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An Extended Journey from Aegean Bliss to Adriatic Splendour/Explora I
Cruise holidays   >   Mediterranean and Europe   >   An Extended Journey from Aegean Bliss to Adriatic Splendour

Explora I

An Extended Journey from Aegean Bliss to Adriatic Splendour - 17 night cruise



Cruise only from €12,195

Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.


Description

Highlights

Gratuities

Dates and Prices

Cabins

A new era of ocean travel has arrived.

On 1 August 2023, EXPLORA I departed on her Maiden Journey, sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark on an epic 14-night journey through seven captivating destinations with a two-night stay in Reykjavik, before returning to the Danish capital.

This marks the start of a series of itineraries spanning three continents, offering guests cultural immersion and an opportunity for inner and outer discovery on their quest to the Ocean State of Mind.

Cruise ID: 34327


Gratuities are included in your journey fare.

Date Time Price * Booking
14 October 2024 19:00 €12,195 Call us to book

* Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.

Cabins on Explora I

Ocean Terrace Suite
1-3

Our Ocean Terrace Suites elegantly combine space and light.

Features

  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Lounge area with coffee/dining table
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Safe accommodating most tablets and laptops

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with a dining area
  • Comfortable daybed for relaxation

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in). Some suites with twin beds - size: 2 x 90 x 200 cm (35 x 79 in)
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Fine bed linens
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

Stats

  • Total Suite area: 35 sqm (377 sq ft) 
  • Suite: 28 sqm (301 sq ft) 
  • Bathroom: 4 sqm (43 sq ft) 
  • Terrace: 7 sqm (75 sq ft) 
  • Maximum capacity: 2 adults and 1 child under 18 years old (baby cot or rollaway bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Some suites feature bathtubs and accessible facilities:

Ocean Terrace Suite Accessibility Features

  • Roll-in shower with grab-bar and fold-down seat (height of seat from the floor is 450 mm / 17.7 in)
  • Grab-bar next to the toilet seat
  • Portable toilet seat risers available onboard
  • Hand-held shower wand
  • Lowered towel racks
  • Accessibility equipment for hearing impaired (Assistive Listening System (ALS) and/or TTY devices)
  • Lowered wardrobe bars and shelving
  • Lowered safe
  • Double peephole on entrance door
  • All doorways are wheelchair accessible
  • Entrance door width 900 mm (31.5 in)
  • Bathroom door width 900 mm (31.5 in)

Stats

  • Deck 8, 9, 10 - Forward, close to lifts
  • Number of Suites OT2 - 4, OT3 - 4, OT4 - 1 
  • Total Suite Area: 49 sqm – 526 sq ft 
  • Suite: 39 sqm – 419 sq ft 
  • Terrace: 10 sqm – 107 sq ft

*Features may vary by suite.

Please inform your Travel Advisor or the Explora Experience Centre Ambassador of your requirements when reserving your journey.

Facilities

  • Double or Twin Configuration
  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available

Grand Penthouse
1-4

The most spacious of our penthouses, the Grand Penthouses offer elegant spaces with a separate stylish living area, a neat work space and a separate dining area for four, whilst the private sun terraces allow guests to unwind and savour the ocean, in the company of friends or one another.

Features

  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • Spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Case Kit with a smart range of fitness gear
  • Safe accommodating most tablets and laptops

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with a dining area
  • Comfortable daybed for relaxation

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in)
  • Featuring a double sofa bed
  • Fine bed linens
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 60 sqm (646 sq ft) on decks 7, 8, 9, 10 / 68 sqm (732 sq ft) on deck 6
  • Suite: 47 sqm (506 sq ft)
  • Terrace: 13 sqm (140 sq ft) on decks 7, 8, 9, 10 / 21 sqm (226 sq ft) on deck 6 Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years old (baby cot or double sofa bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Some suites feature bathtubs and accessible facilities:

