From Athens (Piraeus) to Istanbul · Mediterranean · 7 nights
The ninth ship in the Oceania Cruises fleet, Oceania Sonata will debut in summer 2027, and will be the first vessel in a new class of ships.
Oceania Cruises’ newest ship in the fleet, Oceania Sonata, will
build upon Oceania’s hallmarks including culinary excellence and
immersive itineraries, as well as being the most spacious vessel in
the fleet. The ship will feature two brand-new dining venues and
30% of accommodations will be suites, and like the rest of the
Oceania Cruises fleet, will operate on an adults-only basis. She
will debut in summer 2027 so stay tuned for further updates…
Athens is a city awash with historical and cultural significance. Towering over the city are the gleaming columns of the Parthenon, surely one of the most iconic sights in the whole of Europe. And yet Athens is much more than an open air museum; this is a dynamic, bustling metropolis, and a place where history is still very much unfolding. For all its faults, the Greek capital possesses an energy and an optimism that are manifest in everything from the burgeoning art scene to the restaurants and bars that continue to pop up on a regular basis.
Paros gleams with a classic Cycladic colour palette of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches, and is famous for its ancient marble quarries, which provided the raw material for the Venus de Milo. The island is also home to some great restaurants, peaceful inland villages and lovely beaches.
Crete’s bustling capital is a modern and cosmopolitan city, where the island’s rich history isn’t immediately apparent. Take a closer look, however, and you’ll find a fantastic archaeological museum, along with remnants of Venetian fortifications and a lively seafront promenade, with plenty of nice outdoor cafés.
Sun-kissed Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, is steeped in history; the medieval heart of Rhodes Town was once home to the crusading Knights of St John, and later fell to the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The hillside village of Lindos, with its pretty whitewashed houses, is another highlight.
Saint John is said to have written the Book of Revelations in a cave on Patmos, and today the spot is marked by the hillside Monastery of the Apocalypse. As well as spirituality, the island is known for its beaches and upmarket vibe, with a scattering of stylish restaurants and bars.
The Turkish port of Izmir, formerly the Greek city of Smyrna, is a liberal and progressive place where the secularism of Ataturk remains strong. During the Ottoman era this was a melting pot of ethnic groups including Armenians, Jews and Italians, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere persists to this day.
Istanbul is the place where East meets West, where Asia Minor reaches out across the Bosphorus and almost touches Europe, and the city remains a bristling, bustling cultural melting pot, the skyline dotted with magnificent minarets and domes.
