Imperial Trails – Athens, Corfu & Bari

About this cruise

By February 3, 2027 you'll be ready for this. 7 nights out of Istanbul, visiting Corfu, Bari, Piraeus (Athens) and Izmir, and nothing on the agenda except showing up. It splits nicely: 4 days seeing places and 2 days doing nothing at all. Crossing 3 borders through the Eastern Mediterranean: Greece, Italy and Türkiye. 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, MSC Lirica takes the food seriously, with 5 restaurants to choose from. 4 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. Couples, small groups, or anyone who wants proper time away will find this hits the spot. 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 February cold, you'll be somewhere warmer. And floating. 7 nights of not thinking about anything except where to eat next. That's the pitch.