Trieste (Venice), Italy - The Old World city of Trieste occupies a northeastern Italian crossroads of Latin, Slavic, and Germanic cultures on the Adriatic Sea. The reign of the Austrian House of Hapsburg accounts for gastronomy featuring beer, sauerkraut, and strudel. Roman and Byzantine empires ruled here once upon a time.

The many cultures can be sampled in cozy coffeehouses and seafood restaurants, as well as breezy plazas, Old World churches, and prolific museums. There's even a high-tech photography museum and an expanding nightlife area. Must-see attractions include Castello di Miramare, the fanciful neo-Gothic home of the hapless Archduke Maximilian of Austria; Risiera di San Sabba, the World War II concentration camp now a national monument; and Civico Museo Sartorio, a villa bursting with art, ceramics, and jewelry.

Rijeka, Croatia - Croatia's third-largest city, Rijeka is a bustling blend of gritty 20th-century port charm and Italianate Habsburg grandeur. Most people speed through en route to the islands or Dalmatia, but those who pause will discover charm, culture, good nightlife, intriguing festivals and Croatia's most colourful carnival.

Korcula, Croatia - Korcula is an island of impressive landmarks, quaint villages and lush vineyards. You'll discover numerous maritime villages built around inviting coves and along steep hillsides, with exotic names like Smokvica, Pupnat and Blato. The largest settlement on the island, Blato, is located virtually in the middle, uphill and inland from Korcula town.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Santorini, Greece - Here on the island of Santorini, you'll find a classic Greek seascape‐whitewashed houses accented by sea-blue roofs. This is a treasure trove for both professional and amateur archeology buffs, with sites that include tombs that date back to the 9th century and the sanctuary of Apollo.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey - The UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Ephesus impress even those familiar with the world's other ancient cities. Though excavations have been underway for 150 years, only 20 percent of the city has been uncovered. Check out the the Celsus Library — built in 117 A.D., the site is made up of towering columns highlighted by the statue of the goddess of wisdom. Cruises to Ephesus will give you a taste of Turkish life by strolling the seafront promenade and the bustling city center. Walk Marble Street, paved with actual marble slabs, which takes you from downtown to the Temple of Artemis — you can still see one lone remaining column from this wonder of the ancient world.

Mykonos, Greece - For pure Mediterranean pizzazz, Mykonos can't be beat. Designer boutiques and beautifully bronzed Greek gods and goddesses lie on Mykonos' beaches. The city's five famouse white churches look down on it all in oblivious serenity.

Istanbul, Turkey - Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents, stands on the shores of the Istanbul Bogazi (Bosphorus) where the waters of the Black Sea mingle with those of the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. Here on this splendid site Istanbul guards the precious relics of the three empires of which she has been capital; a unique link between East and West, past and present.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece - As the capital of Greece and one of Europe’s most bustling cities, Athens is powered by 5,000 years of history. At night, the city of Athens glows from afar, light reflecting off the ancient ruins. Today travelers flock from around the world to experience its history while on cruises from Athens. After all, the art, theatre, architecture, and philosophy of Athens had ripple effects through the fabric of entire civilizations.