fbpx

From the Canals of Venice to the Stones of Athens

From the Canals of Venice to the Stones of Athens

From AUD $4,730

Description

Step aboard the Le Lyrial in Venice for an 8-day cruise around three famed seas: the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean.

After a port of call at Bol, a charming little Dalmatian village located on the island of Brač, you will arrive in Dubrovnik. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pearl of the Adriatic will charm you with its palaces, elegant buildings, cloisters and fountains.

Following an enchanting cruise in the famous Bay of Kotor, Le Lyrial will cross the Corinth Canal, thus sailing through the Peloponnese isthmus to arrive in the Aegean Sea and at the island of Mykonos. This is the ‘Queen of the Cyclades’, an island of white windmills, sinuous lanes and whitewashed buildings, with a small port where fishing boats and dinghies lazily bob at the foot of the terraces. Mykonos cannot fail to charm you.

After a final port of call on Hydra, a charming little holiday island popular with Athenians, you will head for Athens, the City of the Gods, the end of your Mediterranean odyssey.

Trip Name
From the Canals of Venice to the Stones of Athens
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 224 Launched: 2015 A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises. Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, will join our fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the  luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in  Mediterranean coves A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat’s hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 VENICE
Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of the Serenissima: Saint Mark’s square, the basilica, Doges palace, the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares and to push open the doors of its churches. The city’s extraordinary heritage shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.
Day 2 - Day 2 BOL
Bol is a destination in the Dalmatian archipelago, best kept secret. This picturesque village is located on the southern coast of Brac Island. Its traditional architecture has unbelievable charm: little houses with white facades and red tiled roofs provide the perfect setting for laid-back meanders. Beyond the port, the waterfront promenade leads onto the beaches which are shaded by pines and cypresses. The most famous of them is Zlatni Rat, “the golden horn”. From the belvedere on Vidova Gora mountain, you can see its unusual contours and get an eyeful of the other Adriatic islands.
Day 3 - Day 3 DUBROVNIK & SAILING BAY OF KOTOR
Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon. The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as you walk along the ramparts. But what’s inside Fort Saint John, adjoining the outer walls? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.The long walls of the fortified city of Kotor unfurl before your eyes as you admire this medieval construction enclosed between the sea and the rugged cliffs from the decks of your ship. The still, deep waters of the bay plus the clouds of mist floating here and there create a surreal and magical atmosphere. Small islands with churches and fortresses built on them remind us that a proud maritime people has lived here for centuries, in this bay that forms a perfect natural harbour, used by sailors since ancient times. At the crossroads of Latin and Byzantine cultures, you will have the pleasure of observing the natural treasures of Montenegro during an unforgettable journey.
Day 4 - Day 4 PARGA
An ancient port in the Epirus region, picturesque Parga is located on the western coast of the Greek mainland. Ancient classical ruins and the Venetian citadel bear witness to the townメs colourful history and the diverse influences that shaped it. In a swoon of orange flower and lemon blossom scents, you can walk up steep streets lined with houses generously bedecked with flowers on your way to Ali Pasha castle. Here, youメll be rewarded by splendid views of the old fishing village and wild neighbouring creeks.
Day 5 - Day 5 CROSSING THE CORINTH CANAL
The Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth, turning the Peloponnese into an island as it separates the region from the Greek mainland. Inaugurated in 1893, the canal is a little over six kilometres long and enables merchant vessels and passenger to avoid a long 400-km detour around the peninsula. The two sides of the canal reach a height of approximately fifty metres. From the exterior decks, don’t miss this unique opportunity to watch the ship as it navigates along the narrow strip of water encased between tall, ochre cliffs. What an experience !
Day 6 - Day 6 MYKONOS
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
Day 7 - Day 7 HYDRA
This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïquesalong the quays. Further along the shore, within the walls of the “Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary” is a museum of Byzantine art. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.
Day 8 - Day 8 ATHENS
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. Don’t miss anything of the city’s cultural past. Pay a visit to the National Archaeological museum, or the Cycladic Art Museum.
Day 9 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $4,730Superior Stateroom
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $5,150DeLuxe Stateroom
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $20,180Owner’s Suite
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $5,840Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $6,150Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $6,480Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $12,830Prestige Suite - Deck 5
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $13,500Privilege Suite
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $15,600Grand Deluxe Suite
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $19,620Deluxe Suite
05-08-201912-08-2019AUD $19,980Grand Privilege Suite

Inclusions

    • A kid-friendly, family cruise, with specific entertainment.
    • A cruise crossing three countries (Italy, Croatia, Greece) and three seas (Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean), to discover the emblematic treasures of the Mediterranean.
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the lagoon of Venice, the Old City of Dubrovnik, the Straits of Kotor, the Acropolis from the disembarkation port in Athens.
    • An unforgettable crossing of the Corinth Canal.
    • Three charming Greek ports of call, all with a different character: Parga, Mykonos and Hydra.

Map