12 nights · Italy · Departs Trieste (Italy) · Visiting Zadar, Bari, Dubrovnik, Corfu Island, Rhodes Island, Santorini Island, Piraeus-Athens, Kusadasi, Izmir, Canakkale, Istanbul · Aboard Oceania Cruises on the Oceania Marina
Image courtesy of Oceania Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Oceania Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Oceania Marina |
| Duration | 12 nights |
| Port calls | 12 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $3,799 per person |
| Year built | 2011 |
| Guests | 1447 |
| Cabins | 629 |
| Crew | 800 |
| Length | 251 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 20.0 kn |
Trieste rewards travellers who look beyond the waterfront. At the head of the Adriatic, this Italian city carries the marks of centuries under Habsburg rule. Start in Piazza Unità d’Italia, one of Europe’s largest seafront squares, opening directly onto the sea. Visit Miramare Castle, built for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, then order espresso in a city shaped by its coffee trade. Trieste is compact and cosmopolitan, with a Roman theatre and grand cafés recalling its Central European past.
Zadar pairs a compact old town with a clear Adriatic setting. Roman streets, Venetian gates and medieval churches tell the story of a city shaped by centuries of trade. On the seafront, the Sea Organ turns waves into music through stone pipes. Nearby, the Sun Salutation gathers solar energy and shines after dark. Beyond the walls, Nin’s salt pans and the island-dotted coast reward a closer look.
Bari is Puglia’s lively capital, with a working port and a historic center close by. Enter Bari Vecchia on foot and follow its lanes toward the Basilica of Saint Nicholas. This Romanesque church draws pilgrims and visitors to the saint’s revered relics. On Arco Basso, local women have traditionally shaped orecchiette by hand. Then cross to the seafront or browse Via Sparano’s shops and cafés. Order seafood or a plate of Puglia’s distinctive pasta before returning to port.
Spend a day inside Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, best explored on foot. Walk the city walls for close views of fortifications, roofs, and harbor. Then follow Stradun to Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan monastery. Book wall access in advance during busy months, and start early in summer. Mount Srđ offers a higher view, reached by cable car or road. Leave time for side lanes; their quieter corners reveal the city’s daily rhythm.
Corfu rewards visitors who look beyond the beach resorts. Its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, bears the marks of centuries of Venetian rule. Walk the arcaded Liston, then climb to the Old Fortress for views across the rooftops and Ionian Sea. Beyond town, cypress-lined roads lead to Paleokastritsa’s coves, while the Achilleion palace recalls an imperial past. Allow time for lunch; Corfiot cooking pairs Ionian seafood with Italian and Greek influences.
Rhodes pairs a fortified medieval capital with a sunlit Aegean coast. The UNESCO-listed Old Town stands just beyond the harbour, enclosed by formidable walls built by the Knights of St John. Walk its cobbled lanes to the Palace of the Grand Master, then pause over coffee in a shaded square. Beyond the city, beaches and whitewashed Lindos reward a longer outing; an ancient acropolis crowns the bay.
Few Greek islands make an entrance like Santorini, where whitewashed villages crown a volcanic caldera above the Aegean. Most cruise ships anchor offshore, and tenders land at the old port below Fira. Ride the cable car, or climb the steps, to reach the island’s capital and its celebrated views. Beyond Fira, Oia’s blue domes, the archaeological site of Akrotiri, and volcanic wines reward a longer day ashore.
Piraeus is Athens’ working harbour, not a resort port—and that is its appeal. From here, the capital’s ancient landmarks are within reach, while the waterfront keeps its own busy, distinctly Greek character. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, then linger over grilled fish in Mikrolimano, a small harbour lined with tavernas. Metro connections make central Athens straightforward. Or stay near the water and watch ferries depart for the islands.
Kuşadası puts the Aegean within reach, with a lively waterfront and one of Turkey’s most celebrated ancient cities nearby. Ephesus lies about 20 kilometres inland, where marble avenues lead to the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre. Back in town, browse the bazaar, then follow the causeway to Pigeon Island and its historic fortress. The harbour-facing promenade offers an easy place to linger over the Aegean light.
İzmir brings the Aegean within easy reach of a lively, modern Turkish city. Kordon’s waterfront promenade, cafés and ferries set an easy pace. Nearby, Kemeraltı Bazaar’s lanes reveal mosques, courtyards and centuries of trade. At the Agora of ancient Smyrna, Roman columns rise amid the city’s everyday bustle. İzmir also makes a practical gateway to Ephesus, one of the eastern Mediterranean’s most remarkable archaeological sites.
Çanakkale stands on the Asian shore of the Dardanelles, where Europe and Asia face each other across a busy strait. Its waterfront cafés, ferry traffic and Ottoman-era Çimenlik Castle offer a direct introduction to the city’s maritime past. Across the water, Gallipoli’s battlefields and memorials recall the 1915 campaign, while ancient Troy lies about 30 kilometres south. Both make compelling excursions, but leave time to walk the promenade and watch ferries cross the strait.
Istanbul makes a compelling first impression: minarets rise above the Bosphorus, while ferries cross between Europe and Asia. On the historic peninsula, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace place centuries of empire within walking distance. Istanbul rewards curiosity beyond its landmarks. Browse the Grand Bazaar, linger over Turkish coffee, then take a ferry to the Asian shore. Allow time for traffic and queues; the city’s scale is part of the experience.
Published September 16, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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