Fly Stay Cruise - 28 Day Mediterranean Journey: Italy, Greece, Turkey & Spain

Your Mediterranean adventure begins today. Make your way to your home airport in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth or Sydney for your included international flight to Rome. Settle in for the journey across to Europe with one or two connecting stops. Special Information:European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) approval is required for Australian passport holders entering the Schengen Area. Please apply via the official EU government portal before travel. Customers may wish to add an exclusive 2-night stopover in Singapore or Hong Kong for $399 per person, breaking up the journey to Europe. See the optional stopover section.

Arrive into Rome Fiumicino Airport this morning. Make your way to your central Rome hotel where you check in for the first of two pre-cruise nights. The rest of the day is at leisure to begin exploring the Eternal City. Recover from the long flight with a gentle walk through the Centro Storico, find a cafe on a quiet piazza for an espresso and people-watching, or rest at the hotel before dinner. Tonight, find a local trattoria for traditional Roman pasta dishes. Special Information:Airport transfers in Rome are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your Rome airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. Hotel check-in time is at 3pm. If arriving prior to this, you will be able to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore Rome until check-in becomes available. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel's discretion.

After breakfast, your full day is at leisure to explore Rome. Walk through the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, climb to the top of the Spanish Steps, throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and wander past the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Cross the Tiber into Vatican City to see St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. For lunch, sample Roman classics such as cacio e pepe, carbonara or supplì in the historic Trastevere district. Tonight, enjoy a final dinner ashore before embarkation tomorrow. Special Information:Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tickets sell out quickly during peak season - we recommend booking ahead via the official Vatican website or pre-booking a guided tour.

This morning after breakfast, check out of your hotel and make your way to Civitavecchia Port (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from central Rome) for cruise check-in. Once on board Sun Princess, settle into your stateroom and begin exploring Princess Cruises' newest ship. Take in The Dome at the top of the ship, the multi-level Piazza atrium, the various dining venues and the open-deck pools. Sun Princess sails in the evening, beginning your 21 night Mediterranean voyage. Tonight, enjoy your welcome dinner on board and meet your fellow travellers. An optional upgrade to Princess Plus or Princess Premier is available for those who would like to add drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and crew appreciation. Special Information:Check-in at Civitavecchia commences at 1pm. Transfer from your Rome hotel to Civitavecchia Port is not included; Civitavecchia is approximately 80km from central Rome (1 hour 15 minutes by road, 1 hour 15 minutes by direct train from Roma Termini). Port transfers can be booked separately via Traveller Hub. All guests must be on board at least 2 hours prior to the ship's scheduled departure of 6pm.

Arrive in Naples, gateway to some of southern Italy's most spectacular sights. Take an optional excursion to Pompeii, the Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, or ride the funicular up to Vomero for sweeping views over the Bay of Naples. Other options include a day trip to the Isle of Capri with its Blue Grotto sea cave, or driving the Amalfi Coast through Positano and Sorrento. Naples itself offers the Centro Storico UNESCO World Heritage area, the Royal Palace and the home of authentic Neapolitan pizza.

A relaxed day at sea as Sun Princess cruises east across the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas toward Crete. Take advantage of the ship's facilities including The Dome, the Piazza, the Lotus Spa, fitness centre and multiple pools, or simply find a quiet spot on deck.

Arrive in Chania on the northwest coast of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Chania's Venetian harbour with its 16th-century lighthouse is one of the most photographed in Greece. Wander the cobblestone streets of the Old Town with its mix of Venetian, Ottoman and Greek architecture, browse the leather sandal makers and ceramic artisans, or head to the nearby Akrotiri Peninsula for Cretan beaches and monasteries. Optional excursions inland reach the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) and traditional Cretan villages.

A day at sea as Sun Princess cruises north-east toward the Turkish coast and the ancient city of Ephesus.

