11-Day Greek Isles: Istanbul Overnight With Dubrovnik

Wonders are at every turn, from Ephesus’ well-preserved ruins to Olympia’s ancient sites. Stay overnight in Istanbul to amble through lively bazaars and explore its history.

SHIP: Oosterdam

DEPARTS: Piraeus (Athens), Greece

ARRIVES: Trieste (Venice), Italy

Date: MAY 4 - MAY 15, 2027

Price: Inside From CA$3,131PP (*All taxes and fees included)

Exclusive Offer for Mariner Society Members:

As a member of the esteemed Mariner Society®, enjoy up to US $400 Onboard Credit per stateroom when you book a 2027 Europe cruise by August 27, 2025.* Access 200+ UNESCO sites, witness a Solar Eclipse at sea, and more with the cruise line rooted in Europe for over 150 years.

What is Mariner Society

Holland America’s Mariner Society is a loyalty rewards program that provides valuable benefits to our guests. As a member, you earn credits and receive exclusive offers.

When you cruise with Holland America Line, you’re automatically enrolled in our Mariner Society®. As a member, you’ll earn Cruise Day credits for every day you cruise and for each purchase you make onboard. Earn bonus credits when you pay a published fare for a suite or penthouse and for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases.*

Itinerary:

Day 1: Piraeus (Athens), Greece

No modern metropolis is more steeped in myth than Athens, Greece. From the gritty port of Piraeus—gateway to Greece’s fabled isles—to the Parthenon—eternal symbol of Western civilization—Athens has attracted adventurers and classicists for centuries. This heritage is still very much alive for modern visitors sightseeing in Athens: ancient stadiums and temples dwell alongside apartment blocks, modern performances are staged in the marble amphitheaters where Greek drama was born and millennia-old monuments are scattered in the archaeological park that circles the Acropolis.

Day 2: Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

Kusadasi in Turkey is the gateway to one of the most legendary cities of the ancient world: Ephesus. St. Paul preached in its Great Theater, while the facade of the Celsus Library survives as a testament to the city’s role as a center of learning and culture.

Day 3: Cruising The Dardanelles

Day 4-5: Istanbul, Turkey

Arriving in Istanbul, Turkey on board a ship is an unforgettable experience. The Bosphorus, dividing Europe and Asia, welcomes passengers with ocean breezes, soaring seagulls and—if you’re lucky—playful dolphins that frolic en route to the port. On deck is where the views of Istanbul’s best attractions await. The shores of Asia to the east, the first Bosphorus Bridge to the north, and the “old Istanbul” peninsula in the south—home to Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia—give a glimpse of what’s to come on your visit. But once you step ashore in Istanbul, you’ll find the most interesting parts of the city—neighborhoods with personalities of their own.

Day 6: Mykonos, Greece

A Mykonos cruise brings passengers to one of the most-visited islands of the Greece’s Cyclades. Once a playground for wealthy starlets, an aura of glamour lingers on Mykonos. Today, Mykonos caters to all types of travelers and there’s lots to see, do, and taste that’s accessible to us mere mortals. Mykonos cruise passengers are tendered straight into Old Town or water taxi in from the nearby Mykonos cruise port. Stunning views welcome you to the town with cliffside whitewashed houses and bright trim (blue for sailors, green for farmers, red for other) and trellises of bougainvillea. 

Day 7: Souda (Chania), Greece

The port of Souda on the Aegean Sea is home to a Greek and NATO naval base and is located six kilometers (three miles) from Chania—the second-largest city on Crete, which itself is the largest of the Greek Islands. Once you’re in Chania, set your compass for the historic waterfront with its famous Venetian Harbor dating to the 14th century. Walk along the breakwater to the restored 500-year-old lighthouse for views that are particularly photogenic from late afternoon until sunset. 

Day 8: Katakolon (Olympia), Greece

The port of Katakolon is the gateway to the Peloponnese, one of Greece’s most intriguing and least well-known areas. Beyond the region’s famous site of ancient Olympia—one of the most treasured remnants of the classical world—the Peloponnese gets little of the glory given the Greek islands and Athens. And it deserves much more, as you’re about to discover.

Day 9: Sarande, Albania

While travelers have been visiting the Albanian Riviera since antiquity, the region is, with reason, often described as up-and-coming. Long overlooked because of Albania's political isolation from the rest of Europe, this 80-kilometer (50-mile) stretch of the northern Ionian Sea has seaside towns and stunning blue waters that visitors are now rediscovering. 

Day 10: Dubrovnik, Croatia

On the southern end of Croatia's Adriatic coast, Dubrovnik staked its claim to glory during the 450 years it existed as the independent Ragusan Republic, shoulder to shoulder with mighty forces like Venice and the Ottoman Empire. Once a renowned seafaring, shipbuilding and trading center, today it's an enchanting tourist destination. Dubrovnik seduces sightseeing visitors with its polished (and very clean!) limestone streets, theatrical architecture, charming café, welcoming restaurants and distinctive shops along scenic side streets. 

Day 11: Days At Sea

Day 12: Trieste (Venice), Italy

Visit Rome’s legendary Colosseum. Shop Monaco’s glamorous boutiques. Sample succulent tapas in Barcelona. Walk the medieval wall that guards Dubrovnik’s charms. Unwind under a canopy of stars. 

Contact your Uniglobe Travel Advisor for details or for other Europe sailings