Mediterranean Delights: Greece, Italy, France, Monaco, and Spain - 2022

Today you’ll board an overnight flight to Athens. Or, depart earlier for your pre-trip extension in Istanbul, Turkey.

Welcome to Athens, the fabled Cradle of Civilization. If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, a representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer or transport to your hotel. You'll arrive this evening in time for a Welcome Briefing and Dinner at the hotel alongside your fellow travelers. 

This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Athens, the sophisticated capital of Greece where mythology and ancient history come alive. You’ll visit the iconic Acropolis, where it was said that Poseidon and Athena fought over who would be patron of the city. This was the architectural pinnacle of Athens, crowned by its breathtaking Parthenon. You’ll also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House on Constitution Square, the Panathenaic Stadium, and the Presidential Palace. Along the famed Panepistimiou Avenue, pass the Catholic Cathedral, Academy of Athens, the University of Athens, and the National Library. Savor lunch on your own in the charming Plaka district, nestled at the foot of Acropolis Hill.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight, and you're in luck: Athens restaurants are world-class, but so is its street food — at a fraction of the cost. Don't miss souvlaki, fava purée and pita, a classic Greek salad, or anything involving whipped feta.

Included Feature:

• Half-day Athens city tour

You have the day at leisure to set out into the Cradle of Civilization to uncover some of its lesser known gems. If you’re looking for a deal, head over to the Monastiraki flea market, an atmospheric agora of secondhand Athenian treasures. While you’re there, seek out a traditional sandal-maker who is sure to have your size.

Later, continue to Piraeus to embark the new Ocean Odyssey. Get settled in your cabin, then take some time to explore its amenities, including the onboard boutique, spa, pool, and gym. Later, gather for the first of your daily port talks to hear about tomorrow’s exciting destination. You'll enjoy your first onboard meal tonight, just a taste of the curated dining we've prepared. Tonight the ship sets sail for Nafplion.

Your first morning on the Ocean Odyssey begins with a delicious breakfast as the ship arrives in Nafplion. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Arcadian Mountains, this ancient city enjoys a sheltered location below a rocky headland. Admire its impressive Venetian castle as you approach. Then, set out to discover two of Greece’s most renowned ancient sites. First, explore the ancient healing center of Epidaurus. UNESCO has described its Sanctuary of Asklepios as “one of the purest masterpieces of Greek architecture.” The sanctuary was dedicated to the god of medicine. You will also view its remarkably preserved amphitheater built into a mountain slope, still celebrated for its excellent acoustics. After, continue to the ruins of Mycenae, the Bronze Age capital of one of the first great empires of the ancient Mediterranean and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Look for the massive archway with the carved lions, the symbol of the ancient city-state.

After lunch on board, you’ll have the afternoon to explore Nafplion at your leisure. Our onboard lecture today provides insight into the ancient Greeks.

This evening, you'll have an indulgent choice of culinary experiences onboard the ship, in the main dining room, or more intimate spaces.

Included Feature:

•  Half-day excursion to Epidaurus and Mycenae

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

The small island of Monemvasia simply takes the breath away. The small size of our ship allows us to dock on its shores so you can explore this seldom-visited enclave. Called “The Rock" for its massive dominating rock, it is truly a unique and thrilling slice of the Aegean. Walk the charming narrow streets of its fortress, passing Byzantine churches and old houses with graceful archways. Visit the 13th-century Church of Christ Elkomenos, home to impressive old Byzantine icons. Continue to the Liotrivi Mansion, surrounded by vineyards whose grapes produce the famed Malvasia wine. The Byzantine-era setting provides the ideal atmosphere for a wine tasting. You are welcomed by the vintner, who leads you on a tour of the centuries-old property before popping open a bottle or two for your sampling. After lunch on board, you have the afternoon to stroll the atmospheric streets of Monemvasia on your own. 

Later today, a lecture illuminates more about this historic region. This evening, we welcome local entertainers on board for a lively cultural performance.

Included Feature:

•  Half-day tour of Monemvasia Castle and Liotrivi

Cultural Discoveries

• Wine tour and sampling at Liotrivi Mansion
• Onboard lecture
• Evening onboard entertainment: local cultural performance

Arrive this morning in Gythion, with ties to the legendary Trojan War. From here, head inland on the Peloponnese Peninsula to Mystras, the last stronghold of the Byzantines. This stunning site atop Mount Taygetos was a Byzantine center of culture in the 14th and 15th centuries. Stroll the narrow lanes of the once-invincible fortress, viewing the stone-carved facades of the Cathedral of Agios Dimitrios, where Constantine XII was coronated, the Church of Agia Sophia, the sprawling Palace of the Despots, and the Monastery of Pantanassa, with its brilliant frescoes.

