21-night Pharaohs, Kings and Emperors Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise

Cruise Itinerary for 21-night Pharaohs, Kings and Emperors Cruise Mediterranean

Istanbul

9/18/2009

9/18/2009 6:00:00 PM

This exotic capital guards the slender waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and is the doorway between the West and the East. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Sarai await-as does the Grand Bazaar, laden with carpets, beaten brass and spices from far-off lands. A walk down any backstreet gives the feeling of entering a completely different environment. Traders with handcarts, stevedores carrying burdens twice their size, limbless beggars and shoeshine boys all frequent the streets around the city center. Men monopolize public bars and teahouses, while many women cover their heads, their gaze downcast. In summer, dust tracks take the place of pavements, giving way in winter to a slurry of mud. Where there are pavements, they are punctuated at intervals with unmarked pits large enough to swallow you without trace. And this is before you even begin to cross any bridges into Asia.

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Nessebur

9/19/2009 8:00:00 AM

9/19/2009 6:00:00 PM

Today, residents of Nesebur live mostly from fishing and tourism. Nesebur sits on a small rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Remnants of the 2nd century city walls rise above the town and the winding, cobblestone streets are lined with stone and timber houses with wooden stairways and jutting first floors. Another characteristic of Nesebur architecture are horizontal strips of white stone and red brick offset by striped blind arches resting on vertical pilasters, the facades highlighted by ceramic discs and rosettes. Other sights include the Museum of Archaeology - a new museum housing a fascinating collection of some 5,000 relics and finds that have been salvaged from archaeological sites of the ancient town of Nesebur.

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Constanta

9/20/2009 6:00:00 AM

9/20/2009 7:00:00 PM

Romania's second largest city, Constanta attracts by the harmony between ebulient business world and intense cultural life.
Developed upon the ancient ruins of the Greek stronghold Tomis, Constanta has always been a centre of ethnic and spiritual diversity, a pole of economic exchanges in the Black Sea region and in South-Eastern Europe

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Odessa

9/21/2009 8:00:00 AM

9/21/2009 11:00:00 PM

Cosmopolitan Odessa is an area thriving with beaches, special saline baths and mild climate. This city continues as a major cultural center, and Odessa’s citizens are proud of their heritage and culture stemming from a multiethnic mix including Ottoman Turks, Greeks, Bulgarians and Jews. Under Catherine the Great, Odessa became capital of New Russia. In recognition of the inhabitants’ valiant stand in World War II, Odessa was proclaimed the Hero City. Many 19th century French-style buildings reminiscent of St. Petersburg survived, adding greatly to the city’s numerous attractions, including Vorontsov Palace, the remains of the Turks' fortress Enu Dunia, and the former Stock Exchange. The pride and glory is the neo-classical Opera House that saw musical events conducted by Tchaikovsky and Anna Pavlova ballets. Thanks to temperate climate and prime beaches, Odessa and its surrounding resort areas attract scores of visitors who are pampered in seaside spas and visit opulent palaces, or engage interested residents in a conversation to learn about the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

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Sevastopol

9/22/2009 12:00:00 PM

9/22/2009 11:00:00 PM

Nestled between the sea and beautiful green valleys, Sevastopol, meaning “majestic city” in Greek, sits on hills forming a natural amphitheater overlooking magnificent Bakhtiarsky Bay. This city is laden with bays of astonishing beauty, impressive architectural ensembles, unique museums, charming gardens and attractive squares and boulevards. At Malakhov Kurgan, the command post of the first defense of Sevastopol, are remains of bastions which protected the city during its 200-year old history. An eternal flame burns in honor of Crimean and Soviet naval heroes. The city has a great military and naval history, and its people are proud of the title of Hero City earned for their valiant stand against Nazis during World War II. The State Historical and Archaeological Museum houses the heritage of a 2,500-year-old civilization, with relics of the city’s past. Among numerous other attractions is Balaklava, scene of long and bitter clashes in the Crimean War. Sevastopol Aquarium displays a vast array of fish and marine life from the waters of the Black Sea.