Grand Penthouse Accessibility Features

  • Roll-in shower with grab-bar and fold-down seat (height of seat from the floor is 450 mm / 17.7 in)
  • Grab-bar next to the toilet seat
  • Portable toilet seat risers available onboard
  • Hand-held shower wand
  • Lowered towel racks
  • Accessibility equipment for hearing impaired (Assistive Listening System (ALS) and/or TTY devices)
  • Lowered wardrobe bars and shelving
  • Lowered safe
  • Double peephole on entrance door
  • All doorways are wheelchair accessible
  • Entrance door width 900 mm (31.5 in)
  • Bathroom door width 900 mm (31.5 in)

Accessible Grand Penthouse Stats

  • Deck: 9 - Middle, close to lifts
  • Number of Suites: 1 Total
  • Suite Area: 60 sqm – 646 sq ft
  • Suite: 47 sqm – 506 sq ft
  • Terrace: 13 sqm – 140 sq ft

*Features may vary by suite.

Please inform your Travel Advisor or the Explora Experience Centre Ambassador of your requirements when reserving your journey.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Bath
  • Sofa Bed
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available

Owner's Residence
1-3

The iconic Owner's Residence creates the largest living space on-board, with multiple harmonious spaces in which to relax, entertain and unwind.

Stand in awe of the panoramic ocean views from your private outdoor terrace – extending over the full ship's width – with a spacious infinity whirlpool, and enjoy intuitive, intelligent, dedicated private butler services by the Residence Manager.

Every aspect of the design of our Owner's Residence reflects the meticulous curation of all details, conscious at all times of our commitment to sustainability.

Features

  • Dedicated private butler services by the Residence Manager
  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Abundant lounge area
  • Dining table for 8 guests
  • Spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of Dom Pérignon
  • Private bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Bench and Technogym Case Kit for an efficient in-suite fitness experience
  • Laptop-size safe
  • Guest lavatory and powder room
  • Butler pantry area

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 200 x 200 cm (79 x 79 in)
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Fine bed linens
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Oversized dressing room

Outdoors

  • Panoramic ocean-front terrace covering the full ship's width, with a private outdoor spacious whirlpool, day beds, a dining table, lounge area, shower and sun loungers

Bathroom

  • Luxurious marble double vanity bathroom
  • Large bathtub and a walk-in shower
  • Private steam room
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror
  • Additional guest powder room

Butler Service

  • Packing and unpacking to the guests' preferences
  • Pressing and laundering assistance
  • Private in-suite dining
  • Itinerary and transport planning
  • Celebrations planning
  • Onboard and ashore reservations assistance

Stats

  • Total Suite area: 280 sqm (3,014 sq ft)
  • Suite: 155 sqm (1,668 sq ft)
  • Terrace: 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft)
  • Maximum capacity: 2 adults and 1 child under 2 years old (in a baby cot) A connecting Ocean Terrace suite can be reserved additionally, allowing for a total maximum capacity of 4 adults or 3 adults and 1 child under 18 years old

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • Double or Twin Configuration
  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Second Bedroom
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Room Service Available
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available
  • Sofa Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

Retreat Residence
1-4

Our luxurious Retreat Residences offer oversized floor-to-ceiling windows leading onto a spacious sun terrace with a private whirlpool, whilst a Residence Host providing butler services is on hand for our guests' every whim, as well as a dining area for up to four guests, a separate living area and calm workspace.

Features

  • Private butler services from our Residence Hosts
  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • Spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Cocktail making set
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Case Kit with a smart range of fitness gear
  • Laptop-size safe

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with private outdoor whirlpool and a dining table

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 200 x 200 cm (79 x 79 in)
  • Featuring a double sofa bed
  • Fine bed linens
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Oversized walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Luxurious marble bathroom with a bathtub, a separate walk-in shower room and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror
  • Additional guest powder room

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 77 sqm (829 sq ft) on decks 8, 9 / 81 sqm (872 sq ft) on deck 7 Suite: 63 sqm (678 sq ft)
  • Terrace: 14 sqm (151 sq ft) on decks 8, 9 / 18 sqm (194 sq ft) on deck 7
  • Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years old (baby cot or double sofa bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Bath
  • Sofa Bed
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available
  • Free Wi-Fi

Cove Residence
1-4

For a true sense of being at home at sea, experience the sweeping decks and effortlessly elegant spaces of the Cove Residences. 

