Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are entirely our own, and we have not been compensated in any way for these opinions.
We have been on several river cruises with Viking, including sailings on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. All of the river cruises have been excellent, and if you have not sailed on a Viking River cruise, we encourage you to give it a try. You can find articles about some of our river cruise experiences on our site under the Viking Tab.
In July 2021, we sailed on our first Viking Ocean cruise in Iceland. We had such a great time that we decided to sail again in October of 2021, this time in the Mediterranean.
Viking Cruises
Before we discuss the cruise itinerary, you may appreciate some general information about Viking. Founded in 1997, Viking Cruises has grown to be the world’s leading river cruise line and has expanded to include an ocean fleet that now sails around the world. In 2022, Viking launched new expedition voyages, sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. Also in 2022, Viking will expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of Mississippi River cruises. You can see all of their cruise options on their site here.
We have written a few previous articles that you may wish to peruse that will help you understand what to expect when sailing with Viking.
If you would like to understand the differences between sailing with Viking on an ocean cruise as opposed to a river cruise, then this article, Viking Cruises – River versus Ocean can help you understand those differences.
If you would like information regarding life on board one of a Viking’s Ocean ships, we cover those details at the beginning of our previous article, Iceland’s Natural Beauty – A Viking Ocean Cruise.
We also know that first time cruisers may have many more questions about what to expect during the cruise itself. You can find some additional information in another article, Viking Cruises Frequently Asked Questions.
Journey to Antiquities – Itinerary
Now that we have discussed some general information, let’s get started with the cruise itinerary. The cruise on which we sailed was called the Iconic Adriatic Antiquities. The Iconic Adriatic Antiquities cruise actually consists of two back-to-back ocean cruises. The first cruise, which we highlighted in a previous article, is called Venice, The Adriatic and Greece cruise, and sails from Venice to Athens. We will now review the second part of the cruise, Journey to Antiquities, which sails from Athens to Rome.
Embarkation
Since we were continuing on the Viking Jupiter for our second part of the cruise, there was no embarkation, we just enjoyed our second day in Athens. The first day that we spent in Athens marked the last day of the previous cruise. Therefore, that was a changeover day for passengers leaving in the morning and others embarking in the afternoon.
We will begin this article with our first full day of the new cruise, which is the day after normal embarkation.
TIP: Cruise ships may be docked at a number of docks up and down the coast, so be sure to check the specific docking information for your cruise before arrival. In the case of Athens, the dock is actually in Piraeus, which is about 30 minutes from Athens’ main tourist areas.
Ports of Call
We are both outdoors-type people and like to walk/hike, so we tried to select excursions that tended to lean toward more demanding physical activity. However, Viking offers plenty of excursions that are not as physically demanding, but still allow folks to see all the iconic sights. With so many excellent excursions, it was difficult to choose! But in this article, we are recapping only the activities and excursions that we selected for our itinerary.
• Athens, Greece – The first day of the new cruise began with an included tour. It was in fact the same tour that we had taken the day before on what was the last day of the previous leg of the cruise. Since we had taken the included tour the day before, we opted for an optional tour.
– The Full Acropolis Experience – We selected the Full Acropolis Experience and left the ship on our bus at 8:45 AM. This excursion is rated as ‘demanding’. It is necessary to climb quite a few stairs in order to reach the top of the Acropolis, but the guide ascended slowly while taking a few breaks as we climbed. In addition, it may be important to know that you will be standing or walking the whole time, including during the museum tour.
On the way up to the top of the hill, we visited the Odeon of Herodes, which is a stone Roman theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis. Built in AD 161, it had a capacity of 5,000 people.
At the top of the climb, we found the remains of numerous buildings and temples, including the most iconic of them all, the Parthenon. We visited on a beautifully sunny day, which made for some stunning views and photos!
After leaving the Acropolis, we visited the Acropolis Museum. There is an overwhelming number of artifacts in the museum, all collected from the Acropolis. However, we had a guided tour from an extremely knowledgeable historian, who ensured that we were able to see all of the most significant items.
– Afternoon Onboard – After our tour, we elected to return to the ship at about 1 PM. We decided to relax on-board and participate in Afternoon Tea. Tea is served every day at 4 PM, so plan on attending at least once.
• Santorini (Thira), Greece– The planned itinerary for this cruise included a stop in Ephesus, Turkey. However, the itinerary had to be altered when Italy decided that anyone entering Italy from Turkey, had to quarantine for 10 days. Since the cruise was returning to Italy in just a few days, we obviously could not go to Turkey as planned. As a substitute for Ephesus, we stopped in Santorini, Greece. We were really looking forward to Ephesus, but Santorini proved to be a great substitute.