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Yalta

9/23/2009 8:00:00 AM

9/23/2009 5:00:00 PM

Ukraine’s most important resort is Yalta, which has catered to pleasure lovers and health seekers for more than a century. Here at the Golden Riviera Russian aristocracy built elegant summer palaces and palatial villas rivaling those of Nice and Cannes. Livadia became the summer residence of tsars and famous as the site of the 1945 Yalta Conference. Following the 1917 Revolution, most opulent mansions were converted to sanitariums where Soviet citizens came to recuperate. Restoration of many palaces has reinstated them to former glory, and they present a desirable attraction. Historic sites such as Livadia, the impressive Vorontsov Palace, the interesting Chekhov Museum, and the spectacular scenery makes this a Black Sea playground. Chekhov House-Museum stands where famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov spent his last years. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in Yalta, houses beautiful icons and prides itself in fine altar woodwork. Nikitsky Botanical Gardens, located on a hilltop above the sea, features a vast collection of ornamental plants.

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Sochi

9/24/2009 8:30:00 AM

9/24/2009 6:00:00 PM

With the Caucasus Mountains as its backdrop, the Black Sea town of Sochi is the jewel of the Russian Riviera. Sand and pebble beaches stretch nearly 20 miles along the Black Sea coast. With its subtropical climate, warm seas and adjoining trendy resort complex of Dagomys, the resort has long attracted heads of state, foreign tourists, and Russians alike. Botanical Gardens, therapeutic pools, and the dachas (country houses) of the powerful and famous are all local landmarks. Historical and architectural monuments, unique flora and fauna, magnificent panoramas, mysterious canyons and caves, and dramatic waterfalls are all found in Sochi.

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Trabzon

9/25/2009 8:00:00 AM

9/25/2009 5:00:00 PM

Trabzon is a historical port city in Turkey that lines the eastern side of the Black Sea. Founded by the colonists of Miletus in the 8th century BC, this port is now known for its St. Sophia Church and the magnificent Sumela Monastery. The St. Sophia Church was constructed in the 13th century and is now a museum. The Sumela Monastery was built on the side of a cliff. This spectacular structure houses a library, a church, priests living quarters, a chapel and a sacred spring of water. The surrounding area is now a national park and is just as beautiful as the monastery.

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Dardanelles

9/26/2009

9/26/2009

The Dardanelles, formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

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Mytilene

9/27/2009 1:00:00 PM

9/27/2009 6:00:00 PM

The birthplace of Sappho, a famous poet in ancient Greece, Lesbos is a charming island of picturesque villages like Agiassos. The Byzantine Monastery of Limonos and its beautiful frescoes are of special interest.

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Athens (Piraeus)

9/28/2009 8:00:00 AM

9/28/2009 6:00:00 PM

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summi has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.

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Kusadasi

9/29/2009 8:00:00 AM

9/29/2009 7:00:00 PM

Visitors come to Kusadasi for beaches and nearby ruins of Ephesus. The major attraction is the archaeological site of ancient Ephesus, considered to be most important in Turkey. The history of this ancient city dates back to 10th century BC; many remarkable structures seen today are result of an excavation and restoration program. Along a white marble road grooved by ancient chariot wheels, the two-story Library of Celsus presents a striking sight. There are temples, houses of noblemen, and community buildings lining ancient streets. Nestled in the mountainside is a 25,000-seat amphitheater, still used for performances during Festival of Culture and Art. Bible buffs may know Ephesus as inspiration for St. Paul’s Epistle to Ephesians and the site of one of the first seven churches of Asia Minor. Treasures are kept in the Seljuk Archaeological Museum. Among the better-known ancient sites near Kusadasi are ancient Miletus and Dydima. Remains include a well-preserved Roman theater at Miletus and Dydima's sacred temple of Apollo.

