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14 Night Cities of Antiquity and the Holy Land Cruise

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Viking Venus

Category SSF - Seven Seas Suite Forward
Seven Seas Suite (Forward)

Photos are examples only. Actual cabin colors and features may vary.

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14 Night Cities of Antiquity and the Holy Land Cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome)

Ship: Viking Venus

Cruise Line: Viking Oceans

Sailed: Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Ended: Tuesday, Dec 12, 2023

The itinerary information below reflects the original day-by-day port of call schedule for the Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 departure of the Viking Venus. If Viking Oceans modified this itinerary for weather or operational reasons after departing , the modified schedule would not be reflected here.

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Itinerary

Day by Day Summary and Map

Day 1 - Tuesday - Nov 28, 2023

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. For centuries, Rome ruled much of Europe, building a vast empire from the power of emperors. More than 2,500 years of history live in the city's streets. Ancient structures recall those heady days when the cheers of 80,000 spectators roared from the Colosseum, citizens mingled in the Forum, and senators asked the gods for guidance at the Pantheon. Along with the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, this rich pocket of Italy is one of the world's greatest repositories of history and civilization.

Day 2 - Wednesday - Nov 29, 2023

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Rome is brimming with graceful piazzas and historic enclaves. Across which, some 2,000 fountains feature and some stand out as sculptural masterpieces. The most famous is the Baroque Trevi Fountain, whose coin-toss legend may secure a return trip to the "Eternal City". In Piazza Navona, Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers stands, while in front of the Pantheon, the Fontana del Pantheon features an obelisk from the period of Ramses II (the 13th century BC) reaching skyward from a base adorned by four dolphins.

Day 3 - Thursday - Nov 30, 2023

Naples, Italy

Naples boasts a long history in a stunning seaside setting and is known mostly for its pizza. The city has long been a major center of Italian culture and was the seat of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years. So great was its sway that it lured the region's finest architects and artists. In the grand Piazza del Plebiscito, the grand and sweeping public square, the San Francesco di Paola Church flaunts a colonnaded facade reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, and the Royal Palace overlooks Neapolitans with statues of all the kings of Naples peering out from alcoves.

Day 4 - Friday - Dec 1, 2023

Cruising the Ionian Sea

Sail the gateway to the Adriatic, marked by the sole of Italy's boot and the western coasts of Albania and Greece. As you sail, take advantage of the array of delicious cuisine offered onboard. You may visit Mamsen's, a casual gourmet deli, anytime from early morning to late at night for a taste of traditional Norwegian fare. Or, dine at Manfredi's and savor an authentic Italian meal, with options ranging from Milanese risotto to Tuscany-inspired classics.

Day 5 - Saturday - Dec 2, 2023

Heraklion, Greece

Crete was home to the Minoans, Europe's earliest recorded civilization. Its capital, Heraklion, grew from the riches of the Venetian Empire, which ruled here for four centuries. Crete enjoyed a Renaissance building boom that helped bolster Heraklion as the region's most strongly fortified city. The island is blessed with generous beaches, soaring mountains, and coursing rivers. It is also where the distinct mantinades-couplets of love accompanied by Cretan instruments-could break out at any number of cafes where patrons sip tsikoudia, a grape-based brandy distilled in the hills.

Day 6 - Sunday - Dec 3, 2023

Cruising the Mediterranean Sea

Sail the ocean stage on which civilizations have risen and fallen, where empires ventured forth in their great armadas to control these strategic waters. As you sail, explore the well-curated Library, tucked in a private alcove of the Living Room, and select from a broad range of titles. Read a book by the Main Pool, a calming oasis in any weather with its retractable roof, allowing for year-round swimming.

Day 7 - Monday - Dec 4, 2023

Ashdod (Port for Jerusalem), Israel

Jerusalem is an important pilgrimage site for major world religions and one of the world's oldest cities. Since ancient beginnings, Jerusalem has been home to Canaanite, Babylonian, Assyrian, Judean, Roman, Persian, Byzantine, Umayyad, Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Palestinian, and many other peoples. Their legacies can be seen in a treasure trove of antiquities-from the Temple Mount to the Western Wall and beyond-and in the vibrant markets, theaters, museums, and galleries that make modern Jerusalem one of the Middle East's most dynamic cities.

