Piraeus/Athens, Rhodes, Limassol, Muscat, Doha, Dubai

Piraeus port is the gateway to Athens center. Don't miss the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which looms over Athens from its perch atop the Acropolis, an eternal icon of art and civilization. Completed in 438 B.C., the temple still astounds as the flowering of Greek art and architecture. When you come down off the hill, don't miss a visit to the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the Acropolis Museum and the city's historic centre, around Plaka. Ideally, sit and relax at a cafe on the foot of the hill, sample some Greek souvlaki or a frappe, take a glance back up the hill from time to time and give the goddess her due.

Rhodes is an enchanting island that shines green and white, surrounded by the blue waters of the eastern Aegean. It is strewn with small towns and was merely one of the most glorious cities of antiquity, the world- renowned Island of the Knights. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, stood more than 100 feet high at the edge of the harbor, before an earthquake toppled it in 226 B.C. Of the statue, nothing remains, but Rhodes Old Town, a World Heritage Site, remains one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and a place of pilgrimage for cruise travelers. Stroll along the medieval streets and the wonderful fortifications, walk along the Street of the Knights and visit the Palace of the Knights.

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus and important transit harbor in the Mediterranean, located on the island's south coast, in the Greek sector of Cyprus. A delicious place to sun-worship. Limassol Castle occupies a dominant position in the landmark and tourist attractions in the city. It is the imperial castle where Richard the Lionhearted married Queen Berengaria in 1191. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of Museums (Archaeological, Folk Art) and archaeological sites (Kourion, Limassol Castle, Amathus Ruins etc).

The capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat is a beautiful Middle Eastern city offering visitors diverse attractions, a low-rise gem, wedged between Arabian Gulf and scenic mountains. Once ashore witness lavish palaces, Zawawi Mosque, its pink marble crowned by a gilded dome and Muttrah Souq, a jumble of crafts and clothing perfumed with spices and frankincense. Take time and explore Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 13th and 14th centuries, the impressive forts Al-Jalali, in the harbor of the old city of Muscat and Al Mirani, which overlooks the Sea of Oman, visit the spectacular Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, enjoy a stroll through Qurum National Park. Muscat also offers several museums and, further afield, the unique opportunity to watch camel racing and bull fights. 

Doha is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital city of the State of Qatar. Qatar is the world's richest and most cosmopolitan nation on the Arabian Peninsula. Doha, once a small port, today is full of impressive, towering buildings of strikingly modern architecture and luxury shops such as the Pearl or the Villaggio Shopping Mall. Visit the stunning Museum of Islamic Art which houses the largest collection of Islamic artifacts in the world and the unique Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum with its magnificent exterior and its dazzling collections from cars to stamps and Islamic treasures.

Stretching along the southernmost shores of the Arabian Gulf, cosmopolitan Dubai is often described as a city of contrasts. On one side, sparkling tall buildings, glitzy shops and sun-soaked beaches of a glamorous seaside destination, on the other side, a city rooted in tradition and history. Wander the narrow streets of the Al Bastakiya historic district, where you can take in the sights and sounds of bustling souks (markets) or the quiet wonder of local mosques. Dubai is a wonderful word for shopping, in the most impressive shopping malls, such ast the Mall of the Emirates that also hosts the ski centre, and the Dubai Mall, which are a tempting world of shopping opportunities.

Stretching along the southernmost shores of the Arabian Gulf, cosmopolitan Dubai is often described as a city of contrasts. On one side, sparkling tall buildings, glitzy shops and sun-soaked beaches of a glamorous seaside destination, on the other side, a city rooted in tradition and history. Wander the narrow streets of the Al Bastakiya historic district, where you can take in the sights and sounds of bustling souks (markets) or the quiet wonder of local mosques. Dubai is a wonderful word for shopping, in the most impressive shopping malls, such ast the Mall of the Emirates that also hosts the ski centre, and the Dubai Mall, which are a tempting world of shopping opportunities.