Eastern Mediterranean Cruise - from Istanbul - 121004

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.

Kavala: a modern trading town that has been able to preserve many elements from its past and integrate them into present day life. For instance, in the narrow cobbled streets you can still find old houses in the traditional style, with wooden verandas and flower gardens next to the large squares with the no-nonsense, reserved high-rise buildings. With its modern facilities, recreational areas and taverns the city is perfectly equipped for tourists. The harbour is particularly pretty with all the little fishing boats and the Byzantine castle (16th century) that stands tall over the city. Other sights include the city wall, St. Mary's church (15th century) and "Kamares" (an aquaduct dating from the 16th century). Beautiful sandy beaches just a short distance outside of town are perfect for a day in the sun.

Lovingly referred to by the Turks as "beautiful Izmir", the town lies at the opening of a broad gulf, busy with ships and yachts. Behind the palm-lined waterside promenade the city is built in terraces up the slopes of the surrounding mountains. The Jewish quarter 'Asansör' has many lovingly restored houses. The Archaeological Museum not far from Konak square has an excellent collection of ancient works of art. The Hisar mosque is the largest and most important in the city.

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.

Katákolon is a small town with a harbour and lots of shops selling souvenirs and jewellery. It is 13 km to the East of Pyrgos and is also known as the port of Pyrgos. A traditional and extremely impressive place for a daytrip is the ancient ruins of Olympia on the slopes of the Peloponnes at the foot of Mount Kronos. Excavation work, which was instigated by German archaeologists in 1875, and is still ongoing, has uncovered a great deal of information about this mystic and sacred place. Its walls enclose the Temple of Jupiter, the Doric Temple of Hera, the "Hall of Echos", the gymnasium and the stadium.

The Croatian port of Dubrovnik is known as an important spa resort. It was founded by the Slavs at around the beginning of the 7th century. Today, the city by the Adriatic Sea is known for its excellent shopping, many shops and cultural facilities. The main street of the old town is the "Stradun" (also called "Placa"). From here, all of the important sights in the city are just a short walk away. The entire old town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Sights include: the city walls dating from the 13th century, a Franciscan monastery with its own apothecary, the 15th century Duke's palace, "Sponza Palace", the Museum of Popular Art, the Cathedral and St. Blasius' church.

The old town of the Mediterranean port of Split on the eastern Adriatic coast in Dalmatia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The heart of Croatia's second-largest city beats in the walls of the 1,500-year-old Diocletian palace. Even upon entering the port, Split presents itself at its best: the palm-lined waterside promenade in front of the Emperor's palace and the rooftops of the old town create a truly unique panorama. Sights include: the medieval old town, Diocletian Palace, the waterside promenade Riva, the Archaeological Museum, the Municipal Art Gallery, the Goldern Gate, the cathedral and the old town hall.

Ravenna in the East of the Italian province of Emilia Romagna is one of the most important towns in Italy, both in historical and artistic terms. It was the last capital of the West-Roman empire, after which it was the centre of Byzantine culture in Italy. A famous location for music festivals, Ravenna has a broad range of recreational activities to offer. The bars, cafés and shops around the Piazza del Popolo and the adjacent streets are buzzing with life. This is also where visitors can find the early Christian San Vitale basilica with its famous frescoes and the tombs of Theodor the Great and Dante Alighieri, who completed "The Divine Comedy" here. The city is also famous for its Christian mosaics (a mosaic image depicting two doves). The town was once completely surrounded by a city wall; today, only the gates remain. The beautiful park is also worth a visit and in the Summer there is an outdoor cinema here.

With 160 canals, Venice is the city of gondolas and boats. It lies in a lagoon comprises a total of 116 islands. All of the buildings, bridges and squares are built on wooden stilts. The most famous canal is 'Canale Grande', on which you can explore the old town in a gondola. You could of course take a stroll through the city centre and have a look at the elegant shops or enjoy a well-deserved break at one of the typical Italian cafés. The special attraction in the lagoon city are the one hundred churches, the museums and art collections, as well as the Rialto bridge, which dates from the 16th century. Venice hosts the international festival for contemporary art, music and film, the 'Biennale'. The city was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987 . Other sights include: St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the 'Bridge of Sighs'.