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Take to the the high seas in one of the world’s most historic regions.
Start your adventure exploring Venice before embarking on a cruise of the Mediterranean. While visiting many prominent ports of call, you’ll discover temples dedicated to the ancient gods, sky-spanning sunsets, and the ruins of legendary civilizations.
Your tour package includes
3 nights in handpicked hotels
7 nights aboard the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas
10 breakfasts
6 lunches
9 dinners, some with beer or wine
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Included highlights
St. Mark’s Square
Grand Canal
Split
Diocletian’s Palace
Athens
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Start planning today
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Welcome to Italy! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Venice
Included meal: Breakfast
Admire historic churches, winding canals, and picture-perfect piazzas on a guided tour of the city known as the Queen of the Adriatic.
Step into the iconic St. Mark's Square and enter St. Mark's Basilica
View the stately Doge's Palace, built in the Venetian Gothic style in 1340
Marvel at the Bridge of Sighs, the link between Doge's Palace and the New Prison
See a glassblowing demonstration to learn about the city's most celebrated art
Enjoy a free afternoon in Venice or add an excursion.
Gondola Ride: Venice Canal Cruise
From $105 per person
Private Gondola Ride: Canal Cruise for Two
From $205 per person
Overnight Cruise7 nights
Day 4: Cruise embarkation
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to Ravenna this morning, where your cruise will depart this evening. Board your ship, Explorer of the Seas, and settle in to your stateroom. Then, sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Day 5: Split, Croatia
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruise along the Adriatic Sea to Split, Croatia. Take a guided tour of the coastal city, which has a local culture that seamlessly combines tradition and modernity.
Enter Diocletian’s Palace, an enormous third-century palace complex
View the monuments to the city’s varied cultural influences, including Gothic churches, Renaissance palaces, Venetian fortifications, and an Egyptian sphinx
Continue exploring Split this afternoon, with the option to enjoy an included lunch aboard the ship.
Sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Day 6: Day at sea
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the day aboard the cruise ship. Soak in the ocean views as you enjoy an included lunch aboard the ship and make your way to Greece.
Sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Day 7: Athens, Greece
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Dock in Athens this morning and spend a free day exploring ancient ruins, shorelines steeped in mythology and villas bursting with local charm. You’ll have the option to return to the ship in the afternoon to enjoy an included lunch.
Sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Day 8: Santorini, Greece
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stop in Santorini this morning and spend the day exploring the volcanic isle known for its black-sand beaches, cliff-lined shores, and stunning whitewashed architecture. You’ll have the option to return to the ship in the afternoon to enjoy an included lunch.
Sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Day 9: Day at sea
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As you make your way to Croatia, sit back, enjoy an included lunch aboard the ship, and take in the scenery.
Enjoy for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Day 10: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Make your way along the Adriatic coast to Dubrovnik and dock in historic city this morning. Spend a free day exploring the UNESCO-recognized Old City, with the option to return to the ship in the afternoon to enjoy an included lunch.
Sit down for an included dinner aboard the ship this evening.
Venice1 night
Day 11: Disembarkation
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Transfer to your hotel after disembarking in Ravenna. Then, spend a free afternoon exploring the city or add an excursion.
This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Islands of the Venetian Lagoon: Burano & Torcello
From $99 per person
Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to explore Rome.
Extension to Rome
Have your sights on more art, history, and street life? Rome is sure to deliver. Only in the Italian capital can you sip cappuccino in front of the Pantheon and have an audience with the pope all in one morning. After a train ride, admire the highlights during guided sightseeing.
Rome2 nights
Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Transfer to Rome via high-speed train. Then, follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City.
Pass by Trajan’s Column and Piazza Venezia, the city’s central hub
Stop at the ruins of the Roman Forum, once the setting of parades, elections, and trials
Soak up over 2,000 years of history in Imperial Rome, viewing the Arch of Constantine, the Arch of Titus, and the Temple of Venus and Roma
Enter the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire, and take time to explore on your own
Day 13: Free day in Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day in Rome or add excursions.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Food of Rome: Walking Tour of Trastevere
From $169 per person
Iconic Sights: Vatican City
From $149 per person
Flight Home
Day 14: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
I loved the cruise, Greece was so beautiful, our tour guide was very good. I can't wait for my next trip.
5.0 star rating
9/5/19 by 3rd-time traveler Amy
5.0 star rating
Jewels of Italy and Greece
9/5/19 by 8th-time traveler Mary Jo
Beautiful trip! My 8th with Go Ahead Tours. I love this Company, they think of everything! Italy was just beautiful. I would wake up each port look out my Balcony and be just amazed at the scenery. Just stunning! You can't Go wrong with this tour, jammed pack with excursions or activities!
