Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean

Aboard the 264-guest L’Austral

8 days from $6,210* / Oct. 3–10, 2024

Set sail on the Aegean Sea, exploring World Heritage sites from Patmos to Delos and visiting gem-like isles in two different island groups: the Dodecanese and the Cyclades, plus the Peloponnese Peninsula.

Itinerary

Day 1 — Athens, Greece: Arrive in Athens, board the ship, and set sail on the Aegean Sea.

Day 2 — Patmos: In Patmos, set out on a tour of the Monastery of St. John, and discover its incredible collection of Byzantine art. Continue to the Cave of the Apocalypse and see the grotto where St. John is said to have received the visions of the apocalypse.

Day 3 — Rhodes: Rhodes bears evidence of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans, and Venetians who occupied the island over the centuries. Take a walking tour that includes the Street of the Knights, or travel to Lindos to visit the hilltop Acropolis and its Temple of Athena.

Day 4 — Santorini: Make sure you’re on deck as the ship sails into the breathtaking Santorini caldera. Visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri; sail a catamaran and go for a hike; or explore the whitewashed, cliff-top village of Oia.

Day 5 — Amorgos: On rugged and beautiful Amorgos, meet monks at an 11thcentury monastery and take a guided tour of picturesque Chora. Or walk through olive groves and see a demonstration of a traditional olive press. Visit a typical Cycladic home to learn the age-old practice of distilling essential oils.

Day 6 — Delos and Mykonos: Your guided visit to the World Heritage site of Delos includes the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena, the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions, and the amphitheater. Spend the afternoon on Mykonos, where windmills, sugar-cube houses, and azure bays epitomize the beauty of the Greek Isles. You may wish to stop in an ouzeri to nibble mezethes and sip ouzo.

Day 7 — Nafplion or Mycenae and Epidaurus: Dock in Nafplion and visit the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, home to the legendary Lion Gate and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then explore Epidaurus and visit its renowned theater. Or choose to stay in Nafplion and take a walk before visiting a wine shop for a sampling of local specialties and ouzo.

Day 8 — Athens: Disembark in Athens and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Add a one-night extension in Athens.

*Pricing reflects a savings bonus, ranging from 0% to 30% based on availability at the time this catalog was printed. See our website for current pricing. Book early for the highest savings.

Aegean Sea

Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Our experts on this cruise include memoirist, critic, and translator Daniel Mendelsohn. Visit our website for the additional expert.

Cruising Southern Spain and Portugal

Aboard the 184-guest Le Dumont-d’Urville

8 days from $5,900* / Sept. 30–Oct. 7, 2024

Follow the Iberian coast from the southern shores of Spain to Lisbon, exploring captivating cities and World Heritage-listed architecture in Seville, Granada, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia.

Itinerary

Day 1 — Lisbon, Portugal: Arrive in Lisbon and embark the ship this afternoon. Sail past the Tower of Bélem and the Monument to the Discoveries as you leave Lisbon.

Days 2 & 3 — At Sea/Cadiz and Seville, Spain: Enjoy the ship’s many amenities during a day at sea. Dock in Cadiz and travel to Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Here, visit two World Heritage sites: the Real Alcázar and the Cathedral of Seville, and enjoy a tapas lunch. Alternatively, enjoy a walking tour of Cadiz followed by a flamenco performance.

Day 4 — Málaga and Granada: From Málaga, spend the day in Granada. Visit the cathedral and royal chapel, final resting place of Ferdinand and Isabella. Tour the exquisite palaces and courtyards of the magnificent Alhambra, a World Heritage site. Admire the exquisite architectural details of its palaces and courtyards, and continue with a visit to the beautifully landscaped Generalife Palace and Gardens.

Highlights

• Admire the architecture of Seville, from the Gothic cathedral to the 14th-century Mudéjar Alcázar to the charming homes of the old Jewish quarter.

• Take a tour of the Alhambra in Granada, and meander through Generalife Palace and Gardens.

