30 Day Mumbai to Mediterranean Passage

Embark your ship today in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. Constructed over seven islands, today the city straddles a flat peninsula jutting into the sea. Beyond the modern skyline, you will discover a great diversity of neighborhoods, making any exploration of Mumbai full of surprises.

Follow in the wake of traders, seafarers and adventurers who crossed the Arabian Sea over millennia. The first vessels traced the coastline some 5,000 years ago. In the days of the ancient Greeks, the Indian city of Bharuch to the north of Mumbai was already an established sea port. As you sail, relax by the Main Pool or enjoy the sea breeze from your stateroom veranda.

Call on the Arabian Peninsula today for a fascinating visit to Muscat, capital of Oman. Enjoy a city tour among its whitewashed buildings, featuring a photo stop at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, able to accommodate 20,000 worshippers, and explore the low-lying structures of the Old Town, huddled around a small bay. Visit the private House of al Zubair museum with its remarkably preserved items of Omani heritage, and take in local life in the city's traditional souk. This sleepy historic enclave serves as the home of the ruling sultan.

Enjoy a leisurely day as your ship makes its way along the Arabian Coast. Share a cappuccino in the Viking Bar with new friends, enjoy a visit to The Spa or relax on the Sun Deck. Finish the day with a drink in Torshavn.

Ancient Egyptians sailed the waters of the Red Sea as long ago as 2500 BC. More famously, Moses is said to have parted its waters. And it was a favored route among ancient Romans as they traded with India. History and legend are rich here, and you can learn more about them during an enrichment lecture about the Middle East. This evening, enjoy cocktails in the Explorers' Lounge or perhaps an authentic Italian meal at Manfredi's trattoria-style restaurant.

Call on Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal city, set amid bleached-out desert hills. History here stretches back centuries, but it is best known as the site where, in 1917, T.E. Lawrence (known as Lawrence of Arabia) led troops in the Battle of Aqaba. Stop to explore Mamluk Fort—won by the Arabs from the Turks during a 1916 camel charge—the opulent house of Sharif Hussein bin Ali and the lively waterfront. You might also journey to the region's must-see archaeological treasure of Petra, an astonishing city of red sandstone carved from the earth millennia ago.

Call on Safaga today, an ancient Red Sea port that has been in use since the 3rd century. It is also the gateway to the magnificent temples of ancient Thebes—today's city of Luxor. Traverse the desert sands to the shores of the Nile River, where you will visit the spectacular Temple of Karnak, long buried beneath desert sands. Walk through its monumental peristyles and examine the hieroglyphics illustrating how ancient Egyptians lived.

Transit the Suez Canal today, a travel milestone. This engineering marvel, opened in 1869, connected the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, changing the region's geographic and commercial landscape forever. The sea-level, one-way waterway requires ships to travel in convoys; two lakes, Ballah Bypass and Great Bitter Lake, allow north- and southbound ships to pass each other.

Call today on Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great. Uncover the mysteries of this ancient city with tours of the National Museum and the Library of Alexandria—built on the site where scholars believe the Bibliotheca Alexandrina once stood. Or, travel to the desert to see the colossal statue of Ramses II and walk in the shadow of one of the Great Pyramids before viewing the legendary Sphinx.

Spend the day on board reflecting on your journey during a day of cruising the Mediterranean. You might attend an illuminating lecture on board. This evening, unwind with a pre-dinner cocktail in the Explorers' Lounge; for dinner, try some wine and food pairings at the Chef's Table.

Explore captivating Malta today, an island with a rich history. Countless civilizations have laid claim to these shores, leaving behind architectural and artistic treasures that span the ages. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a remarkable repository of culture and history—from the Magisterial Palace of the Grand Master and auberges built to house the knights of the Order of St. John to the baroque architecture of its main town of Valletta. See its highlights during an island drive. Or, choose to explore its charming fishing villages or its former capital of Mdina. You will have plenty of time to explore, as we are docked here overnight.