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Crete

9/30/2009 7:00:00 AM

9/30/2009 1:00:00 PM

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, lying at the southern limit of the Aegean Sea.
Among the artists who lived on Crete was El Greco, who was born near Heraklion in 1541. The area around the harbor and the side streets are lined with souvenir and handicraft shops. Jewelry, olive and honey products may be of interest.Tavernas along the harbor front offer tasty local dishes. Spinalonga Island is located 15 miles from Ághios Nikólaos. Formerly the site of a leper colony, the island is popular with sun worshippers who enjoy its picturesque setting. Other attractions include the remains of a 16th-century Venetian fort.

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Alexandria (Cairo)

10/1/2009 10:00:00 AM

10/1/2009

This Mediterranean city, blessed with a mild, pleasant climate and white beaches, is a popular playground and the country's summer capital. Nightclubs, sidewalk cafes and restaurants lining the Corniche add to Alexandria's attractions. There are museums, Roman theater, and catacombs to explore. Alexandria also serves as gateway for excursions to Cairo and the famous El Alamein battlefield. Visitors will find plenty of interest in this "Pearl of the Mediterranean." Good shopping buys include gold and silver jewelry, especially the gold cartouche with your name inscribed in hieroglyphs, cotton goods, carpets, leather articles, copper- and brassware, basketware and papyrus prints. The city boasts a reputation of having the country's best food. Other sights include: Ras at-Tin Palace, with its surrounding gardens; Hussein Sobhy Museum of Fine Arts; and Hotel Cecil, a grand and elegant hotel with romantic and intriguing history. There is a War Museum and Commonwealth War Cemetery.

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Alexandria (Cairo)

10/2/2009

10/2/2009 6:00:00 PM

This Mediterranean city, blessed with a mild, pleasant climate and white beaches, is a popular playground and the country's summer capital. Nightclubs, sidewalk cafes and restaurants lining the Corniche add to Alexandria's attractions. There are museums, Roman theater, and catacombs to explore. Alexandria also serves as gateway for excursions to Cairo and the famous El Alamein battlefield. Visitors will find plenty of interest in this "Pearl of the Mediterranean." Good shopping buys include gold and silver jewelry, especially the gold cartouche with your name inscribed in hieroglyphs, cotton goods, carpets, leather articles, copper- and brassware, basketware and papyrus prints. The city boasts a reputation of having the country's best food. Other sights include: Ras at-Tin Palace, with its surrounding gardens; Hussein Sobhy Museum of Fine Arts; and Hotel Cecil, a grand and elegant hotel with romantic and intriguing history. There is a War Museum and Commonwealth War Cemetery.

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Rhodes

10/3/2009 2:00:00 PM

10/3/2009 10:00:00 PM

Rhodes is one of Greece’s favored vacation centers and was an important cultural center with a well-known School of Rhetoric attended by such greats as Cicero and Caesar. Rhodes' most famous attractions originated with the Knights of St. John, who occupied parts of the island from 1310 to 1522 and left a medieval town, dominated by the Palace of the Grand Masters and Knights' Hospital, which houses an Archaeological Museum with interesting exhibits of national archaeological finds. Rhodes has inspired many artists. The Old Town offers shopping opportunities and lively nightlife. At Mount Filerimos a church has been built on the site of an ancient temple. A popular excursion is to the charming village of Lindos. Its premier attraction, the ancient acropolis, stands atop sheer cliffs. Walls of a 13th-century Crusader castle enclose the site. Today, the winding path up to the acropolis is lined by stalls, where locals sell lace tablecloths and souvenirs. Mandraki Harbor's entrance is flanked by stone columns topped by figures of a stag and a hind, the town's heraldic animals.

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Santorini

10/4/2009 8:00:00 AM

10/4/2009 6:00:00 PM

Santorini is everything that has made the Greek islands legendary. The world famous island of Santorini is the southern most island of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea, and is located north of Crete. Its population is distributed among thirteen villages and just exceeds nine thousand. The marvelous dry climate and unbroken sunshine create year around conditions which are perfect for observation, photographs and videos under an extraordinary variety of natural lights and colors.

