Where most cruise lines may offer only two of the three must-see sights on Corfu, this tour affords you three wonderful destinations, and in groups never larger than 30 guests per guide. Enjoy an exclusive excursion to the beautiful Achilleion Palace and Gardens, the monastery of Paleokastritsa, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Corfu Town.

After meeting your professional, local and friendly guide on the pier, depart Corfu town and drive through the beautiful countryside for approximately 30 minutes to the famous Monastery of the Virgin. The monastery is located high on a hill overlooking the gorgeous Paleokastritsa Bay, known as the "Capri" of Greece. This Byzantine monastery is still inhabited by a self-reliant community of monks; its long history is evident from the collections of Byzantine icons and other religious relics featured in the chapel and its museum.

Following your guided tour of the monastery, approximately 90 minutes, continue from here with a drive over the mountain ridge passing through some of the most picturesque traditional villages on the northern side of the island with views of the countryside, island life and glimpses of the coast in the distance.

Approximately 30 minutes later you will reach the old traditional village of Gastouri where you will visit the Achilleion Palace, built by Empress Elisabeth "Sissy" of Austria in 1891, and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. In addition to visiting the interior rooms that are open to the public, you will also see some of the beautiful gardens full of exotic trees and flowers, which the Empress brought with her from her trips around the world. The gardens also feature several classical statues, as she was very fond of Greek ancient history and mythology. The main Terrace of the Muses is decorated with statues of the Nine Greek Muses and the imposing figures of Achilles Victorious and Achilles Dying. From several places in the garden you will also have spectacular views over the Ionian Sea.

Leaving Achilleion, you will make your way back to Corfu, approximately 40 minutes away. Once in the Old Quarter of Corfu Town, drive to the front of the Old Venetian Fortress (14th-century UNESCO World Heritage site), opposite the central Esplanade Square. From here, your guide will lead you on a beautiful walking tour of the historic center of the Old Town. Walking through the maze of winding narrow cobbled streets known as kandounia, you will visit some of the most elegant quarters of this Venetian-built town, which competes with Napoli, Florence and Venice in terms of beauty, style, character and charm.

Walking along the old cricket grounds, a tradition left over by the British, you can see the Royal Palace of St. George and St. Michael, an imposing building built entirely of yellow Maltese stone by the first British Commissioner of the island. You will also see the spectacular arcades of the Liston Piazza, a down-sized replica of the Rue de Rivoli of Paris, built by the French in the 19th century. You will then walk to the heart of the Old Town, where you will visit the 300-year-old Church of Saint Spiridon, with its priceless collection of icons and gifts offered to the Patron Saint of the Island.

You will also have time to explore the old flea market, passing by the old Town Hall and then find yourself in the busy shopping district where you will have some free time for shopping or leisure. At the appointed time and place, you will meet your driver for the return transfer back to your ship.

Please Note: The Achellion Palace is closed until further notice and will be substituted with a visit to Mon Repos Palace. Mon Repos Palace was built in 1826 by the British Commissioner Frederic Adams as a gift to his Corfiot wife, Nina Palatianou. It is a small but very beautiful palace with colonial architectural elements.

After meeting your professionally trained guide at the entrance to Dubrovnik's Old Town, you will begin your walking tour of this fascinating historical and cultural site.

The Old City, also known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, was an important Mediterranean Sea power from the 13th century onwards. Dubrovnik is a remarkably well-preserved example of a late-Medieval walled city with its Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains.

Your tour of the Old City begins at Pile Gate, the gated entrance to this ancient city. Cross the wooden drawbridge that was once pulled up each night in order to protect the city. Upon entrance into the walled city, see Onofrio's Fountain. During the Middle Ages, this fountain provided fresh water from the Dubrovnik River through an aqueduct system. Next on your walking tour of Old Town, see the imposing Baroque architectural features of The Franciscan Monastery. This monastery also features a garden, museum, and the famous Old Pharmacy. Still in operation after 700 years, The Old Pharmacy is one of the oldest working pharmacies in Europe, and visitors can peruse the jars, ointments, and poisons that date back to the 15th century.

Your walking tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town continues with a walk up and down both sides of the famous main street, the Stradun. A walk along the Stradun will show you a few of Dubrovnik's Renaissance buildings that survived the earthquake of 1667, and will give you an idea of the city's architectural heritage. Perhaps the finest Renaissance highlight is the Sponza Palace, which dates from the 16th century and is now home to the National Archives. The Rector's Palace is a Gothic-Renaissance structure from the 15th century when it was the seat of the Government and Rector of the Republic. It has finely-carved capitals and ornate decoration, which gives us a glimpse into how the ruling class lived. The St. Saviour Church is another glorious remnant of the Renaissance period.

