Byzantine Wake – Rome, Athens & Istanbul

About this cruise

Somewhere around day five the ship stops being transport and starts being home. This 21-night sailing from Civitavecchia (Rome) on November 11, 2028 visits Naples, Messina and Kotor, with additional stops along the Eastern Mediterranean. You get off in Istanbul, which is a good excuse to tack on a few days on land. 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. Crossing 5 borders through the Eastern Mediterranean: Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece and Türkiye. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. Most ports give you about 11 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, Rotterdam takes the food seriously, with 12 restaurants to choose from. 6 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. 21 nights is long enough to build a routine on board: favourite restaurant, favourite deck chair, favourite people. It starts to feel like a floating village. A proper voyage for people who like to take their time and hate rushing through destinations. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Civitavecchia (Rome) has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. Being shoulder season helps: golden light, comfortable weather, and shorter queues at the popular spots. 21 nights of not thinking about anything except where to eat next. That's the pitch.