Hidden delights of Turkey & Greece 2027 with Seabourn

Enjoy included UK airport lounge access before your flight to Istanbul. Upon landing, you’ll be met for a private transfer to your five-star hotel, where you can unwind and begin exploring Istanbul at leisure.

Stay: Istanbul accommodation (Deluxe)

Enjoy a day devoted to discovering Istanbul entirely at your own pace, or, should you prefer, speak with one of our travel specialists to arrange from a selection of optional expert-guided excursions.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most captivating cities, Istanbul straddles both Europe and Asia, its skyline defined by graceful domes and slender minarets. For an extraordinary insight into its layered past, wander through the old Stamboul quarter, where remnants survive from every city founded since the settlement began more than 600 years before Christ. Once Rome’s eastern capital and heart of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul offers a wealth of iconic landmarks, from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to Topkapi Palace, Chora Church and the Grand Bazaar.

Stay: Istanbul accommodation (Deluxe)

Spend the morning at leisure in Istanbul, perhaps doing a bit more shopping at the Grand Bazaar or simply enjoying a morning walk to take in the city’s unique atmosphere. In the afternoon, a private transfer will see you to your ship – Seabourn Ovation – for the start of your luxury cruise. The ship will set sail early this evening, with dinner served onboard.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Much like Istanbul, UNESCO-listed Canakkale bridges Europe and Asia, its heritage woven through the full sweep of Western civilisation. Its past touches everything from the Greek tale of the Golden Fleece to the World War I Gallipoli campaign, and it is renowned as the setting of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad. Here, you can even see a 40-foot replica of the famed wooden horse, alongside the version created for the 2004 film Troy, displayed along the vibrant waterfront. Explore extensive ancient ruins, browse the excellent museum, or honour the fallen at the Gallipoli battlefields. Beyond Canakkale, you might visit the charming fishing village of Behramkale, close to the ancient World Heritage city of Assos, once home to Aristotle’s philosophy academy.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Begin your Greek adventure in Volos, a modern city of high-rise silhouettes that nonetheless stands on ancient ground. Though a thriving port today, it remains steeped in myth and history, set beside the Plain of Thessaly – the fabled homeland of the Centaurs. At nearby Kalambaka, the landscape soars into dramatic granite pinnacles crowned by Meteora, a 600-year-old monastic retreat, while Mount Pelion rises close by, its slopes sprinkled with charming villages. In Volos itself, you might explore the excellent archaeological museum, showcasing treasures from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, including an exceptional jewellery collection with pieces fashioned an extraordinary 3,500 years ago.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Enjoy a full day aboard the elegant Seabourn Ovation and let the Aegean Sea set the pace for your day. Bask in the sunshine on the Sun Terrace or take a leisurely dip in the pool, unwind with a soothing spa treatment, or keep active in the fully equipped fitness centre. Culinary delights await at every turn, from casual bites to exquisite dining experiences. Lose yourself in a good book in a quiet lounge, or enjoy lively conversation with fellow travellers in Seabourn Square. Whatever your choice, a day at sea here promises relaxation, indulgence, and the glittering beauty of the open waters.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Once a target for relentless raids by Turks and pirates, Patmos was first settled in 1088, gifted by the Emperor of Constantinople to the monk Christodoulos Latrnos, who founded a monastery in honour of Saint John the Divine. Over the centuries, this arid yet captivating island has become a haven of religious reflection and scholarly pursuit. Today, Patmos offers pilgrims and visitors alike a tranquil retreat, a serene counterpoint to the bustling tourist hotspots of the other Greek isles.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Rhodes, the most celebrated of the Dodecanese Islands, is a tapestry of history where the legacy of ancient Greece intertwines with the marks left by crusading knights, besieging Turks, and occupying Italians. The result is an architectural mosaic that is as intriguing as it is beautiful.

The island’s iconic twin bronze deer stand proudly at Mandraki Harbour, the very spot where the legendary 100-foot Colossus once soared. Wander through the medieval Crusader City to the imposing Palace of the Grand Masters, then follow winding cobbled streets down to Rhodes’s vibrant bazaar and bustling harbour, a lively gathering place for yachters from across the globe.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Santorini, with its striking black sand beaches and dramatic limestone cliffs, has captivated visitors for millennia—from Phoenicians and Spartans to Minoans, and now modern travellers seeking its timeless allure. This volcanic jewel of the Sea of Crete has earned names that speak to its enduring charm: Thira, the Wild Island, and Kalliste, the Fairest One. From the bustling seaport, a cable car whisks you upward, offering breathtaking views before depositing you in Fira, Santorini’s enchanting, pedestrianised capital, where winding streets and whitewashed buildings invite exploration at every turn.

Stay: Seabourn Ovation (Deluxe)

Your ship will dock in Piraeus this morning. After breakfast onboard, you will be privately transferred to the airport in Athens for your return flight to the UK, arriving home the same day. If you'd like to extend your time in Athens, please speak to one of our travel specialists.