CRUISE OF ITALY GREECE AND CROATIA :

May 18-25, 2009  

 7 nights for only $969 Including all taxes and all meals

Join us for 7 night cruise of three scenic countries.  Sailing on Costa Cruise Line’s  Fortuna, enjoy the beauty of Italy, the Greek islands and the scenic coast of Croatia.  Visit Bari Italy, for unique architecture and great shopping for Italian leathers.  Visit Santorini Greece, the most dramatic of the Greek islands for its geography perched high atop a volcanic cliff.  Visit Mykonos, famous for its scintilling beaches and hopping nightlife; visit Rhodes, the walled island fortress and visit Olympia Greece, birthplace of the Olympic games.  Plus, spend your final day in Dubrovnik, the scenic gem along the Adriatic Sea. 

The Costa Fortuna offers 3 pools, 2 outdoors and 1 indoors, plus 12 lounges for your evening enjoyment.  Lavish nightly shows, a hopping dance club, casino and more, make the shop a lively floating resort.

On Santorini, The black sand beach offers classic sun worshipping on sand matching its name.  Enjoy several restaurants and bars that line the beach.  The Red sand beach offers a much different experience.  Set at the base of a series of cliffs, the beach is reached by a walking path (approx. 15-30 mins walk).  At the base is the most unique beach featuring sand that is a dark reddish burgundy in color.  Relax on the sand as you admire the cliffs around you.  

Optional tours will be offered such as a a scenic boat ride to the famed caldera (extinct volcano) where we will have free time to explore by foot, the massive black rock face surface, with its many craters and unique features. On our sail back, our boat will stop at the natural Hot Springs, offering a chance to swim in this unique geothermal wonder.

Enjoy optional tours such as the popular donkey rides up or down the island, where a pathway winds from the top of the island down to its base.  The views our very scenic and the ride is loads of fun.  Passengers can take the ride one way and a scenic cable ride the other way if you wish.

   Scenic Santorini and its Cliffside architecture along the coast

On the island of Mykonos, enjoy the scintillating beaches such as the aptly named Paradise Beach as well as quaint shopping and unique white washed building alongside windmills on the waterfront.. 

  Waterfront dining on the island of Mykonos.

Enjoy a full day on the island of Rhodes.

 Things to do on Rhodes:

An optional tour to Lindos features a scenic drive along the picturesque southeastern coastline, dotted with white-washed villages, to the Palace of Lindos, one of the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. See how this entire city is guarded by medieval walls which were constructed by the knights of St. John in the 13th century. Within them stands the ancient Palace of Lindos, on the brink of a precipice 400 feet above the sea. From the Palace, marvel at the breathtaking views covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St. Paul’s bay, where the apostle cast anchor during his historic voyage to Ephesus.

If you are looking for great shopping opportunities, stroll through the cobblestone streets and enjoy great shopping.

For history buffs, visit one of the few surviving synagogues in Greece, along with its adjacent museum chronicling the tragedy of World War II Greek victims and heroes.  A World War II monument also exists just a short walk from the synagogue.  If you are lucky, meet the affable museum caretaker, a survivor of a WWII concentration camp.

On your visit to Olympia, savor the chance to tour the sites of the ancient Olympic games, the forbearer to the modern games.  See the remains of the ancient Olympic stadium and learn about the history of the ancient games, as well as visiting the on site museum.

In Bari Italy, see unique architecture and shop for great Italian leather goods. you can discover many of its hidden gems, from the port to the picturesque seafront, an elegant thoroughfare leading to the city gates. There's also the Basilica of San Nicola, built during the Norman rule, and the famous Castle, an ancient fortress defending the Old Town.

Your final port of call, Dubrovnik Croatia, is a scenic gem on the Adriatic Sea.  It is a walled city with medieval cobblestone streets and scenic views along every turn. 

CRUISE OF ITALY GREECE AND CROATIA : May 18-25, 2009  - 7 nights for only $969 Including all taxes and all meals (based on inside cabins or $1569 based on ocean view cabins with private balcony)

A $250 deposit reserves your cruise space.  Deposits are refundable until Dec. 15th and non refundable thereafter.  Final payments are due Jan. 22nd.