Seabourn Ovation - 5/29/2027

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.

On the Asian shore, guarding the Dardanelles, is the quiet Turkish port town of Canakkale. History enthusiasts will want to venture to legendary Troy. Canakkale's Archaeological Museum boasts exhibits originally belonging to Frank Calvert, aide to the discoverer of the lost city, Heinrich Schliemann. Visit the vast memorial at Galipoli Peninsula, site of the notorious World War I campaign. Be sure to sample the culinary delights of a meze, a spectacular array of Turkish hors d'oeuvres.

Thanks to its privileged position at the foot of Mt. Pelion on the Pagasitic gulf, Volos is a good base for enjoying the sea, wooded slopes and green valleys that surround it. With 71.000 inhabitants, is a cheerful, lively town, soundly laid out with pleasant broad streets. The waterfront is an ideal spot for a stroll. A modern coastal avenue bustling with life, it is lined with pastry shops, cafes and restaurants

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

This island is known as the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is near the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island's highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury.

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.

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.

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.

In Legend, Palamedes, the son of Nauplios and grandson of Poseidon was said to have founded the city. He is credited with invention of money, weights, measures and the order of the Greek alphabet established by a Phoenician.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

This natural harbor on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro was an important artistic and commercial center with famous masonry and iconography schools in the Middle Ages. A large number of its monuments, among which four Romanesque churches and the town walls, were heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1979 but the town is now completely restored.

Korcula is not just a work of physical beauty; the island carries immense historical significance throughout its sun-dappled shores as well. Visitors can explore the ruins of the Vela Spilja cave, where settlers camped 8,000 years ago, or tour the birthplace of legendary explorer Marco Polo. Be sure to capture Korcula's looming rock formations, rolling hills, and ornate stone buildings on film.

A dazzling Mediterranean landscape, balmy climate, and illustrious history--these are some of the traits that make Hvar a vacationer's paradise. Hvar is home to the first public theater in Europe, as well as several of the greatest writers and philosophers of the Renaissance era. During the annual Holy Week, elaborate ceremonies are publicly enacted, representing religions from around the world.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

Located in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta's coastline features many harbors, bays, sandy beaches and rocky coves. After a leisurely stroll through the Barracca Gardens you'll be awarded with a spectacular view of the harbor of Valetta.

The fertile valleys of Naxos are well-known producers of white wine, citron, and citrus and are the site of a number of ancient and medieval capitals. Visit the famous gardens ("giardini") and walk between the walls of the ancient Greek city and the viewing the museum's terrecotta artwork. A short trip to Grotta, just north of Naxos, finds the recent excavations of a Mycenaean settlement.

Be sure to visit the Aeolian Archeological Regional Museum in Lipari, with its impressive volcano, prehistoric, and classic archaeology sections.

Some of Italy's most romantic villages cling to the dramatic slopes of the ruggedly beautiful Amalfi Coast. Sorrento's one so beautiful it inspired a song. Take a drive along the scenic coastal road. Or venture further, to the amazing ruins of Pompeii, uncovered from the ashes of Vesuvius, or to Capri, known as the "Island of Love."

Civitavecchia is just moments from Rome, Italy's Eternal City. One of the most geographically perfect ports in the world, Civitavecchia boasts a number of compelling area attractions. Stroll through the streets of the medieval town of Tarquinia. View the resplendent Madonnina at the Resort of Pantano.