Ancient Treasures of the Eastern Mediterranean
Spirit of Adventure departing Portsmouth
from
£8,924 per person
27 nights
12th October 2025
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £102 if not requiredHow our discounts work
Read moreHow our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each level at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected levels. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold.
This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare.
Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin.
When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.
- No fly
- Chauffeur service
Visit a region with ancient traditions and cultures…
Follow the trail of Mediterranean’s great civilisations past and present on this all-inclusive cruise to the eastern Mediterranean in 2025. See the influences of ancient Greek civilisations in Sicily and Crete.
While in Turkey, visit the lively port city of Canakkale, Izmir, a new port of call for Saga cruises, Kusadasi, gateway to ancient Ephesus, and Bodrum with its scenic setting and medieval castle. From one sun-kissed coast to another, cruise to the Dodecanese Island of Rhodes where many buildings from the 14th and 15th century can still be seen.
More ancient relics await in Alexandria, with its abundance of Egyptian antiquities, and Valletta, home to forts built by the Knights of St John in the 16th century. The cruise is bookended by visits to Gibraltar and Malaga, home to several impressive Moorish citadels.
Your five included panoramic excursions will be in
- Gibraltar
- Syracuse, Sicily
- Rhodes Town, Rhodes
- Valletta, Malta
- Malaga, Spain
Itinerary
Portsmouth
Embark Spirit of Adventure.
Depart 1700.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Gibraltar
Arrive 0800. Depart 1600.
Watching over the entrance to the Mediterranean, stands the unmistakable limestone Rock of Gibraltar.
At its base lies Gibraltar which is connected to the end of the Iberian Peninsula by a sandy isthmus and offers an intriguing blend of British and Spanish culture.
Discover Gibraltar’s Palladian architecture and typically British sights, such as red pillar boxes and familiar highstreet chains.
Alternatively, visit the military museum or ascend the limestone monolith by cable car for panoramic views and to meet the mischievous Barbary macaques. From the top of the Rock you can look out over two continents: Africa lies just 13 miles to the south, whilst Europe stretches to the north.
Included excursion
Uncover Gibraltar’s quirky British charm on an included panoramic excursion.
Optional excursions
Go in search of dolphins and other marine life in Gibraltar’s bay.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Syracuse, Sicily
Arrive 0900. Depart 1700.
Originally a Greek colony, home to Archimedes, Syracuse is renowned for its well-preserved ancient Greek ruins. The archaeological site in the northwest of the town showcases a theatre built to seat 15000 spectators. The historic centre of Syracuse, known as Ortygia, is set on a small island surrounded by the Ionian Sea and is connected to the mainland by three bridges. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ortygia has an attractive piazza, Piazza Duomo, and the remains of the Temple of Apollo, a Doric structure dating from the 6th-century BC.
Included excursion
Explore the surrounding scenery on an included panoramic excursion.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Heraklion, Crete
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Named after Hercules, the capital of the Greek island of Crete has an extensive history stretching over 5,000 years. Once under Arabic, Venetian and Ottoman rule, both the island’s landscape and Heraklion itself are dotted with ancient relics that reveal more of its fascinating past. As you explore the charming backstreets hidden behind the fortification walls, look out for beautiful Venetian and Turkish fountains scattered across the city. You can choose to uncover more of Crete's history on a visit to the Palace of Knossos, court of the legendary King Minos whose wife Pasiphae gave birth to the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. The Heraklion Archaeology Museum, which is regarded as one of the most important museums in Greece, is also a must-see attraction.
Optional excursions
Take a trip to see the legendary site of Knossos, birthplace of the Minotaur, half bull, half man.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Canakkale, Turkey
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Set on the Asian side of the Dardanelles, Canakkale is a gateway to the ancient ruins of Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields. It is a lively port city with a bustling harbour, squares and bazaar selling exotic goods. A replica of the Trojan horse stands tall on the waterfront, while the small yet fascinating Archaeological Museum features artefacts from both sides of the strait, including figurines from nearby Assos.
Optional excursions
Join a tour to the ruins of Bronze Age Troy, thought only to be a mythical city as recounted in Homer’s epic Iliad until unearthed by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870. Alternatively, visit the acropolis of Assos with its 6th-century BC Temple of Athena.
Izmir, Turkey
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
A new port of call for Saga cruises, Izmir is set on Turkey’s Aegean coast and has a rich history that incorporates Greek, Roman and Ottoman influences. As a result there are numerous archaeological sites and a hilltop castle built during the reign of Alexander the Great.
Kusadasi, Turkey
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
This large resort town on Turkey’s western Aegean coast is popular for its beaches and shops, and it also offers a gateway to the classical ruins of Ephesus. Among the Greek and Roman ruins of this UNESCO-listed ensemble is the great Library of Celsus and an amphitheatre built to seat around 24,000 people.
Optional excursion
See the ancient ruins of Ephesus on an optional sightseeing excursion.
Bodrum, Turkey
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Set on the scenic Bodrum Peninsula, which stretches into the Aegean Sea, the city of Bodrum has two bays, each with a view of medieval Bodrum Castle. The city is built on the remains of ancient Halicarnassus and was home to one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Halicarnasus, a model of which can be seen at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
Optional excursion
Explore the blue waters of Bodrum Bay on a cruise.
Rhodes Town, Rhodes
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
The island of Rhodes is a blend of ancient architecture and modern amenities. Its strategic position has been recognised since the fifth century BC, passing from Roman to Byzantine hands into possession of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, the Ottomans, Italians, finally becoming part of Greece in 1948. Rhodes Town was founded in 408 BC and has a rich history, which you can discover on an included panoramic excursion. Many of the historic buildings in the old town were built in the 14th and 15th centuries, whilst the new town features much Italianate architecture.
Included excursion
See some of the island’s highlights on an included panoramic excursion.
Optional excursions
Hike up to Lindos’s ancient acropolis which boasts views of the azure sea and of a traditional whitewashed town.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Alexandria, Egypt
Arrive 0800. Depart 2100.
Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city, has a thriving port along its 20-mile coastline and is a new port for Spirit of Discovery. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, the city was home to the Library of Alexandria, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Alexandria has many buildings of historic interest from 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay overlooking the Mediterranean to the vast Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque. Numerous archaeological treasures can be found within the city’s museums, such as the Alexandria National Museum which contains over 1800 priceless pieces.
Optional excursions
Enjoy a full day tour to see the Pyramids of Giza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Valletta, Malta
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Cruise into the Grand Harbour of Valletta, which is overlooked by forts built by the Knights of St John in the 16th century. The surrounding UNESCO-listed streets exude old-world charm at every turn.
Included excursion
An included panoramic excursion will reveal the island's landscapes and charming villages.
Optional excursions
Visit the ‘Silent City’ of Mdina or even head underground to the Byzantine-era Catacombs of St Paul.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Malaga, Spain
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
A reflection of the many cultures which have intermingled in this port city over the centuries, Malaga boasts a wealth of historical sights. Chief among these are the imposing Moorish citadels of Alcazaba and its gardens, and the ruins of Gibralfaro Castle, as well as the Roman amphitheatre and Renaissance cathedral. Picasso, one of the city’s most famous sons, is celebrated at the Museu de Picasso in the artists’ quarter, which is also home to the Centre of Contemporary Arts as well as a host of smaller galleries and displays of street art.
Included excursion
An included panoramic excursion will show you Malaga’s highlights.
Optional excursions
Visit the mountaintop city of Ronda or indulge in traditional Spanish tapas.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.Portsmouth
Arrive 0730.
Disembark Spirit of Adventure after breakfast.
from
£8,924 per person
27 nights
12th October 2025
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £102 if not requiredHow our discounts work
Read moreHow our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each level at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected levels. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold.
This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare.
Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin.
When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.
from
£8,924 per person
27 nights
12th October 2025
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £102 if not requiredHow our discounts work
Read moreHow our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each level at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected levels. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold.
This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare.
Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin.
When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.