From the City of the Gods to the Dalmatian Coast

Welcome to the ancient city of Athens, the 'Cradle of Western Civilisation'. If your schedule is tight, savor traditional Greek coffee at a café with a view of the city's iconic ruins, soaking in the historic ambiance before your cruise departs. If you've got time to explore the Acropolis stands as a must-see, a UNESCO World Heritage site, adorned with iconic structures like the Parthenon and nearby Temple of Olympian Zeus. The nearby Acropolis Museum showcases stunning artifacts from ancient Greece, providing deeper insight into the city's heritage.

With perfect beaches, crystal clear waters, and evocative fortress-capped mountains, Nafplion is a sun-soaked Greek beauty. The beautiful town is staggered up green hillsides and filled with old mansions, paved paths and a Neoclassical feel. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the pier.

Top Things to Do in Nafplion:

• visit the ancient sites of Epidaurus and Mycenae
• take in the views from the Paladimi Fortress
• visit Corinth and cross the canal by boat
• sample some local wine or ouzo

Kythira, birthplace of Aphrodite according to mythology, has inspired poets and painters. Today, it is a charming port of call at the crossroads of Greece’s three seas: The Ionian, the Aegean and the Sea of Crete. From the deck of your vessel, let your gaze travel over the pine forests of the North of the island, the wild gorges in the South, and the red sandy beaches of Firi Ammos to the East. Villages of dazzling whiteness and unique architecture including Kythira, the capital, as well as the ruins at Milopotamos and Paleohora, are also worthy of a visit.

The picturesque port of Pylos is located in the south west of the Peloponnese. Backed against the lush green hills of Messenia, it looks out onto the Navarino Bay. You can admire the gorgeous view as you walk uptown amid pink oleanders that cascade over the jetty. A stone’s throw away, the historical centre’s winding streets will plunge you into a maze of houses with whitewashed facades and terracotta roof-tiles. On the attractive main beach, you will be able to relax in the shade of the age-old plane trees and taste the delicious local biscuits made of sesame and honey.

Zakynthos is a captivating island surrounded by calm, impossibly blue waters that sparkle in the sun and craggy limestone cliffs that rise behind white sand beaches. This island in the south Ionian Sea is also known by its Italian name, Zante. Ships will dock at the Port of Zakynthos.

Top Things to Do in Zakynthos:

• take a boat to Shipwreck Cove beach
• enjoy the views from the Skinari Lighthouse
• join a boat tour through the Blue Caves
• explore the Askos Stone Park
• see the ruined Venetian Castle of Bochali
• visit an Olive Oil Press

Picturesque Parga is located on the Ionian Coast in northern Greece. This ancient fishing village is built like an amphitheatre, dominated by a Venetian castle and opens onto a clear turquoise bay pierced with islets. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the shore.

Top Things to Do in Parga:

• explore the Nikopolis archaeological site
• visit the Venetian castle of Parga
• relax on Piso Krioneri Beach
• admire the Byzantine architecture in Arta
• tour the nearby town of Preveza
  

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing.

This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the Ponant photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

You will sail towards the popular island of Hvar, for a day in Stari Grad, an intimate port of call that is off the beaten track. Let your feelings guide you and discover this pretty city located at the end of a fertile plain, planted with vines and olive groves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The organisation of its parcels, marked out by dry stone walls that punctuate the landscape, goes back to ancient times. Wander around the small streets at your leisure, discovering the town’s pretty boutiques and gourmet restaurants.

Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon.

The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as you walk along the ramparts. But what’s inside Fort Saint John, adjoining the outer walls? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.