Features

  • Private butler services from our Residence Hosts
  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • Spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Cocktail making set
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Case Kit with a smart range of fitness gear
  • Laptop-size safe
  • Smart echnology for light, heating, air conditioning and curtain control

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with private outdoor whirlpool, a dining table and sun loungers or a daybed

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in)
  • Featuring a double sofa bed
  • Fine bed linens
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 70 sqm (753 sq ft) on decks 7, 8, 9, 10 / 80 sqm (861 sq ft) on deck 6 
  • Suite: 56 sqm (603 sq ft)
  • Terrace: 14 sqm (151 sq ft) on decks 7, 8, 9, 10 / 24 sqm (258 sq ft) on deck 6 Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years old (baby cot or double sofa bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Bath
  • Sofa Bed
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Pillow Menu Available
  • Free Wi-Fi

Serenity Residence
1-4

Abundant in space and light, the elegant Serenity Residences offer a large living area, a dining area for six, an adept desk area, a luxurious marble bathroom with a bathtub and separate shower, and a Residence Host providing butler services.

Features

  • Private butler services from our Residence Hosts
  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • Spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Cocktail making set
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Bench and Technogym Case Kit for an efficient in-suite fitness experience
  • Laptop-size safe

Outdoor

  • Panoramic ocean-front terrace with private outdoor whirlpool, a dining table, a daybed and sun loungers

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in)
  • Featuring a double sofa bed
  • Fine bed linens
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Oversized walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Luxurious marble bathroom with a bathtub, a separate walk-in shower room and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 113 sqm (1,216 sq ft) on deck 7 / 126 sqm (1,356 sq ft) on deck 9
  • Suite: 60 sqm (646 sq ft)
  • Terrace: 53 sqm (570 sq ft) on deck 7 / 66 sqm (710 sq ft) on deck 9 
  • Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years old (baby cot or double sofa bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Sofa Bed
  • Vanity Area
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available
  • Free Wi-Fi

Cocoon Residence
1-4

Our Cocoon Residences are amongst the most spacious of our residences, with an expansive sun terrace on the ship's coveted aft deck.

Features

  • Private butler services from our Residence Hosts
  • Oversized windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Abundant lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • Spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Cocktail making set
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Bench and Technogym Case Kit for an efficient in-suite fitness experience
  • Laptop-size safe

Outdoor

  • Panoramic ocean-front terrace, with private outdoor whirlpool, a dining table, a scenic lounge area and sun loungers

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 200 x 200 cm (79 x 79 in)
  • Featuring a double sofa bed
  • Fine bed linens
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Oversized walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Luxurious marble bathroom with a bathtub, a separate walk-in shower room and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror
  • Additional guest powder room

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 149 sqm (1,604 sq ft)
  • Suite: 74 sqm (797 sq ft)
  • Terrace: 75 sqm (807 sq ft) 
  • Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 18 years old (baby cot or double sofa bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Sofa Bed
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Butler Service
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available

Premier Penthouse
1-4

These light-filled, luxurious Premier Penthouses are designed for withdrawing in style or entertaining other guests – at a dining table laid for four, in the stylish living area and on the private sun terrace with a second seating area and daybeds or sunbeds overlooking the ocean.

Features

  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Separate living, dining and sleeping areas
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Case Kit with a smart range of fitness gear
  • Safe accommodating most tablets and laptops

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with a dining area
  • Comfortable daybed for relaxation

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in)
  • Some suites feature a double sofa bed
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Fine bed linens
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 52 sqm (560 sq ft) 
  • Suite: 42 sqm (452 sq ft) 
  • Terrace: 10 sqm (108 sq ft) 
  • Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child under 18 years old (baby cot, double sofa bed or rollaway bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Bath
  • Sofa Bed
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Room Service Available
  • Pillow Menu Available

Deluxe Penthouse
1-4

Flooded with light from the floor-to-ceiling oversized windows, the Deluxe Penthouses offer elegant accommodation and a stylish living area, a neat work space and a separate dining area for four. 

