Ancient Odyssey

View of the sea from Santorini rooftops

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14-night cruise from £949 per person

Travel through 3,000 years of history in 14 days as the past meets the present on the Island Escape or Island Star with our Ancient Odyssey cruise.

Price & book this cruise

Cruise ports of call

  1. Palma, Majorca
  2. Messina, Sicily
  3. Katakolon, Olympia, Greece
  4. Athens, Greece
  5. Istanbul, Turkey
  6. Kusadasi, Turkey
  7. Santorini, Greece
  8. Heraklion, Crete
  9. Malta
  10. Palma, Majorca

Ports of call & itinerary

History and contrast is what this cruise is all about! A stop at Katakolon puts Ancient Olympia within easy reach, and then onto Athens, home to more recent games. Explore Istanbul, the colourful and vibrant city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia before journeying back to the Greek islands via the ruins of Ephesus.

View shore excursions for this cruise

Itinerary
Day Port of call Arrive Depart
1 Palma, Majorca

All of our Mediterranean cruises start in Palma. Think of it as the world's best departure lounge and a perfect place to get into the Mediterranean lifestyle.

9pm
2 At Sea
3 Messina, Sicily

Sicily offers an extraordinary concentration of history, Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Arab-style Norman churches and ornate Baroque architecture. Dominating the skyline is Mount Etna, whilst old time Sicily is home of The Godfather movies.

9am 5pm
4 Katakolon, Greece

Katakolon offers the sports fan a fantastic opportunity to visit the home of the first ever Olympic games of 776BC.  The archeological site of Olympia includes The Temple of Zeus, the altar where the Olympic flame was lit and Gymnasium where athletes trained.

11am 6pm
5 Athens, Greece

Athens is steeped in history, from the marble buildings of the Acropolis standing high over the city to the charming old quarter with its narrow winding streets and inviting tavernas.

9am 6pm
6 At Sea
7 Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul offers plenty with its strong connections to the Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman Empires.  Highlights include the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where chariot racing took place.  Not forgetting the Bosphorous river and shopping at the Grand Bazaar!

12am 12am
8 At Sea
9 Kusadasi, Turkey

A lively resort town with an attractive harbour and promenade, Kusadasi is also the gateway to Ephesus, one of the ancient world's largest archeological and religious sites.  The Temple of Artemis, noted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is just one of the treasures to explore here.

8am 6pm
10 Santorini, Greece

Some believe the Island of Santorini to be part of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis. This is your chance to step ashore and make up your own mind about it.  The volcanic island has great views from Mount Profitis Ilias and a monastery dating back to 1712.

9am 6pm
11 Heraklion, Crete

Crete is rich in scenery with an abundance of tall mountains, beaches, gorges of astounding beauty and a capital, buzzing with activity.  Home to an archeological site of an ancient civilization Crete's natural beauty is not its only attraction. 

8am 6pm
12 At Sea
13 Malta

Wherever you go, Malta's scenery and traditional honey-coloured stone set against the deepest of Mediterranean blues provide a spectaular backdrop. 

8am 5pm
14 At Sea
15 Palma, Majorca

All of our Mediterranean cruises start in Palma. Think of it as the world's best departure lounge and a perfect place to get into the Mediterranean lifestyle.

7am