Ports of Call
Let's explore the 3 areas the cruise
ships frequent. Both ships mentioned above, as well as several others
frequent the Med and at least a part of the Aegean. Can't wait? Book a cruise now:
THE GREEK ISLANDS AND TURKEY
If you crave to sample the ancient
world where the roots of European civilization began you have to head
for the Aegean, Athens and the Greek Islands. The depth of blue of the
Aegean Sea is indescribably beautiful. Should your cruise stop in
Istanbul you will never forget the exotic skyline of minarets, mosques,
and palaces as you sail away through the Bosporus Straits. And what a
journey it is - from cultures and religions of the pagan world through
Christianity and Islam. Many cruises stop at Kusadasi and offer a day
trip to Ephesus. Christians will remember Ephesus from St.Paul's many
letters to the Ephesians and students of history will remember it's
place in the Roman Empire. Here you can walk the marble streets once
walked by Antony and Cleopatra. You will view one of the largest and
best preserved ancient cities of eastern Europe. Walking through
Ephesus is truly a walk through history.
The Greek Islands embody everything you
think of when dreaming of Greece - white washed buildings with
Byzantine domes, the bluest sea, brightest sun and a spectacle of
endless well-preserved ruins. Some favorite islands include, Rhodes
Santorini and Mykonos. Rhodes has an ancient Acropolis, the historic
Castle of the Grand Masters inhabited in medieval times by the Knights
of the Order of St. John and one of the most interesting mixes of
architecture of any of the Greek cities. Santorini is an incredibly
awesome island to see both from the water and the land. This island
literally blew up in ancient times and left half of it standing. You
sail into the half of the caldera still standing. An incline, hike or
donkey ride takes you to the top where another breathtaking view awaits
you. Many think the ancient city of Atlantis broke off from Santorini.
On the island you have an opportunity to walk an archaeological dig in
progress at Akrotiri, a must visit for anyone interested in life in the
ancient prehistoric world. The jewellery shops are great on most of
these islands but especially good here. Unique gold jewellery, hand
crafted, many of them with Byzantine designs abound. Sailing on to
Mykonos will yield great seaside restaurants, those famous white sail
windmills and winding little streets fun to meander. Most of these
trips stop or end in Athens, a city chock full of ancient ruins, great
shopping and restaurants. The Acropolis sparkles at night like a jewel
on the hill, completing a magical experience.
THE MED FROM SPAIN THROUGH THE ADRIATIC
 The Spanish, French and Italian
Rivieras all abound with attractive little cities, pedestrian walk ways
sprinkled with sidewalk cafes and restaurants, marinas loaded with the
most incredible yachts and quaint hillside villages full of beautiful
flowers and varying architecture. And whenever you turn around there
are outstanding vistas of the Mediterranean. Having cruised this entire
area, you really can't go wrong with any selection. We believe the most
scenic with the widest range of activities are the ones that sail the
western Italian coast. This cruising area includes islands as well as
the mainland, rolling hills, volcanoes, cliffs, ancient ruins, chic
shopping areas, great walks, and often a stop taking you to one of the
greatest cities of all time, Rome! Each cruise company varies the
itineraries and the ports, so you need to look at each one for what you
want to see most. Both Crystal and Windstar frequent these coastlines.
If you enjoy smaller ports with unique
shops, fine restaurants, interesting walks and spectacular views, you
will enjoy Portovenere, Portofino and Amalfi. If the Roman Empire is
your hot button, be sure you stop or start with Rome and cruise down to
Sorrento, where day trips to Pompeii and Herculaneum are available.
These are some of the finest archaeological sites you will ever see.
Frescos still on the walls, mosaic floors, shops, villas, and temples
are exactly the way they were left when the volcanic ash of Vesuvius
buried them almost 2000 years ago. For those more interested in geology
and nature, a trip to Vesuvius or Mt. Etna may be the order of the day
when stopping at Sorrento, Amalfi or Taormina. The islands of Capri,
Elba, Sardinia, and Sicily, each provide a wide range of experiences
and incredible photographic opportunities. And let's face it, there's
something enchanting about visiting an island. The Italian islands
won't let you down, you will view the same vistas the titans of history
did, whether it was Tiberius from his villa atop Capri, Napoleon
looking out during his exile on Elba, the Aga Khan envisioning his
Costa Smeralda on Sardinia or Julius Caesar readying his ships in the
ports of Sicily. History, archaeology, breath taking vistas, charming
villages, friendly people and great food, these are the hallmarks of a
cruise around Italy.
NORTHERN EUROPE
Northern Europe is a cruising region
that includes the British Isles and the Baltic ports. Some cruises
start in the UK and focus on the UK and Ireland, others cover the
Scandinavian countries, the Baltic ports and Russia. This is a
fascinating area very different from the Med. The Celts and Vikings
have a greater presence here than the Romans, the terrain is markedly
different and so is the architecture. Trees abound here and the
buildings reflect this in the wealth of wooden structures. However,
because of the massive use of wood more of their historic structures
have been lost to fires. This is most prevalent in the Scandinavian
countries. The UK and Ireland have massive stone structures and
historic buildings reflecting the range of time. Two of the most
historic cities covering the widest range of interests are Edinburgh
and St. Petersburg. Depending on your cruise you will likely stop at
one or the other of these cities and usually for two days.
If Edinburgh is the city of your 2 day
stay, you will be in for a real treat. Most of the cruises stop here in
August during the famous Edinburgh Festival. The city is bursting with
music and arts during this time and you couldn't have a better hotel
than right on your ship. Whatever you do during the day, don't pass up
the night at the castle for the Military Tattoo; it will be the most
colorful, musical and visually beautiful experience of your cruise. And
if you city is St. Petersburg, you too will be delighted. It is truly
the gem of Russia with beautiful architecture and many of the world's
art treasures housed in one of the greatest museums in the world, the
Hermitage. Both cities are rich in historic sites, awe-inspiring
churches, and royal residences. Neither city will disappoint.
The cruises that circle the British
Isles offer a chance to see a part of Isles not reachable by land, like
the Shetland or Orkney Islands, the Isle of Mann or the Channel
Islands. Some offer a glimpse into remote island life and others offer
looks back into their place in history. Other stops include Scottish
ports where you can sample their famous single malt scotches, or Irish
ports where a pint of Guinness is more the order of the day. Wonderful
woollen products, local pottery, jewellery, and buttery shortbread are
a few of the souvenirs you will want to take home.
If you are on a Baltic cruise, the
cities of Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen are all easy to
tour, have great shopping, interesting sites, and a chance to see
remnants of history you won't see anywhere else. For example, Oslo has
a phenomenal Viking museum that houses a Viking longboat and many of
their artifacts. In Stockholm, you can view the Vasa, a 17th century
warship that was recovered from the sea in the last century, fully in
tact. In Copenhagen, you can get a nice overview of the city by way of
canal boats. And all of these cities enjoy white nights in the summer,
an unusual experience if you have never frequented the northern
latitudes.
RIVER CRUISES
There is one other type of cruise available in Europe and that is the river cruise. Cities on the water have an additional aspect to their personality that waterless places just don't have. Perhaps the ultimate cruise: Afloat in France, luxury péniche-hôtel barging on the tranquil rivers and canals of France. Learn more or book online at Orient Express. If you are skittish about the open sea, a river cruise may just be the way to go.
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