You have the afternoon at leisure to enjoy your ship’s amenities, perhaps swimming in the infinity pool or visiting the spa. Or, explore more of Greece with a tour set up by your onboard Concierge. Learn more about the day’s experience during today’s onboard lecture before another evening of culinary delights.

Included Feature:

• Half-day historical tour of Mystras

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Uncover the rich Greek, Venetian and Ottoman past of the Peloponnese today during your visit to Pylos. A scenic drive takes you first to Methoni, an important port in the 13th century. Its stunning fortress, a shining example of Venetian, Ottoman and French military architecture, is surrounded on three sides by the sea and on the landward side by an old moat. Back in Pylos, explore the Ottoman castle of Neokastro, one of Greece’s best preserved. Continue to the newly restored Mycenaean Palace of Nestor, a compound of four buildings and 105 apartments.

After lunch on board, you may continue to explore Pylos are your leisure. Your onboard Concierge can provide recommendations on other fascinating sights and tours. Today’s onboard lecture reveals more about the sites of the storied Peloponnese Peninsula.

Included Features:

• Scenic tour of Methoni
• Tour of Neokastro and Palace of Nestor

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Relax with a day at sea as the Ocean Odyssey makes its way into the heart of the Mediterranean. Visit the spa, get in a workout at the gym, lounge in the swimming pool, relax on the sun deck catching up with a great book, and savor the fabulous cuisine our chefs create. You'll enjoy another scintillating lecture to enrich your understanding of Mediterranean history. 

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Arrive on the shores of Sicily today, the breathtaking island at the tip of Italy’s toe. Your discoveries begin in UNESCO-listed Syracuse, where ancient Greek ruins and antique Italian charm fuse into one splendid island called Ortigia.

On a walking tour, head to the Old Town with its narrow cobblestoned lanes and welcoming piazzas. You’ll visit an archaeological area to view the remains of the Temple of Apollo and the gorgeous Fountain of Arethusa, a natural fountain with roots in Greek mythology, before lunch calls us back to the ship. Your afternoon is at leisure to continue your explorations in Syracuse. Later, you'll have dinner onboard.

Included Feature:

• Half-day guided tour of Syracuse

From your anchor in Giardini Naxos, you head to Taormina, the historic city set on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. This chic resort town offers splendid views of Mount Etna in the distance and a charming medieval ambience. During your tour, admire the Moorish and Islamic influences in the exterior of the 15th-century Palazzo Carvaia. Continue to the fantastic Greek Theater, originally built in the 3rd century by Romans. You can marvel at its coastal vistas before heading to the Public Gardens, boasting some 200 species. Take time to sample a refreshing granita while here, then we provide you with the euros you’ll need to enjoy lunch at an inviting spot of your choosing.

This afternoon, continue to soak up Taormina’s refreshing views. Another onboard lecture deepens your understanding of the region. This evening, get into the rhythms of the Triskele Band, named for the three-legged triskelion symbol on the Sicilian flag.

Included Feature:

• Half-day tour of Taormina

Cultural Discovery:

• Evening onboard entertainment: performance by a Sicilian band

Scenic Sailing:

• As we depart, enjoy views of Taormina on the cliffs above — and get your camera ready to capture a postcard-perfect shot of the beach with Mount Etna in the background

It is only because of our small ship size that we can pause for a day to explore the Aeolian Islands, Italy’s archipelago northwest of Sicily. Beauty greets you at every turn on these soaring, majestic volcanic islands. You anchor off the shore of Lipari and tender to Marina Corta, walking with your guide along the via Garibaldi. At the Rock of the Castle, set high on a promontory, peer deep into the island’s past at an archaeological site and visit the Cathedral of Bartholomew, the island’s patron saint. Then, get a panoramic view of the island, visiting the villages of Quattrocchi and Quattropani. As you explore, enjoy splendid views of other Aeolian Islands, including Stromboli with its ever-active towering volcano. You will also stop to take in the vistas of Lipari Beach and observe the ubiquitous pumice stone deposited here by volcanic eruptions from millennia past. After lunch on board, enjoy leisure time in Lipari. 

