Greece, Italy & Montenegro cruise aboard Celestyal Journey

Enjoy a leisurely morning in the Greek capital, then we’ll check out of our hotel and transfer to Piraeus to board Celestyal Journey, our home at sea for the next seven nights.

Celestyal Journey has recently been refurbished and features a stylish and welcoming interior, as well as a host of amenities. You can enjoy lunch on board before settling into your cabin. Then, as we sail away from port at lunchtime, you can spend the afternoon exploring the ship. You could find a cosy bar to enjoy a cocktail, take a dip in one of the two pools on board or simply flop on a sun lounger with a good book. With the rest of the day at sea, you’ll have the entire afternoon to get acquainted with the ship. The only important decision to be made today is where to enjoy your dinner this evening!

After breakfast, step ashore on the beautiful island of Kefalonia, the largest of the Ionian Islands in Western Greece. From the charming old town in Argostoli and excellent museums to beautiful beaches, and, of course, cafés and tavernas - Kefalonia has everything.

During your independent visit, you could wander around Kefalonia Botanic Garden or learn more about the history of Argostoli, which was devastated by an earthquake in 1953. While the disaster did damage the Monastery of St Andreas, it also revealed 16th-century frescoes hidden underneath the plastered walls, which are now on display in the monastery museum.

If you'd like to venture further afield, you could take a drive to the Drogarati Caves – a vast cave system, hosting a maze of stalagmites and stalactites, thought to be over 150 million years old (make sure you choose good footwear as it can get slippery). Close by is the Melissani Cave, home to a turquoise lake that enchants its visitors. Overhead is many stalactites – some are said to resemble dolphins, the mythical companions of nymphs, giving it an otherworldly feel. On this side of the island is Sami - a beautiful coastal town with charming Venetian buildings that reflect its rich heritage.

You might find parts of the island quite familiar; its idyllic blue waters and sandy beaches formed the backdrop of many scenes in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001) and are still peaceful places to lay in the sun and relax.

You’ll have a day to explore this enchanting place as you wish - but it's so lovely, you'll want to stay longer!

You can make the most of a relaxing morning at sea before arriving at this most magical of cities around midday.

This afternoon, we'll take a guided tour of Dubrovnik’s old town. An independent city-state for much of its history, this fascinating city has evolved differently from the rest of Croatia. Dubrovnik threw off its Venetian shackles during medieval times founding a commercial empire trading with the eastern Mediterranean, France, Spain and later the Ottoman Empire.

As so often happened, the city began to showcase its wealth through its architecture and today this Baroque city proudly nestles behind its huge imposing ramparts in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The main avenue, lined by intimate cafés, is completely paved with marble, which dazzles in the sunlight and gives credence to the city’s description as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’.

Throughout the city, you will find a wonderful array of monasteries, beautifully decorated churches and civic buildings dating from the 14th century. After dinner onboard, why not venture back on shore to experience Dubrovnik in the evening as the ship is berthed until late.

By morning, we will have arrived at beautiful Montenegro with its sapphire-blue coastline. Reflections of the surrounding mountains dance on the water whilst sleepy, timeless fishing villages hug the shoreline. (These views will have you reaching for your camera!)

This morning, we’ll take a guided tour, beginning with the enchanting islet of Sveti Stefan, adorned with medieval architecture and surrounded by azure waters.

We'll continue on to Budva, Montenegro’s most popular coastal town, which makes up part of the beautiful Budva Riviera. Enclosed on three sides by lush, tree-covered mountains, Budva follows a gentle coastal curve to a charming harbour, where gleaming white fishing boats, sailboats and yachts line the walkways and jetties.

Just beside the harbour sits the medieval old town, standing out from the shoreline like the jewel in Budva’s coastal crown. We’ll explore within the Venetian old town walls with a local guide. And find our way through the narrow streets to the seaside citadel where the crumbling fortress walls drop dramatically into the Adriatic.

We’ll complete our tour back in Kotor, which nestles below a mountainside in one of Montenegro’s most dramatic settings. The walled city has a labyrinth of cobbled streets surrounding its Orthodox Cathedral – a must-see. Whichever path you choose, you’ll stumble onto quiet intimate squares - it is a delight to explore.

Its bustling market really is from yesteryear, selling homemade cheese, cured hams, honey and Mediterranean vegetables of every colour, shape and size in a refreshingly chaotic manner! You can try some of the local wine too, which despite its lack of international exposure, is rather good – and exceptional value. (It's definitely worth sneaking a bottle or two home in your suitcase!)

With a full day in port, you can enjoy some free time to explore the cobbled streets this afternoon. Why not stop for a drink in one of the many cafés while looking out over the UNESCO-protected shores of the Bay of Kotor?

*Ship is expected to anchor at Kotor port and guests will be tendered ashore.

Nestling on the Adriatic, Bari was a thriving walled port - even before the Romans arrived - and was briefly the capital of Byzantine Italy. During Norman times, it was thought to be as significant as Venice.