Arrive in Kusadasi, the gateway to the spectacular ancient city of Ephesus, one of the great cities of the Roman Empire. Walk the marble streets of Ephesus past the iconic facade of the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre that once held 25,000 spectators, and the Temple of Hadrian. Nearby is the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to have been her final home, and the basilica of St John. Kusadasi itself offers a bustling waterfront, bazaars, Turkish carpet shops and traditional Turkish baths. Special Information:A Turkish e-Visa is required for Australian passport holders. Please apply via the official Turkish government e-Visa portal before travel.

Arrive in Mykonos, one of the most photographed of all the Greek islands with its iconic whitewashed buildings, blue shutters and stone windmills standing on the hillside above the town. Wander the maze of Little Venice with its waterfront cafes and bougainvillea-draped lanes, climb to the Kato Mili windmills for sunset views, or take a day trip across to the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo and one of Greece's most important archaeological sites. The local beaches of Paradise and Platis Gialos are also easily reached.

Arrive in Piraeus, the port for Athens, and head into the city. Crown jewel of the visit is the Acropolis, the ancient citadel rising above the city and home to the Parthenon, Erechtheion and Temple of Athena Nike. Spend time at the Acropolis Museum at the base of the hill, wander the Plaka neighbourhood with its tavernas and souvenir shops, and visit Syntagma Square to see the changing of the Evzone Guards. The Ancient Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus complete a classical Athens day.

Arrive at Santorini, the caldera island formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Sun Princess anchors in the caldera, with a water shuttle (tender) into the port of Skala. From there, take the cable car or donkey path up the cliff face to the clifftop village of Fira. Spend the day exploring the blue-domed churches of Oia at the northern tip of the island, sampling Santorini's famous Assyrtiko white wines at a clifftop winery, or relaxing at one of the volcanic black sand beaches at Kamari or Perissa. Special Information:Water shuttle (tender) required to access this port. Wheelchair access is limited. The cable car or donkey path is the only way up the cliff from the port to the clifftop villages.

A day at sea as Sun Princess cruises north-west through the Aegean and into the Adriatic toward Montenegro.

Arrive in Bar on Montenegro's Adriatic coast, a less-cruised stop offering a genuine glimpse of the small Balkan nation. Visit Stari Bar (Old Bar) archaeological site, an abandoned medieval town perched on a hillside above the modern town, with Ottoman, Venetian and Slavic remains layered together. The town is also known for its olive groves, including one of Europe's oldest olive trees believed to be over 2,000 years old. Optional excursions head inland to the historic capital of Cetinje or up to Skadar Lake National Park.

Arrive in Corfu Town, the elegant capital of this Ionian island with a distinctive Venetian, French and British heritage. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its narrow lanes, Venetian fortresses, French-built Liston arcade and British colonial buildings. Visit the Old Fortress and the Spianada esplanade for views over the bay, browse the colourful shopping streets, or head out of town to the Achilleion Palace once owned by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, or to the Paleokastritsa monastery on Corfu's stunning west coast.

Arrive in Messina on the north-eastern tip of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean. The city sits across the Strait of Messina from the toe of mainland Italy, with views across to Calabria and on a clear day all the way to Mount Etna. Visit Messina's Norman cathedral with its astronomical clock, the largest in the world. Most travellers use Messina as the gateway to the hilltop town of Taormina with its Greek theatre overlooking Mount Etna and the Ionian coast. Optional excursions reach Mount Etna itself, Europe's most active volcano.

A day at sea as Sun Princess cruises west across the Tyrrhenian and Balearic Seas toward Spain.

Arrive in Barcelona, the Catalan capital and one of Europe's great cities. The day is best spent on the trail of Antoni Gaudi, whose masterpieces include the still-rising Sagrada Familia basilica, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila and the colourful Park Guell. Walk Las Ramblas, the famous boulevard linking Placa Catalunya to the harbour, and stop at La Boqueria food market for tapas and Spanish cured meats. The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) offers medieval lanes, the cathedral and the Picasso Museum. Finish on Barceloneta beach for a paella lunch with a view.

Arrive in Ibiza in the Balearic Islands, famous for its summer party scene but with a much quieter and more historic side. Visit Dalt Vila, the UNESCO World Heritage fortified Old Town crowning a hill above Ibiza Town, with its Renaissance walls, cathedral and panoramic views. The hippy markets of Las Dalias and Punta Arabi remain a colourful tradition from the island's bohemian heritage, and Ibiza's beaches and coves around Cala Salada and Cala Comte are some of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.