Spend another day exploring charming Valletta. With an area of just one-third of a square mile, green space is at a premium here, which is why the city's gardens are so treasured. Created in 1661 upon the St. Peter & Paul Bastion, the Upper Barrakka Gardens are perched at the highest point of the city walls. Knights of Italy 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.

Rich in history, Sardinia has been visited by Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals and Moors. Its main port, Cagliari, is set on the Golfo degli Angeli, or Gulf of Angels, and lies adjacent to seaside lagoons that harbor a wide array of birdlife. Explore Cagliari's old Castello District, from the 12th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Castello to the Roman Amphitheater, Porta Cristina, the Citadel of Museums, the Tower of St. Pancras and the Elephant Tower.

In the old quarter of the dazzling whitewashed city of Algiers, shoppers can make wonderful discoveries among the stalls of the Casbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's historic center features a variety of landmarks. Take a walk in the Jardin d'Essai du Hamma, a 19th-century public garden, or explore the silver-domed Basilica of Notre Dame d'Afrique.

Uncover the rich history of Cartagena today, brimming with remarkable architecture spanning the ages—from the days of Rome to art nouveau. Outside the city, marvel at the beauty of the sanctuary of the Virgin of Fuensanta, Murcia's patron saint, and the baroque- and Gothic-style cathedral. Alternately, explore Cartagena's impressive Roman Theater and Roman Forum.

Today you can experience firsthand the stuff of Andalusian dreams. Birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Málaga is the gateway to Andalusia, the seductive province of rolling hills and endless olive groves. An included tour features the 11th-century Alcazaba Palace, residence of Arabian caliphs, the ancient Moorish Gibralfaro Castle, the Renaissance Cathedral and Picasso's birthplace. Or, choose to explore the mighty Alhambra palace in Granada, one of Spain's most treasured sites.

Sail through the famed Strait of Gibraltar today into the Alboran Sea, the westernmost portion of the Mediterranean. According to legend, the Rock of Gibraltar, an enormous geological wonder is one of the Pillars of Hercules—the other being Monte Hacho, a low mountain in Ceuta, a Spanish province in North Africa. As you cruise, perhaps soothe your body with a hot sauna and a few minutes amid the gently falling snow of the Snow Grotto. This evening, enjoy cocktails in the Explorers' Lounge and an authentic Italian meal at Manfredi's Italian Restaurant.

After breakfast, take a city tour of Porto, a charming riverside community whose historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire its graceful bridges, baroque cathedrals and romantic 16th- through 19th-century buildings nestled together on narrow cobbled streets. Visit a typical port wine-making facility, then return to your ship for lunch. You may want to explore Porto on your own, or take an optional excursion to Guimarães, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sail from northern Portugal today. Unwind in The Spa, where you can enjoy the Snow Grotto and Sauna, or by taking a dip in the Infinity Pool. Try a regional specialty in The Restaurant, or take in a recent movie in one of our three theaters—two indoor and one under the stars at the Main Pool.

Cruise the English Channel, passing the South Coast of England. Pass the iconic White Cliffs of Dover as you head toward London and into one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, the Dover Straits. This evening, enjoy cocktails in the Explorers' Lounge or perhaps an authentic Italian meal at Manfredi's trattoria-style restaurant.

Call today on the city of Dover, its importance as a port dating back to the Bronze Age. You can journey to the medieval city of Canterbury, made famous through Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, to visit the shrine of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. Or, immerse yourself in natural beauty at Sissinghurst Castle and Garden, an Elizabethan-era mansion which showcases a classic English country garden.

Sail along the Thames and marvel at the infamous Cutty Sark as as you pull into the final port of your Viking World Cruise. You can visit the Chelsea Physic Garden and learn about its medicinal plants, or gain insight to life during wartime during a tour of the Imperial War Museum and Churchill's War Rooms.

Disembark your ship this morning as your journey comes to a close. Or, continue your exploration with a post-cruise extension in London.