This afternoon’s onboard lecture provides more fascinating context to this legendary part of the Mediterranean.

This evening, shipboard commentary accompanies our scenic cruising among the magnificent Aeolian Islands.

Included Features:

• Half-day walking tour of Lipari
• Panoramic coach tour around Lipari

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Scenic Sailing:

• Cruise along the Aeolian Islands with shipboard commentary

Arrive this morning along the legendary Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where seaside villages and dizzying cliffs create a dreamy landscape. No visit here is complete without a tour of Pompeii, the ancient city buried by the ash of Vesuvius in 79 AD. A walking tour with a private guide helps you step back 2,000 years into a world of cobbled lanes worn by horse-drawn cart wheels, fascinating villas still adorned by colorful murals, Roman baths, the old forum, and more.

This afternoon, take part in something truly extraordinary — don't forget your camera! We've coordinated an afternoon lunch visit to a local farm, where you'll meet your hosts for a tour and a class in creating the perfect pizza, the famed cuisine of nearby Naples.

Back on board, learn more about local history and culture before another delectable dinner brings you even more flavors of this region.

Included Feature:

• Half-day tour of Pompeii

Inaugural Feature:

• Home-hosted lunch with pizza-making demonstration at a local farm

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Scenic Sailing:

• The Gulf of Naples is a sight to behold. Get an extraordinary sea view of Naples, fearsome Mount Vesuvius, and nearby Sorrento — a town that’s literally on another level, sitting atop sheer cliffs

This morning, enjoy breakfast and an early lunch as the Ocean Odyssey nears Corsica. This mountainous Mediterranean outpost offers a fascinating glimpse of France in the middle of the Mediterranean. With its chalk-white coastal cliffs and rugged vistas, it is one of the area’s most breathtaking islands — known to the French as “l’Île de Beauté.” Arriving midday, you set out to explore Bonifacio, its castle and pastel-hued Old Town perched on a cliff edge. Explore its Gothic church, the only one on the island, and climb if you wish the 189 steps of the Roy d’Aragon. Then, embark a small boat for a thrilling expedition to explore the Lavezzi Islands and their dramatic cliffs and sea caves carved by the surf over millennia. An onboard lecture this afternoon reveals more about this seldom-visited corner of the Mediterranean.

Included Feature:

• Half-day Bonifacio city tour

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Scenic Sailing:

• Your first impression of Corsica comes from Porto Vecchio, where we’ll soon dock. Here, sailboats dot the coast and apricot-hued buildings crown the forested hills, giving this harbor its fairytale charm

Arrive this morning in Monte Carlo, capital of the tiny independent principality of Monaco. Playground to well-heeled Europeans, this sovereign nation has been ruled by the Grimaldis since the 13th century. You will arrive via the world-famous Grand Prix track of Formula One fame. Then, marvel at the world-renowned Belle Époque Grand Casino, a vision of extravagance and wealth. See the lush gardens, too, before viewing the Hôtel de Paris, a 19th-century grand dame. In the historic quarter of Le Rocher (“The Rock”), admire stunning sea views 200 feet below while strolling past the Prince’s Palace, just in time to see the Changing of the Guard. Nearby, the neo-Romanesque Monaco Cathedral is a vision in white; the Grimaldis, including Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, are entombed here. After seeing the Justice Palace, your tour ends at the Oceanographic Museum, another neo-classical gem.

After lunch on board, perhaps you’ll stroll the streets of Monte Carlo to take in its monumental architecture. An onboard lecture fills you in on more fascinating details about this glittering Mediterranean coastline.

Included Feature:

• Half-day Monte Carlo city tour

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Scenic Sailing:

• Savor your dinner with a resplendent view of Monte Carlo’s waterfront as we sail out toward Marseille

Steeped in history and boasting a newly revived waterfront, Marseille provides a beguiling glimpse of a French medieval port. From here, you have two ways to delve into the celebrated south of France today: A full-day tour to romantic Provence, or a full-day safari in Camargue National Park.

