Eastern Mediterranean Cruise - from Piraeus / Athens - 117324

Piraeus, today a modern port town, has been Athens' port since ancient times and used to be connected with the capital by means of city walls. Only remnants of these wall remain. Piraeus has made a name for itself primarily on account of its appealing nightlife and the romantic fish restaruants by the sea. Sights include: the ancient harbour Zea Marina, the remnants of the long walls (5th century B.C.), the Archaeological Museum with ancient shipwrecks, statues of Apollo and Athena, the Hellenic Marine Museum and the Veakio Theatre.

Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Greek Aegean. This unique, craggy island was created by a volcanic eruption. Today, its inhabitants live on the edge of the crater of the volcano. White villages lie at dizzying heights close to the edge. The most beautiful of the Cyclades combines blue sea, breathtaking views and a bizarre landscape. The typical architecture of the cyclades consists of cube-shaped houses with coloured window frames and lots of small chapels with blue domes. Sights include: the excavations at Akrotiri, the beach at Mavro Rachidi with its impressive black and red-coloured cliffs, the beach of Perissa with finest black sand, the rock massif of Mesa Vuno, Dorf Pyrgos.

The town at the North coast of Crete impresses tourists with its beautiful harbour, which lies in front of the old town. Aghios Nikolaos is characterised by its countless winding alleyways, filled with hoardes of little shops, taverns, rustic pubs, cafés and restaurants.

Rhodes, the island of the Sun God Helios, is the largest and most popular island in the south-eastern Aegean. Due to its favourable geographic position it was once an important link between the Orient and the Occident. The 220 km long coastline is a mix between coves with beautiful flat sandy beaches and steep cliffs. The landscape inland is dominated by mountains, valleys and plateaus. Rhodes' history goes back more than 3,000 years. There are many archaeological excavation sites of ancient buildings, bearing witness to Rhodes' eventful past. Sights include: ruins from the Mycaean era, the ancient theatre, the gothic buildings, the round fort dating from the time of the Knights of St. John, the Turkish mosque and the Turkish baths.

A world city with a unique character. A city filled with beauty and contrast, with a breathtaking history - from Byzantium to Constantinople to the present day. But Istanbul has more to offer than culture - inexpensive shopping, oriental cuisine or meeting new people are just examples of the many things one can do here. The city is full of buildings, monuments, churches and mosques, all steeped in history.