Ancient Levant & Levant – Athens, Izmir & Istanbul

About this cruise

This one leaves Bari on January 9, 2027 and spends 7 nights visiting Piraeus (Athens), Izmir, Istanbul and Corfu at a pace where every day has something going on but there's always time to just sit and watch the water too. There's a stretch of back-to-back port days, so those days are busy, but the sea days around them give you time to recharge. Archaeological sites, ouzo by the water, and island-hopping through the Aegean. Most ports give you about 9 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, MSC Lirica takes the food seriously, with 5 restaurants to choose from. 4 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. The sweet spot for most travellers: you get to know the ship, see the ports, and come home before the laundry piles up. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Bari has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. The timing adds to it: swapping cold weather for sunshine and sea air is the whole pitch for a winter cruise. Whether you've cruised before or not, this 7-night itinerary is a genuinely good one.