Features

  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • Some suites feature a spacious work desk area
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Case Kit with a smart range of fitness gear
  • Safe accommodating most tablets and laptops

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with a dining area
  • Comfortable daybed or lounge chairs for relaxation

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in)
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Fine bed linens
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

* Some suites feature bathtubs

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 48 sqm (517 sq ft) on decks 9, 10 / 53 sqm (570 sq ft) on deck 6 / 61 sqm (657 sq ft) on deck 7
  • Suite: 38 sqm (409 sq ft) on decks 9, 10 / 43 sqm (463 sq ft) on decks 6, 7
  • Terrace: 10 sqm (108 sq ft) on decks 6, 9, 10 / 18 sqm (194 sq ft) on deck 7 Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child under 18 years old (baby cot, double sofa bed or rollaway bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Bath
  • Sofa Bed
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Room Service Available
  • Pillow Menu Available

Penthouse
1-4

Each of our Penthouses offers a spacious living area, a neat work space and a separate dining area for four, allowing guests to entertain others or retreat in style as they see fit.

Features

  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Spacious lounge area
  • Dining table for 4 guests
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Technogym Case Kit with a smart range of fitness gear
  • Safe accommodating most tablets and laptops

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with a dining area
  • Comfortable daybed for relaxation

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in)
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Fine bed linens
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror

Stats

  • Total Suite Area: 43 sqm (463 sq ft) on decks 7, 8, 9 / 48 sqm (517 sq ft) on deck 6
  • Suite: 34 sqm (366 sq ft) 
  • Terrace: 9 sqm (97 sq ft) on decks 7, 8, 9 / 14 sqm (151 sq ft) on deck 6 
  • Maximum capacity: 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child under 18 years old (baby cot, double sofa bed or rollaway bed)

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Bath
  • Sofa Bed
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Pillow Menu Available

Ocean Grand Terrace Suite
1-3

Our Ocean Grand Terrace Suites offer a more spacious private sun terrace, allowing guests to savour the ocean from the comfort of their daybed.

Features

  • Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the sea
  • Lounge area with coffee/dining table
  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne
  • Private refrigerated mini-bar, replenished according to the guests' preferences from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
  • Espresso machine, kettle and tea pot with a complimentary selection of coffee and teas
  • Complimentary personal refillable water bottle for each guest
  • Pair of binoculars for guests' use during their journey
  • Safe accommodating most tablets and laptops

Outdoor

  • Spacious ocean-front terrace with a dining area
  • Comfortable daybed for relaxation

Bedroom

  • Bespoke king-sized bed sleep system - size: 180 x 200 cm (71 x 79 in). Some suites with twin beds - size: 2 x 90 x 200 cm (35 x 79 in)
  • Down duvets and pillows
  • Fine bed linens
  • Extensive pillow selection
  • Spacious walk-in wardrobe with a seated vanity area

Bathroom

  • Spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower and heated floors
  • Plush bathrobes and bath linens
  • Custom bath toiletries and amenities
  • Dyson Supersonic TM hairdryer and illuminated make-up/shaving mirror
Stats
  • Total Suite area: 39 sqm (420 sq ft) 
  • Suite: 28 sqm (301 sq ft) 
  • Bathroom: 4 sqm (43 sq ft) 
  • Terrace: 11 sqm (118 sq ft) 
  • Maximum capacity: 2 adults and 1 child under 18 years old (baby cot or rollaway bed) Decks: 6, 7 - Aft, Middle and Forward Number of suites: 70

*All images are a combination of photography and artist renderings.

The artist representations and interior decorations, finishes, and furnishings are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Facilities

  • Double or Twin Configuration
  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • TV
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Suite Benefits
  • Free Mini Bar
  • Coffee Machine
  • Room Service Available
  • Pillow Menu Available

