Viking’s Ancient Mediterranean Treasures Cruise

We started our cruise with a pre-cruise stay in Istanbul. The Conrad has beautiful views of the city, yet it's located in a quiet neighborhood. Viking provided two comprehensive, fully guided tours of the city, including a delicious lunch cruise on the Bosporus. And don’t miss a trip to a Turkish bath for the most detailed and relaxing bath of your life. (Men and women are separated, but you’ll need to be comfortable in your birthday suit!)

After sailing from Istanbul, my husband visited Gallipoli while I was quarantined with a case of the “Istanbul Flu.” This was totally my fault as I had a drink with ice in it. Do not do this—I was strict about only drinking bottled water, but I forgot about ice.

Istanbul sail away

After I had been freed from quarantine, the next stops on the trip were Ephesus, Rhodes, and Crete. Don’t miss the newly excavated Terrace Houses in Ephesus—they had heated floors in the first century AD!

We went to a small town in Rhodes where we visited a local home and chatted with the owner. And of course the Palace of Knossos on Crete is the largest existing Bronze Age settlement. Let your imagination run wild as you wander through the ruins. You may want to visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum as well to see some additional treasures from the site.

Acropolis at night

Anafiotika neighborhood in Athens

The trip finished in Athens, where we enjoyed a day in relative solitude on our ship while other passengers explored Athens (we had booked the Athens extension, which I recommend). The next day, we disembarked for the the NJV Athens, which is perfectly located near Constitution Square. Athens is a delight to walk around—you could spend days wandering the Plaka and the charming Anafiotika neighborhood. (Great shopping, too! Good linen and jewelry finds.) We also enjoyed guided tours of the Parthenon (go early or late to avoid the crowds) and the Acropolis Museum. Day trips to Delphi and Mycenae were long but absolutely worth it. For my money, they were the two most interesting sites on our trip. It’s amazing to look out over Delphi, the storied location of myths and ancient history.

Viking Infinity Pool

Viking Main Pool

Our ship, the Viking Sea, was beautifully decorated in the serene Scandinavian style Viking is known for. The pool area was quiet and comfortable—don’t forget about the infinity pool on the back of the ship, and what I think is one of the nicest spas at sea. The service was always attentive and friendly, and the food was consistently tasty, if not overly exciting. Our Penthouse Veranda Room had plenty of space and was immaculate.

Penthouse Junior Suite

Don’t miss the chance to explore Athens on foot, and be sure to visit one of the many excellent rooftop bars and restaurants—such as the one at the Electra Metropolis Athens or the Hotel Grand Bretange—for views of the Parthenon. The Conrad Istanbul also has an excellent rooftop restaurant with stunning views.

I will also add that I had great care from Viking while I was ill. The medical office checked in several times a day to see how I was doing and to ask if I needed anything. Again, be careful about ice in Istanbul.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Istanbul page.