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So, with another early start after breakfast, we began our first day in the city. – Dubrovnik Walking Tour – After lunch we joined the included walking tour of Old Town. Starting at Pile Gate, just as we did that morning, we walked down the Stradun, which is a .25-mile marbled main pedestrian way that goes from Pile Gate to the Old Town Port. Incredible architecture, shops, restaurants and historic buildings line the way. Although the excursion is rated as ‘moderate’, it mostly consists of walking on flat surfaces with little elevation changes. For most travellers, the aurora borealis is the world’s most sought-after spectacle in the sky.
Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores
The places we wanted to see were fairly empty -- even the big sights weren't elbow to elbow. The weather, though not perfect, was much more tolerable for us than the high heat of summer (especially for Mom and me, who start to wilt at 75° and grind to a halt not that long thereafter). On the one hand, I'm reluctant to be the trial balloon for new excursions, destinations, etc, but I'd really like to see more of Greece than just Athens. Discover these 15 unforgettable things to see and do on a Viking river or ocean cruise in Europe. A mesmerising view at the perfect time of day, a natural phenomenon that must be seen to be appreciated, or a heart-pumping activity in a place rarely visited.
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Explore the stunning coastline and the remains of ancient sites and sample Greek cuisine. Stroll Old Town’s narrow streets and squares; visit St. James Cathedral, a UNESCO Site. While this day marked the end of the first leg of our cruise, you can review the second half of the cruise, Journey to Antiquities, which sails from Athens to Rome. Upon boarding the ship, we were greeted with many new, excited passengers as we started the next cruise, on our way to Rome. • Katakolon (Olympia), Greece – Although the port of call was Katakolon, the reason for stopping there was a trip to Olympia, the site of the original Olympics first held in 776 BC. As an aside, if you happen to be a fan of the Masterpiece series, The Durrells in Corfu, you may have fell in love with the natural beauty of this lovely island.
Day by Day
Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the Passenger Ticket Contract . GENERAL RESTRICTIONSCruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.
Pre: Cappadocia
Enjoy a lifetime’s worth of experiences on a single journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Bucharest. According to T+L A-list travel advisor and small ship specialist Mary Curry, this local Greek cruise line offers its own fleet of yachts, most carrying fewer than 50 passengers. Since the ships are so small, says Curry, “you can travel a bit further off the beaten path.” Variety offers a handful of Greece itineraries, including specially themed hiking and wine cruises. Even without the side shows of the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights, Norway’s scenery is spectacular. Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is breathtaking to view up close, while Eidfjord is the gateway to Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau. The 15-day Viking Homelands ocean voyage explores Scandinavia by sea, following ancient mariner routes.
Examine enormous stalagmites and stalactites, the world’s widest column found in a cave, and a natural amphitheatre used as a concert venue. Sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, this 16-day voyage in seven countries also calls at Seville, Casablanca, Valetta (overnight), Corsica, Rome, Marseilles, Tunis and Algiers, with three non-consecutive days at sea. Travel through Croatia’s countryside to Krka National Park, known for its seven waterfalls and crystalline rivers, stretching across 100 square kilometres. The spectacular Skradinski Buk falls comprise 17 cataracts and spans 100 metres at its widest point. Wander along a nature trail to discover the park’s restored pre-industrial water mill and a monastery. The Viking 15-day Ancient Adriatic Treasures voyage makes calls in Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Montenegro and Italy including overnight stays in Istanbul, Athens and Venice.
In fact, you can even book third-party excursions that will take you to many of these locations. On our two excursions, the guides pointed out several of the famous spots. The city of Dubrovnik itself was King’s Landing in the series, and a couple of the other sites we saw included Fort Lovrijenac (the Red Keep) and the Jesuit Steps (the Walk of Shame). After leaving Krka, we took a short drive to the small town of Skradin.
