Visiting from United States? 
Visiting from United States?
Barcelona to Athens cruises take you right across the sparkling Mediterranean, calling at ports along France’s glamorous Côte d’Azur, the glorious Ligurian coast of Italy, and through the sun-drenched Greek Islands before disembarking in Athens. Take in the art treasures of Florence and the magnificent Colosseum in Rome. Admire the honey-colored ramparts of Valletta, Malta’s capital, and the grand medieval mansions of Rhodes.
Art and architecture aside, a cruise from Barcelona to Athens is a voyage through some of Europe’s most exquisite landscapes. Visit the Cinque Terre National Park, where mountains plunge into the sea and tiny villages cling to the cliffs. Relax on the golden sandy beaches that encircle Mykonos. Don’t miss tasting local specialties wherever you go, like tangy limoncello and rainbow-colored gelato in Italy, air-dried ham and salty cheese in Dubrovnik, and flaky spinach and feta pies in Greece.
Malta’s compact, historic capital spills over the clifftop around a vast, natural harbor, protected by vast walls built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. See extraordinary artworks in the opulent Co-Cathedral of St. John, and admire the contemporary City Gate. Take a trip to ancient Mdina, a cluster of medieval churches and palaces, or admire the luminous Blue Grotto on a boat trip. Try the local cuisine, a tasty blend of Sicilian and Arabic influences.
Turkey’s most famous archaeological site, the ancient city of Ephesus, near the port of Kusadasi, dates back millennia. In its heyday, it was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire. The exquisite Temple of Artemis, fragments of which still remain, is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the iconic Library of Celsus, dating to the second century AD, and nearby, the House of the Virgin Mary, where Christ’s mother is believed to have spent her last days.
On the island of Santorini, sugar-cube houses and blue-domed churches cling to the sheer-sided rim of a vast volcano, creating one of the most famous sights in Greece. Shop for jewelry in Fira, the capital, or head to Oia for sweeping views of the caldera and the sapphire-blue sea below. Learn about the sophisticated lifestyle of the Minoans at Akrotiri, an amazing archaeological site dating back 4,000 years, or join a tour to taste the island’s impressive wines.
