Journey to Antiquities

  • Europe
  • Operator: Viking Cruise
  • Start: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
  • Finish: Athens (Piraeus), Greece
  • Destination: Europe
  • Type: Ocean Cruise
  • January 2027 - February 2029
8 Days, 5 Guided tours, 3 Countries. Travel through waters once ruled by mighty empires and flourishing city-states during an eight-day cruise between Rome and Athens. Visit Naples, gateway to Pompeii, and Messina, Sicily’s cultural crossroads.

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Hightlights

Naples, Italy
Sail the Ionian Sea
Sicily (Messina), Italy

Explore Lands of Ancient Empires

Sail storied seas once ruled by mighty empires and flourishing city-states. Visit Naples, gateway to Pompeii, and Messina, Sicily’s cultural crossroads. Discover Crete, the former seat of the once-flourishing Minoan kingdom. Explore the remarkably preserved city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Immerse yourself in Athens, the “birthplace of democracy,” where the Acropolis rises above the city and the bustling Plaka District.

 

FLIGHT ON US 
Economy airfare or flight credit included of up to $2,800pp* 
Expires 30 November 2026

 


 

Viking Inclusive Values

More features, services and excursions included

*One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call
*Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
*All onboard meals, featuring regional specialties & always available classics
*Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
*All onboard meals, featuring regional specialties & always available classics
*24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water
*Port taxes & fees
*Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase
*Visits to UNESCO Sites
*Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances
*Complimentary access to The Nordic Spa & Fitness Center
*Self-service launderettes
*Alternative restaurant dining at no extra charge
*24-hour room service
*Onboard gratuities

 

Our stateroom includes:

*King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linen
*42″ flat-screen LCD TV with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies On Demand
*Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
*Premium Freyja® toiletries
*Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
*Security safe
*110/220 volt outlets
*Ample USB ports

 


Booking Terms & Conditions

*Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy and correct at time of publication. Prices include all advertised discounts, and all offers are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. All offers are only valid for new bookings and only on selected departures made between 01 April – 30 November 2026 at 7:00pm (AEST) unless sold out prior.  Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. View the Passenger Ticket Contract for full booking terms and conditions. Itineraries are subject to change and may vary by departure date. Map depicts the standard itinerary offered.

Itinerary

Day 1. Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. For centuries, Rome ruled much of Europe, building a vast empire from the power of emperors. More than 2,500 years of history live in the city’s streets. Ancient structures recall those heady days when the cheers of 80,000 spectators roared from the Colosseum, citizens mingled in the Forum and senators asked the gods for guidance at the Pantheon. Along with the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, this rich pocket of Italy is one of the world’s greatest repositories of history and civilization.

Day 2. Naples, Italy

Naples boasts a long history in a stunning seaside setting and has long been a major center of Italian culture. The city was the seat of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years. So great was its sway that it lured the region’s finest architects and artists. In the grand Piazza del Plebiscito, the grand and sweeping public square, the San Francesco di Paola Church flaunts a colonnaded facade reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, and the Royal Palace overlooks Neapolitans with statues of all the kings of Naples peering out from alcoves.

Shore Excursions (Included)

Enjoy This Sojourn Through Naples

Discover the highlights of Naples, a major center of Italian culture, during a scenic drive. Naples was the location of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years, luring the region’s finest architects and artists, yet its history stretches back thousands of years. See evidence of its rich past, from Greek and Roman monuments to Renaissance splendors. Embark on a coastal drive to Mergellina, a residential area that has long offered Neapolitans a respite from city life. Admire the many beautiful villas and enjoy photo stops that offer stunning views of the gulf and the city. Return to the city center to explore Piazza del Plebiscito on your own, perhaps the grandest public square in the city with the former Royal Palace of Naples overlooking its bustling square. You will also see the imposing medieval fortresses of Egg Castle and New Castle, before returning to your ship.

Day 3. Sicily (Messina), Italy

Sicily has been shaped by countless civilizations, from Greek to Byzantine to Roman. When it fell under Spain’s purview in the 17th century, it was celebrated as one of Europe’s ten great cities. Surrounded by undulating mountains, orange and olive groves and vineyards are plentiful. During World War II, Messina was the destination of the unofficial “Race to Messina” between US General Patton and British Field Marshall Montgomery. In the end, Patton arrived just hours before his British comrade, receiving credit for securing Sicily.

Shore Excursions (Included)

Resplendent Gems of a Monumental City

Marvel at the architectural and artistic treasures held dear by the Sicilians of Messina. Meet your local guide for a short drive to the heart of Messina’s historic center. See the expansive Piazza Municipio, the Via Garibaldi and the Piazza Cairoli, the heart of Old Town. Drive along the Via Cannizzaro to view the university, court of law, and picturesque Corso Cavour. Continue along the north coast of Messina, which offers stunning vistas over Ganzirri Lake and the Capo Peloro. The saltwater lakes are used by fishermen to breed clams and mussels, which feature heavily in the local cuisine. Next, return to the pier to begin your guided walk. You will stroll to Cathedral Square and view the astronomical clock; it features one of the most extraordinary mechanical marvels in the world. After you will walk back to your ship.

