DETAILS
You’re invited to join the National Trust on a thrilling Eastern Mediterranean voyage. Aboard the new Emerald Azzurra, sail strikingly blue waters from Cyprus to the Greek island of Rhodes and Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. While these beautiful lands may be less traveled today, they were early crossroads of civilizations. Expert guides will take you behind the scenes of the rarely explored wonders these ancient cultures created.
- Pricing from
- $8,999
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Ocean & Sea Voyages
- Departure Dates
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Apr 9, 2025 - Apr 18, 2025
Discover why Cruise Critic editors picked Emerald Azzurra as their “Best New Luxury Ship” in 2022. Reaching an impressive 360 feet in length with only 50 cabins, this spectacular cruising vessel will exceed your yacht cruising expectations. Relax in your spacious, modern surroundings and enjoy a collection of luxurious amenities. Discover a secluded spot to read a book, enjoy unimpeded views of the unspoiled landscapes, or take a relaxing dip in the infinity-style pool.
Savor fresh, locally sourced meals thoughtfully crafted by expert chefs and appreciate the ocean breeze from the large al fresco terrace. Have a nightcap in the plush, relaxed atmosphere of the Horizon Bar & Lounge. Unwind completely in the onboard Wellness Center, rejuvenating yourself with a selection of spa treatments and even a hairdresser. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available and a full selection of bikes is on board for your use.
OPTIONAL PRELUDE – IN ISTANBUL & CAPPADOCIA
Before arriving in Cyprus, experience Turkey’s multilayered history in two incredible destinations: Istanbul and the lunar landscape of Cappadocia, central Turkey’s region of painted cave churches and fairy chimneys. Discover the splendors of Ottoman architecture at Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, and marvel at Byzantine engineering Basilica Cistern. In Cappadocia, stay at a unique cave hotel and go behind the scenes in rock-cut churches, underground cities, and the Göreme Open Air Museum, with its stunning Byzantine frescoes. Witness the mystical Whirling Dervish ceremony at a restored caravanserai.
Prelude rate per person:
$2,899 double rate
$4,499 single rate
Prelude Rate Includes: Includes two nights accommodations at the Peninsula Istanbul Hotel; three nights accommodations at the Cappadocia Cave Resort & Spa in Nevşehir; five breakfasts, four lunches (plus optional included lunch on April 5 arrival day), and three dinners; sightseeing as per itinerary; one-way, economy-class internal flights (Istanbul-Kayseri /Kayseri-Istanbul-Larnaca). Note: The lecturer is scheduled on the main program only.
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1
Larnaca, Cyprus
Depart for Larnaca, Cyprus, on an overnight flight
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day 2
LARNACA, CYPRUS
Arrive this morning and transfer to the Radisson Blu Larnaca for check-in. Guests who opt for the suggested flights will meet our representatives at the airport and join the group transfer to the hotel. This evening, attend a special welcome reception with dinner at leisure.
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day 3
LARNACA / NICOSIA OR KITION & KOURION OR TROODOS MOUNTAINS / LIMASSOL / EMBARK EMERALD AZZURRA
Before setting sail on Emerald Azzurra today, you may choose between three enriching tour options highlighting Cyprus’s Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman history. Your first option is an exciting tour of ancient Nicosia, “the world’s last divided capital,” with a UN-monitored buffer zone between the Greek Cypriot-controlled south and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north. This morning, explore the Cyprus Museum’s collection of ancient Cypriot and Byzantine art. After lunch take a guided look at 18th-century wall paintings in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Then visit the 16th-century Büyük Khan, Cyprus’s largest caravanserai (roadside inn), and the elaborately beautiful Selimiye Mosque, which has 13th-century roots as a Catholic cathedral. As a second option, explore the ancient city of Kition, where Mycenaean Achaeans arrived in the 13th century B.C., followed by Phoenicians in the ninth century B.C. Explore Kition’s remains, including the Phoenician-built Temple of Aphrodite-Astarte and a 60-foot-long Roman mosaic. In the village of Kiti, admire the 11th-century church of Panagia Angeloktisti and its splendid early Christian mosaics. Then discover the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, with its mudbrick houses and protective walls, and gain a special look at local traditional baskets at the Petros Nikolaou Basketry Workshop and Museum, hosted in a traditional 19th-century house. Sample local cheeses and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, visit the well-preserved ruins of the ancient Greek site of Kourion, including its impressive amphitheater, bathhouses, mosaic floors, and breathtaking views of the island’s coast. A third option takes you to the Troodos Mountains, where you’ll find the UNESCO-listed, 11th-century St. Nicholas of the Roof, one of Cyprus’s most fascinating Byzantine churches. Inside, behold the island’s most significant surviving set of Byzantine frescoes from the 11th to the 17th centuries. Continue to the village of Omodos and visit the Monastery of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross), one of Cyprus’s oldest monasteries, founded before 327 A.D. Encounter the brilliance of Byzantine art as you peruse the intricate frescoes and meticulously crafted icons depicting saints and biblical scenes. Afterwards, experience Omodos’s long tradition in winemaking, stopping to sample local wines and liqueurs. Then savor a mezze lunch of local dishes at a traditional taverna in the village. All participants will transfer to Limassol to embark Emerald Azzurra. Enjoy a private Cypriot dance performance and raise a Champagne flute on deck as we sail out of the harbor in the late afternoon.
