Cruise itinerary
18-Night Europe Cruise from Istanbul
18 nights · Europe · 17 ports of call
18-night Europe cruise aboard Oceania Allura, departing Istanbul and calling at Vólos, Piraeus, Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete, Katakolon, Valletta and Messina and 10 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Oceania Allura
- Cruise line
- Oceania Cruises
- Duration
- 18 nights
- Region
- Europe · Southern Europe · Mediterranean
- Departs
- Istanbul
- Returns
- Barcelona
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact Oceania Allura sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Day2
Istanbul
Depart 13:00
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Day3
Vólos
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
A coastal city on the Pagasetic Gulf in central Greece, ringed by the wooded slopes of Mount Pelion. A seafront promenade lines the waterfront, and the surrounding mountain villages and beaches are reached by a scenic road up the peninsula.
- Pelion villages
- Seafront promenade
- Tsipouro tavernas
- Day4
Piraeus
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 18:00
The ancient harbour of Athens and Greece's principal cruise port. Ferries fan out to the Aegean islands from its quays, while the Acropolis, the Plaka district and the National Archaeological Museum sit a short metro ride inland.
- Gateway to Athens
- Acropolis
- Aegean ferries
- Day5
Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 14:00
The largest city on Crete and the island's main port, in Greece. A Venetian harbour and fortress front the town, while the Bronze Age palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum's Minoan treasures lie close by.
- Palace of Knossos
- Venetian harbour
- Archaeological Museum
- Day6
Katakolon
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 14:00
A small port on Greece's western Peloponnese coast, best known as the gateway to ancient Olympia. The sanctuary where the original Olympic Games were held lies a short drive inland, among ruined temples and the old stadium.
- Ancient Olympia
- Olympic stadium
- Temple of Zeus
- Day7
Valletta
Arrive 11:00 · Depart 20:00
Malta's fortified harbour capital, built by the Knights of St. John on a peninsula between two deep ports. Honey-coloured limestone defines St. John's Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master's Palace and the bastions overlooking the Grand Harbour.
- Grand Harbour
- St. John's Co-Cathedral
- Upper Barrakka Gardens
- Day8
Messina
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
A Sicilian port on the strait that separates the island from mainland Italy, framed by the Peloritani mountains. Its harbour clock tower performs an elaborate noon display, and the town is a common gateway to Taormina and the slopes of Mount Etna.
- Etna day trips
- Taormina gateway
- Astronomical clock
- Day9
Salerno
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
An Italian port at the head of its own gulf, just south of the Amalfi Coast. Its long seafront and walkable medieval centre make it a quieter base for reaching Pompeii, Paestum's Greek temples and the cliffside towns of Amalfi and Positano.
- Amalfi Coast gateway
- Paestum temples
- Seafront promenade
- Day10
Civitavecchia
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 17:00
The deep-water port serving Rome, roughly 80 kilometres up the coast. Ships dock here for shore excursions to the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Roman Forum, while the town itself keeps a working harbour and a Michelangelo-designed fortress.
- Gateway to Rome
- Fort Michelangelo
- Vatican excursions
- Day11
Salerno
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 16:00
An Italian port at the head of its own gulf, just south of the Amalfi Coast. Its long seafront and walkable medieval centre make it a quieter base for reaching Pompeii, Paestum's Greek temples and the cliffside towns of Amalfi and Positano.
- Amalfi Coast gateway
- Paestum temples
- Seafront promenade
- Day12
Palermo
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 16:00
The capital of Sicily, a port city layered with Arab, Norman, and Baroque history on the island's north coast. Palermo is known for its mosaic-rich Cappella Palatina, lively street-food markets, and the Norman cathedral at nearby Monreale.
- Cappella Palatina
- Ballarò market
- Monreale mosaics
- Day13
Golfo Aranci
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
- Day14
Ajaccio, Corsica
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
The capital of Corsica and Napoleon's birthplace, set on a sheltered gulf on the island's west coast. Ajaccio is known for its Bonaparte family house, the citadel and old town, and the rugged Sanguinaires islands off the harbour mouth.
- Maison Bonaparte
- Sanguinaires islands
- Ajaccio citadel
- Day15
Livorno
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 20:00
A Tuscan port on the Ligurian Sea and the gateway to Florence and Pisa. Ships dock here for excursions to Renaissance galleries and the Leaning Tower, while Livorno itself is known for its canal district and a seafood stew called cacciucco.
- Gateway to Florence
- Pisa excursions
- Venezia Nuova canals
- Day16
Cannes
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
A glamorous resort town on the French Riviera, famous for its film festival and the palm-lined seafront promenade of La Croisette. The old quarter of Le Suquet climbs above the harbour, and Antibes and Grasse lie within easy reach along the coast.
- La Croisette
- Le Suquet
- Film festival
- Day17
Sète
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
A canal-laced fishing and ferry port on France's Mediterranean coast in the Occitanie region, set below Mont Saint-Clair. Its quays of seafood restaurants and the nearby Thau lagoon's oyster beds give it a working maritime character, with Montpellier a short drive inland.
- Mont Saint-Clair
- Thau lagoon oysters
- Canal quays
- Day18
Palma de Mallorca
Arrive 10:00 · Depart 17:00
The capital of Mallorca in Spain's Balearic Islands, set around a wide bay. Its enormous seafront cathedral, La Seu, rises above the old town's narrow lanes, with a hilltop castle, marina and nearby coves a short way from the cruise terminal.
- La Seu cathedral
- Bellver Castle
- Old town
- Day19
Barcelona
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 17:00
Catalonia's seafront capital and one of the Mediterranean's busiest cruise homeports. Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell crown the city, while the tree-lined Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter's medieval lanes lie a short ride from the terminal.
- Sagrada Família
- La Rambla
- Gothic Quarter
Upcoming departures
- 19 Feb 2028
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
18-Night Europe Cruise from Istanbul FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 18-night Europe cruise calls at Istanbul, Vólos, Piraeus, Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete, Katakolon, Valletta, Messina, Salerno, Civitavecchia, Palermo, Golfo Aranci, Ajaccio, Corsica, Livorno, Cannes, Sète, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona.
How many days are spent at sea?
This is a port-intensive itinerary with no full days at sea.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Istanbul and ends in Barcelona.
How long is this cruise?
18 nights aboard Oceania Allura.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 19 Feb 2028. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.