Day 1: Rome, Italy

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. For centuries, Rome ruled much of Europe, building a vast empire from the power of emperors. More than 2,500 years of history live in the city’s streets. Ancient structures recall those heady days when the cheers of 80,000 spectators roared from the Colosseum, citizens mingled in the Forum and senators asked the gods for guidance at the Pantheon. Along with the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, this rich pocket of Italy is one of the world’s greatest repositories of history and civilization.

Day 2: Rome, Italy

Rome is brimming with graceful piazzas and historic enclaves. Across which, some 2,000 fountains feature and some stand out as sculptural masterpieces. The most famous is the baroque Trevi Fountain, whose coin-toss legend may secure a return trip to the "Eternal City." In Piazza Navona, Bernini’s Fountain of Four Rivers stands, while in front of the Pantheon, the Fontana del Pantheon features an obelisk from the period of Ramses II (the 13th century BC) reaching skyward from a base adorned by four dolphins.

Day 3: Naples, Italy

Naples boasts a long history in a stunning seaside setting and has long been a major center of Italian culture. The city was the seat of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years. So great was its sway that it lured the region’s finest architects and artists. In the grand Piazza del Plebiscito, the grand and sweeping public square, the San Francesco di Paola Church flaunts a colonnaded facade reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, and the Royal Palace overlooks Neapolitans with statues of all the kings of Naples peering out from alcoves.

Day 4: Sicily (Messina), Italy

Sicily has been shaped by countless civilizations, from Greek to Byzantine to Roman. When it fell under Spain’s purview in the 17th century, it was celebrated as one of Europe’s ten great cities. Surrounded by undulating mountains, orange and olive groves and vineyards are plentiful. During World War II, Messina was the destination of the unofficial “Race to Messina” between US General Patton and British Field Marshall Montgomery. In the end, Patton arrived just hours before his British comrade, receiving credit for securing Sicily.

Day 5: Valletta, Malta

The Island of Malta has been shaped by countless civilizations. But it was the Knights of St. John who built Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This baroque wonder is one of Europe’s first cities planned and constructed from scratch, cut from local honey-colored limestone. The humble facades of its churches and palaces hide extravagant interiors of marble, tapestries and paintings. A stroll around the massive walls and bastions affords a striking bird’s-eye view of the cityscape and the spectacular Grand Harbor.

Day 6: Valletta, Malta

Valletta’s green space is at a premium in this tiny city. The Upper Barrakka Gardens, created in 1661 upon the St. Peter & Paul Bastion, are perched at the highest point of the city walls. The Knights of Malta once escaped the demands of court in this splendid and shady haven; its terraces offer sweeping views of the Grand Harbor and medieval warrens below. The centerpiece is a pair of arched walls surrounding a tranquil stone courtyard. Among the garden’s palm-lined lanes is a memorial to Winston Churchill.

Day 7: Sail the Ionian Sea

Sail the gateway to the Adriatic, marked by the sole of Italy’s boot and the western coasts of Albania and Greece. As you sail today, relax in the Explorers’ Lounge, inspired by epic journeys of discovery. Marvel at the views through the two-story panoramic windows as you share a cocktail with friends, or settle down to read a book.

Day 8: Corfu, Greece

Corfu has a rich history shaped by conquerors and by royalty seeking tranquility. Corfu’s Old Town and Fortress—fashioned by the once powerful Venetian Republic—comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow warrens lead to one of Europe’s largest public squares and a lovely promenade once exclusively reserved for the local aristocracy. Everywhere, magnificent coastal views unfold and scenic byways lead to history-rich enclaves, from the archaeological site of Paleopolis and the stunning Vlacherna Monastery to a former Greek royal villa.

Day 9: Olympia (Katakolon), Greece

Katakolon is huddled around a pretty little harbor dotted with colorful fishing boats. Nearby, the fertile valleys of the western Peloponnese are a bounty of olive groves, vineyards and orchards, and lead to the legendary city of Olympia. The well-kept ruins here transport visitors back to the days of the earliest athletes who competed for nothing less than the favor of the gods. The remains evoke the glory of the Games, and the Olympia Archaeological Museum features statues that once overlooked the site.

Day 10: Kalamáta, Greece

Kalamáta lies on the southern coast of Greece’s mainland and is the perfect base to see some of the country’s most impressive ancient sites. The Palace of Nestor is one of the best-preserved structures of the Mycenaean civilization, while the ancient capital of Messene showcases the ambitious planning of urban architecture of its time, with its impressive fortified city walls, amphitheater and temple dedicated Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. The Byzantine City of Mystras was second only to Constantinople at the height of its power and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 11: Crete, Greece

Crete was home to the Minoans, Europe’s earliest recorded civilization. Its capital, Heraklion, grew from the riches of the Venetian Empire, which ruled here for four centuries. Crete enjoyed a Renaissance building boom that helped bolster Heraklion as the region’s most strongly fortified city. The island is blessed with generous beaches, soaring mountains and coursing rivers. It is also where the distinct mantinades—couplets of love accompanied by Cretan instruments—could break out at any number of cafés where patrons siptsikoudia, a grape-based brandy distilled in the hills.

Day 12: Rhodes, Greece

Rhodes is home to the Palace of the Grand Masters, a remarkable and sprawling fortification. Its historic quarter is Europe’s largest active medieval town. Outside the city, forests of pine and cypress blanket mountain slopes; vineyards and groves of citrus and olive soak up the Aegean sun. The Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem conquered the island in the 14th century, bringing great wealth from the Holy Land. Under their rule, the city was reconstructed to mirror the medieval ideal. Many of the buildings from this era remain and make for rewarding strolls.

Day 13: Mykonos, Greece

Sun-drenched Mykonos is one of the smallest of the Greek islands. It strikes a picture-perfect pose, with its centuries-old windmills perched on seaside ridges and labyrinthine streets of whitewashed houses with sky-blue doors. Some 400 churches dot the island’s stunning landscapes, with the whitewashed Panagia Paraportiani, or Church of Our Lady, among the most impressive. The narrow lanes of Chora, the main town, are pure pleasure to explore. Rows of fishing houses with balconies are perched directly on the water and the famous thatched-roof windmills overlook the harbor.

Day 14: Athens, Greece

Athens has been called the “birthplace of democracy.” Its legacy looms large from atop Acropolis Hill, the pinnacle of ancient Greece. This open air museum is an astonishing repository of once-mighty structures. From its colonnaded Parthenon—more than 2,600 years ago—revered Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle formulated new ideas of government and debated its role in civic life to captivated audiences. Remnants of spiritual life are also here in the several temples to Athena and Zeus.

Day 15: Athens, Greece

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.