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day 4
PAPHOS
Step ashore in Paphos, the mythical birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite. Established by Greek settlers during the Mycenaean era, the city was eventually captured by Ptolemy I of Egypt and later the Romans, who claimed it as the island’s capital. On a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-recognized Archaeological Park of Nea Paphos, visit exquisite ancient Roman villas built from the second through the fifth centuries A.D. Marvel at their beautifully well-preserved mosaic floors depicting mythological and hunting scenes. View the medieval ruins of the Castle of Forty Columns, a seventh century fortress named for its many granite columns. Transfer to the Church of Chrysopolitissa, originally founded by the apostles Paul and Barnabas in 46 A.D. See the ruins of its fourth-century basilica and medieval Ottoman baths. View the modest yet famous St. Paul’s Pillar, said to mark the spot where the apostle Paul was whipped during his first missionary journey to Cyprus. Enjoy lunch at leisure in the town of Paphos or opt for lunch aboard the ship. In the afternoon, visit the Tombs of the Kings, followed by a visit to the Monastery of St. Neophytos. Carved out of the mountains, it houses a noteworthy ecclesiastical museum containing icons dating from the 16th c e n t u r y . Return to the ship and set sail for Turkey.
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day 5
KUSADASI/PRIENE/EPHESUS, Turkey
Attend a morning lecture as the ship sails to Antalya, Turkey’s largest Mediterranean city, renowned for its Greek, Roman, and Byzantine landmarks against a backdrop of the Taurus Mountains. First head south along the coast to the ancient trade center of Perge, once claimed by Lycians, Greeks, and Romans. Perge’s archaeological site features well-preserved bath complexes, an agora, basilicas, a theater, a stadium, and impressive fortifications. Nearby is the Antalya Archaeological Museum, notable for its collection of sculptures unearthed from Perge. In Aspendos, stop at the renowned Roman amphitheater built during Marcus Aurelius’s reign, known for its acoustics. Return to Antalya and Emerald Azzurra, gathering for the captain’s welcome reception and dinner this evening.
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day 6
KAS / KEKOVA BAY / SIMENA
Anchor off Turkey’s fabled Turquoise Coast, named for the beautiful blue color of the waters, and board a tender into Kas, an ancient Lycian trading port. Explore the remarkably restored, 4,000-seat limestone Hellenistic Theater, a rare relic of the ancient Lycian city, constructed in the first century B.C. Also, behold a well-preserved Lycian tomb located in Kas’s historical center. After lunch at leisure ashore or aboard the ship, transfer to Kekova Bay. Upon arrival, step into glass-bottom boats and cruise for a mesmerizing perspective on the ancient submerged city of Simena, a once-thriving Lycian and Byzantine port. In the clear turquoise waters below, peer into the depths and observe foundations of buildings, staircases, and broken columns that hint at the city’s former grandeur. In t h e early evening, sail to Fethiye.
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day 7
FETHIYE / XANTHOS / LETOON / AFTERNOON AT SEA
The ancient Lycians, initially nomads, settled in mountainous southwestern Turkey in the eighth century B.C. and became known for their cliffside rock-cut tombs. Arrive in Fethiye and transfer to the UNESCO-listed ancient Lycian capital of Xanthos, set on a cliff overlooking the Xanthos River. Join an expert guide to explore Xanthos’s acropolis, Byzantine basilica, theater, and rock-cut tombs, remnants of its cosmopolitan past as a cultural, commercial, and political hub for the Lycians, Greeks, Persians, and Romans. While here, discover the Nereid Monument, an ornately crafted tomb built in the fourth century B.C. An early example of Greekstyle temple-tombs, the monument was named after sea nymphs from Greek mythology. Next, continue to nearby Letoon, the ancient Lycian sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Leto and her twin children, Artemis and Apollo. See Letoon’s temples and colonnaded galleries that shed light on the religious practices and mythological beliefs of the Lycians. Return to the ship and either choose to have lunch on board or enjoy lunch at the many seafood restaurants along the port. Set sail for Rhodes in the afternoon.
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day 8
RHODES, GREECE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16: RHODES, GREECE
The island of Rhodes was known in antiquity for its schools of philosophy, rhetoric, and sculpture, including its Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Upon morning arrival, explore the UNESCO-listed fortified town, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, occupied by the Knights of St. John from 1309 to 1523. Walk along the Street of the Knights to see its abundant mosaics, finely carved portals, balconies, and coats of arms. Then visit the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, housed in the medieval Hospital of the Knights, and see its collection of vases, figurines, Hellenistic mosaic floors, and more. A vibrant Jewish community thrived on the island for 2,300 years, with many Sephardic Jews settling in La Juderia quarter after their 1492 expulsion from Spain. Visit the island’s last remaining synagogue, the Ottomon-style, 16th-century Kal Kadosh Shalom Synagogue, and the Jewish Museum of Rhodes. You may enjoy lunch and time at leisure in the main town of Rhodes or lunch aboard Emerald Azzurra. -
day 9
BODRUM, TURKEY
After morning arrival into Bodrum, visit an ancient wonder, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Built for the ruler Mausolus by Greek master sculptors, this archaeological site has a still-palpable grandeur with its tombs, the shadowed entrance to Mausolus’s burial chamber, ingenious ancient drainage systems, fragmented boundary walls, and mammoth marble column drums visible. Then join an expert for a tour of the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. This museum is housed in Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights of St. John from 1496 to 1522. Marvel at this excellent museum’s vast collections of ancient artifacts from shipwrecks in the Aegean. Highlights include exhibits on amphorae, clay jars used to transport goods across the Mediterranean; ancient glass objects, some dating back to 1400 B.C.; and finds from the wreck of 11th-century Serce Limani, a Byzantine merchant ship. Have lunch on board as the ship sails to Izmir. After an afternoon at sea, celebrate your journey at the captain’s farewell reception and dinner.
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day 10
IZMIR / DISEMBARK / RETURN
Disembark this morning in Izmir and transfer to the airport for your flights home
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