Greece and Turkey cruise onboard Celebrity Infinity

Athens brought the world drama, history, poetry, and philosophy. Once home to the world's most powerful and civilized empires, Athens is now the world's foremost archaeological playground. The towering columns of the Parthenon still stand in homage to the virgin goddess Athena. The Parthenon sits atop the Athenian Acropolis and watches over the city where it can be seen from just about anywhere in Athens. Make it a point to visit the incredible Acropolis Museum on your cruise to Athens. The joint effort between two architects, one American and the other Greek, this outstanding building was completed and opened to the public in 2009. It focuses primarily on the Greek period dating to 5 B.C., considered to be the apex of art, culture, and philosophy in ancient Greece, but it also has artifacts from the Bronze, Roman, and Byzantine Ages. There’s even a Plexiglas walkway from which an excavated section of an old Athenian neighborhood can be viewed. In addition to an abundance of historical riches, modern Athens has plenty on offer—from scenic beaches to restaurants with superb Mediterranean cuisine and bustling central markets.

Kavala is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala prefecture. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos. Kavala is considered to be one of Greece’s most beautiful cities. It boasts spacious squares, contemporary buildings, and shopping centres on the west side of the city. By contrast, visitors to the eastern side will enjoy the traditional old houses, tiny gardens and flagged alleyways. The harbor is particularly picturesque with its countless brightly colored fishing boats moored along the waterfront. Among the city's impressive landmarks are the old walls, the Byzantine castle, and the Kamares - the aqueduct erected by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century , Mehmet Ali's house (18th century) and the Imaret, a Turkish building. The panoramic view from the Profitis Ilias is worth the walk as it takes you through the fascinating old district . Things to See & Do *Kavala old district * Harbour and waterfront area * Byzantine Castle * Old walls

Thessaloniki or Salonica is Greece's second-largest city and the capital of Macedonia. It is a busy, vibrant city and Greece's second major economic, industrial, commercial and cultural center as well as a major transportation hub in southeastern Europe. Its landmark is the White Tower, and there are many important sites within easy reach. It is also known for its exceptional nightlife with the famous Ladadika quarter and its music scene. Attractions in Thessaloniki include the picturesque old town (Upper Town) which offers a view over the bay and the enormous seafront promenade (about 12 km altogether) with views of the amphitheatrically-built city. See the Archaeological Museum, the new award-winning Museum of Byzantine Culture (2005 - the best Museum of Europe) and the Roman Forum excavations. The Byzantine churches are not to be missed; one of them, the Rotonda, started life as a Roman temple of Zues, built by ceasar Galerius, and is almost as old as the Pantheon in Rome. Next to the Rotonda, see the Arch of Triumph of Galerius and the ruins of his palace. Also worth a visit is Aristotelis Square-the biggest of the city-and the promenade with its cafes and restaurants. The nearby traditional central food market, with hundreds of stands selling meat, fish, fruit, vegetable, cheap clothes and shoes, flowers, herbs and spices, is located between Aristotelis Square and Venizelou street. Things to See & Do * Upper Town * seafront promenade (about 12 km altogether) * Museum of Byzantine Culture * Byzantine churches see the Arch of Triumph of Galerius and the ruins of his palace * Bezesteni old turkish market * The White Tower

Cruising

The Island of Rhodes is the sunniest place in Europe; it averages 300 days of sunshine per year. It is the fourth largest island in Greece. Occupied by Italy until only 56 years ago, it is now “occupied” by thousands of enthralled international visitors. The “palia poli” (the old city) is the medieval city of Rhodes, surrounded by a high defensive wall. It is one of the few medieval cities still inhabited in its largest part, excluding its museums, of course. Walking along its cobbled streets one is reminded of iron-armored horse’s hooves clapping, and steel swords clashing and clanging The New Town of Rhodes, just a short distance from the Old Town, is where the beaches lie, and where hotels, shops, restaurants, discotheques, and even a casino, are packed together to create a lively ambience. A walk in Rodini Park is a must. This park is perhaps the first landscaped park in the world. It is a couple of kilometers away from the Old Town, and one can see part of the ancient aqueduct system of Rhodes within it. No visit of Rhodes is complete without visiting Lindos. You'll find Lindos at a distance of 55 kilometers from Rhodes town, on the eastern side of the island. Built in the 12th Century B.C., it is now a top-class resort, with a fine sandy beach and a tiny lagoon, which reflects the whitewashed houses and the Lindos Acropolis above. The village contains many houses dating from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, which are known as “the houses of the captains.” Their architecture and decoration are unique in the Greek world. Things to See & Do * Palia poli – the old city * Rodini Park * Lindos * Street of the Knights (Odos Ippoton)

