Day 1: Southampton

Embark on your 25 night cruise from Southampton

Day 2 - 4: At Sea

Day 5: Malaga, Spain

Situated on Andalusia's beautiful Mediterranean coast, Malaga offers everything you would expect from a city on the Costa del Sol: seemingly endless stretches of golden sand beaches, fantastic restaurants serving traditional tapas and friendly bars attract locals and holidaymakers alike.

Day 6 - 7: At Sea

Day 8: Valletta, Malta

Malta’s 16th century walled capital of Valletta, with its Grand Harbour, is a treasure-chest bristling with Baroque architecture. This most scenic of ancient ports echoes the epic, heroic history of the tiny island it nestles on. Centuries of invasion and siege have brought the influence of Romans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders and the British – all leaving an enduring mark on Valletta’s cultural heritage. Home to The Knights of Malta, an order created in the Middle Ages, the town is known for museums, palaces and grand churches.

Day 9: At Sea

Day 10: Agios Nikolaos, Greece

Built around a pretty lake against a backdrop of imposing red-rock cliffs and tall trees, Agios Nikolaos is one of Crete’s most picturesque towns. A vibrant ‘resort’ throughout the holiday season, the town attracts thousands of visitors every year thanks to its blend of natural beauty, cultural attractions, interesting historic sites and fantastic beaches.

Day 11: Rhodes, Greece

Rhodes, the largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands, is awash with fine beaches, wooded valleys, crystal-clear waters, ancient ruins and remnants of an occupation by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades.

Day 12: Ermoupoli, Greece

In contrast to many of Greece’s most famous towns and cities, which are often overcrowded with visitors exploring ancient monuments and world-famous landmarks, Ermoupoli remains relatively undiscovered.

Day 13: AM - Cruising Corinth Canal, Greece

Dreamt up by the ruler of the Ancient Corinth, started by Roman emperor Nero, and finally completed by the French, the Corinth Canal was a project that spanned many centuries. Slicing through solid rock, the canal separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese and serves as a vital shipping link between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

As impressive as it is important, the Corinth Canal has to be seen – or transited if you are lucky enough – to fully appreciate the engineering involved here, the narrowness of the canal – it shrinks down to less than just 25 metres wide at the very bottom – and the sheer scale of the carefully carved cliffs that flank the waterway.

Day 13: PM - Patras, Greece

The history of Patras – named after King Patreas who ruled Achaïa in around 1100BC – dates back over 3000 years. The city was once a major part of both of the Mycenaean and Roman civilisations, however there is little left here to remind you of Patras’ ancient past.

Day 14: Patras, Greece

It is recommended to start your exploration of Patras at the famous street of Aghiou Nikolaou, which leads you into the Old City quarter. Here you can marvel at the ancient Medieval Castle, which was built in the late 6th century on the site of the old acropolis and offers fantastic views of the city, as well as the gorgeous surrounding scenery. The cobbled streets of the Old City offer a little glimpse into Patras’ past too, with their grand neoclassical mansions.

Day 15: Katakolon, Greece

Katakolon is the small, sleepy port town located on the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, which has undergone an extensive and very pleasing makeover over the last decade.

Day 16: Argostoli, Greece

With its palm-lined cobbled promenade, stunning beaches and vibrant town centre, Argostoli is the perfect place to soak up the glorious Mediterranean sunshine while enjoying unique Greek culture. Surrounded by gorgeous azure waters and boasting a beautiful natural harbour, Kefalonia’s is also the island's largest port town.

Day 17: Cruise Strait of Messina, Italy

The Strait of Messina is steeped in legend and is famed for its rocks and whirlpools – many of which were personified as female monsters in Greek mythology.

Day 18: Cruising by Stromboli, Italy

Situated just north of Sicily, Stromboli Island is one of the smallest Aeolian Islands, but arguably the most famous thanks to its intense volcanic activity.

Day 19: Trapani, Italy

Located on the western coast of Sicily, the beautiful city of Trapani is a fishing port with a long history renowned for its Baroque-style architecture. The sickle-shaped spit of land Trapani's Old Town occupies, was once the heart of a great trading network stretching from Carthage to Venice.

Day 20: Ibiza, Spain

The Balearic Island of Ibiza may have a reputation for lively Mediterranean nightlife, but there is more to this sun-kissed, pine-clad island than meets the eye. Off Ibiza’s beaten track you’ll find quiet villages, rural hotels, hidden hamlets, yoga retreats hushed churches, and glorious beaches – from Platja d'en Bossa, lined with hotels, bars and shops, to quieter sandy coves backed by evergreen hills.

Day 21: Cartagena, Spain

One of Spain’s most important port cities for over 2000 years, Cartagena is bursting with history and culture. Originally built over five hills by the Romans, Cartagena is strategically placed on the Mediterranean coast and boasts some wonderful architecture and historic monuments. They include Casa de la Fortuna, a villa with murals and mosaics, and the medieval Castillo de la Conception, which served as a fortress for the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and Castilians, and overlooks the city's stunning natural harbour.

Day 22: At Sea

Day 23: Lisbon, Portugal

Stretched across its seven trademark hills overlooking the River Tagus estuary, Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city of Lisbon, is a cinematic collection of cobbled alleyways, pastel-coloured buildings, ancient ruins and white-domed cathedrals. The city was decimated by an earthquake in 1755, and modern Lisbon has been shaped by that eventful day. The Pombaline architecture that now defines the city represents some of the first seismically-protected buildings in Europe.

Day 24 - 25: At Sea

Day 26: Southampton