TEL: 503-227-7220
TURKEY & THE MEDITERRANEAN
Mediterranean Magic with a Side of Turkish Delight
10 nights cruise and 4 nights land package
A RICH ITINERARY
When Istanbul beckoned, the search began for an enticing itinerary. The area is exotic and interesting, but we needed that extra something. This certainly covers it.
Beginning in the watery city of Venice, we cruise on to Croatia with stops along the dramatic coastline in Hvar and Dubrovnik. Greece shows off with its ports of Corfu, Crete, Santorini, and the gem that is Athens. And at last, Ephesus welcomes us to Turkey, with Istanbul as its crowning glory. Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, this is sheer perfection.
These ancient cities offer tales of gods and nymphs, views of volcanos and the sea, and tastes of kumquats, olives, and wines.
A STUNNING NEW SMALL SHIP
A good itinerary is elevated when you are carried by a vessel oozing with class. The new Oceania Vista does that. This luxury ship carries only 1200 lucky passengers. Launched in April 2023, it features some of the finest food afloat, with all veranda staterooms from which to savor the passing views. All dining aboard is complimentary.
A HAPPY ENDING
You will want more of Istanbul. To satisfy that, we have arranged for our group to have a private guide for a ride across the Bosporus on our arrival. The next day we disembark our ship and have a full day of touring. Included are Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, and more. Our perfectly located 5-star hotel is included. No trip to Turkey is complete without seeing Cappadocia with its cave hotels, fairy chimneys, and hot air balloons. Our 3 nights there will include the sights by private touring, and a stay in a cave hotel.
BONUSES
Each stateroom may choose one of these OLife amenities:
6 shore excursions
$600 shipboard credit
Basic beverage package
Each person has a $250 shipboard credit.
Gratuities included for dining and room stewards on ship, and for land tour.
​
INCLUDED
10 night cruise with all meals
4 nights of 5-star hotels in Turkey
4 breakfasts on tour
4 lunches on tour
Gratuities for dining staff and room stewards
Gratuities for guides and bellboys in Turkey
$250 shipboard credit
1 OLife amenity per stateroom*
Transfers in Turkey
Private touring of Istanbul and Cappadocia 4 ½ days
NOT INCLUDED
Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia (currently about $260)
International airfare
Turkish visa ($50 upon arrival)
Beverages for touring meals
*Your OLife amenity must be the same for both guests in a stateroom.
DETAILS
Fly into Trieste or Venice and out of Cappadocia.
Luggage limited to one bag no larger than 28” and one small carry on.
A deposit of $1000 per person will reserve your place. Please purchase travel insurance to protect your investment. All payments are nonrefundable. Itinerary subject to change without notice. No refunds for missed activities. All participants must be able to independently walk intermediate distances on uneven surfaces and navigate embarking and disembarking boats and buses. Dietary restrictions may not be able to be accommodated.
Final payment due January 15, 2024
ITINERARY
​
May 1 Venice (Trieste)
Embark after 1PM and sail away. Note the ship is in port in Trieste. It is about a 2-hour train ride from Venice. Places to see near Trieste include the beautiful city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, the very impressive caves of Postojna, Predjama Castle, and of course - Venice. You may wish to arrive early and spend a little time in Venice.
May 2 Hvar
This resort island fills with yachts for the summer for good reasons.
May 3 Dubrovnik
Its picturesque walled city and Game of Thrones filming sites draw people to the romance of this lovely city.
Day 4 Corfu
Corfu welcomes you to Greece with its rustic charm and perhaps a bite of its golden kumquats which should be wrapping up their harvest in May.
May 5 Argostoli (Cephalonia)
A good stop to begin an appreciation of Greece’s charms away from the bustle of Athens.
May 6 Chania (Crete)
This medieval town shows off grand Venetian mansions
​
May 7 Santorini
That iconic island with the volcanic caldera, where photo opportunities abound.
May 8 Athens (Piraeus)
The ancient gem of Athens lures you to the Acropolis and Parthenon like a siren.
May 9 Ephesus (Kasudasi)
At last we come to Turkey. Many of its ancient sites, such as the House of the Virgin Mary, have Biblical roots.
May 10 Istanbul
Our arrival into Istanbul is in the afternoon. We have private touring arranged and return to the ship for dinner.
​
May 11
We disembark at 8 AM and again have our own transportation for a full day of touring the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar. Lunch included.
May 12 Istanbul
There is time to see more of the city before we depart for Cappadocia in central Turkey. Lunch included.
May 13
Cappadocia ranks as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its fairy chimneys, cave houses, churches, chapels, and hotels, and an option for hot air ballooning. Lunch included.
May 14
A great day for see all that Cappadocia offers. No trip to Turkey is complete without seeing this region. Lunch included.
May 15
Allah’a ismakladik to Turkey. We are homeward bound today.