Italy & Greece with Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise

Italy & Greece with Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise

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16 Days From

$3950

$3825

Italy & Greece with Iconic Aegean Islands Cruise

16 Days Starting in Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy and ending in Athens, Greece

Visiting: Rome, Pisa, Florence, Verona, Venice, Ancona, Patras, Olympia, Nafplion, Archaeological site of Mycenae, Athens, Mykonos, Kuşadası, Ephesus Archaeological Site, Patmos, Heraklion, Knossos, Thera

Tour operator:

Cosmos

Tour code:

6485-2024

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

25 - 43

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

5-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:
English
Trip Styles:

Cruise

From:
$3950
$3825 (USD) Operator discount: -$125

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Italy and Greece are countries steeped in history with a treasure trove of ancient sites and scenic beauty. On this affordable Italy and Greece tour, you’ll see the exceptional features these countries have to offer, starting in Rome and ending in Athens. In Italy, you’ll stay in Rome, Florence, and the Venice area. In Greece, you’ll stay in Olympia, Nauplia, and Athens. You’ll also spend one night on a ferry to cross the Adriatic Sea from Ancona, Italy to Patras, Greece and then on a cruise ship for a 3-night Aegean Islands sea cruise. Visit Rome with a local guide who brings ancient Imperial Rome back to life as you see the Colosseum. Enjoy must-see sights, including Piazza Signoria in the middle of Florence: the Roman arena in Verona, and Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower. In Venice, take a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and watch glassblowers create works of art as they have done for centuries—or discover the lagoon at your own pace. Step back in time on your visit to Athens’ Acropolis and the Parthenon, dating back to the 5th century BC, and the most accurate indication of the influence and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak. You’ll also visit Mycenae, dating back to the 5th Century BC, where you’ll marvel at the arches, fountains, ramparts, and amazing masonry still standing. Spend the last few days of your affordable tour of Italy and Greece in sheer relaxation aboard your cruise ship for a 3-night cruise to some of the world’s most beautiful islands. You’ll see Mykonos, with its seafront village, sandy beaches, and whitewashed houses; Heraklion, Crete, nestled picturesquely between two mountain ranges; Santorini (weather permitting), with one of the world's most breathtaking panoramas; Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelation; and Kusadasi, Turkey, where you’ll enjoy an included visit of the Ephesus archaeological site. All these elements come together perfectly to create a value-minded Italy and Greece tour with a cruise like no other!

Highlights

  • Visit Rome with a local guide who brings ancient Imperial Rome back to life as you see the Colosseum

  • Enjoy must-see sights, including Piazza Signoria in the middle of Florence: the Roman arena in Verona, and Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower

  • Step back in time on your visit to Athens’ Acropolis and the Parthenon, dating back to the 5th century BC, and the most accurate indication of the influence and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak

  • Visit Mycenae, dating back to the 5th Century BC, where you’ll marvel at the arches, fountains, ramparts, and amazing masonry still standing

Places You'll See

Poppi

Acropolis Select

American Palace Eur

Olympia Palace

B&B Firenze City Center

Rex

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Rome, Italy

Location: Rome

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: American Palace Eur

Meals Included: No Meals

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s ancient capital using your CosmosGO app. This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.

Day 2 : Rome

Location: Rome

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: American Palace Eur

Meals Included: Breakfast

The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.*

* For operational reasons, schedule changes for the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Day 3 : Rome,Pisa,Florence

Location: Rome, Pisa, Florence

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: B&B Firenze City Center

Meals Included: Breakfast

Vistas of rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa and enjoy a mini-train ride to see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to Florence. End the day by joining the optional Gastronomy Experience in a typical restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 273 mi/ 440 km

Day 4 : Florence

Location: Florence

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: B&B Firenze City Center

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, discover the wonders of Florence, starting with a guided walking tour, featuring some of the city’s greatest attractions. See Piazza Santa Croce; world-famous Signoria Square; 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio with its collection of artistic masterpieces; Loggia dei Lanzi; the unique Duomo with Giotto’s Gothic Bell Tower and the Baptistry’s ornate bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise.”

Day 5 : Florence,Verona,Venice Area

Location: Florence, Verona, Venice

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Poppi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Travel north and cross the Po River to Verona, setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Marvel at the ancient Roman Arena, built for gladiator fights but now still used as a popular venue for the festivals and concerts; shop in Via Mazzini, or just wander the cobblestone streets of the city center.
Today’s Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km

Day 6 : Venice

Location: Venice

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Poppi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Venice is a place of unmatched beauty and a feast of fantastic sights. View the delightful crisscrossing canals, the gondolas, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Your included orientation features a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop. You’ll have time to explore at leisure on your own, sipping a cappuccino or the typical Venetian drink called spritz at one of the many bars or cafés. or join one of our optional excursions, like a ride on one of the most iconic boats in the world, the romantic gondola.

