Sultans & Shores – Istanbul, Corfu & Bari

About this cruise

No complicated itinerary, no back-to-back transfers, just the ports, the ship, and the sea in between. This 7-night sailing from Piraeus (Athens) on January 25, 2027 visits Izmir, Istanbul, Corfu and Bari. With 2 sea days woven in between port calls, there's time to actually use the ship and recharge. Crossing 3 borders through the Eastern Mediterranean: Türkiye, Greece and Italy. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. If one port sticks with you, it'll probably be Bari, Puglia's salty, sun-bleached harbour town. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. MSC Lirica takes the food seriously, with 5 restaurants to choose from. 4 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. This length suits most people. Enough time to settle in and actually unwind, without the trip dragging on. A January sailing is basically an excuse to chase the sun for a week or two. It's the kind of trip you actually remember afterwards.