Seabourn Encore - September 14, 2025

Dubrovnik, a Croatian port, is considered the most beautiful city on the Dalmatian coast. Dubrovnik sits high on a cliff overlooking the sea, and is nestled in the shadow of Mount Srdj. The walls of the city are one of its landmarks, and many structures from the medieval era remain standing, despite the many battles fought in Dubrovnik throughout history.

This natural harbor on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro was an important artistic and commercial center with famous masonry and iconography schools in the Middle Ages. A large number of its monuments, among which four Romanesque churches and the town walls, were heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1979 but the town is now completely restored.

Zakynthos, also called Zante, or "Fiore di Levande" (The flower of East Wind) is a sparkling diamond under the sun, surrounded by the emerald waters of the Ionian Sea. Zakynthos, the artistic center of the Ionian islands, island of natural beauties, of arts and spirit. Zakynthos is the southernmost island in the Ionian group, a short distance off the north-western tip of the Peloponnese. Greek tourists have been coming to Zante long before international visitors started to get to know and appreciate its many attractions.

In Legend, Palamedes, the son of Nauplios and grandson of Poseidon was said to have founded the city. He is credited with invention of money, weights, measures and the order of the Greek alphabet established by a Phoenician.

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. In a single day, you can climb the hill of the Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and then find a welcoming taverna for some spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and with luck, energetic Greek dancing.

Gythios is a small seaside town south of Sparta on the Peloponnesian peninsula. Home to some 2,000 year-round residents, Gythios expands tenfold during the summer months as sun worshippers from around the world flock to the beaches. Favorite local attractions include seaside cafes that serve up local specialties, and an ancient theater where the plays of Aeschylus and Sophocles are performed.

The narrow passageways of Mykonos are a twisted maze of whitewashed houses, miniature churches, lazy windmills, and tiny cafes serving up Greek specialties. Sample the freshest squid or lobster just snatched from the blue Aegean Sea, or shop for typical flokati rugs.

This charming, picturesque resort where Antony and Cleopatra used to vacation is best known as the port for the ancients ruins of Ephesus - one of the world's most wondrous archaeological sites. Explorations should include such masterpieces as the Great Amphitheatre, where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians, the Library of Celsus, and the temples of Athena and Apollo - all connected by marble streets rutted by the wheels of countless chariots.

Once called Constantinople, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire is the only city in the world to straddle two continents: Europe and Asia. This is the Golden Horn, the door between East and West, and your first vision of its domes and minarets is unforgetable. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Sultan treasures in Topkapi Palace await - as does the Grand Bazaar, laden with carpets, beaten brass and spices from afar.