Just recently, one of the most immersive cruise experiences for visiting Mediterranean destinations was unveiled. This itinerary includes everything, from the Holy Land to the Greek Isles.
Oceania Cruises issued a statement advertising a 33-day Mediterranean cruise that will visit 28 locations without returning to the same one again.
The voyage will be named “Mediterranean Connection: Grand Voyage” and will depart from Venice, Italy, on the Oceania ship Marina. The route delivers one of the most port-intensive cruise experiences available, with stops in Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, and Malta, amongst others.
Here are the ports of call for this itinerary:
- Venice (Trieste), Italy
- Split, Croatia
- Kotor, Montenegro
- Corfu, Greece
- Katakolon, Greece
- Chania (Crete), Greece
- Santorini, Greece
- Messina (Sicily), Italy
- Salerno, Italy
- Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
- Naples / Pompeii, Italy
- Catania (Sicily), Italy
- Bodrum, Turkey
- Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey
- Athens (Piraeus), Greece
- Mykonos, Greece
- Thessaloniki, Greece
- Kavala / Philippi, Greece
- Istanbul, Turkey (including one overnight)
- Antalya, Turkey
- Limassol, Cyprus
- Jerusalem (Haifa), Israel
- Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel
- Cairo (Port Said), Egypt
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Valletta, Malta
- La Goulette, Tunisia
- Barcelona, Spain
The overnight stay in Istanbul provides passengers with more opportunity to experience the metropolis that spans two continents.
This unique voyage will depart Venice on October 11, 2023. For those who wish to experience only a portion of the trip, the ship will also offer three shorter 12-day parts.
Oceania Cruises’ President and CEO, Howard Sherman, remarked, “As demand for longer and more destination-immersive voyages continues to rise, we are thrilled to unveil this new itinerary, which offers experiences in both iconic and off-the-beaten-path ports of call in a region of the world brimming with rich history and cultural wonders.”
According to the company’s announcement, this great journey will provide more than a simple cruise. There are innumerable options for guests to engage in, ranging from a state-of-the-art cooking school that teaches regional flavors to private dining at Privée, which offers the utmost in VIP dining. This particular Grand Voyage itinerary was created for the intrepid traveler who is captivated by the celebration of history, culture, and gastronomy in a multitude of enthralling sites.”
Ten nations will be visited, each with its own distinct culture and history. The company claims to take passengers off the main path and discover these legendary places’ hidden beauties.
A few words about the vessel:
The Marina is a 66,084-ton luxury cruise ship with a capacity of 1,238 passengers. She measures 782 feet in length and 105 feet in width. The vessel had its inaugural trip in 2011 and was the first of a pair of ships, the other being Oceania’s Riviera.
The following choices are available for tourists, who wish to experience only a portion of this 33-day journey, rather than the entire voyage:
- Greek & Italian Shores – Venice to Rome – 10 days, October 11 – October 21, 2023
- Legendary Pathways – Rome to Istanbul – 11 days, October 21 – November 1, 2023
- Holy Land & Treasures – Istanbul to Barcelona – 12 days, November 01 – November 13, 2023
- Mediterranean Mystique – Barcelona to Rome – 22 days, September 29 – October 21, 2023
- Icons of Civilizations – Venice to Istanbul – 21 days, October 11 – November 01, 2023
- Seas of Revelation – Rome to Barcelona – 23 days, October 21 – November 13, 2023
For additional information on Oceania cruises and about this specific itinerary you can talk to your travel professional.