Day 7 : Venice Area,Ancona (Embarkation),Overnight Ferry Crossing To Patras,Greece

Location: Venice, Ancona

Accommodation: Overnight Ferry

Meals Included: Breakfast

Travel across the flatlands of the Po Delta to reach Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, to embark on the ferry for the crossing to Patras, Greece. Accommodation will be in two-berth cabins with private shower and toilet.
Today’s Distance by coach: 186 mi/ 300 km

Day 8 : Patras (Disembarkation),Olympia

Location: Patras, Olympia

Accommodation Name: Olympia Palace

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

During the crossing, enjoy the ship’s amenities. Disembark in Patras and drive south into the Peloponnese to Olympia.
Today’s Distance: 63 mi/ 100 km (excluding overnight ferry)

Day 9 : Olympia,Nauplia

Location: Olympia, Nafplion

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Rex

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy time at leisure or make the most of this morning by taking the optional tour of the sites of ancient Olympia, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. In the afternoon, enjoy the rugged scenery of the Peloponnese on the way to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 124 mi/ 201 km

Day 10 : Nauplia,Mycenae,Athens

Location: Nafplion, Archaeological site of Mycenae, Athens

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Acropolis Select

Meals Included: Breakfast

Morning visit with a Local Guide to the impressive ruins of Mycenae, an ancient city of Homer’s epics. Later, stop to view the Corinth Canal, built between 1881 and 1893.
Today’s Distance: 87 mi/ 140 km

Day 11 : Athens

Location: Athens

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Acropolis Select

Meals Included: Breakfast

Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis. Explore the shops and museums or take the tram to the coast. In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music, or join an optional traditional Greek dinner.

Day 12 : Athens,Embarkation Port,Mykonos

Location: Athens, Mykonos

Accommodation: Overnight Cruise

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Board your Celestyal cruise ship. Cruise the Aegean Sea to Mykonos, with its white houses, chapels, and windmills. Late-evening departure for Kusadasi, Turkey.

Day 13 : Kusadasi,Turkey,Patmos,Greece

Location: Kuşadası, Ephesus Archaeological Site, Patmos

Accommodation: Overnight Cruise

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Two ports of call today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An included excursion is available to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit.

Day 14 : Heraklion,Santorini

Location: Heraklion, Knossos, Thera

Accommodation: Overnight Cruise

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. Join the included excursion to Knossos, the hub of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” An optional shore excursion takes you up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most breathtaking panoramas.

Day 15 : Disembarkation Port,Athens

Location: Athens

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Acropolis Select

Meals Included: Breakfast

Early morning arrival. Drive to Athens and relax, visit a museum, or go shopping.

Day 16 : Athens

Location: Athens

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

What's Included

  • Meals

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Fully Guided

  • Transport

    Private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi

What's Not Included

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

  • Insurance

  • International Travel

UNESCO Sites

Acropolis Athens|Archeological site of Mycenae|City of Verona|Historic Centre of Florence|Historic Centre of Rome - various properties Vatican City|Piazza del Duomo Pisa|Vatican City|Venice and its Lagoon

Meals

Buffet breakfasts daily; 3 dinners, including dinner at a local restaurant in Nauplia; full board on cruise

Notes

Security cruise regulations require clients’ passport information at time of booking.

Please ask your Travel Consultant for cruise ship details. The ship scheduled to depart for the cruise portion of your vacation is the Celestyal Olympia, operated by Celestyal Cruises. Rotation of ports of call may vary for congestion reasons at certain ports with or without prior notice.
Prices are based on inside cabin (category IB) - All air-conditioned cabins with private shower and toilet. Upgrades available.
Full entertainment program on board.
Included basic drink package: selection of non-alcoholic & alcoholic drinks.
Included select excursions as per detailed itinerary.
Cosmos Host service throughout the cruise.

Accommodation

American Palace Eur



Hotel American Palace Eur is situated in the southern area of Rome near the EUR business district and is extremely well connected thanks to its vicinity to the subway station Laurentina which make both city center and airports easy to access. All 196 guest rooms have bathrooms en-suite and are furnished in a modern style with carpet or wooden floor. Every room is equipped with minibar, safe, heating, a/c, digital tv, direct line telephone, hairdryer, desk and courtesy set. The hotel offers on-site bar, restaurant and a free 24-hour gym.