This morning, we'll take a short drive to Alberobello to enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Remarkably, some parts of Alberobello are almost exclusively composed of trulli (dry stone huts with cobbled roofs), creating an otherworldly feel – it’s no wonder some compare it to a hobbit town. For many, this is a highlight of the tour. We'll have time to explore, discovering how the trulli were built, their intriguing origins and why many are adorned with Christian, pagan or celestial symbols.

This afternoon, you could explore Bari’s old town independently and see sights such as the imposing medieval fortress or huge Romanesque cathedral with its 11th-century frescoes. For many though, the focal point is the Basilica di San Nicola, whose 900-year-old vaulted crypt is the final resting place of Saint Nicholas, Patron Saint of Russia – better known to us as Father Christmas.

You could wander down the side streets to take in other aspects of traditional life. You’ll pass shops displaying freshly caught seafood, stalls creaking under the weight of locally grown, and families eating meals with their windows and doors open. Here and there, you may come across chattering matriarchs sitting outside their doorsteps making, hand-rolling and cutting different types of pasta, a practice unchanged through time.

*Ship is expected to anchor at Bari port and guests will be tendered ashore.

This morning, we'll arrive on the lively island of Corfu, at the mouth of the Adriatic, between Italy and mainland Greece, with just a narrow channel of sea separating it from Albania. This is Greece’s emerald isle, cloaked in olive, pine and cypress trees and well renowned for the beauty of its rocky coastline.

The island has a chequered past: colonised by the ancient Corinthians, then the Romans and the Byzantines, it fell to the Venetians, was captured by the French, and finally the British, before joining modern Greece in 1864.

All have influenced Corfu's elegant old town. It's one of the most attractive and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, owing much of its charm to the clusters of colourful neoclassical buildings from the Venetian period, punctuated by austere Greek-revival styles introduced by the British and Parisian flourishes from the French occupation. It contains two massive Venetian fortresses and the grand palaces and public buildings from the French and British eras - all of which are great places to explore on a day at leisure here.

You could also relax with some traditional meze around the 'Spianada', the town's main square or take a short drive out of the town to Achilleion Palace - a splendid palace built by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria, also used by the Greek royal family.

This morning, we'll arrive in Katakolo, a small port on the western coast of the Peloponnese and the gateway to one of the world’s greatest ancient sites: Olympia.

The ancient Olympic Games were as major an occasion then as they are today – though hopefully cheaper to stage! Taking place every four years, the ancient stadium had a staggering capacity of 45,000, a huge number and a clear indication of the event’s importance.

All military conflicts ceased for the duration and huge rewards were conferred on the winners, whilst penalties for cheating included fines, bans and public embarrassment - how little has changed!

The Olympiad continued for about 1,000 years and this morning we’ll experience a fascinating tour of the site, also visiting the excellent museum housing numerous extraordinary finds, which include bronze artefacts displaying exquisite workmanship.

Set sail after lunch for a relaxing last afternoon on board. You could relax in one of the eight bars or make the most of the wellness facilities.

*Ship is expected to anchor at Katakolo port and guests will be tendered ashore.

Mooring for the last time in Piraeus, we will disembark Celestyal Journey and head into Athens to see the most recognisable, historic, and photographed sites in the world - including the Acropolis and Parthenon.

The Acropolis is, without a doubt, the most striking and complete ancient Greek monument complex still in existence.
As you wander its ancient streets, you'll be enthralled by the majestic ruins, where the Parthenon - an ancient religious temple the Athenians built for the Greek goddess Athena - stands testament to Greece's long cultural heritage. Its white columns and perfect symmetry dominate the skyline as we travel up the steep slope of Acropolis Hill. There's so much to see, from the Porch of Maidens - which supports the southern part of the Erechtheion - to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Continuing our guided tour, we'll also pass the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament, the National Library, the University, and the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.

After our guided tour, enjoy some free time in the Plaka District, crammed with little shops and restaurants. Here you can enjoy lunch independently while soaking in the traditional charm and authentic Greek cuisine of local tavernas.

We'll continue to our hotel in the Athens Riviera, where you will check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying the hotel’s facilities. 

After nine days of non-stop adventure, spend your last full day relaxing and unwinding at your resort hotel.

Our five-star hotel is located in the town of Brauron ion the eastern part of Attica. It’s graced with idyllic Grecian character and unforgettable views of the beachfront – we'll have private access so you can stroll right from breakfast to the beach. You could lay claim to one of the sun loungers in the gardens or on the terrace and crack open that book you’ve been meaning to read. Unwind in the spa or, for those who refuse to sit still, you could take advantage of the hotel's fitness centre and tennis courts.

And, if you’re still hungry for more history, why not venture back into Athens to explore more of the city’s attractions and museums.

Today will be completely up to you, so throw away the itinerary and go with the flow – a day of relaxation could be the perfect way to end your holiday.