Italy & Greece with Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise
Italy & Greece with Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise
$4403
Italy & Greece with Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise
16 Days Starting in Venice, Italy and ending in Athens, Greece
Visiting: Venice, Verona, Florence, Rome, Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Heraklion
Tour operator:
Tour code:
6335-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Italy and Greece with the Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise. Begin your adventure in the romantic city of Venice, explore the historic streets of Verona, and marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Discover the timeless beauty of Rome before flying to Athens, where ancient history meets vibrant modernity. Travel through the picturesque landscapes of the Peloponnese, visiting Mycenae, Nauplia, and Olympia. Cruise the Aegean Sea, stopping at the stunning islands of Mykonos, Patmos, and Santorini, and explore the ancient ruins of Ephesus in Turkey. This tour offers a perfect blend of cultural exploration and scenic relaxation.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Venice Area,Italy
Location: Venice
Accommodation Name: Poppi
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Italy! Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s romantic city using your CosmosGO app. This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions at the welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Venice
Location: Venice
Accommodation Name: Poppi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Venice is a place of unmatched beauty and a feast of fantastic sights. View the delightful crisscrossing canals, the gondolas, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Your included orientation features a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop. You’ll have time to explore at leisure on your own, perhaps sipping a cappuccino or the typical Venetian drink called "spritz" at one of the many bars or cafés. Do you believe in magic? An optional evening boat ride on Giudecca Canal, dinner in a local restaurant, and St. Mark’s square at night will remove all doubt!
Day 3: Venice Area,Verona,Montecatini
Location: Verona
Accommodation Name: Terme Pellegrini
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel to Verona, setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Marvel at the ancient Roman Arena, built for gladiator fights but now still used as a popular venue for festivals and concerts; shop in Via Mazzini, or just wander the cobblestone streets of the city center. Tonight, experience the harmony of rural life in Tuscany with an optional farmhouse dinner in the Tuscan countryside. On the menu? Good food, better wine, and the best company! Overnight in the Tuscan spa town of Montecatini.Today’s Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km
Day 4: Montecatini,Florence,Montecatini
Location: Florence
Accommodation Name: Terme Pellegrini
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, enjoy a full day discovering the wonders of Florence, starting with a guided walking tour, featuring some of the city’s greatest attractions. See Piazza Santa Croce; world-famous Signoria Square; 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio with its collection of artistic masterpieces; Loggia dei Lanzi; the unique Duomo with Giotto’s Gothic Bell Tower and the Baptistry’s ornate bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise.” Return to Montecatini.Today’s distance: 79 mi /127km
Day 5: Montecatini,Pisa,Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation Name: American Palace Eur
Meals Included: Breakfast
Vistas of rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa and enjoy a mini-train ride to the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to Rome. Today’s Distance: 255 mi/ 410 km
Day 6: Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation Name: American Palace Eur
Meals Included: Breakfast
The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.* * For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.
Day 7: Rome,Athens,Greece
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Acropolis Select
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your included flight to Athens. From the capital of Italy to the capital of Greece, absorb the Mediterranean flair and discover the influence of ancient Roman and Greek civilizations on modern life and arts.
Day 8: Athens,Mycenae,Nauplia
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Rex
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the city and a visit to the Acropolis. Travel to the Corinth Canal, built between 1881 and 1893 and stop here for a picture. Continue to visit the Mycenae archaeological site with a Local Guide to learn about the ancient city of Homer’s epics. Enjoy views of the rugged Peloponnese scenery on the way to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant.Today’s Distance: 90 mi/ 145 km
Day 9: Nauplia,Olympia
Location: Olympia
Accommodation Name: Olympia Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast
Drive south through the Peloponnese to Olympia. Take advantage of some time at leisure or score the perfect 10 with a guided optional tour of ancient Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, featuring the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. Today’s Distance: 118 mi/ 190 km
Day 10: Olympia,Delphi
Location: Delphi
Accommodation Name: V Hotel Delphi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross the Rion-Antirion bridge and skirt the Gulf or Corinth to continue inland to Delphi. Built at the foot of Mt. Parnassus, Delphi was considered by ancient Greeks to be the center of the world where the oracles of Apollo predicted the fate of many a man. We see your future on an optional visit with a Local Guide sharing history and mythology of the past as well. Today’s distance: 150 mi/ 240 km
Day 11: Delphi,Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Acropolis Select
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy free time in Athens to explore with the help of the CosmosGO app, visit the museums or take the tram to the coast. In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music.
Day 12: Athens,Embarkation Port,Mykonos
Location: Mykonos
Accommodation Name: Celestyal cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Board your Celestyal cruise ship. Cruise the Aegean Sea to Mykonos, with its white houses, chapels, and windmills. Late-evening departure for Kusadasi, Turkey.
