Pharos & Piazza – Venice, Crete & Alexandria

About this cruise

The kind of trip where you lose track of what day it is, and nobody cares. 11 nights from Split on December 27, 2026, visiting Venice, Katakolon and Heraklion, with additional stops along the Eastern Mediterranean. The ports come early and the voyage wraps with sea days. A good way to decompress before heading home. The Eastern Mediterranean route takes in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, 4 countries, and the differences show up in the food, the architecture, and the mood. Most ports give you about 10 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, MSC Lirica keeps you well fed. 5 places to eat, with 4 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. By night three you start recognising faces; by night ten you're swapping numbers. That's the magic of a longer sailing. A proper voyage for people who like to take their time and hate rushing through destinations. 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 11-night itinerary is a genuinely good one.