27 Night Cruise sailing from Athens to Rome aboard Minerva.

Cruise Description:

Springtime in Greece and the Black Sea, archaeological sites covered in wild flowers and blossom on the trees. Follow the ancient Greeks north along the Aegean coast, through the Bosphorus and across the Black Sea to the Crimea, colonised by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. Discover palaces of Tsars, the Soviet past, stroll along historic promenades overlooking the Black Sea and enjoy impressive skylines of domes and minarets as Minerva berths in the heart of Istanbul.

Search for wild flowers among the ancient sites of Minoan palaces and the sacred island of Delos. Minerva sails from Byzantine Istanbul through the Corinth Canal to the heart of the Roman Empire at Rome exploring en route the island of Sicily, a melting pot of Mediterranean cultures.

Highlights of this cruise:

Athens
The ancient port of Piraeus is where you can visit the Acropolis of Athens and its new museum. Alternatively take a local boat cruise along the Corinth Canal, smaller than the Suez Canal but no less impressive.

Volos
Enjoy a full day call at Volos, visiting Meteora, where from the 11th century onwards, monks built monasteries on almost inaccessible pinnacles of sandstone, sculpted into fantastic shapes by wind and rain over thousands of years. Or ascend the slopes of Mount Pelion in a beautifully restored train.

Yalta
Enjoy a full day call at Volos, visiting Meteora, where from the 11th century onwards, monks built monasteries on almost inaccessible pinnacles of sandstone, sculpted into fantastic shapes by wind and rain over thousands of years. Or ascend the slopes of Mount Pelion in a beautifully restored train.

Sevastopol
See some of the most significant sites of the Crimean War, including the battlefield of Balaclava - scene of the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade, and view the magnificent Panorama, a huge circular painted canvas and probably one of the best of its kind, celebrating the defence of Sevastopol. Alternatively, discover Bakhchisarai Palace, an excellent example of Renaissance and Muslim architecture. Minerva berths just ten minutes' walk from the city centre, ideal for exploring at leisure during your full-day in port.

Istanbul
Enjoy the penultimate day of your cruise sailing back across the Black Sea to the magnificent city of Istanbul, spanning the divide between Europe and Asia. The following day explore the heart of Old Istanbul, the lavishly decorated Aghia Sophia and the famed Blue Mosque, or Topkapi, the Ottoman Sultans' palace a fascinating complex of pavilions, kitchens, barracks, audience chambers, kiosks and sleeping quarters. End the day by wandering around the Grand Bazaar.

Rhodes
Berth at Rhodes, site of another wonder of the ancient world - the Colossus of Rhodes. The double walls of the city, built by the Knights Hospitallers when they settled in Rhodes at the start of the 14th century, protect marvels such as the Street of the Knights, the Grand Master's Palace and the Archaeological Museum. Or drive to the ancient capital of Lindos and climb to the Acropolis for panoramic views over the coastline and across to St Paul's Bay, where St Paul is said to have been shipwrecked on the island.

Palermo
Europe's grandest city in the 12th century, a guided tour will reveal a treasure trove of palazzos and churches. The cathedral at Monreale is the finest example of Norman architecture in Sicily with a Romanesque cloister and sparkling 12th century mosaics

Rome
Civitavecchia is the gateway to the eternal city of Rome or the fine frescoes of the Etruscan tombs of Tarquinia, where almost 6,000 tombs have been excavated since 1489.