View Itinerary By Date



Day 1 Piraeus, Greece

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and maddening metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the Parthenon, its honey-color marble columns rising from a massive limestone base, and you behold architectural perfection that has not been surpassed in 2,500 years. But, today, this shrine of classical form dominates a 21st-century boomtown. To experience Athens—Athína in Greek—fully is to understand the essence of Greece: ancient monuments surviving in a sea of cement, startling beauty amid the squalor, tradition juxtaposed with modernity. Locals depend on humor and flexibility to deal with the chaos; you should do the same. The rewards are immense. Although Athens covers a huge area, the major landmarks of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods are close to the modern city center. You can easily walk from the Acropolis to many other key sites, taking time to browse in shops and relax in cafés and tavernas along the way. From many quarters of the city you can glimpse "the glory that was Greece" in the form of the Acropolis looming above the horizon, but only by actually climbing that rocky precipice can you feel the impact of the ancient settlement. The Acropolis and Filopappou, two craggy hills sitting side by side; the ancient Agora (marketplace); and Kerameikos, the first cemetery, form the core of ancient and Roman Athens. Along the Unification of Archaeological Sites promenade, you can follow stone-paved, tree-lined walkways from site to site, undisturbed by traffic. Cars have also been banned or reduced in other streets in the historical center. In the National Archaeological Museum, vast numbers of artifacts illustrate the many millennia of Greek civilization; smaller museums such as the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum illuminate the history of particular regions or periods. Athens may seem like one huge city, but it is really a conglomeration of neighborhoods with distinctive characters. The Eastern influences that prevailed during the 400-year rule of the Ottoman Empire are still evident in Monastiraki, the bazaar area near the foot of the Acropolis. On the northern slope of the Acropolis, stroll through Plaka (if possible by moonlight), an area of tranquil streets lined with renovated mansions, to get the flavor of the 19th-century's gracious lifestyle. The narrow lanes of Anafiotika, a section of Plaka, thread past tiny churches and small, color-washed houses with wooden upper stories, recalling a Cycladic island village. In this maze of winding streets, vestiges of the older city are everywhere: crumbling stairways lined with festive tavernas; dank cellars filled with wine vats; occasionally a court or diminutive garden, enclosed within high walls and filled with magnolia trees and the flaming trumpet-shaped flowers of hibiscus bushes. Formerly run-down old quarters, such as Thission, Gazi and Psirri, popular nightlife areas filled with bars and mezedopoleia (similar to tapas bars), are now in the process of gentrification, although they still retain much of their original charm, as does the colorful produce and meat market on Athinas. The area around Syntagma Square, the tourist hub, and Omonia Square, the commercial heart of the city about 1 km (½ mi) northwest, is distinctly European, having been designed by the court architects of King Otho, a Bavarian, in the 19th century. The chic shops and bistros of ritzy Kolonaki nestle at the foot of Mt. Lycabettus, Athens's highest hill (909 feet). Each of Athens's outlying suburbs has a distinctive character: in the north is wealthy, tree-lined Kifissia, once a summer resort for aristocratic Athenians, and in the south and southeast lie Glyfada, Voula, and Vouliagmeni, with their sandy beaches, seaside bars, and lively summer nightlife. Just beyond the city's southern fringes is Piraeus, a bustling port city of waterside fish tavernas and Saronic Gulf views.

Day 2 Vólos, Greece

Day 3  Cruising

Day 4 Marmaris, Turkey

This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge of a great bay, the whole encircled by a magical necklace of pine-clad mountains. Behind those same hotels, however, the city has been overwhelmed by boxy concrete development and streets lined with a hundred generically named eateries. An annual horde of European tourists descends on these workaday establishments, but for the international traveler, there is little about Marmaris that can't be savored elsewhere in Turkey. Although it is a pretty spot, there isn't much reason to linger unless you are meeting a yacht, traveling on to the Greek island of Rhodes, or perhaps snapping up an unbeatable deal at one of the top resorts, some of which are spectacular worlds unto themselves.

