From Athens (Piraeus) to Valletta · Mediterranean · 6 nights
The world’s largest sailing ship, Royal Clipper is the only five-masted full-rigged sailing ship in the world, with 42 sails creating a combined area of 56,000 square feet.
Royal Clipper certainly stands out from the crowd. In full sail
she is an awe-inspiring sight, reminiscent of a bygone age, yet she
combines this beauty with comfort and balances grandeur, adventure
and tradition for guests who wish to experience a tall ship cruise.
Climb the mast or relax by the pool; you can be as involved as you
wish on this easy-going and friendly ship.
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.
The beautiful Byzantine town of Monemvasia is dramatically located on a steep chunk of rock, originally a coastal headland until an earthquake in AD 375 turned it into an island. Nowadays access is via a narrow causeway, and the pretty streets of the medieval citadel are home to more churches than people.
The Peloponnesian town of Pylos has a rich history, mentioned in antiquity by Homer and home to the ruins of the Mycenaean Palace of Nestor. In 1827 the Ottomans were defeated here at the Battle of Navarino, a pivotal moment in the Greek War of Independence, and you can still see shipwrecks in the bay.
Founded by Greek colonists in 734 BC, Siracusa was once the largest city in the ancient world, surpassing even Athens in its splendour. Highlights include the island of Ortigia, where narrow streets are lined by beautiful Baroque architecture, and the impressive ruins at the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis on the Sicilian mainland.
Gozo is Malta’s laid back little sister, a sleepy island characterised by ruggedly beautiful coastline, medieval citadels and prehistoric temples. It’s also a popular destination for divers, with some of the most spectacular underwater scenery anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Malta’s tiny capital, established by the Knights of St John, packs in an awful lot of history considering its diminutive size. The atmospheric old streets, bathed in Mediterranean sunshine, are full of attractive honey-golden buildings, along with an impressive selection of bars and restaurants.