B&B Firenze City Center



This stylish modern 99-room hotel is located in the Santa Croce district, in the center of the city, just a short walk away from the Basilica. Guest rooms have sleek, minimalist decor and are equipped with air-conditioning, in-room safes, Sky TV and Free Wi-Fi internet access. A rich buffet breakfast is served in the bright breakfast room and a selection of drinks and snacks can be purchased in the handy B&B lobby shop.





Poppi



Situated on the Riviera del Brenta and founded in 1965,the hotel is still family run. hotel Poppi offers 100 rooms and a renowned restaurant.





Olympia Palace



The Olympia Palace is a 3-storey building with 65 spacious rooms, indoor and outdoor restaurants, located in the town on Ancient Olympia.





Rex



Hotel Rex is located in the city center of Nafplio,very close to the port in a cozy atmosphere guarantees a pleasant stay.With 42rooms and a cafeteria-bar the hotel offers rest and relax to the customers .All the archailogical sites and museums are very close to the hotel and that gives you the opportuity to visit them very easy.





Acropolis Select



Hotel is located in the city center, next to public transportation and within walking distance from the New Acropolis Museum, the ancient site of the Acropolis and the Plaka district.The Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Flee Market and Syntagma Square are within easy reach.

Check out our Q&As

  • What is the maximum group size?

    Usually max 43 people

  • Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

    Yes

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?

    Yes

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes, 5 years or above

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1961

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.

Reviews of this Operator

Mrs Susan Hyland  

We have just returned from a Cosmos…

28-Sep-2022

We have just returned from a Cosmos tour- Gourmet Tuscany. We stayed in Montecatini Terme and traveled from there to many wonderful places, in towns and the fabulous Tuscan countryside. We visit Vineyards for wine tastings, farms for cooking lessons and lunches and dinners in authentic Italian restaurants. All assisted by a friendly, informative tour director. First class holiday

Trustpilot
Rick  

Excellent in every respect

08-Dec-2022

I recently did a 2-week "best of Italy" tour with this company. Our guide, Daniella, was fantastic, the itinerary was excellent and they catered for my rather difficult dietary requirements really well. Really happy and will certainly book with them again

Trustpilot
John Lomanno  

A wonderrful experience

09-Nov-2022

WE saw so much. The tour director Mladin was very knowledgeable and made the experience so enjoyable. The bus driver Paul was so nice and helpful. A couple of the hotels had no refrigerators to keep the water cold. We had to carry our own luggage to and from the rooms. There should have been porters to help us. Over all we had a great time.

Trustpilot
Bruce  

Old South &Florida tour

27-Oct-2022

Great organisation, tour guide(Kris) and driver(Tony) who went extra mile and good group of people from all over world. The hotels were excellent in New Orleans and Nashville and very good in other cities. The itinerary was well thought out with visits to Gracelands and Grande ole Oprey topping the bill. We added 3extra nights in New Orleans (giving us 6nights) which was absolutely fab and would advise anyone doing this tour that they consider some extra nights to see and do as much as you can

Trustpilot
Francine Ramos  

The tour director expertise and…

18-Dec-2022

The tour director expertise and personality made the trip all the more pleasant. No stress. The local guides as well added to the beauty of this trip. They were knowledgeable and personable. I also have to mention the travelers (the group of 21). The people were friendly an accommodating. This is my third trip with this tour company and I will continue to travel with this company due to excellent planning and customer service. Thank you

Trustpilot

Dates & Availability

Monday - Tuesday

May 06, 2024 - May 21, 2024
$4013 $3887 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Monday - Tuesday

May 13, 2024 - May 28, 2024
$4013 $3887 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Monday - Tuesday

May 20, 2024 - Jun 04, 2024
$4013 $3887 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Monday - Tuesday

May 27, 2024 - Jun 11, 2024
$4013 $3887 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Monday - Tuesday

Jun 03, 2024 - Jun 18, 2024
$3988 $3862 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Monday - Tuesday

Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 25, 2024
$4050 $3925 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Monday - Tuesday

Jun 24, 2024 - Jul 09, 2024
$3988 $3862 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Instant Booking Available

Monday - Tuesday

Jul 15, 2024 - Jul 30, 2024
$4088 $3963 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Instant Booking Available

Monday - Tuesday

Aug 19, 2024 - Sep 03, 2024
$3950 $3825 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Instant Booking Available

Monday - Tuesday

Sep 02, 2024 - Sep 17, 2024
$4075 $3950 (USD)

Operator discount: -$125 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.

    Up to 65 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 64 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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