Day 5 Santorini, Greece

Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shape Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if it's necessary to enjoy the sensational sunsets from Ia, the fascinating excavations, and the dazzling white towns with a million other travelers. Called Kállisti (the "Loveliest") when first settled, the island has now reverted to its subsequent name of Thira, after the 9th-century-BC Dorian colonizer Thiras. The place is better known, however, these days as Santorini, a name derived from its patroness, St. Irene of Thessaloniki, the Byzantine empress who restored icons to Orthodoxy and died in 802. You can fly conveniently to Santorini, but to enjoy a true Santorini rite of passage, opt instead for the boat trip here, which provides a spectacular introduction. After the boat sails between Sikinos and Ios, your deck-side perch approaches two close islands with a passage between them. The bigger one on the left is Santorini, and the smaller on the right is Thirassia. Passing between them, you see the village of Ia adorning Santorini's northernmost cliff like a white geometric beehive. You are in the caldera (volcanic crater), one of the world's truly breathtaking sights: a demilune of cliffs rising 1,100 feet, with the white clusters of the towns of Fira and Ia perched along the top. The bay, once the high center of the island, is 1,300 feet in some places, so deep that when boats dock in Santorini's shabby little port of Athinios, they do not drop anchor. The encircling cliffs are the ancient rim of a still-active volcano, and you are sailing east across its flooded caldera. On your right are the Burnt isles, the White isle, and other volcanic remnants, all lined up as if some outsize display in a geology museum. Hephaestus's subterranean fires smolder still—the volcano erupted in 198 BC, about 735, and there was an earthquake in 1956. Indeed, Santorini and its four neighboring islets are the fragmentary remains of a larger landmass that exploded about 1600 BC: the volcano's core blew sky high, and the sea rushed into the abyss to create the great bay, which measures 10 km by 7 km (6 mi by 4½ mi) and is 1,292 feet deep. The other pieces of the rim, which broke off in later eruptions, are Thirassia, where a few hundred people live, and deserted little Aspronissi ("White isle"). In the center of the bay, black and uninhabited, two cones, the Burnt Isles of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, appeared between 1573 and 1925. There has been too much speculation about the identification of Santorini with the mythical Atlantis, mentioned in Egyptian papyri and by Plato (who says it's in the Atlantic), but myths are hard to pin down. This is not true of old arguments about whether tidal waves from Santorini's cataclysmic explosion destroyed Minoan civilization on Crete, 113 km (70 mi) away. The latest carbon-dating evidence, which points to a few years before 1600 BC for the eruption, clearly indicates that the Minoans outlasted the eruption by a couple of hundred years, but most probably in a weakened state. In fact, the island still endures hardships: since antiquity, Santorini has depended on rain collected in cisterns for drinking and irrigating—the well water is often brackish—and the serious shortage is alleviated by the importation of water. However, the volcanic soil also yields riches: small, intense tomatoes with tough skins used for tomato paste (good restaurants here serve them); the famous Santorini fava beans, which have a light, fresh taste; barley; wheat; and white-skin eggplants.

Day 6 Páros, Greece

Day 7 Kos, Greece

Day 8 Milos, Greece

Milos or Melos is a volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea, just north of the Sea of Crete. Milos is the southwesternmost island in the Cyclades group. The Venus de Milo and the Asclepius of Milos were both found on the island, as were a Poseidon and an archaic Apollo now in Athens.

