10 nights. Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, Spain

Day 9

At sea

Day 10

palma de mallorca, spain

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Day 11

barcelona, spain

Arrival: 07:00

Day 1

istanbul, turkey

Departure: 17:00

Istanbul owes its historic importance and its amazing cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Through most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of more than 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, lured by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, fast-growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status underlined by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A fast-growing economy contributed to a flourishing arts and music scene, with a plethora of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

Read more

Read less

Day 2

ephesus (kusadasi), turkey

Arrival: 13:00 - Departure: 21:00

Kusadasi is a coastal resort town in the Aydin Province of Aegean Turkey. It is a popular tourist destination, for its many beaches and for being Turkey's busiest cruise port, with many cruise ship passengers heading to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the major and best preserved Greco-Roman sites in Turkey. There are some good beaches both south and north of Kusadasi. All beaches are commercialized with hotels surrounding them. South of Kusadasi is the ladies beach, lost paradise beach and the long beach. Kusadasi is the gateway to Ephesus, a fascinating ancient city with baths, gyms, acoustic theatre and temples, arches and much more. The Roman Ruins at Ephesus are spectacular. In town visit the City Walls, Kaleiçi Camii, the Öküz Mehmet Pasha Caravanserai and Guvercin Adası peninsula. Kusadasi is one of Turkey's more cosmopolitan and lively resorts.

Read more

Read less

Day 3

santorini, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 22:00

Formed by the massive volcanic eruption which gave rise to the Atlantis legend, Santorini is the most striking island in the Aegean. The island is actually the outer rim of a sunken volcano, its entire eastern coast is a succession of small towns perched on high hills. Fira is the island’s dramatically situated capital. Perched on the cliffs, overlooking the sea, the town of Fira shares with the Parthenon the fame of the best known images of Greece. The narrow streets are filled with souvenir shops, lovely boutiques and a lot of jewellery shops. It has two beautiful churches, the Greek Orthodox and the Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. It also has a small local museum. Nightlife in Fira is also quite lively with good restaurants and bars, plus a few nightclubs. The city is a spectacle in itself, with a climax at sunset. Another great place to enjoy the sunset is the town of Ia, a small village clinging to the rocky point of land at the northern tip of the island, 300m above the sea. The beaches in Santorini are much different than other beaches in Greece due to their special geographical features. Red and black volcanic pebbles lay the shores of Santorini beaches and steep cliffs provide a picturesque ambience. The most famous of Santorini beaches is the Red beach, while particularly popular are Perissa, Kamari and Perivolos. Santorini is a truly wonderful destination. The siting of some of its major towns along the clifftop rim of the caldera is one of the most spectacularly lovely sights in the world. The buildings seem to defy gravity in the way they cling to the cliffs and are stacked one on top of the other like so many sugar cubes. The sandy, multicoloured beaches are simply the icing on the cake.

Read more

Read less

Day 4

mykonos, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 20:00

Mykonos is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. In the 1960s, Mykonos became a bohemian mecca and is now one of the glitziest holiday resorts in the country that happily flaunts its sizzling style and reputation. This central Cyclade was for years the premier Mediterranean resort for gay travellers, though recently Mykonos has tried to reinvent itself for a more varied clientele, though nightlife is still very gay-friendly, it is a paradise for any reveller with loud and long nights. Chora or Mykonos town is the main town on the island. It is filled with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed buildings with blue trim, nice restaurants, clothing and jewellery shops, a fish market and a vegetable market. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean. Besides Chora, there is only one other town on the island, Ano Mera. Ano Mera is quiter and less touristy. While you are here, visit the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, a traditional Greek Orthodox Church which has a beautiful iconostas. The island is dry and barren, but there are some fine, sandy beaches, the two most well-known being Paradise and Super Paradise, but there are many other beaches you can seek out around the island. From the charming port, catch a boat out to the beaches or out to Delos, and you will be travelling from the present into the ancient past, from one set of myths to another.

Read more

Read less

Day 5

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 05:30 - Departure: 16:00

Piraeus is a port city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens urban area, 8 kilometres southwest from its city centre (municipality of Athens), and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 people within its administrative limits, making it the fifth largest municipality in Greece and the second largest within the urban area of the Greek capital, following the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and four other suburban municipalities form the regional unit of Piraeus which sometimes called Greater Piraeus area, with a total population of 448,997, and is part οf Athens urban area. Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when this area was selected to become the new port of classical Athens and was built as a prototype harbour, concentrating all the import and transit trade of Athens. During the Golden Age of Athens the Long Walls were constructed to fortify Athens and its port (Piraeus). Consequently, it became the chief harbour of ancient Greece, but declined gradually after the 3rd century B.C., growing once more in the 19th century, after Athens' declaration as the capital of Greece. In the modern era, Piraeus is a large city, bustling with activity and an integral part of Athens, acting as home to the country's biggest harbour and bearing all the characteristics of a huge marine and commercial-industrial center. The port of Piraeus is the chief port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe and the second largest in the world, servicing about 20 million passengers annually. With a throughput of 1.4 million TEUs, Piraeus is placed among the top ten ports in container traffic in Europe and the top container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The municipality hosted events in both the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest Greek universities and has the country's second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department in the area of finance.

Read more

Read less

Day 6

katakolon, greece

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 16:00

Olympia is a town in Peloponnese. This was the site of the original Olympic Games. The games, held every four years in honor of the Greek god Zeus, lasted through the entire Classical Age. The central sanctuary or Altis included temples, altars, shrines, and public buildings for both religious and profane purposes. The flame for each modern Olympic Games is still lit in the town, by a reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror, and carried by torch to the place where the games are to be held.

Read more

Read less

Day 7

valletta, malta

Arrival: 11:00 - Departure: 20:00

The tiny capital of Malta, the city measures less than 1 sq km, has a lot to offer visitors. Valletta has been described as one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world, thanks to its 7,000 years of history. No wonder, the City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. Built by the knight of St John in the 16th and 17th centuries for its military and strategic reasons, Valletta was later embellished into a fine example of baroque decorative art – most notably in the magnificent interiors of St John’s Co-Cathedral in the heart of the city. Shady atmospheric alleyways link grand squares, and glorious palazzi sit alongside bars and shop. Lately, the city has undergone some major changes to create a more vibrant urbanity, with the renovation of the main City Gate and the design of a new parliament building, as well as the renovation of the bombed-out Opera House. Valletta's natural deep water port, the Grand Harbour, is the biggest and the most impressive harbour in all the Mediterranean and was, for many thousands of years, the epicentre of Malta’s maritime activity. Proof of this are the 19 historical warehouses still stand dating back 250 years and the historic Quay Wall, where the Knights of St John and European merchants used to unload their wares. The Valletta Waterfront is also the gateway to Malta’s capital city. In fact, as one of the most successful Mediterranean ports, the Port of Valletta welcomes more than half-a-million cruise passengers into this open air museum. Recently, the waterfront has been revitalised into an attractive and vibrant gateway of shops, bars and restaurants. It’s particularly romantic at night when illuminated. There are tons of outdoor pursuits to enjoy thanks to the city’s moderate climate. From diving to sailing, cycling to rock climbing, there are a number of different adrenalin-busting options to satisfy adventurous holidaymakers. Just don't expect Valletta to be buzzing all night, its tranquility is a large part of its charm.

Read more

Read less

Day 8

catania,sicily,italy

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Catania is the second largest city in Sicily. Buried seven times by fierce eruptions of the Etna volcano and several earthquakes, much of its monuments have been destroyed. Nonetheless, the old town is well maintained, so much so, that it was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002. In the city center visitors will be able to enjoy the major feature of the city: its baroque architecture. The main examples are the Cathedral Square, Piazza del Duomo ,with the Elephant Fountain, the adorned Cathedral, founded in the 11th century on the ruins of the ancient baths and the impressive 13th century Ursino Castle. The remains of the Roman and Greek heritage can still be witnessed at the former Acropolis of Katane that includes the Roman Theatre, built by Greeks and reconstructed by Romans, the Odeon and the Amphitheatre. Chaotic, noisy and boisterous, Catania’s nightlife is buzzing, hundreds of bars, clubs and eateries are at hand where to get infected with the joie de vivre of the city’s population.

Read more

Read less

Day 10

palma de mallorca, spain

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Palma de Mallorca, the vibrant capital of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is a city where beach life, history, and Mediterranean charm blend effortlessly. Stroll along the palm-lined seafront promenade, Passeig Marítim, and you’ll see luxury yachts bobbing in the harbor, terraced cafés buzzing with locals and visitors, and the golden silhouette of the city’s Gothic cathedral dominating the skyline. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Palma is an ideal base for exploring the island or simply soaking up the relaxed coastal atmosphere. At the heart of the city stands La Seu, the magnificent cathedral that has watched over Palma’s bay for centuries. Its soaring buttresses and intricate façade are impressive from a distance, but step inside to admire the colorful stained glass, including one of the largest rose windows in the world, and design elements reimagined by Antoni Gaudí. Just a short walk away, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the labyrinth of narrow streets in the old town reveal Palma’s layered past—from Moorish rule to medieval Christian reconquest. Palma is also a city for leisurely discovery. Get lost in the historic quarter among honey-colored stone buildings, hidden courtyards, and boutiques tucked into centuries-old houses. Pause in a traditional café for an ensaïmada, the island’s famous spiral pastry, or sample fresh seafood and tapas at the lively Mercat de l’Olivar. As evening falls, the city’s terraces fill with people enjoying a glass of local wine or a gin and tonic while the sun sets over the bay. Beyond the urban core, Palma offers easy access to some of Mallorca’s most beautiful beaches and scenic routes. A short drive or bus ride brings you to sandy coves with turquoise waters, while inland roads lead to charming villages such as Valldemossa and Deià in the Tramuntana mountains. Whether you’re drawn by culture, cuisine, nightlife, or nature, Palma de Mallorca is a destination that invites you to slow down, explore, and savor the Mediterranean way of life.

Read more

Read less

Day 11

barcelona, spain

Arrival: 07:00

Barcelona is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits,[7] its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

Read more

Read less

Previous

Next

What you should know:

Itinerary

The order of the ports may vary depending on the date of departure.
Check your itinerary for exact departure and arrival times. The hours correspond to the local time of the port.
Itineraries can change at any time without prior notice.

Boarding and landing

For safety reasons, all passengers must board 2 hours before departure on day 1 of the cruise.
Disembarkation usually begins 2 hours after docking on the last day of the cruise.

10 nights. Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, Spain

Need help?

Balcony

Inside

Outside

Suite

Photo gallery

Other cruises available aboard the Norwegian Viva