Cruise Ports

VENICE

Cruising to Venice, a cruise from Venice, it all somehow seems ... appropriate. Cars have been baished from the maze of narrow cobbled streets and the 500 ancient bridges that make up the city centre so, when in Venice, do as the Venetian's do and take a gondola ride and let this magical city glide by.

From St Marks Square, with its ancient Basilica, lavish Doges Palace and imposing bell tower, the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs this is a city of breathtaking beauty. To get a different perspective on Venice take a boat to the Island of Murano (home to the famous glass blowers) or join an excursion package around Venice itself.

A guided tour will help you understand how this enchanting city survives, despite being built on a series of wooden poles and despite the flowing waters of the Adriatic underneath the city. World-renowned for its canals and bridges, Venice is visually stunning, thanks to its higgledy-piggledy array of palaces, churches and colourful, narrow streets.

A lovely way to spend the day is to combine a gondola and walking tour: a gondola ride is another ‘must-do’ experience, whilst the secrets and history of Venice’s ‘calli’ (streets) will be revealed to you by your knowledgeable guide.

ANCONA

Ancona is a provincial capital of the Marche, a region of central Italy, on the Adriatic Sea and is a city and a seaport.

The town is finely situated on and between the slopes of the two extremities of the promontory of Monte Conero, Monte Astagno, occupied by the citadel, and Monte Guasco, on which the Duomo stands (150 m).

The harbour, originally protected only by the elbow-shaped promontory from which the city takes its name (Greek for ‘angkon’ or elbow), features modern installations built since World War II.

Although Ancona's importance as a port has diminished, the city is a busy market centre.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Ancona was successively attacked by the Goths, Lombards and Saracens, but recovered its strength and importance.

Today, Ancona does not perhaps represent an obvious holiday destination, but tourists to the town will soon discover some of the treasures that this city has to offer.  You can stroll the city and take in its historic sights or add to your vacation by venturing further afield to the beautiful city of Urbino. You can will enjoy the trip to the Frassassi caves to behold impressive stalagmites and stalactites with walks through the grotto

CORFU'

The island of Corfu is located just off the West coast of Greece. Corfu enjoys a mild  Mediterranean climate along with excellent beaches making it a popular destination for holiday makers. Corfu is very green compared to other Greek islands: hot and dry summers along with winter rain creates lush vegetation which is dominated by over 2 million olive trees. These olive trees on Corfu are the main cultivation, although Corfu's tourism now provides the most income.

Corfu has been written about by so many illustrious writers and poets who were drawn here by the island’s spectacular natural beauty. Ulysses on his own Greek island cruise stopped at Corfu on his return to Ithaca and visitors will still sense the ancient atmosphere of this unspoiled island, as though one could magically step back in time at any moment.

SANTORINI

If it wasn't for the fact that the Greek archipelago of Santorini owes so much to intense volcanic activity one might suspect it was purpose built for Greek island cruises. This is a sun-baked, volcanic patch of paradise set down in the Mediterranean!

Santorini was formed as the result of dramatic volcanic activity 3600 years ago and part of a smouldering live volcano (the caldera) can still be visited today. Known as the Cyclades, these islands, of which Santorini (also called Thera after its beautiful capital city) is the largest, are hugely popular with cruise passengers. A Greek island cruise to Santorini invites close cruising along its dramatic coast and, once ashore, the views from the sea cliffs are simply stunning.

The capital of Santorini, Thira, competes with the other main village, Oia, both of which are perched atop cliffs and ancient caldera hills. Bustling Thira has all kinds of shops, cafes and bars; whilst on vacation here be sure to sample some of the local wine made from the Assyrtiko grape and make a purchase of gold jewellery as Santorini goldsmiths are famous worldwide. Smaller Oia is equally charming and its black sand beaches are sure to tempt sun-worshippers.

Leave time to visit Akrotiri, which is known as ‘prehistoric Pompeii’ following a devastating ancient earthquake and is the most important prehistoric settlement in the Eastern Mediterranean.