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North African Treasures
Santa Sophia is one of the many landmarks you’ll recognise looking over the busy waters of the Bosphorus. We’ll hear about the Dardanelles from our on-board speakers as we head south to Crete where archaeologist Arthur Evans spent years unearthing the Minoan temples at Knossos. The Grand Master’s Palace and Crusader tales beckon in Malta before we continue to Africa. Skirting the margins of the Sahara, unexpected sights include Italianate villas in Tripoli, Greek legacies at Cyrene outside Benghazi, and the extraordinary Roman city of Leptis Magna in between. As we dock in Egypt, be sure to leaf through the Great Library of Alexandria, reopened 2,000 years after the original.
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Itinerary
Istanbul - Embark
Make your way to the port to embark your ship and settle into your cabin. Overnight in Istanbul.
Istanbul
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - by any name the city is glorious, with an architectural inheritance second to none. The Ottomans left opulent footprints in Suleymaniye and Sultanahmet mosques - works of the architect Sinan, a master of perfection. Haghia Sphia, the Monastery of Chora and Yerebatan Sarayi Preserve the legacy of Istanbul's Byzantine past. Whether immersing yourself in the culture, or shopping in the Grand Bazaar, you'l discover a vibrant city.
At Sea
Depart 8:00pm
Heraklion, Greece
Arrive 7:00am
The power of Poseidon still pounds the shores of Crete, where gods were born, myths flourished and Europe's earliest civilisation, the Minoans, rose from the sea. Follow the footsteps of King Minos at the magnificent archaeological site of Knossos. Echoes of ancient mythology are complemented by the counds of contemporary Cretan culture as you step ashore in Heraklion, the island's capital.
Depart 6:00pm
At Sea
Valetta, Malta
Arrive 8:00am
Orderly streets with squares, palaces, elegant balconied houses and churches wrapped in mighty stone fortifications - the 16th century city created by the Knights of St John was 'a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen'. St John's Co-Cathedral and the Magisterial Palace are eloquent examples of the Knights' building prowess that survived the havoc of World War II.
Depart 5:00pm
Tripoli, Libya
Arrive 8:00am
The Libyan capital was founded as early as the 1st millennium BC, but to this day remains largely undiscovered by Western visitors. Explore this lively metropolis where modern and medieval blend, where the skyline mixes minarets with the fortress of Tripoli Castle. Turn th epages on Libya's rich past in the National Museum, while ancient Sabratha promises well-preserved Roman remains and some excellent mosaics.
Depart 7:00pm
Al Khums, Tripoli
Arrive 6:00am
Al Khums is a gateway to one of the greates sites of the ancient world. From the moment you enter through the imposing truimphal arch built for Septimus Severus you'll be in awe of the grandeur and scale of the ruins. Forests of marble columns, intricately carved limestone, a magnificent theatre, hadrian's Baths and a partially excavated circus leave no doubt of the past splendour of Leptis Magna, hidden beneath the sands until last century.
Depart 7:00pm
At Sea
Benghazi, Libya
Arrive 7:00am
A thousand years of history is written into the uins of Cyrene. Sprawling over a vast area you'll find one of the best-preserved examples of Greek planning - overwritten by the Romans. Both Cyrene and the ruins of Ptolemais are options from Benghazi - Libya's second city, situated on the eastern edge of the Gulf of Sirt.
Depart 6:00pm
At Sea
Alexandria, Egypt
Arrive 6:00am
An extended stay in the lands of the Pharoahs! See priceless teasures in the Museum of Antiquities, the timeless pyramids and mighty Sphinx, the 12th century Citadel and Mosque of Mohammed Ali - a day out in Cairo is one of the many possibilities from Alexandria. Kom el Showkafa Catacombs, Pompey's Pillar, Qait Bay Fort and the new Bibliotheca Alexandria speak volumes about the city's own pedigree, whilst nearby El Alamein leans the focus toward the Second World War.
Disembark
Transfer to your central Cairo hotel for two nights.
Cairo
A day at leisure.
Depart Cairo
From $3,290.00 per person
*Price varies with cabin class
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