The first included tour takes you deeper into the heart of Provence. Begin at the Gordes Castle in its namesake town, a picture-postcard hilltop village climbing a slope from the Vaucluse plateau. After, continue to the red cliffs and ochre quarries of Roussillon. The emerald pine trees and vivid blue Provençal sky create a stunning canvas. We provide you some euros to have lunch at a restaurant of your choosing, then it’s on to a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence’s Old Town, strolling under the lovely plane trees of Cours Mirabeau past elegant mansions. If you wish, you may visit Paul Cézanne’s atelier during your free time.

Your second tour option is decidedly wilder. Head into Camargue National Park to explore the vast Rhône River Delta, a pristine region of swamps, river tendrils and ponds teeming with numerous bird species, including the pink flamingo. Throughout your safari, you will pause as opportunities arise to view the region’s wild Camargue horses and bulls grazing as manades, or free-roaming herds. You will visit a working farm to learn more about the horses and bulls and stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

After dinner, we have invited local performers to entertain you with dances and songs of their country.

Included Feature:

• Full-day excursion to Provence or Camargue National Park

Cultural Discoveries:

• Onboard lecture
• Evening onboard entertainment: local song and dance performance

The seaside resort of Sète is your entrée to two historic treasures. Again today, you can select the tour that suits your interest: A full-day tour of Carcassonne, or a half-day tour to Montpellier and Château de Flaugergues.

If you choose the first option, you'll journey to UNESCO-listed Carcassonne, the largest and best preserved fortified medieval town in Europe. Step back in time within its massive walls, exploring narrow, cobbled streets, the breathtaking St. Nazaire Basilica, an 11th-century Romanesque church, the 12th-century Château Comtal and countless other treasures from the Middle Ages. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour the lovely Fontfroide Abbey, founded in 1093, with its hushed cloister and vaulted chapter house. 

Alternately, visit the historic and stylish city of Montpellier, capital of the Languedoc-Rousillon region. In the Old Town, admire elegant mansions and other stunning architecture that fuses the classical and the avant-garde. In the Place de la Comèdie, admire the Three Graces fountain. You will also see the fortress-like Cathedral St. Pierre and the Arc de Triomphe. Later, stop for a tour and wine-tasting at the 18th-century Château de Flaugergues. Romans were the first to cultivate grapes on these grounds 2,000 years ago. After the tasting, you'll be back on board the Ocean Odyssey for lunch and an afternoon at leisure in Sète.

Included Feature:

• Full-day tour of Carcassonne or Half-day tour of Montpellier and Château de Flaugergues

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

This morning you'll disembark the Ocean Odyssey — we hope you enjoyed your journey on the inaugural season of Vantage's second ocean-going expedition vessel!

This morning you'll get to know the sophisticated capital of Catalonia on a panoramic tour that includes the hugely successful revitalization project of Port Vell, the Olympic Village that hosted the 1992 Games. Then, ascend Montjuic for spectacular city views. Continue to the Plaza de España, adorned with Venetian towers and a towering fountain. The tour concludes at La Barceloneta Beach, where an included lunch awaits.

Afterward, we'll have an outside visit to La Sagrada Família cathedral, Antoni Gaudí’s famous masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you like, you'll be provided a ticket for an inside visit; or you may choose to do this during your free time tomorrow. After seeing the architectural treasures along the tree-lined Passieg de Gràcia — including surreal buildings by Gaudí — there’ll be plenty of time to shop the city’s famous pedestrian-only Las Ramblas. 

Then, enjoy an evening at leisure with dinner on your own. And after that, prepare yourself for a passionate flamenco performance at a local tablao. This is an experience you won't forget!

Included Feature:

• Full-day Barcelona city tour

Inaugural Feature:

• Flamenco performance at a local tablao

During this free day in Barcelona, you may set your sights on the city’s atmospheric Gothic Quarter, the Barrio Gótico adjacent to Las Ramblas. It is pure delight to follow its labyrinthine streets into intimate squares, or plaças, stopping along the way for a café crema or a lunch of traditional tapas and rioja wine. Browse the colorful food stalls of the Mercat de la Boqueria, a foodie’s paradise for its artisanal cheeses, smoked meats, chocolate truffles, and so much more.

Tonight, reunite with your fellow travelers and celebrate your expedition together during a Farewell Drink and Dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to the Barcelona airport for your return flight home, or enjoy a longer stay in the city with our optional post-trip extension.

Please note: Arrive to your destination rested and refreshed! Convenient gateway city stopover options mean you can break up longer flights easily — just ask our Flight Experts for assistance.