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At Sea

10/5/2009

10/5/2009

Every day at sea is packed with activities...from deck games to entertainment. Indulge yourself in a relaxing massage. Exercise. Shop at onboard boutiques. Take a dip in the pool. The day is yours. Indulge!

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Valletta

10/6/2009 8:00:00 AM

10/6/2009 6:00:00 PM

Valletta is the capital of Malta. This remarkable fortified city with its massive bastions followed the most advanced Renaissance ideas in town planning, with streets laid straight on a grid looking over the Grand Harbour. Outside the 'City Gate' is the famous Triton Fountain. 'City Gate' has public buses and vendors selling soft drinks and all sorts of traditional fresh Maltese bread and sweets. Freedom Square shows an extraordinary capital with buildings of fine architecture of different tastes and styles ranging from the Mannerism to Baroque to Rococo to Neoclassicism. Valletta is a fascinating city for wandering around looking at what used to be the Knight's own cathedrals and Auberges. The city's backbone is Republic Street, which runs straight through the city center to Fort St. Elmo. Valletta has several narrow, steep side streets decorated with traditional Maltese pastel colored balconies and a statue on almost every street corner. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants to choose from.

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Taormina

10/7/2009 8:00:00 AM

10/7/2009 6:00:00 PM

The east coast of Sicily is considered by many to be its most magnificent. Lovely Taormina was called "the greatest work of art and nature" by Goethe in his Italian Journey. Situated above the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna as a spectacular backdrop, this storybook town of sculpted gardens, stately palaces and ancient monuments is easily one of Sicily’s most striking sites. There is much to see and do here; the main attractions in Taormina are seen on foot. Incredible vistas are available from Taormina's Public Gardens which are filled with exotic flowers and plants. In Giardini-Naxos, close to the pier, the Bourbon fort contains a fine museum, Museo Archaeologico. The entrance is via a garden bisected by an ancient lava flow.

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Sorrento

10/8/2009 8:00:00 AM

10/8/2009 6:00:00 PM

Sorrento is a town of extraordinary beauty and is known as a popular gateway to Italy’s most spectacular stretch of coastline - the Amalfi Drive lined with fishing villages and famous resorts. The seaside resort of Amalfi sits with weathered houses scrambling up steep cliffs. Visitors marvel at its location and its magnificent cathedral. The religious sanctuary of Cloister of St. Francis is worth a visit. The tiny, exclusive resort of Positano has its famous world-class hotel, San Pietro. Excavations of the ruined city of Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79 A.D. during the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius, give visitors a vivid impression of life in a very wealthy ancient city and the tragic end of its population. The Isle of Capri ranks as one of the most beautiful islands and has captured visitors for centuries with excellent climate, spectacular landscape and fantastic sea caverns. Capri has lavish villas, elegant hotels, chic boutiques and quaint restaurants. Museo Correale contains a death mask of poet Torquato Tasso and some special editions of his works, pictures, furniture and porcelain.

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Rome (Civitavecchia)

10/9/2009 7:00:00 AM

10/9/2009

Civitavecchia is the port city for Rome. Rome has always been and remains the Eternal City. With its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafés and elegant shops, Rome is one of the world’s most attractive cities. Among the most famous monuments is the Colosseum where spectators watched combats between muscled gladiators and ferocious animals. Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once a political and commercial center. Rome’s squares were enhanced with such imposing structures as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di Trevi. Awe at Christendom’s most magnificent church, the Sistine Chapel. The busy square Piazza Venezia is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. Take a stroll to Rome's famous Trevi Fountain. Vatican City is the site of lovely St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, where for 200 years, Renaissance masters worked on its design and created an unparalleled masterpiece. Visit Vatican Museum.

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