Day 4. Sail the Ionian Sea

Sail the gateway to the Adriatic, marked by the sole of Italy’s boot and the western coasts of Albania and Greece. As you sail, explore our well-curated Library, tucked in a private alcove of the Living Room, and select from a broad range of titles. Read a book by the Main Pool, a calming oasis in any weather with its retractable roof, allowing for year-round swimming.

Day 5. Crete (Souda Bay), Greece

Souda Bay enjoys a picturesque setting between Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula and Cape Drapano. Historic fortifications, vestiges from the island’s days under the Venetian Empire, greet ships at the mouth of the long bay, one of the deepest natural harbors in the Mediterranean. Beyond, the island of Crete is blessed with generous beaches, soaring mountains and coursing rivers. It is also where the distinct mantinades—couplets of love accompanied by Cretan instruments—could break out at any number of cafés where patrons sip tsikoudia, a grape-based brandy distilled in the hills.

Shore Excursions (Included)

Chania Old Town, Museum and Venetian Harbor

Explore vibrant Chania, one of the oldest cities in Europe, during a walking excursion through its Old Town. Once a major city-state of the mysterious Minoan Kingdom, modern Chania was built upon the foundations of the Greek city of Kydonia. Its importance led to several waves of occupation over the centuries, remnants of which can be seen in the mix of eastern and western influences that permeate the city today. You will meet your knowledgeable guide, then set out to walk the winding streets of Chania’s charming Old Town, where you will see Ottoman mosques, Minoan ruins and Byzantine churches. Stroll through the promenade of the picturesque Venetian Harbor, and admire the Venetian ramparts, old dockyards and 15th-century lighthouse. At the end of your tour, enjoy free time to further explore your surroundings, then return to your awaiting ship.

Day 6. Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Turkey

One of antiquity’s best-preserved cities, Ephesus offers an unparalleled look into the lives of the ancients. Many of its ruins have endured from the time Ephesus was one of the largest metropolises of the ancient world. Excavations reach back to the 10th century BC, when this city hosted one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Temple of Artemis. Today, Ephesus is still full of wonders: the towering facade of the Library of Celsus, the massive amphitheater that once sat 25,000 spectators and residences adorned with frescoes.

Shore Excursions (Included)

A Tour of This Fascinating Ancient City

Explore one of the best-preserved cities of antiquity in the world as you walk the length of ancient Kuretes Street. Stroll from Ephesus’s upper gate to its lower gate. Join your guide on a scenic drive through the stunning countryside of Selçuk to the Magnesian Gate, the ancient city entrance at the top of Kuretes Street. Then follow a gently descending route through one of the Roman Empire’s most powerful outposts. Navigate some steps along the way, passing the finely crafted 2nd-century Temple of Hadrian and the spectacular Great Theater, able to host 25,000 spectators. Marvel at the most recognizable building in the city, the Library of Celsus, built to house 12,000 scrolls. Its colonnaded facade is an outstanding example of a typical Roman public building. You will have free time to browse the craft stalls at the lower gate before returning to your ship.

Day 7. Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Athens has been called the “birthplace of democracy.” Its legacy looms large from atop Acropolis Hill, the pinnacle of ancient Greece. This open air museum is an astonishing repository of once-mighty structures. From its colonnaded Parthenon—built more than 2,600 years ago—revered Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle formulated new ideas of government and debated its role in civic life to captivated audiences. Remnants of spiritual life are also here in the several temples to Athena and Zeus.

Shore Excursions (Included)

A Motor Coach Tour of Greece’s Capital

See the highlights of Athens by motor coach and visit the National Archaeological Museum. From the port of Piraeus, journey with your guide into ancient Athens. You will pass the small harbor of Zea, whose 5th-century BC dock still survives, and the elegant promenade at Mikrolimano. In the center of historic Athens, you will see the Hellenic Parliament and Syntagma (Constitution) Square, as well as the distinctively uniformed Presidential Guard, or “Evzones,” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Your scenic drive also includes views of Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Following the panoramic tour, you will visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s great museums. With more than 11,000 exhibits, it provides a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of prehistory to Late Antiquity.

Day 8. Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.

*Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.

Dates and prices

From AUD $6,795 per person, twin share

All departures
January 2027 2 sailings
February 2027 3 sailings
May 2027 1 sailing
November 2027 2 sailings
December 2027 2 sailings
January 2028 2 sailings
February 2028 1 sailing
March 2028 1 sailing
May 2028 1 sailing
October 2028 1 sailing
November 2028 2 sailings
December 2028 3 sailings
January 2029 2 sailings
February 2029 1 sailing

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FAQ's
  • Cancellation and change policies vary by cruise line and fare type. Refundable fares offer more flexibility, while non-refundable fares may incur penalties.

  • Yes, you can request an upgrade, and some cruise lines offer upgrade bidding programs. Availability depends on demand.

  • Booking early (12–18 months in advance) or during wave season (January to March) often provides the best deals and perks.

  • Cabin choices depend on your preferences: Interior: No windows, budget-friendly. Oceanview: Window or porthole for natural light. Balcony: Private outdoor space. Suite: Luxurious amenities and more space.

  • Yes, it’s recommended to book popular shore excursions early to secure a spot. Many cruise lines and third-party operators offer online bookings.

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