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Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Hotel Santa Marina Venezia
This elegant hotel is located in the Castello neighborhood. Guests enjoy an outdoor terrace, bar, and lounge. Nearby you’ll find St. Mark’s Square, th...
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Explorer of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seasons brings many different activities paired with a range of restaurants and staterooms. Enjoy thrills like the s...
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Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio
This historic hotel is located in central Rome. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar and lounge, and fitness area. Nearby, you’ll find the train station, Te...
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Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare package and you'll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
Features on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas blends a range of thrilling adventure to relaxing adult-only areas. Aboard, you’ll find inviting public spaces and well-appointed staterooms with all the comforts of home. See a detailed summary of the ship’s amenities and available cabins on their website.
In order to enter Italy, Croatia, and Greece, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter these countries on a cruise.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code MRV.
You will walk for at least 1.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads, cobblestone streets, and unpaved trails, with few hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of trains and small boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Venice (or Rome on tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Water taxis in Venice, a seven-night Mediterranean Cruise, and boat rides are included in the price of your tour. (The tour extension also includes a train ride from Venice to Rome.)
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
There are two formal dinners aboard the cruise ship and we recommend packing dressier attire for these evenings.
You should bring an overnight bag with you when you board the cruise ship as it can take some time for your luggage to be delivered to your room.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
Please note that codeine (commonly found in headache medications) is banned in Greece, and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code MRV.
Venice and Northern Italy are known for their meats and pastries. For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
In Croatia, you may like to try traditional Balkan dishes, such as duvec (vegetables and meat), moussaka (eggplant and minced meat), sarma (minced meat and rice), and raznjici (grilled veal or pork). Almost every region of the country produces its own varieties of wine, each of which are quite delicious.
Greece’s warm climate ensures a constant supply of fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables. Salads served with aromatic olive oil, feta cheese, and oregano are plentiful. Simple grilled fish and meat are integral to Greek cuisine, as well as squid and octopus. Don't miss the spinach and cheese pies, called spanakopita.
On the tour extension, Roman food is typically freshly prepared and varies depending on the season. Must-try bites include cacio e pepe (a simple dish of pasta, cheese, and pepper) and supplí (a fried rice ball similar to Sicily's arancini).
The cruise ship offers 15 restaurants and dining options, including a wide variety of cuisines and dining atmospheres. Room service is also available 24/7.
Breakfast and lunch are open seating in the ship’s dining room. You’ll arrive at most ports of call in the morning. If you’d like to enjoy the included lunch aboard the ship, you should either wait until after you eat lunch to disembark for the day or return to the ship around lunchtime, with the option to head back to the port of call after your meal.
Dinner is served in two sittings (6:30pm and 8:30pm). Please confirm your time preference at check-in at the terminal. If you do not get the dinner sitting you would like, please speak to the dining room maitre d’ at the earliest opportunity. He or she will do their best to accommodate you.
Aboard the ship, there will be outlets for both North American standard 110 volts and European standard 220-240 volts, which take a Type I plug with three large, flat pins.
Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
Croatia and Greece operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter. Please keep in mind that only a limited number of adapters and converters can be borrowed on board the cruise ship.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. These amenities cannot be guaranteed in your hotels, but the cruise ship will provide a hairdryer in your room.
Better rates of exchange are usually available abroad, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
On board the cruise ship, you will be issued a card that will enable you to sign for most shipboard expenses, such as optional shore excursions, bar bills, and spa treatments. Your account can be settled with cash, traveler’s checks, or a major credit card such as American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, or Discover Card. Personal checks are not cashed or accepted.
In ports of call, you may find a good supply of U.S. currency in small denominations very useful when bargaining for everything from taxi rides to souvenirs.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
Gratuities for services aboard your cruise ship are not included in the price of your tour but will be automatically charged to your on-board account. In general, this gratuity amounts to the equivalent of $20USD per person per day, which covers all service charges for ship personnel. A separate 15 percent service charge is automatically added to all bar tabs and spa services.
If you have not yet purchased your optional excursions, you may be able to do so while on your tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
Shore excursions, where you disembark the ship to discover your destination with an expert guide, are offered through the cruise ship andwill be available for booking 20-30 days before your departure.
Be sure to ask cruise representatives about shore excursions, as some are quite walking intensive. Also, please be advised that passengers who do not choose to partake in shore excursions are typically the last to disembark in that day’s port.
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