Antiquity to Byzantium 2025

DAY 1 Athens - Ancient Epidaurus
Welcome to Athens! Please make your way to Marina Zeas for embarkation between 14:00 - 15:00 hrs. Meet your crew and fellow travellers and enjoy a welcome drink before setting sail towards Ancient Epidaurus. After an evening arrival, have dinner on board and overnight in port.

Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 Ancient Epidaurus - Nafplion
Early in the morning, you can leave the ship for an optional excursion of Ancient Epidaurus. Epidaurus was well-known throughout the Greek world as a healing sanctuary. The sanctuary was looted by the Roman general Sulla, by pirates, and later by Goths in 395 A.D., and very little remains of it today. The prosperity brought by the Asclepieion enabled the residents of Epidaurus to construct civic monuments, including a huge theatre (dated approx. 300 B.C.) renowned for its symmetry and beauty. Hence, later used as a therapeutic and religious centre dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing, today it's one of the most popular archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece. Return to ship for lunch on board and sail to Nafplion in the afternoon. Overnight in port.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 3 Nafplion / Mycenae - Monemvasia
After a short walking tour of Nafplion, drive through the colourful city and the beautiful countryside of Argolis towards Mycenae for an optional excursion. The importance of the city, which Homer calls "rich in gold" begins in 1650 B.C and ceases around 1100 B.C with the fall of the civilisation to which gives its name. Visit the remains of the glorious ancient city including the Lion’s Gate, the Palace, the so-called Agamemnon Tomb, and the museum. Lunch on the ship and afternoon sailing to Monemvasia. Overnight at sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 4 Monemvasia - Gythion
Early morning arrival in Gythion. Once here, there’ll be an optional excursion to the Mani peninsula and Cape Tenaro, plus the spectacular Dirou Caves with their stalactites and stalagmites. Ancient Gythion was inhabited during prehistoric times, and later the Spartans enlarged the port and used it as their naval base.

Leave Gythion behind and cross the scenic Mani Peninsula to reach Diros, visit the caves discovered around the 60s, considered perhaps one of the most important natural Greek sites. Afterwards, drive to nearby Areopolis for a short stroll through the town. Mani is at the top of the Peloponnese, a distinctive area in Greece. A desolate region of underground lakes and rivers, windswept landscapes, and towers that is strangely beautiful. Overnight at sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 5 Gythion - Pylos
Wake up today at Pylos, a picture-perfect seaside town on the southwest corner of the Peloponnese. Pylos was built in the form of an amphitheatre at the southern opening of Navarino Bay, where the historic battle took place, and defined by the island of Sfaktiria.

Afterwards, join an optional excursion including a drive up the road to Nestor’s Palace which was discovered in 1939 by an American archaeologist Carl Blegen. The remains of the prehistoric Palace occupy a scenic hilltop setting north of Pylos. A few highlights include the well-preserved royal apartments and a bathtub that archaeologists have speculated belonged to the old king himself. Following a visit to the remains of the Palace, make a short trip to the town of Hora where a superb archaeological museum holds thousands of artefacts recovered from the site. Overnight at sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 6 Pylos – Katakolon / Olympia - Itea
Early morning arrival in port of Katakolon. You will disembark around 7:00 am. If you opt for an optional excursion, you’ll meet your guide and take the bus to Olympia, one of the most famous and significant sites in the ancient world. Olympia is revered as the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the greatest Pan-Hellenic sanctuary for the worship of Zeus.

Following your tour, you will also explore the Temple of Hera and visit the Olympia Museum. Enjoy lunch in Olympia town, then a visit to the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity Museum. Have some time at leisure and travel overland to Patra before re-boarding the ship depart for Itea in the Gulf of Corinth. Overnight in port.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 7 Itea - Delphi - Corinth Canal - Marina Zeas
An optional excursion to Delphi this morning is on offer. Meet your guide and proceed to the ruins complex. Delphi was built on the side of the mountain. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is surrounded by natural beauty and has an incredibly long history, with structures such as the Tholos of Delphi and the Temple of Apollo, discovered in 1892. A half-day walk around the ruins and a visit to the adjoining museum. Return to the ship and cruise through the Corinth Canal. Enjoy a farewell Captain’s dinner as you sail to Marina Zeas in Athens.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 8 Marina Zeas
After breakfast, your cruise ends on disembarkation at approximately 09.00 hrs at Marina Zea.

Meals included: Breakfast

*Itineraries can be changed at the discretion of the Vessel's Captain and Port Authorities, particularly in case of adverse weather conditions.