Day 9 Piraeus, Greece

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and maddening metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the Parthenon, its honey-color marble columns rising from a massive limestone base, and you behold architectural perfection that has not been surpassed in 2,500 years. But, today, this shrine of classical form dominates a 21st-century boomtown. To experience Athens—Athína in Greek—fully is to understand the essence of Greece: ancient monuments surviving in a sea of cement, startling beauty amid the squalor, tradition juxtaposed with modernity. Locals depend on humor and flexibility to deal with the chaos; you should do the same. The rewards are immense. Although Athens covers a huge area, the major landmarks of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods are close to the modern city center. You can easily walk from the Acropolis to many other key sites, taking time to browse in shops and relax in cafés and tavernas along the way. From many quarters of the city you can glimpse "the glory that was Greece" in the form of the Acropolis looming above the horizon, but only by actually climbing that rocky precipice can you feel the impact of the ancient settlement. The Acropolis and Filopappou, two craggy hills sitting side by side; the ancient Agora (marketplace); and Kerameikos, the first cemetery, form the core of ancient and Roman Athens. Along the Unification of Archaeological Sites promenade, you can follow stone-paved, tree-lined walkways from site to site, undisturbed by traffic. Cars have also been banned or reduced in other streets in the historical center. In the National Archaeological Museum, vast numbers of artifacts illustrate the many millennia of Greek civilization; smaller museums such as the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum illuminate the history of particular regions or periods. Athens may seem like one huge city, but it is really a conglomeration of neighborhoods with distinctive characters. The Eastern influences that prevailed during the 400-year rule of the Ottoman Empire are still evident in Monastiraki, the bazaar area near the foot of the Acropolis. On the northern slope of the Acropolis, stroll through Plaka (if possible by moonlight), an area of tranquil streets lined with renovated mansions, to get the flavor of the 19th-century's gracious lifestyle. The narrow lanes of Anafiotika, a section of Plaka, thread past tiny churches and small, color-washed houses with wooden upper stories, recalling a Cycladic island village. In this maze of winding streets, vestiges of the older city are everywhere: crumbling stairways lined with festive tavernas; dank cellars filled with wine vats; occasionally a court or diminutive garden, enclosed within high walls and filled with magnolia trees and the flaming trumpet-shaped flowers of hibiscus bushes. Formerly run-down old quarters, such as Thission, Gazi and Psirri, popular nightlife areas filled with bars and mezedopoleia (similar to tapas bars), are now in the process of gentrification, although they still retain much of their original charm, as does the colorful produce and meat market on Athinas. The area around Syntagma Square, the tourist hub, and Omonia Square, the commercial heart of the city about 1 km (½ mi) northwest, is distinctly European, having been designed by the court architects of King Otho, a Bavarian, in the 19th century. The chic shops and bistros of ritzy Kolonaki nestle at the foot of Mt. Lycabettus, Athens's highest hill (909 feet). Each of Athens's outlying suburbs has a distinctive character: in the north is wealthy, tree-lined Kifissia, once a summer resort for aristocratic Athenians, and in the south and southeast lie Glyfada, Voula, and Vouliagmeni, with their sandy beaches, seaside bars, and lively summer nightlife. Just beyond the city's southern fringes is Piraeus, a bustling port city of waterside fish tavernas and Saronic Gulf views.

Day 10  Cruising

Day 11 Corfu, Greece

Corfu town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east coast, this spectacularly lively capital is the cultural heart of Corfu and has a remarkable historic center that UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site in 2007. All ships and planes dock or land near Corfu town, which occupies a small peninsula jutting into the Ionian Sea.Whether arriving by ferry from mainland Greece or Italy, from another island, or directly by plane, catch your breath by first relaxing with a coffee or a gelato in Corfu town's shaded Liston Arcade, then stroll the narrow lanes of its pedestrians-only quarter. For an overview of the immediate area, and a quick tour of Mon Repos palace, hop on the little tourist train that runs from May to September. Corfu town has a different feel at night, so book a table at one of its famed tavernas to savor the island's unique cuisine.The best way to get around Corfu town is on foot. The town is small enough so that you can easily walk to every sight. There are local buses, but they do not thread their way into the streets (many now car-free) of the historic center. If you are arriving by ferry or plane, it's best to take a taxi to your hotel. Expect to pay about €10 from the airport or ferry terminal to a hotel in Corfu town. If there are no taxis waiting, you can call for one.

Day 12 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploce Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It's only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost

Day 13 Ancona, Italy

Ancona is the capital of Italy's Marche region. Ancona's main attraction is her tactile museum for the blinds. It's also a great place to take a dip and enjoy great sea views under the sunshine.

