SDII, Voyage 22134 ex Athens to Istanbul – 21 Sep 2021

11 Night cruise sailing from Athens to Istanbul onboard SeaDream II.

SeaDream I & II are intimate boutique ships that provide a unique travelling experience unlike any other cruise vacation. The expression “yachting” is not only a statement about size; it’s a lifestyle aboard our intimate vessels with the service of 95 crew members and 112 guests that make each guest feel like they are on their very own private luxury yacht. Chic and stylish, SeaDream’s 56-stateroom yachts are favored for its elegant informality, highly personal service, inclusive open bar and gratuities, all ocean views staterooms and suites, luxury accommodations and world-class cuisine.

Highlights of this cruise:

Athens
Piraeus, roughly translating to “the place over the passage”, is an important Greek port located within the Athens agglomeration, in the Attica Basin. It is 12 kilometers from the municipality of Athens, considered the fourth largest and is the third most populous amongst all the municipalities of Greece. Now a peninsula, Piraeus, originally a rocky island, was developed in early 5th Century B.C. when it was initially designated as Athens’ import and transit trade port. It is the largest marine-based shipping center of Greece, one of the largest ports in Europe, and considered the second largest passenger port in the world. Inhabited since the 26th Century, it wasn’t until the 6th Century B.C. that Piraeus began catching attention. The land of Piraeus was essentially impassable, flooded by the sea most of the year until centuries passed and the flooding ceased. By the 5th Century B.C. it became a navy base for the Athenian fleet for the natural harbors and the strategic potential they carried. Athenian general and politician Themistocles fortified Piraeus’ three harbors Kantharos, Zea and Munichia, created ship houses and completed his walls in 471 B.C., which led to the port becoming a great military and commercial harbor. There are many archaeological sites, points of interest and entertainment available in Piraeus. Most famous for its tavernas and cuisine, several popular events take place in Piraeus, such as the Ecocinema International Film Festival, the Maritime Festival, the Piraeus Rock Wave Festival and the Three Kings’ Way Festival. There are also many theaters, including the Municipal Theater, the open air Veakeio Theater, and the Menandreio Theater. Museums in Piraeus include the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, the Merchant Shipping History Institute Exhibition, the Panos Aravantinos Decor Museum, the Georgios Averof Museum Ship and the Museum of Electric Railways. Be sure to catch the panoramic views available from the hill of Kastella, overlooking Athens and the Saronic Gulf!

Kavala
Kavala is a lovely hillside town featuring a jumble of whitewashed buildings overlooked by an imposing Byzantine and Ottoman fortress. Snaking through town, Kavala’s spectacularly preserved aqueduct boasts three tiers of arches, with houses charmingly tucked into some of the lower openings. The nearby archeological site of Philippi, a city founded in the 4th-century BC by Philip II of Macedonia, derived its enormous wealth from the mining of gold. In this once-majestic walled metropolis, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll discover vestiges of a grand theater, a stately forum, opulent mansions and an early basilica decorated with mosaics. A short distance away, the town of Xanthi entrances with its elegant 19th-century architecture, a legacy of the prosperity brought by the tobacco trade. You can canoe or hike at the National Park of the Nestos River Delta, where an abundance of wetlands attracts myriad species of birds and other fauna, including flamingos and otters. Back in Kavala, stroll along lively Megalou Alexandrou Street and pause at a café for a sampling of delicious local meze such as grilled octopus and fresh clams paired with local wine or a glass of invigorating ouzo.

Bozcaada Island
Experience an intriguing meld of Greece and Turkey on the island of Bozcaada, an often-overlooked stunner with a fascinating past. You’ll learn that according to mythology Achilles defeated a local king during the Trojan War, a dramatic harbinger of the island’s turbulent history under the rule of Greece, the Republics of Genoa and Venice, the Ottoman Empire and even Russia. As you weave along cobbled streets lined with whitewashed houses, pop into charming shops featuring handmade keepsakes and delicious marmalades, including a much-heralded tomato jam. Hugging a rocky headland that extends into the sea, the 15th-century Bozcaada Castle stands as one of Turkey’s largest and best-preserved fortifications. While walking the crenellated parapets, you’ll enjoy wonderful views of the town and the surrounding vineyard-covered hills. Several superb wines are crafted on Bozcaada, including internationally acclaimed varietals from the Amadeus and Corvus vineyards, which you can sample at one of the town’s taverns. In the evening, relax at a welcoming seaside café and snack on tantalizing meze as the sun slowly sets behind the magnificent castle.

Varna
The third largest city in Bulgaria, Varna is uniquely positioned on the crossroads of Western Europe and the Middle East. Its beaches and thermal springs are a major draw for visitors to this seaside town. Varna is home to key archaeological sites in world prehistory and houses the original artifacts of the oldest gold treasure in the world. The Varna Archaeological Museum offers a fascinating look at the origins of this ancient city. There is no shortage of captivating sites in Varna, from natural rock formations in the
Stone Forest to the perfectly landscaped Sea Garden.

Odessa
Commonly known as the “pearl of the Black Sea,” Odessa is a major tourism center and seaport in Ukraine. Visit the striking Potemkin Stairs, the formal entrance to the city and the best-known symbol of Odessa. The city was founded in the 1700s by the Russian Empress Catherine the Great and later became an important port for the Soviet Union. Today, the city of Odessa is best known as a beautiful summer escape with sandy beaches and a captivating history. Guests can admire the unique mixture of architecture, which has more Mediterranean influence than Russian, providing a stark contrast with the architecture in other major cities in Ukraine.

Constanta
Constanţa originally known as Tomis is a coastal Black Sea town in southern Dobruja region of Romania. It is the third largest city in Romania, Constanta and is an important economic and cultural center. Visitors come to explore the archaeological treasures, the atmosphere of the old town center, the historical monuments, ancient ruins, a grand casino, museums and so much more. In the area, you can also explore traditional villages, vineyards and the Danube Delta. SeaDream is scheduled
to dock as close to the city center as possible.

Burgas
Burgas is a dynamic city with great museums and restaurants. Visit the Troykata Square, a perfect central point to explore the many attractions, impressive buildings, shops and restaurants found in Burgas. Amongst the many notable attractions found in this unique city are the Church of Saint Cyril and Methodius as well as the Sea Garden, a large park with sculptures and monuments, to name a few. Surrounded by the Burgas Lakes, travelers can visit Lake Atanasovsko, a one-of-a-kind pink lake that is great for bird watching and that is rumored to have healing capabilities. For a comprehensive glimpse of the southern coast of Bulgaria, Burgas provides the perfect vantage point.

Istanbul
Istanbul historically known as Constantinople is the largest city in Turkey and 5th largest city proper in the world with a population of over 14 million, also making it the second largest metropolitan area in Europe by population. Istanbul was selected as a European Capital of Culture for 2010. Historic areas of the city were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Istanbul is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosporus, one of the world’s busiest waterways in northwestern Turkey. It is situated between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies in Europe, while a third of its population lives in Asia. SeaDream calls to this wonderful destination both as an embarkation point and a destination offering several land adventures. Please check the Land Adventures tab for all of the possibilities as well as embarkation and transfer information.