Seven Seas Voyager - October 6, 2025

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. In a single day, you can climb the hill of the Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and then find a welcoming taverna for some spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and with luck, energetic Greek dancing.

With its steep volcanic flanks looming straight up from the sea, and the tiny white village of Thira clinging high atop the cliffs, Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking and legendary of all the Greek Isles. To the south is Akrotiri, where recent Minoan excavations support the theories that Santorini might be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis.

Legend has it that Apollo blessed this isle with sunshine and beauty. True to the myths, the "Island of Roses" is rich in magnificent scenery and umbrella-lined beaches. Take an excursion to Lindos, where high on a hill rises an ancient acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. You will also want to see the medieval Old Town, once home to the Crusading Knights of St. John, and tour the Grand Master's Palace, an Italian restoration famed for its superb mosaic floors.

Until about ten years ago Alanya was a sleepy coastal town, today it has grown to become a significant resort of the Mediterranean, although it has managed to hold on to much of its original character. It is best seen on the approach from the west where the road passes through verdant banana plantations and opens up to a rocky promontory, topped by a castle rearing out of the sea.

Limassol is the major port of the island republic of Cyprus. Atlthough it began as a small market town, Limassol today is a bustling commercial center for fruits, vegetables, wine, and manufactured goods. It is also home to many restaurants and taverns. Visitors should explore the Archaelogical and Folk museums. The annual Wine Festival and Carnival Celebration are also very popular.

Kos is known as the home of Hippocrates, father of medical science. The town is an archeological repository of Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman ruins. Take a tour to the ancient Asklepeion and the island's archaeological museum.

Snow capped mountains, stunning gorges, delightful beaches, aromatic valleys, bustling night-life and, of course, birthplace of Minoan Civilization. Crete offers a bewildering variety of choices. Direct flights bring in visitors from all over the world but the island is large enough to cope and offers many quiet, unspoilt hideaways. Indeed Crete feels more like a distinct land than an island; something for absolutely everybody.

Built upon the remains of the city of Halicarnassus, Bodrum is now a beautiful resort village on the Aegean Coast with intriguing sights. Visit the ruins of the Mausoleum, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, or the Crusader Castle that guards the harbor.

This charming, picturesque resort where Antony and Cleopatra used to vacation is best known as the port for the ancients ruins of Ephesus - one of the world's most wondrous archaeological sites. Explorations should include such masterpieces as the Great Amphitheatre, where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians, the Library of Celsus, and the temples of Athena and Apollo - all connected by marble streets rutted by the wheels of countless chariots.

Once called Constantinople, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire is the only city in the world to straddle two continents: Europe and Asia. This is the Golden Horn, the door between East and West, and your first vision of its domes and minarets is unforgetable. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Sultan treasures in Topkapi Palace await - as does the Grand Bazaar, laden with carpets, beaten brass and spices from afar.