Day 8 - Tuesday - Dec 5, 2023

Haifa (Jerusalem), Israel

Haifa is one of Israel's most important and beautiful cities, built on the slopes of Mount Carmel and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Pilgrims of the Baha'i faith flock here to visit the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, a series of breathtaking terraces on the hillside. Mount Carmel also holds significance to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths. Most notably, this was the spot of Elijah's sacrifice by fire by which he miraculously ended a drought. Nearby, the ancient city of Acre, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 9 - Wednesday - Dec 6, 2023

Haifa (Jerusalem), Israel

High above Haifa, brilliant blooms spill down the side of Mount Carmel, a site significant in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This place is also meaningful to those of the Baha'i faith, who travel here from afar to see the Hanging Gardens of Haifa. The beautifully landscaped swath of flowers and topiary, arranged around wide, elegant mountainside stairways and plazas, creates stunning geometric designs. From Mount Carmel's tabletop summit, visitors take in the breathtaking terraced gardens against the expansive backdrop of the city below and the Mediterranean beyond.

Day 10 - Thursday - Dec 7, 2023

Limassol, Cyprus

Cyprus and its historic capital of Limassol boast a long history that encompasses Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Venetian, and British rule. Famously, the island nation is home to spectacular medieval churches and monasteries whose humble facades belie richly wrought Byzantine frescoes. With such an auspicious reputation, it seems a high privilege to visit this breathtaking place. In the city's historic center, history stands in for mythology at the stalwart Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart is said to have married on his way to the Crusades in the Holy Land.

Day 11 - Friday - Dec 8, 2023

Cruising the Mediterranean Sea

Follow in the footsteps of great armadas that once sailed these waters. Historically, empires knew that to control this sea provided a strategic advantage in controlling the surrounding regions. As you sail today, attend an informative lecture or watch a film in the state-of-the-art theater. A range of insightful TED Talks and destination-inspired seminars are offered daily.

Day 12 - Saturday - Dec 9, 2023

Rhodes, Greece

Rhodes is home to the Palace of the Grand Master, a remarkable and sprawling fortification. Its historic quarter is Europe's largest active medieval town. Outside the city, forests of pine and cypress blanket mountain slopes; vineyards and groves of citrus and olive soak up the Aegean sun. The Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem conquered the island in the 14th century, bringing great wealth from the Holy Land. Under their rule, the city was reconstructed to mirror the medieval ideal. Many of the buildings from this era remain and make for rewarding strolls.

Day 13 - Sunday - Dec 10, 2023

Mykonos, Greece

Sun-drenched Mykonos is the smallest of the Greek islands. It strikes a picture-perfect pose, with its centuries-old windmills perched on seaside ridges and labyrinthine streets of whitewashed houses with sky-blue doors. Some 400 churches dot the island's stunning landscapes, with the whitewashed Panagia Paraportiani, or Church of Our Lady, among the most impressive. The narrow lanes of Chora, the main town, are pure pleasure to explore. Rows of fishing houses with balconies are perched directly on the water and the famous thatched-roof windmills overlook the harbor.

Day 14 - Monday - Dec 11, 2023

Athens (Port of Piraeus), Greece

Athens has been called the "birthplace of democracy". Its legacy looms large from atop Acropolis Hill, the pinnacle of ancient Greece. This open-air museum is an astonishing repository of once-mighty structures. From its colonnaded Parthenon-more than 2,600 years ago-revered Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle formulated new ideas of government and debated its role in civic life to captivated audiences. Remnants of spiritual life are also here in the several temples to Athena and Zeus.

Day 15 - Tuesday - Dec 12, 2023

Athens (Port of Piraeus), Greece

For a more intimate experience of Athens, the charming Plaka District invites guests with its labyrinth of cobblestone lanes. Neoclassical architecture lines the narrow streets of the "Neighborhood of the Gods", so named for its location. Browsing its shops or simply perusing its nooks and crannies are pastimes favored by visitors and locals alike. This historic area is the ideal setting in which to enjoy traditional small plates of mezes and a sip of ouzo. After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home.

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