Gilded Minarets – Dubrovnik, Santorini & Istanbul

About this cruise

Every port gets the time it deserves and the sea days in between are half the fun. This 21-night sailing leaves Barcelona on September 12, 2026 and visits Marseille, Livorno (Florence/Pisa) and Civitavecchia (Rome), with additional stops along the Eastern Mediterranean. Last stop: Piraeus (Athens). Ports up front, sea days at the end. By the time you're back in Barcelona, you'll feel properly rested rather than rushed. The Eastern Mediterranean route takes in France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro and Türkiye, 6 countries, and the differences show up in the food, the architecture, and the mood. Of the stops, Trieste tends to be the one people talk about: Habsburg grandeur at Italy's eastern edge. Roughly 10 hours ashore per stop. No need to rush. Oosterdam keeps you well fed. 7 places to eat, with 5 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. With more nights comes more time for the ship's rhythm to kick in: morning coffee in the same spot, evening shows, late-night conversations on deck. If you've done the short cruises and want more, this is the upgrade. Longer, deeper, and more relaxed. If you can, add a night in Barcelona before boarding. It's a good city to wander. And September is a good call. Still warm, less crowded, and usually cheaper too. Sometimes the best trips are the ones you just go ahead and book.