12 nights · Italy · Departs Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy) · Visiting Naples, Agropoli, Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Valletta, Souda-Chania, Nafplio, Syros Island, Bodrum, Patmos Island, Mykonos Island, Piraeus-Athens · Aboard Silversea Cruises on the Silver Dawn
Image courtesy of Silversea Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Silversea Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Silver Dawn |
| Duration | 12 nights |
| Port calls | 12 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $9,800 per person |
| Year built | 2021 |
| Guests | 691 |
| Cabins | 288 |
| Crew | 408 |
| Length | 213 m |
| Beam | 26 m |
| Cruising speed | 20.0 kn |
Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.
Naples puts its history within reach: the port opens onto a compact city framed by Mount Vesuvius and the bay. UNESCO-listed streets lead to churches, palaces and the everyday theatre of southern Italian life. At the National Archaeological Museum, mosaics and objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum bring the Roman world sharply into focus. Stay close for Neapolitan pizza, or use Naples as a springboard to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Capri.
Agropoli is the Cilento’s lively seaside town, set south of Salerno on Campania’s Tyrrhenian coast. Climb through its medieval gateway and steep lanes to the hilltop castle, where views reach across the Gulf of Salerno. Then make time for Paestum, about 10 kilometres away, to see some of Italy’s best-preserved Greek temples. Back in town, the harbour and nearby beaches offer an easy pause for lunch or a swim.
Giardini Naxos sits on Sicily’s Ionian coast, beneath Mount Etna and a short drive from Taormina. Its waterfront pairs pebble beaches with cafés, gelaterie and views across the bay. Sicily’s first Greek colony was founded here in 734 BC. A nearby archaeological park preserves traces of its ancient streets and walls. Come for a seaside day, or use the port as a gateway to Taormina. There, the Greek Theatre commands sweeping views of Etna and the coast.
Valletta makes a powerful first impression, its honey-coloured walls rising above Grand Harbour. Founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, Malta’s compact capital rewards exploration on foot. Enter St John’s Co-Cathedral for Caravaggio’s monumental paintings, then follow Republic Street to cafés, palaces and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. From the terraces, watch ferries cross the harbour and look towards the Three Cities. Allow time for steep lanes and quiet side streets.
Souda Bay places you within easy reach of Chania, one of Crete’s most compelling historic towns. A short drive leads to Chania’s Venetian harbour, with its lighthouse, waterfront cafés and narrow lanes. On the Akrotiri peninsula, monasteries and coastal views share the landscape with the Allied war cemetery overlooking Souda Bay. Make time for Cretan cooking, distinguished by fine olive oil, local cheeses and wild herbs.
Nafplion is the Peloponnese at its most inviting: a seafront town shaped by Venetian, Ottoman and Greek histories. In the old quarter, cobbled lanes lead to Syntagma Square, lined with historic façades and cafés. Above the rooftops, Palamidi Fortress commands the view; offshore, Bourtzi guards the harbor. Come ashore for a compact, walkable city, then linger over lunch beside the water.
Above Ermoupoli’s busy harbor, Áno Sýros keeps the quieter face of Syros. Its medieval lanes climb toward the Catholic Cathedral of Saint George, past whitewashed houses and small tavernas. Go on foot in shoes with grip, pausing for views across the Aegean and down to the neoclassical capital. This is a place for unhurried exploring, not a beach day.
Bodrum brings the Aegean within reach: a handsome harbor, whitewashed houses and the Crusader-built Castle of St Peter. Its Museum of Underwater Archaeology displays finds recovered from ancient shipwrecks. Explore ancient Halicarnassus, whose Mausoleum was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Then settle at a waterfront table for grilled fish and a view across the bay.
Patmos, a small Dodecanese island, pairs a quiet harbour with a remarkable religious history. From Skala, a winding road climbs to Chora, where whitewashed lanes lead to the Monastery of Saint John. Nearby, the Cave of the Apocalypse recalls the tradition that John received the visions behind Revelation. These UNESCO-listed sites reward a visit; beaches and waterfront tavernas offer a gentler counterpoint.
Mykonos rewards an early start: whitewashed lanes, blue-domed churches and waterfront cafés are quieter before the cruise crowds arrive. In Little Venice, old captains’ houses lean over the Aegean, while the island’s windmills stand above the harbor. Beyond town, beaches range from lively Psarou to the broad sands of Elia. Take a short boat ride to Delos, where ancient sanctuaries and marble streets mark one of Greece’s great archaeological sites.
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.
Published September 18, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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