Combine Venice, the Adriatic & Greece and Italian Sojourn for a sweeping 15-day voyage brimming with ancient history. You will not want to miss such an in-depth exploration of this fabled region. • Athens, Greece – Athens was the last stop for the Venice to Athens itinerary and passengers began leaving very early in the morning for their flights home. It also meant that those passengers had no chance to experience Athens. Fortunately for us, since we were staying on the ship to continue on the next cruise, we had two days to enjoy in Athens.
Viking Announces New Summer Mediterranean Cruises - Forbes
Viking Announces New Summer Mediterranean Cruises.
Posted: Thu, 06 May 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
NEW! Viking World Voyage I
From its colonnaded Parthenon—more than 2,600 years ago—revered Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle formulated new ideas of government and debated its role in civic life to captivated audiences. Remnants of spiritual life are also here in the several temples to Athena and Zeus. Admire one of Greece’s most beautiful and romantic seaside ports and stroll Old Town. We hope you found our review of the first half of the Venice, The Adriatic and Greece cruise helpful and informative.
Browsing its shops or simply perusing its nooks and crannies are pastimes favored by visitors and locals alike. This historic area is the ideal setting in which to enjoy traditional small plates of mezes and a sip of ouzo. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. – Panoramic Athens & Archaeological Museum – Most tours that have ‘Panoramic’ in the name are simply a bus tour, which was true for the first part of this excursion. With so much to see in Athens, a bus tour is a great way to at least get a glimpse of some of the iconic sites.
Viking had pulled out of there in 2016 and I think were just starting to return in 2020. Should things become unpredictable there again, Viking will not hesitate to change its plans. If Viking were offering this in January, 2024, I would be booked already. DH is quick to say, "Been there; done that. What's next," but I think we left a lot on the table and might be ready to return. Walk along the Street of the Knights and see the iconic Palace of the Grand Masters.
Most of the time we were on the inside of the road (against the mountain). But a few times we were on the outside and looking straight down the mountain. • Kotor, Montenegro – As with most ports of call, we sailed into Kotor early in the morning.
Formed after an accidental overflow from an adjacent geothermal plant, the original lagoon has been expanded into a dozen steaming, milky-blue pools with a lava wall looming almost four metres above. Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes ocean voyage spends half of the 13-day itinerary exploring the country’s dramatic vistas, villages and cities, with the other half cruising around the fjords of far north Norway. Volos was built in a region once occupied by ancient Greek cities—including Iolcos, home of the fabled Jason, seeker of the Golden Fleece. It is the gateway to Meteora, where spectacular monasteries perch upon towering pinnacles of rock. Hermit monks lived in caves at the bases of these pillars as early as the 9th century. As the Ottomans encroached, the monks looked heavenward to build these fortress-like sanctuaries as safe havens.
Much to our surprise however, we headed straight up the switchbacks above town on a road that was not much wider than a single lane. Our guide assured us that our driver was ‘the best’, but it was nonetheless, a bit of a nail-biting ride at first, especially as we passed other buses and large trucks. We barely squeezed by, and on a few occasions, we even had to back up a short distance and move out of the roadway into some bushes.
Today, ancient monuments from the city's time as the cradle of early Western civilization still stand, protected amid the frenetic pace of modern life in this cosmopolitan metropolis. This splendid metropolis on the Thermaic Gulf was founded around 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon, who named it for his wife, a half sister of Alexander the Great. Centuries later, it rivaled Constantinople in its importance as an administrative and power center of the Byzantine Empire.
Enjoy the merry atmosphere of Marktplatz, which spreads through the Old Town’s cobblestone streets while seasonal music and the scents of regional delicacies fill the air. Try a mug of Rüdesheim’s favourite coffee made with locally distilled Asbach Uralt brandy, or shop for a festive memento to take home. Viking’s eight-day Christmas On The Rhine river voyage operates between Basel and Amsterdam. One of the world’s best preserved medieval cities, Dubrovnik, is surrounded by towering, historic walls. Follow the Stradun, a marbled pedestrian way that gleams from hundreds of years of footsteps, to the Dominican Monastery, housing a fine collection of Renaissance paintings. Pass the Sponza Palace, the Church of St. Blaise and Onofrio’s Fountain.
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