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Europe
Exploring the myriad highlights of Europe is best done by taking a cruise, where you can discover the grandeur and magic by day, and travel in your elegant stateroom by night. Bring history alive as you meander through ancient ruins, visit spots where famous leaders and thinkers changed the world, and view paintings and sculptures that millions of travellers throughout history have viewed.
On excursions, dine on local specialties and you'll never want to eat anywhere else...until your next port of call, where the cuisine and everything else will be equally awe-inspiring.
See thousand-year-old monuments of every ilk: stone, marble, oil & canvas, architectural, sculptural, whatever you like, there is so much preserved history in Europe you will want to come back for more, no matter how long your luxury cruise.
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The Greek Isles
One favorite luxury cruise for decades now has been a cruise through the Greek Isles. This would mean a journey across the Aegean Sea and also the Ionian Sea for most, and for small ships, the advantage is being able to navigate the Corinth Canal, which links the two seas.
The Black Sea
The Black Sea is the body of water between Europe and Asia, much smaller than the Mediterranean Sea, and far fewer luxury cruise ships ply its waters. Ports along the Black Sea are not really developed towards tourism at all, and this is wonderfully refreshing. Luxury cruises stop in richly historical and cultural places like Istanbul, Ukraine, and Romania. Some travel the Russian Riviera, or Sochi as it's known. Small luxury cruise ships can sail the narrow passageway to Kerch, Ukraine, which has lots to do and see if you apprciate relics of ancient civilizations.
Italy & Croatia
There are stops around the Adriatic Sea not normally thought of as luxury cruise destinations, but which offer passengers beautiful scenery, ancient historical treasures to see on excursions to port ciites, and the chance to explore some ancient empire cities that are still vibrant today. We're talking about the Venetian Republic in this case, which extended from its center, Venice in Italy across the Adriatic to Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. The Venetian Republic was a trading empire headed by the Doge, who lived in Venice at the Doge's Palace. The Doge was aristocratic, corrupt, and sealed off from his people in the name of protection. He was, however, allowed on an trip once a year across the Adriatic to Croatia to Split, Dubrovnik, and other places on the Dalmatian Coast.
Croatia actually declared independence in 1991, and made away with most of the 800 miles of coast. There are also more than 1100 island off the Dalmatian Coast as well. Croatia fared will with independence, as far as land resources goes. Luxury cruise ships can partake of the beauty of the Dalmation Coast, as the area becomes more and more stable with each passing year. Old grievances are fading, and Croatia, along with other parts of former Yugoslavia (Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia). There is an energy in Croatia, and spirits are high.
Split is accessible by smaller luxury cruise ships, who are able to dock at the small docks and let their passengers stroll right into the center of the city. There are Paaces, courtyards, and many other remnants of the former empire in this area. There is an underground maze of rooms that used to be a dump centuries ago, but has since been used as a disco and is now empty. Off the coast of Split, visit the island of Korcula, for Medieval history, and the birthplace of Marco Polo. Dubrovnik is bustling and vibrant and was once a great trading city which exported salt and wool. Today tourism is the business of Dubrovnik, and visitors can see crafts like lace, stone ashtrays, and sweet wine.
Don't miss the fountain from the fifteenth century, the museum, and the Franciscan monastery, too. The pharmacy dating from the 1300s is still in business!
Some itineraries stop in Pula, where you cna visit a Roman ampitheater dating back from the firs century. And it's still in good shape! There are tiered, stone-block arches, under which 22,000 spectators could sit and wat gladitor games. Like the colosseum in Rome, there are underground tunnels under the floor of the ampitheater. Pula is a jewel in the Coratian coast, just one of the many reasons whey travelers are rediscovering the beautiful Dalmatian Coast.
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Activities
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