Day 13: Kusadasi,Turkey,Patmos,Greece
Location: Kusadasi
Accommodation Name: Celestyal cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Two ports of call today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An included excursion is available to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit.
Day 14: Heraklion,Santorini
Location: Heraklion
Accommodation Name: Celestyal cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The first port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. Join the included excursion to Knossos, the hub of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” If blue is your color, join an optional shore excursion to visit the cliff-top village of Oia, home to the most photographed blue-domed buildings in Santorini—not to mention the magnificent blue views of the Mediterranean.
Day 15: Disembarkation Port,Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Acropolis Select
Meals Included: Breakfast
Early morning arrival. Drive to Athens and relax, visit a museum, or go shopping.
Day 16: Athens
Location: Athens
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Welcome Dinner
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at the welcome dinner at the hotel in Venice.
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Venetian Glassblowing Workshop
Included orientation features a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop.
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Mini-Train Ride in Pisa
Enjoy a mini-train ride to see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower in Pisa.
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Introduction to Rome
Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide.
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Flight to Athens
Included flight from Rome to Athens.
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Sightseeing Tour of Athens
Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the city and a visit to the Acropolis.
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Dinner in Nauplia
Enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant in Nauplia.
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Celestyal Cruise
Board your Celestyal cruise ship and cruise the Aegean Sea to Mykonos.
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Excursion to Ephesus
Included excursion to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus.
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Excursion to Knossos
Join the included excursion to Knossos, the hub of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization.
What's Not Included
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions such as a ride on a gondola in Venice or a visit to the ancient Olympia site are not included.
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Upgrades
Prices are based on inside cabin (category IB).
Upgrades are available at an additional cost. -
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as shopping, additional meals, and tips are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and should be purchased separately.
Notes
Rome - the 2025 Jubilee Year events may necessitate changes in the sequence of activities or the omission of certain events/places. Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, but it may be subject to change.This tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs. For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded. Please ask your Travel Consultant for cruise ship details. The ship scheduled to depart for the cruise portion of your vacation is the Celestyal Discovery, operated by Celestyal Cruises. CRUISE DETAILS Prices are based on Inside cabin (category IB) - All air-conditioned cabins with private shower and toilet. Upgrades available. Rotation of ports of call may vary for congestion reasons at certain ports with or without prior notice. Included select excursions as per detailed itinerary. Full entertainment program on board. Included drink package: selection of non-alcoholic & alcoholic drinks. Cosmos Host service throughout the cruise.
Accommodation
Stay in comfort at Poppi in the Venice Area, Terme Pellegrini in Montecatini, American Palace Eur in Rome, Acropolis Select in Athens, Rex in Nauplia, Olympia Palace in Olympia, and V Hotel Delphi in Delphi.
UNESCO Sites
Acropolis Athens|Archeological site of Mycenae|City of Verona|Ephesus|Historic Centre of Florence|Historic Centre of Rome|Piazza del Duomo Pisa|Vatican City|Venice and its Lagoon
Meals
15 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 6 Dinners
Check out our Q&As
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What activities are included in Venice?
In Venice, you will have an included orientation featuring a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop. You will also have time to explore at leisure on your own or join optional excursions like a romantic gondola ride.
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What can I expect to see in Florence?
In Florence, you will enjoy a guided walking tour featuring some of the city’s greatest attractions, including Piazza Santa Croce, Signoria Square, Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi, the Duomo with Giotto’s Gothic Bell Tower, and the Baptistry’s ornate bronze door known as the 'Gate of Paradise.'
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What is included in the Rome tour?
The Rome tour includes an introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. You will enjoy a drive along the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. The tour also includes a walk from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum.
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What will I see in Mycenae?
In Mycenae, you will visit the archaeological site with a Local Guide to learn about the ancient city of Homer’s epics. You will also stop at the Corinth Canal for a picture.
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What optional activities are available in Olympia?
In Olympia, you can join an optional tour of the ancient Olympia site, featuring the ruins of the Temple of Zeus.
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What is included in the Athens tour?
The Athens tour includes sightseeing of the city’s highlights and a visit to the Acropolis. You will also have free time to explore with the help of the CosmosGO app, visit museums, or take the tram to the coast.
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What excursions are available during the cruise?
During the cruise, included excursions are available to the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus in Kusadasi, and to Knossos, the hub of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization, in Heraklion. Optional shore excursions include a visit to the cliff-top village of Oia in Santorini.
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What is the accommodation like on the cruise ship?
The cruise ship, Celestyal Discovery, offers air-conditioned cabins with private showers and toilets. Prices are based on inside cabin (category IB), but upgrades are available. The ship also includes a full entertainment program and a basic drink package with a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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