– Sailing into Santorini – We always love to be on deck when the ship sails in to a new port. Usually it is early morning, so the views can be stunning. Santorini, with its famous blue-capped, white buildings, was a beautiful sight in the early morning hours.
– Summits and Countryside – Our morning excursion started at 8:50 AM. The ship was too large to dock in the port, so we boarded a tender for the short ride to shore. The dock itself is located at the foot of a very tall mountain near the capitol city of Fira, where we boarded buses to begin our excursion.
• Prophet Elias Monastery – Our first stop was at the Prophet Elias Monastery, which is the highest point on Santorini. While we were not permitted to enter the monastery, the stop did allow us to take in some incredible views. We were even able to see our ship miles away and far below us.
• Oia – Located on the northern end of Santorini, Oia is one of the most beautiful and photographed places in Greece. With the picturesque white buildings and views of the water, the scenery is breathtaking. Our stop included the Church of Panagia Platsani, a Greek Orthodox Church.
• Fira (Thira) – Our last stop on the morning excursion was in Fira, the capitol of Santorini. After a short walk with a guide, we were on our own to explore the area. If you have never been to Santorini, you probably have at least seen photos of the beautiful, blue-domed buildings. Those photos really do not do justice to this magnificent place! We walked among a myriad of white buildings that housed shops, restaurants and bars, with views extending out over the ocean that were simply incredible.
Since it was lunchtime, we looked for a restaurant with views over the water. We found the perfect place in a restaurant called Niki. We had a wonderful window seat and an excellent lunch that included a Mediterranean shrimp dish and a wonderful local wine.
At the co
nclusion of our tour, the guide gave us tickets so that we could ride the Santorini Cable Car from the top of the mountain back down to the dock. However, as we were dining, we noticed that there was a walkway just below our restaurant that led all the way down to the dock. This path is called the Karavolades Stairs. Instead of riding down on the cable car, we opted to walk down, since it was such a beautiful day. The pathway is also known as the ‘Donkey Trail’ because for a fee, you can ride up or down the stairs on a friendly donkey. It was interesting to see the donkeys traversing the trail, but along with donkeys were the little ‘gifts’ that they left on the stairs. So, we had to be a bit careful on the walk back to the dock.
– Sailing Out of Santorini – We left Santorini around dinner time and the captain made a large circle around one of the islands so that we could get full views of the area bathed in the gorgeous orange glow of the setting sun.
• Crete (Souda Bay), Greece – Arriving at 8 AM, the cruise into Souda Bay was impressive and we looked forward to the day’s excursion to Chania, about 4 miles from where the ship docked in Souda Bay.
– Scenic Chania by Foot – Chania is a very old city, built upon the remains of ancient civilizations dating back more than 4000 years. Today, the Old Town of Chania is very charming indeed! We found many unique shops, as well as an abundance of cafes and restaurants. Our guide led us through a maze of narrow streets and we loved seeing the architecture of all the colorful and venerable buildings. We also walked through the lively market that appeared to be popular with tourists and locals alike. Inside were all types of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, herbs and flowers. The market also offered many artisanal goods including soaps, lotions, olive oil and pasta.
Our next stop was at the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Holy Metropolitan Church, which is a Greek Orthodox cathedral, located in Athinagora Square. Inside the church we had a short lecture about the history of the church and its beautiful artwork.
Our last stop of the excursion was the Old Venetian Harbor which was constructed by the Venetians in the mid-1300’s. We followed the promenade bordering the picturesque port, taking in the sights including the Venetian ramparts, old dockyards and a 15th-century lighthouse. With plenty of outside dining, this was a very lively area, as everyone seemed to be soaking up the sun while enjoying their al fresco lunch.
– Lunch in Chania – After the tour, were given the option of returning to the ship with the tour guide or staying longer and returning to the ship via a Viking shuttle bus. We chose to stay and had a quick lunch on the harbor, followed by a little shopping before returning to the ship.
• Cruise the Ionian Sea – Our stop in Crete was followed by a day at sea, on our way to Sicily. It was a beautiful and pleasantly warm day for enjoying some time outside. So, after breakfast we decided to walk the track for some exercise and then to have lunch on the Aquavit Terrace as we sailed.
Later that afternoon, at 5:30 PM, Viking invited us to a special ‘Back-to-Back’ party on the Aquavit for all passengers sailing both cruises. We were surprised at just how many passengers were doing both legs, and in fact, many were going on to even further destinations. The party was great and there were plenty of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to be enjoyed, along with the beautiful weather and company of our fellow passengers.
• Sicily (Messina), Italy – As we pulled in to the Messina dock at sunrise, it was a beautiful morning to be on deck and take in all of the surroundings. We headed to breakfast and then off to our excursion for the day.
