About the cruise
Palma is a cosmopolitan and sophisticated city that is situated along a magnificent bay. At the harbourside there is a marina crammed with expensive yachts, a magnificent Gothic cathedral and the stately Bellver Castle. Explore the legendary city of Athens. Filled with history, mythology and culture, there is something for everyone, whether you prefer to browse through the city’s bazaars for something special, to delight in the Athinás Food Halls’ local delicacies or to be awed by the towering ruins of the mighty temple of Zeus.
A day and overnight in Istanbul allows intriguing possibilities. For instance, why not have breakfast in Europe and lunch in Asia – after all you cannot do so in any other city. The Grand Bazaar is a tribute to the power of bartering and the skyline is an unforgettable silhouette of minarets, domes and towers. Endless beaches and a huge number of natural hot springs have combined to make Sochi one of the most intriguing spa towns in the world. Visit a trout farm or sample Russian tea at a working tea plantation. Cruise along the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea you reach Yalta, where wide, sandy beaches make it a popular resort. At the Livadia Palace, see where the 1945 Yalta Conference was held.
Odessa has 192 bloody and famous treads of the Potemkin Steps. Less famous but equally memorable are the architectural treasures and glazed shopping gallerias. The fine beaches make this Ukraine’s most popular and therapeutic resort. The Black Sea resort of Constanta, Romania’s second largest city, is filled with ancient monuments, interesting museums, wonderful shops and a magnificent casino by the sea. To Bulgaria now, and the sunny resort town of Nesebur, which clings to a rocky peninsula as it has for two millennia. Visit the nearby town of Burgas set on the shores of the largest bay on the Black Sea Coast.
From Kusadasi visit Ephesus, where you can see one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, where the wondrous Temple of Diana stood and St. Paul preached. Today, the extensive remains are still dazzling even in disrepair. Santorini is thought by many to be all that remains of Atlantis. Today, the clifftop town of Thira offers splendid shopping and dining - and even more remarkable views over the Aegean. From the Conquistador city of Cadiz, travel inland to inspect the Moorish marvels of Seville or head for the town of Jerez and savour fine sherries in their birthplace. Arrive back in Southampton on Friday 26 September.