After your guided tour, you may choose to continue sightseeing on your own on Stradun before making your way back to the ship. Stroll the quaint streets, shop in the many boutiques, enjoy refreshments at a local cafe, or simply sit on a bench and enjoy the sights before heading back to your ship.

Please Note: This tour concludes on the main street, Stradun. Guests must make their way back to the ship on their own.

This exclusive introduction to Istanbul tour includes an orientation drive and two of the big three sites: The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia.

After meeting your professionally trained tour guide on the pier, you will begin an orientation drive through the business center of the modern city, across the Galata Bridge, along the banks of the Golden Horn and under the Byzantine Aqueduct of Valens. Along the way, you will see the Suleymaniye Mosque, dedicated to Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. You will continue around the mighty city walls, which once protected Constantinople from the many invasions and attacks it incurred over the centuries.

In the Old City, your first visit will be to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, formerly known as the Byzantine Church of Divine Wisdom. Originally built as an Orthodox basilica, it later was used as a mosque. Built in 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople and was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. Upon the conquering of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, Hagia Sofia became a mosque and was used as such until 1931. It was opened as a museum in 1935 until 2020, when it became a mosque once again.

Departing Hagia Sophia, you will next visit the world-renowned Blue Mosque finished in 1616. Sultan Ahmet I commissioned the Blue Mosque when he was only 19 years old. The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles in more than fifty different tulip designs. The tiles at lower levels are traditional in design, while in the galleries they become flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit and trees.

Next, visit the Hippodrome, originally the home of sports games in the Byzantine period. It is estimated that the Hippodrome of Constantine was about 1,476 feet long and 427 feet wide, and capable of holding 100,000 spectators. The track was U-shaped, and the emperor's box was located at the eastern end of the track.

You will be treated to an optional carpet demonstration with about 1 to 2 hours of shopping in the open (uncovered) section of the Grand Bazaar and the nearby covered area of the Grand Bazaar that dates to 1461. Well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops, it also has areas where stalls are grouped by the type of goods sold, such as leather coats or gold jewelry. What started as one main building has grown into a sprawling complex consisting of 12 major buildings accessed through 22 doors. It is thought to have more than 5,000 shops and stalls, two mosques, two hamams, and many restaurants and cafes. Explore the shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leather ware, and copper goods. You will then be returned to the ship pier. Your time at the Bazaar is enough for an introduction. This is not a "shopping" tour. For the serious shopper wishing more time in the Bazaar, you can end your tour here. Please let your guide know you are not returning with the group. Guests remaining at the Bazaar are responsible for their own transportation back to the pier.

Please note: The Blue Mosque is closed from 30 minutes before until 30 minutes after prayer time, and 2 hours during Friday noon prayer. The covered area of the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday; a visit to the Spice Market will be substituted. The carpet demonstration is optional and guests not wanting to attend can use the time to stroll, shop or purchase refreshments.

Meet your professionally trained guide and drive to Ephesus, approximately 30 minutes from Kusadasi. Famous in antiquity for its Temple of Artemus during the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. You will start your 90 minute Ephesus tour at the upper Magnesia Gate, and work your way down through the city, ending near the ancient Harbor.

Along the way, you will see the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, Temple of Artemis, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika, and the Great Theater, built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period. With your skip-the-line access, you can fully enjoy these sites, which have played host to events as varied as Paul and his sermons to the Ephesians, to concerts by Sting, in part due to their remarkable acoustics.

You will walk along the Arcadian Way, where once Mark Antony and Cleopatra rode in procession. You will hear stories of Alexander the Great, the Virgin Mary, and many other famous visitors who walked the same marble streets that you are walking. As you depart the Ephesus site, you will be able to view the hilltop ruins of the Basilica of St. John in the distance, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian.

Returning to the town of Kusadasi, guests will have the option to end their Ephesus tour in the shopping area, where they can attend a Turkish carpet explanation and explore the shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leatherware, and copper goods, or both. Turkish salespeople expect you to haggle and quite often you can get 10-15% off the listed price. Treat it as an adventure. The cruise pier is a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping area.

Guests not wishing to attend the optional carpet shopping should stay on the bus and they will be taken directly back to the pier.