Day 14 Fusina, Italy

Day 15 Split, Croatia

Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Day 16 Kotor, Montenegro

Backed by imposing mountains, tiny Kotor lies hidden from the open sea, tucked into the deepest channel of the Bokor Kotorska (Kotor Bay), which is Europe's most southerly fjord. To many, this town is more charming than its sister UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, retaining more authenticity, but with fewer tourists and spared the war damage and subsequent rebuilding which has given Dubrovnik something of a Disney feel.Kotor's medieval Stari Grad (Old Town) is enclosed within well-preserved defensive walls built between the 9th and 18th centuries and is presided over by a proud hilltop fortress. Within the walls, a labyrinth of winding cobbled streets leads through a series of splendid paved piazzas, rimmed by centuries-old stone buildings. The squares are now haunted by strains from buskers but although many now house trendy cafés and chic boutiques, directions are still given medieval-style by reference to the town's landmark churches.In the Middle Ages, as Serbia's chief port, Kotor was an important economic and cultural center with its own highly regarded schools of stonemasonry and iconography. From 1391 to 1420 it was an independent city-republic and later, it spent periods under Venetian, Austrian, and French rule, though it was undoubtedly the Venetians who left the strongest impression on the city's architecture. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, some 70% of the stone buildings in the romantic Old Town have been snapped up by foreigners, mostly Brits and Russians. Porto Montenegro, a new marina designed to accommodate some of the world's largest super yachts, opened in nearby Tivat in 2011, and along the bay are other charming seaside villages, all with better views of the bay than the vista from Kotor itself where the waterside is congested with cruise ships and yachts. Try sleepy Muo or the settlement of Prcanj in one direction around the bay, or Perast and the Roman mosaics of Risan in the other direction.

Day 17  Cruising

Day 18 Piraeus, Greece

It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and maddening metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the Parthenon, its honey-color marble columns rising from a massive limestone base, and you behold architectural perfection that has not been surpassed in 2,500 years. But, today, this shrine of classical form dominates a 21st-century boomtown. To experience Athens—Athína in Greek—fully is to understand the essence of Greece: ancient monuments surviving in a sea of cement, startling beauty amid the squalor, tradition juxtaposed with modernity. Locals depend on humor and flexibility to deal with the chaos; you should do the same. The rewards are immense. Although Athens covers a huge area, the major landmarks of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods are close to the modern city center. You can easily walk from the Acropolis to many other key sites, taking time to browse in shops and relax in cafés and tavernas along the way. From many quarters of the city you can glimpse "the glory that was Greece" in the form of the Acropolis looming above the horizon, but only by actually climbing that rocky precipice can you feel the impact of the ancient settlement. The Acropolis and Filopappou, two craggy hills sitting side by side; the ancient Agora (marketplace); and Kerameikos, the first cemetery, form the core of ancient and Roman Athens. Along the Unification of Archaeological Sites promenade, you can follow stone-paved, tree-lined walkways from site to site, undisturbed by traffic. Cars have also been banned or reduced in other streets in the historical center. In the National Archaeological Museum, vast numbers of artifacts illustrate the many millennia of Greek civilization; smaller museums such as the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum illuminate the history of particular regions or periods. Athens may seem like one huge city, but it is really a conglomeration of neighborhoods with distinctive characters. The Eastern influences that prevailed during the 400-year rule of the Ottoman Empire are still evident in Monastiraki, the bazaar area near the foot of the Acropolis. On the northern slope of the Acropolis, stroll through Plaka (if possible by moonlight), an area of tranquil streets lined with renovated mansions, to get the flavor of the 19th-century's gracious lifestyle. The narrow lanes of Anafiotika, a section of Plaka, thread past tiny churches and small, color-washed houses with wooden upper stories, recalling a Cycladic island village. In this maze of winding streets, vestiges of the older city are everywhere: crumbling stairways lined with festive tavernas; dank cellars filled with wine vats; occasionally a court or diminutive garden, enclosed within high walls and filled with magnolia trees and the flaming trumpet-shaped flowers of hibiscus bushes. Formerly run-down old quarters, such as Thission, Gazi and Psirri, popular nightlife areas filled with bars and mezedopoleia (similar to tapas bars), are now in the process of gentrification, although they still retain much of their original charm, as does the colorful produce and meat market on Athinas. The area around Syntagma Square, the tourist hub, and Omonia Square, the commercial heart of the city about 1 km (½ mi) northwest, is distinctly European, having been designed by the court architects of King Otho, a Bavarian, in the 19th century. The chic shops and bistros of ritzy Kolonaki nestle at the foot of Mt. Lycabettus, Athens's highest hill (909 feet). Each of Athens's outlying suburbs has a distinctive character: in the north is wealthy, tree-lined Kifissia, once a summer resort for aristocratic Athenians, and in the south and southeast lie Glyfada, Voula, and Vouliagmeni, with their sandy beaches, seaside bars, and lively summer nightlife. Just beyond the city's southern fringes is Piraeus, a bustling port city of waterside fish tavernas and Saronic Gulf views.

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