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7 Night Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea with Smithsonian Journeys Athens to Venice Cruise

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Le Lyrial

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

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

This cruise has already sailed

7 Night Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea with Smithsonian Journeys Athens to Venice Cruise from Athens (Port of Piraeus)

Ship: Le Lyrial

Cruise Line: Ponant Cruises

Sailed: Sunday, Sep 17, 2023 from Athens (Port of Piraeus), Greece

Ended: Sunday, Sep 24, 2023

The itinerary information below reflects the original day-by-day port of call schedule for the Sunday, Sep 17, 2023 departure of the Le Lyrial. If Ponant Cruises 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 - Sunday - Sep 17, 2023

Athens (Port of Piraeus), Greece

Depart: 6:00 pm

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic Gulf in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka with its maze of colourful streets and where in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological Museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city's key attractions and allow visitors to discover the region's cultural past.

Cruising the Corinth Canal, Greece

The Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth, turning the Peloponnese into an island as it separates the region from the Greek mainland. Inaugurated in 1893, the canal is a little over six kilometres long and enables merchant vessels and passenger to avoid a long 400-km detour around the peninsula. The two sides of the canal reach a height of approximately fifty metres. From the exterior decks, don't miss this unique opportunity to watch the ship as it navigates along the narrow strip of water encased between tall ochre cliffs. What an experience!

Day 2 - Monday - Sep 18, 2023

Itea, Greece

Tucked away in the Gulf of Corinth, this little port is situated in continental Greece, north-west of Athens. Take an easy stroll along the old cobblestone quays, while gazing at the summits encircling the Bay of Itea. We wouldn't be surprised if you are tempted by a visit to the Delphi Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located on a plateau on the slope of Mount Parnassus, just ten kilometres from Itea. A listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience whose ancient ruins are surrounded by steep mountains.

Day 3 - Tuesday - Sep 19, 2023

Saranda, Albania

A historical harbor town on the south-west coast of Albania, Saranda is built on a lush green spur. Its streets lined with palms and maritime pines border the beaches of the Ionian Sea at the mouth of the Corfu Channel. This very ancient town has archaeological ruins dating from Antiquity, which you can visit as you walk along the waterfront.

Day 4 - Wednesday - Sep 20, 2023

Kotor, Montenegro

Situated in one of Montenegro's most beautiful bays, the medieval city of Kotor is a small town full of charm, truly imbued with the traditions and stories of another time. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has preserved many historical monuments from this epoch. During your stop, be sure to admire the impressive castle that dominates the town, and let yourself fall under the charm of its maze of small streets and intimate squares on which folk festivals featuring magnificent colourful costumes are often organised.

Day 5 - Thursday - Sep 21, 2023

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon. The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile Gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as you walk along the ramparts. But what's inside Saint John Fortress, adjoining the outer walls? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.

Day 6 - Friday - Sep 22, 2023

Ploce, Croatia, Croatia

Ploce is a port that shares with nearby Makarska a reputation for great beaches, upscale seafront promenades, and a vibrant nightlife. Ploce also serves as a gateway to the city of Mostar, which under the Ottoman Turks became a thriving administrative and cultural center. Severely damaged in the military conflict of the 1990s, the town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and now showcases the graceful Stari Most ("Old Bridge"), originally built in 1566, and the early 17th-century Turkish Tabacica Mosque, both carefully restored with help from UNESCO.

Day 7 - Saturday - Sep 23, 2023

Hvar, Croatia

Off the coast of Split, Hvar will surprise you by its traditions that have not changed since Antiquity. The country's oldest town, Stari Grad, is here on this Dalmatian island. The town nestles by a cove on the north-west coast, surrounded by dry stone wall structures on the Stari Grad plains. These have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they were built in the time of the Ancient Greeks. From these parcels of land come wines and olive oil manufactured manually. In the upper part of town, it is possible to discover hams and cheeses made by local producers.

Day 8 - Sunday - Sep 24, 2023

Venice, Italy

Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of La Serenissima: Saint Mark's Square, the Basilica, Doge's Palace, the Grand Canal, and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares, and to push open the doors of its churches. The city's extraordinary heritage shouldn't stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.

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