Greece and Egypt cruise with Holland America Lines

The port of Piraeus is one of the last old-style Mediterranean ports from where you can catch ferries to all of the Greek islands and travel a short distance to Greece's capital city Athens. In the heart of the city lies the ancient Plaka district, with its honeycomb of streets, little shops - and tavernas that come alive at night. Situated on the north and east slopes of the Acropolis, it is rich with historic sites, such as ancient monuments and churches. Within Athens there are eight large hills, including the Acropolis, and on the outskirts, Mount Parnitha, Mount Pendeli and Mount Hymettos surround the city. A trip to Athens' most famous tourist attraction, the impressive Parthenon built on the Acropolis around 2,500 years ago, will be memorable to say the least. There are an extraordinary number of historic tourist sights in Athens and many of these are known world-wide. Some of the top Athens attractions include the Agora - a grand, ruined Roman building, Hadrian's Arch - originally the city gate linking the Roman quarters with original town of Athens and the stunning Dionysos Theatre - the world's oldest theatre where many great plays have been performed over the years. Things to See & Do * Acropolis * The Panathenaicon Stadium - site of the first Olympiad * The Temple of the Olympian Zeus * Plaka district Things to see and do The National Mall memorials, museums and buildings Downtown Washington Zoo National Cathedral Embassy Row

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Haggle for handcrafted jewelry in Khan el-Khalili, Cairo’s giant souk. Hear the call to prayer. Venture out to Giza, where the iconic pyramids and sphynx testify to the glory that was ancient Egypt.

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The sunny port of Limassol can be either a destination or a gateway—the choice is yours. Antiquity lovers will find plenty to explore in this city of over 100,000 (it’s also the southernmost city in Europe). Despite the modern waterfront high-rises and palm-lined promenade, Limassol has an ancient core: its Old Town, where you’ll find Limassol Castle. Best known as the place where Richard the Lionheart (Britain’s King Richard I) wed Berengaria of Navarre after his conquest of the island in 1191, it now houses the Medieval Museum of Cyprus. Another option for history buffs is the small Archaeological Museum showcasing artifacts from the Neolithic to Roman periods.Visitors need not venture far beyond the city limits to enjoy more medieval history or local Cypriot life. Kolossi Castle, about 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) away, is a military-style fortress that was a command post during the Crusades, first to the 13th-century Knights Templar and later to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The ancient city of Kourion is a top archaeological site, and the small village of Omodos features wineries, a market square and a well-known monastery.

Embark on a Holland America Line voyage to Alanya, located on the enchanting shores of the Turkish Riviera. Explore the lush gardens, ornate mosques, and Ottoman-era houses within Kaleiçi, Alanya’s historic city center, a 10-minute taxi ride from the cruise port. A cable car zips you up to the 13th-century Alanya Castle, where you can climb the Red Tower to look out over the deep-blue Mediterranean. Meander through vibrant bazaars offering a taste of local life. Find a riverside terrace to tuck into delectable dishes like skewered meatballs, washed down with Turkish drinks, such as apple iced tea.

Marmaris, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, is a popular international sailing port and busy all-inclusive-holiday destination for northern Europeans. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town transformed into a tourism hotspot in the 1980s, catering to everyone from backpackers and resort lovers to families and hedonistic partygoers. Its influx of foreign guests means Turkish culture can get somewhat lost, though a stopover will introduce you to the history, people, landscape and unique ecosystem of the area. The first sight on arrival is the town’s natural harbor, lined by the mountainous Marmaris National Park. It’s this landscape and proximity to the Aegean and Mediterranean seas that sustained the town as an ancient trading port and safe haven for history’s greatest armies, including those of Alexander the Great and Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. Once docked at the cruise terminal, walk to the old town where you’ll find the Grand Bazaar, Marmaris Museum and most restaurants lined up by the superyachts and Turkish gulets (wooden sailboats) of the encircling marina. Sunbeds by the beach are within walking distance, though the more attractive Içmeler Beach is just a quick trip by taxi or public bus.

Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese (the name translates as "twelve islands"), draws more visitors than most other Greek islands. Its capital, Rhodes Town, offers an enduring blend of history and architecture, and the island's interior is filled with lushly forested hills. To the south, Lindos, one of the most stunning villages in all of Greece, is watched over by a picture-perfect ancient ruin on the hill above. The island owes its rich history to a good climate and a strategically valuable position between Asia and Europe. Adding to this is a fine natural port where its former main attraction, an immense statue of the sun god Helios—the Colossus of Rhodes—once stood. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the statue made Rhodes a must-visit destination for ancient world travelers until it collapsed in an earthquake in 226 B.C.E. Even the statue’s ruins were grand enough to bring curious travelers to Rhodes for another 800 years until the metal pieces were melted and sold off by an occupying army. Though many civilizations have left their mark on Rhodes, its independent spirit has endured and the island has managed to retain its natural beauty, from the mountain heights down to the gorgeous beaches and coves.

Kusadasi in Turkey is the gateway to one of the most legendary cities of the ancient world: Ephesus. St. Paul preached in its Great Theater, while the facade of the Celsus Library survives as a testament to the city’s role as a center of learning and culture. Not far from Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis (also known as the Temple of Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, once stood, drawing pilgrims from around the Mediterranean. While it no longer stands, it is possible to walk amongst its foundations and the remains of its towering columns. Other historic sites can also be found nearby: The House of Mary is believed to be the home of Jesus’s mother at the end of her life, and the Basilica of St. John, constructed in the 6th century, marks the location of his tomb. (Like Mary, he spent his final years in Ephesus.) Nearby, the Selcuk fortress reflects the period of Byzantine and Ottoman control of the region. From ancient wonders to holy sites, there are few ports in the Mediterranean as magical as Kusadasi, and a day here is a day spent in the company of some of antiquity's greatest figures.

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