of place and epitomise the Mannerist period of the Renaissance. The final visit of the day will be to the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, the sacred Bomarzo wood, otherwise known as the monster Park; it consists of the most amazing and often bizarre sculptures, many carved from the local rock, scattered through the woods.

Pricing: Please Inquire

Duration: 8 hours