Limassol is the second-largest city of Cyprus, the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality of the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District. It is the biggest port in the Mediterranean transit trade. Limassol is surrounded by beautiful citrus plantations filled with lemon, orange and grapefruit trees. Visitors can access many well-preserved archaeological sites, including ancient tombs and astounding mosaics. There are traditional villages nestled into the nearby mountains, with their local handicrafts of lace, sterling silver and blown colored glass. Things to See & Do * Limassol Castle * Ancient cities of Curium and Amathus * Seafront walk * Old Town and Anexertisias street. * Time Elevator

Cruising

Kusadasi is a resort town in the province of Aydın on the Aegean coast of Turkey, 90 km (56 mi) south of İzmir, and 71 km (44 mi) from the inland provincial capital of Aydın. The city stands on a bay in the Aegean with the peninsula of Guvercin Ada sticking out into the sea at one end, and the mountain of Kaz Dağı behind. Kusadasi is a sprawling tourist center, serving thousands of tourists who flock here to visit the nearby ruins of Ephesus (30 km's away) and enjoy the beaches. It is also a great place for shopping. A highlight is a visit to a small island connected to the coast by a footbridge called Guvercin Adasis. The island has a walled fortress with a small museum and is great for exploring.

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is one of the best-known of the Cyclades where towering cliffs crowned by tiny white houses plunge straight into the depths of the sea. The steep coastline of the west is countered by the vast beaches of the east side, some of them sandy and others with pebbles. Santorini is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from Oia town, the strange white aubergine, the town of Thira and naturally its very own active volcano. There are also fantastic beaches such as the Perissa and Kamari.

Mykonos is the most famous tourist island in the Eastern Mediterranean and certainly the most cosmopolitan among the Cyclades. Mykonos easily captures the visitors interest, thanks to the great variety of choices on offer here. There is something for everyone; “holidays” here can mean anything from the most peaceful relaxation to the wildest partying. Located on the islands’ western harbor, the “Chora” of Mykonos is a very beautiful old island town, which in the past had its own merchant fleet. Today it maintains a balance between tourism-related development and the preservation of its very picturesque features. There are whitewashed houses, proud windmills, a multitude of chapels, busy back streets with balconies full of flowers and a multicolored fleet of fishing boats in the port. In the background is the Paraportiani Church; alongside it, sea-washed “Little Venice”. After sunset everything changes: crowds throng this luxurious marketplace and the restaurants, bars and discos consign the tiny town to the pleasures and the different rhythm of the night. Ano Mera one of the most eastern side of the island, a tranquil village in the midst of farms, is a lovely locale, known for its excellent taverns. It is ideal for bicycling and hiking, and there are beaches nearby for swimming and water-sports. Tourists may also visit the two monasteries in the area, “Tourliani” and ”Paleokastro”. As long as the sun is shining, the island’s greatest attractions are the many beautiful beaches and the clean blue-green sea. Most of the beaches are on the south side of the island. Among these are the much frequented Platy Gialos, Psarou, Ornos, Paranga “Paradise” (Kalamopodi), “Super Paradise” (Blintri), Elia, Kalafati, Kalo Livadi, and Lia. On Mykonos western shore are Agios Stefanos, Houlakia, Tourlos, Megali-Ammos and Agios Yannis (opposite Delos). A day devoted to exploring Delos is a must before returning home. This ancient ruined city dedicated to Apolo, was also a major center in the Mediterranean. There are a number of small museums in Mykonos town and, during the summer, there is an outdoor cinema, the Cine Mando, and various art exhibitions, theatrical performances and concerts.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece