21 Night Cruise from Istanbul

About this cruise

A trip this long changes your rhythm entirely, and that's very much the point. 21 nights from Istanbul on December 2, 2028, visiting Mykonos, Souda (Chania) and Messina, with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean. You get off in Fort Lauderdale, which is a good excuse to tack on a few days on land. The final stretch is open ocean, which gives you time to process everything you've seen and use the ship one last time. Crossing 5 borders through the Western Mediterranean: Greece, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and United States. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. You get around 9 hours in each port, which is enough for an excursion, lunch, and some wandering around on your own. When you're not ashore, Rotterdam takes the food seriously, with 12 restaurants to choose from. 6 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. Longer sailings have a different energy. People relax into it, stop rushing, and start actually talking to each other. Suits retirees, remote workers, or anyone who doesn't need to be anywhere else for a while. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Istanbul has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. While everyone else deals with the December cold, you'll be somewhere warmer. And floating. 21 nights of not thinking about anything except where to eat next. That's the pitch.