Spires of Gold & Ancient Sands – Istanbul, Bari & Split

About this cruise

No complicated itinerary, no back-to-back transfers, just the ports, the ship, and the sea in between. This 9-night sailing from Piraeus (Athens) on August 11, 2027 visits Kusadasi, Istanbul, Corfu, Bari, Trieste and Split. A few ports come in quick succession, which is great for sightseeing but means you'll appreciate the sea days when they arrive. The route threads through 4 countries along the Eastern Mediterranean coast: Türkiye, Greece, Italy and Croatia. Don't rush through Bari, which is known as Puglia's salty, sun-bleached harbour town. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. MSC Splendida has 6 restaurants on board, which means you could eat somewhere different nearly every night. Piraeus (Athens) itself is worth spending some time in. Don't just treat it as a departure point. The timing works well too: warm evenings on deck, late sunsets, and a lively atmosphere. All told, 6 ports across 9 nights covers a lot.