• Immerse yourself in the beauty of Mallorca, an island of idyllic coves, soaring limestone cliff s, and almond orchards; and delve into history in Palma de Mallorca.

• Savor paella at a local restaurant in Valencia, and explore the city’s modernist Mercado Central, a gastronomic hub.

Days 5 & 6 — At Sea/Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands: Enjoy talks by your experts as you sail to Mallorca. Tour the cosmopolitan capital of the Balearic Islands and see the Catalan Gothic architecture of the Palma Cathedral.

Day 7 — Valencia, Spain: On a walking tour of this architectural hub, see paintings by Goya and Maella at the cathedral, and explore the World Heritage-listed La Lonja de la Seda and the modernist Mercado Central. After a paella lunch, visit the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava.

Day 8 — Barcelona: Disembark and extend your stay in Barcelona, or transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Add a two-night extension in Lisbon or Barcelona.

*Pricing reflects a savings bonus, ranging from 5% to 30% based on availability at the time this catalog was printed. See our website for current pricing. Book early for the highest savings.

Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Our experts on this cruise are archaeologist and geologist Peter Bobrowsky and Linda Ehrlich, a film and art historian.

Highlights

• Discover Sicily’s spectacular Greco-Roman ruins in ancient Syracuse and Taormina, and enjoy a Sicilian lunch and wine tasting at a winery on Mount Etna.

• Admire the Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo or venture to medieval Cefalù for a walking tour.

• Tour the baroque treasures of Cagliari, Sardinia and, on rugged Elba, visit Napoleon’s villa in exile.

• Ride a local boat into stunning grottos along the limestone sea cliffs of Corsica, or set off into medieval Bonifacio on a walking tour.

FRANCE

NICE

Corsica

Bonifacio

Sardinia

Cagliari

Portoferraio

ITALY

Mediterranean Sea Palermo

Sicily

Taormina

Syracuse

MALTA VALLETTA

Mediterranean Island Voyage: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba

Aboard the 184-guest Le Bougainville

8 Days from $7,470* / May 15–22, 2024

Uncover layers of history as you cruise to the islands of the central Mediterranean, encountering Greco-Roman treasures, medieval fortresses, and Napoleon’s villa in exile.

Itinerary

Day 1 — Valletta, Malta: Arrive in Valletta and board the ship. Sail out of the city’s beautiful harbor this evening.

Day 2 — Syracuse, Sicily, Italy: Cruise to Syracuse and tour the archaeological park, then venture into the Ear of Dionysius cave. Alternatively, visit Noto, known for its Sicilian baroque architecture. Later, delve into the history of the island of Ortigia.

Day 3 — Taormina: Experience charming Taormina on a guided walking tour that includes the Greek theater, and opt to continue to the fortified hilltop village of Castelmola. Or journey to Mount Etna, a World Heritage site, to see its inactive volcanic craters and enjoy a Sicilian lunch and a tasting at a mountainside winery.

Day 4 — Palermo: In Palermo, learn about and tour its unique, World Heritage-listed Arab-Norman architecture. Or embark on an excursion to the medieval port of Cefalù for a walking tour.

Day 5 — Cagliari, Sardinia: Tour the capital city of Cagliari from its baroque palazzi to its hilltop fortress and take in views from Monte Urpino. Then explore the remarkable ruins of ancient Nora, once a thriving port under the Carthaginians and the Romans.

Day 6 — Bonifacio, Corsica, France: Drop anchor at the fortress town of Bonifacio, perched on cliffs high above the sea. Set off into the labyrinthine streets of the medieval citadel, visiting historic landmarks by foot and by mini train. Or choose to ride a local boat along the coast.

Day 7 — Elba, Italy: In historic Portoferraio, visit a villa and theater built by Napoleon. Then head to a traditional wine farm to sample local wines, cheeses, and charcuterie. Alternatively, take a scenic drive across Elba to visit Ottone Botanical Garden.

Day 8 — Nice, France: After breakfast, disembark in Nice and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Add one-night extension in Malta.

*Pricing reflects a savings bonus, ranging from 5% to 30% based on availability at the time this catalog was printed. See our website for current pricing. Book early for the highest savings.

Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Our experts on this cruise are archaeologist and geologist Peter Bobrowsky and Dennis Romano, a historian with expertise in Europe and the Mediterranean.

A Circumnavigation of Sicily

Aboard the 184-guest Le Champlain

Set sail from Malta to voyage all the way around Sicily, encountering captivating towns from Palermo to Taormina, simmering volcanoes, and important Greco-Roman archaeological sites from Agrigento to Syracuse.

Itinerary

Day 1 — Valletta, Malta: Embark in Valletta, and be on deck to photograph the golden-hued city as the ship cruises out of one of Europe’s loveliest harbors.

Day 2 — Gozo, Malta: In tiny Gozo, an island just north of Malta, visit the village of Xewkija before sampling locally produced wines and Maltese snacks. Or take a tour that includes the megalithic Ggantija Temples, a World Heritage site that predates Stonehenge.

Day 3 — Agrigento, Sicily, Italy: Dock in Sicily’s southern coast and travel inland to the World Heritage site of Agrigento. Step back into the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. as you tour this evocative site.

Day 4 — Trapani: Anchor in Trapani and choose from three excursions. Visit the ancient city of Segesta and venture to medieval Erice to see its two iconic castles. Or spend the day in Trapani and Marsala, visiting the salt pans and enjoying lunch and a tasting at a local winery. Alternatively, walk amid the ruins of temples more than 2,000 years old at Selinunte.

Day 5 — Palermo: In Palermo, choose a tour that focuses on its unique ArabNorman architecture or discover the city on a gastronomical tour that includes a visit to the local market and a tasting of street food. Alternatively, venture to the medieval port town of Cefalù for a walking tour.

Day 6 — Aeolian Islands: Just north of Sicily lie the Aeolian Islands. Go ashore on the main island of Lipari and visit a museum to see artifacts from many centuries. Alternatively, tour a local winery to learn how it uses both ancient and traditional methods to produce wine, and enjoy a tasting. In the evening, glide by the island of Stromboli where glowing lava can often be seen sliding down the slopes of an active volcano.

Day 7 — Taormina, Sicily: Discover the beautiful town of Taormina on a guided walking tour and visit the Greek theater. Or travel to Mount Etna and enjoy a tasting of local wines while enjoying views from its rugged slopes to the coast. Alternatively, drive to the hill town of Castelmola to enjoy a walking tour and lunch at a historic villa.

Day 8 — Syracuse: Your final stop is Syracuse, an ancient city once so powerful it rivaled Athens and Rome. Explore the archaeological park, then see the Ear of Dionysius cave on the island of Ortigia. Or you may choose to travel to Noto for a walking tour and a tasting of a local specialty.

Day 9 — Valletta, Malta: After breakfast, disembark in Valletta and transfer to airport for your onward flight.

Add a one-night extension in Malta.

*Pricing reflects a savings bonus, ranging from 5% to 30% based on availability at the time this catalog was printed. See our website for current pricing. Book early for the highest savings.

Our experts on this cruise are historian Charles Ingrao and Allan Langdale, an art and architectural historian.

Taormina

Highlights

• Visit five World Heritage sites, including the ancient Greek cities of Agrigento and Syracuse.

• Explore medieval Erice, a picturesque hilltop town with two castles.

• Enjoy wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Etna, and watch for flowing lava from the active volcano on Stromboli, one of Italy’s Aeolian Islands.

• Take a walking tour of beautiful Taormina, including its Greek amphitheater.

Sicily

Syracuse MALTA

Highlights

• Encounter Sicily’s Greco-Roman treasures, enjoy lunch at an agriturismo, and sample wines on the slopes of Mount Etna.

• Discover the lesser-known region of Calabria, Italy, exploring charming seaside villages and sampling Calabrian specialties like tartufo

• Witness age-old mozzarella-making techniques at a dairy farm near Paestum and make pizza at a farm in the hills above Sorrento.

• Trace history in ancient Pompeii and on a VIP visit to the Roman Colosseum.