– Enchanting Taormina – We had a difficult time deciding on an excursion for this port stop. Mount Etna was our first choice, but the excursion was somewhat lengthy and it seemed fairly cloudy that morning. So, instead we decided on the Enchanting Taormina excursion, which was located only about one hour down the coast from Messina.
The drive along the coast was incredible, and with thick clouds hanging over the inland mountains, we were very happy we made the choice to forego the trip to Mount Etna.
Arriving at the town of Taormina, our guide took us through the charming narrow streets that opened to small squares overlooking the water. We were perched fairly high above the coast, and the long-ranged views of the Calabrian coast were beautiful, even with some clouds. We found Taormina to be less touristy than some of the other places we had visited on this trip, and provided a much better glimpse of what real life is like in Sicily.
Walking through the old town we reached the ancient Greek Theatre. Not only is the theatre a spectacular site, but the theatre is built with panoramic views in mind, including that of the Ionian Sea. One of the most spectacular features of the theater is the perfectly framed view of Mount Etna, which is intended to be seen by the seated spectators. Although on the day we visited, the cloudy skies made it hard to the see the volcano in our photos.
Returning to town we stopped at the Piazza del Duomo, a small square with a beautiful fountain and a church for which this square is named. We stopped at a café on the square for some traditional Greek coffee and cake before exploring a little more and then returning to the bus for the ride back to the ship.
– Back on Board – We relaxed in the Explorer’s Lounge that afternoon and then went to The Restaurant for probably our favorite meal of the trip. We started with delicious escargot, followed by venison for the main course and ending with a superb Grand Marnier soufflé.
• Naples, Italy – Naples was another bucket list stop for us and we looked forward to Naples, especially our tour of Pompeii.
– A Scenic Tour of Naples – Our morning started with an Included excursion that was mainly a bus tour of Naples. We did stop along the coast to a spot overlooking the Gulf of Naples. There were several small cafes along the water and we grabbed coffee and pastries as we enjoyed the view.
– Pompeii: City of Beauty & Ruin – In the afternoon, we boarded a bus for the ride to Pompeii. We had seen pictures of Pompeii, but seeing it in person is overwhelming. The first thing we realized is just how big the area really is. The ruins are extensive and much better preserved than we had expected. Our excellent guide made the tour very interesting by sharing fascinating stories as we moved from building to building. We were so impressed by the architecture and detail of the city’s design, especially considering that the ruins date from 79AD. One particular contrivance really stood out to us. The Pompeiians had managed to create ‘street lights and reflectors’ by imbedding shiny rocks into the cobblestones that reflected light from torches lit on the sides of the street. This allowed pedestrians and horse-drawn conveyances to find their way around at night.
We would highly recommend this excursion to everyone. There is a bit of walking, and the streets are cobblestone. However, if you wear comfortable, supportive shoes and go slowly, it is well worth the effort.
• Rome, Italy – Rome marked the end of our cruise. Although the cruise itinerary includes Rome, there is really no opportunity to see the city unless you are doing an extension (either with Viking or on your own). For those folks on our cruise who were not extending, the only part of Rome they saw was the port and the airport as they boarded flights for home. Some passengers were dismayed that they did not get the opportunity to visit Rome, but that information was clearly stated in the itinerary. So, always check each day of your itinerary closely to ensure that you really have the time that you are expecting in both your starting and ending port.
We planned to stay in Rome for 4 extra days, so after breakfast we were transported to our hotel in Rome. The first two days of our extension were part of the official Viking extension. For the other two days we were on our own, but we did stay at the same hotel. Even with four days in Rome, we were still only able to see a few of the iconic sites. So, we would love to return again sometime.
If you would like to read more about our Rome extension, please click on this link, Four Days in Rome, for a detailed review of our visit.
We hope you found our review of the second half of the Iconic Adriatic Antiquities cruise helpful and informative. Our total trip, including the back-to-back cruises and extension on each end, totaled 21 days. This trip ranked as one of our top trips to Europe and we hope to return, especially to Italy, sometime in the future!
Safe travels!
Fantastic article. Well Done!
I totally agree!
Great article…would love to see Athens. Doing the May River cruise to Budapest, then on to Istanbul until June 2. Sailing in Croatia from 17th to the 24th. Desperately looking for something between June 2 to June 17…any ideas my travel agent is out of options.
Thanks for the comment. As far as something in June, if you are looking for a Viking cruise, just go the Viking cruise page, select find a cruise and select June.
Pingback: Part I - A Viking Cruise - Venice, The Adriatic and Greece - FOREVER TOURING