A day at sea as Sun Princess cruises north toward the south coast of France and the gateway to Provence.

Arrive in Marseille, France's oldest city and a vibrant Mediterranean port. Visit the Vieux-Port (Old Port) lined with cafes and bouillabaisse restaurants, climb to the Basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde for panoramic views over the city and harbour, and wander Le Panier, Marseille's oldest neighbourhood with its artisan shops and street art. Optional excursions head into Provence to Aix-en-Provence with its tree-lined Cours Mirabeau and Cezanne's studio, the lavender fields and hilltop villages of the Luberon, or the historic city of Avignon with the famous Pont d'Avignon and the Palace of the Popes.

Arrive in Ajaccio on the west coast of Corsica, France's mountainous Mediterranean island and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Visit Maison Bonaparte, the family home where Napoleon was born in 1769, the Imperial Chapel where members of the family are buried, and the cathedral where Napoleon was baptised. The town offers a beautiful palm-lined seafront, the lively Marche Central food market, and easy access to the Sanguinaires Islands by boat. Inland, the dramatic Corsican mountains rise quickly from the coast for those wanting a longer drive.

Town is one of the largest medieval centres in Europe with its narrow caruggi alleyways, the lavish Palazzi dei Rolli (UNESCO World Heritage) of the Renaissance merchants, and the harbourfront with the Aquarium of Genoa. Most travellers head south by train or coach to the famous Cinque Terre, the five colourful cliff-hugging fishing villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, connected by hiking trails and a coastal train.

Arrive in La Spezia, the Italian Riviera port that is the gateway to Tuscany. Two great Tuscan day-trip options open up from here. Florence (about 2 hours by train) is the cradle of the Renaissance, with the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, the Ponte Vecchio and the Boboli Gardens. Pisa (about 1 hour) offers the Leaning Tower at the Piazza dei Miracoli alongside the cathedral and baptistery. La Spezia itself also serves as a second gateway to the Cinque Terre for those who missed it from Genoa.

After breakfast on board, Sun Princess arrives back in Civitavecchia and your 21-night Mediterranean cruise comes to a close. Disembark the ship and make your way back to your Rome hotel where you check in for the first of two post-cruise nights. The rest of the day is at leisure to continue exploring Rome with fresh eyes after the cruise, perhaps revisiting your favourite sights or finally crossing off ones you missed pre-cruise. Tonight, find a local trattoria for a Roman saltimbocca, abbacchio or a final bowl of cacio e pepe. Special Information:Transfer from Civitavecchia Port to your Rome hotel is not included; Civitavecchia is approximately 80km from central Rome (1 hour 15 minutes by road, 1 hour 15 minutes by direct train). Port transfers can be booked separately via Traveller Hub.

After breakfast, your final full day in Rome is at leisure. Take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel if you haven't already, climb the dome of St Peter's Basilica for one of the best views in Rome, visit the Borghese Gallery and Gardens in the city's green heart, or simply linger over a long lunch in Trastevere or Monti. The Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Capitoline Museums and Castel Sant'Angelo are all worth the time. Tonight, enjoy your final dinner in the Eternal City before flying home tomorrow.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and make your way to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your included international flight home . Settle in for the journey home as you reflect on six countries, a dozen iconic ports and the great cities of the Mediterranean. Customers who selected the optional Singapore or Hong Kong stopover will overnight in their chosen city on the way home. Special Information:Transfer from your Rome hotel to Fiumicino Airport is not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book Rome airport transfers for an easier departure experience (additional charges apply).

Welcome home. Your flight lands hometoday, completing your Mediterranean journey. We hope you return with memories of Rome's ancient streets, the Greek Islands of Mykonos and Santorini, the ruins of Pompeii and Ephesus, the colours of Cinque Terre and the great cities of Barcelona, Athens and the Eternal City herself. Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations - we look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure.