Explora Journeys · 10-Night Cruise
A Journey through Adriatic Gems & Historical Riches
10 nights aboard EXPLORA II, round-trip from Fusina (Venice).
Journey Overview
10 nights, 8 ports, 4 countries.
Departing the waterways of Venice, EXPLORA II traces the Adriatic’s eastern shore, calling at Zadar’s stone gates and Dubrovnik’s encircling ramparts before turning south towards Athens and the ancient ground of Ephesus near Kusadasi. From there the route gathers the Cyclades at Syros, the white cliffs and clear shallows of the wider Aegean, then returns by way of Bari’s old quarter and the marble lanes of Trogir, closing the loop where it began, back among Venice’s canals.
The Itinerary
Fusina (Venice), Italy
Embarkation 12:00 – 16:00 · Departure 19:00
Venice rewards a slow eye. Drift the Grand Canal by gondola, cross the hump-backed bridges to Piazza San Marco for the Basilica and the Doge's Palace, then slip down narrow passages to quieter campi and churches. Watch glassblowers shape Murano furnaces, pause at the Bridge of Sighs, and let the city's painted, water-bound order unfold around you.
Zadar, Croatia
09:00 – 18:00
Enter Zadar through its Venetian gates and stone walls to find a centre of carved churches and old wells. The Sea Organ turns the tide into music, while the nearby Monument to the Sun gathers light at dusk. Climb a bell tower for the view, or head inland to the rivers and falls of the surrounding national parks.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
09:00 – 18:00
Dubrovnik wears its ramparts like a crown, the limestone old town threaded with alleys, palazzi and baroque churches behind the grand Pile Gate. Walk the walls above the Adriatic, kayak beneath the forts, or take the short crossing to wooded Lokrum for its gardens and quiet paths. Beyond lie the vineyards of Konavle and the old town of Cavtat.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
A day held entirely at sea. EXPLORA II keeps its own unhurried rhythm, the horizon unbroken on every side, and the hours open to whatever you favour, the spa, the pool, a long lunch or a book left unfinished. There is a particular ease to time spent between ports, asking nothing and offering everything.
Sea dayPiraeus (Athens), Greece
09:00 – 19:00
Athens carries its history lightly. The Acropolis and the Parthenon hold the high ground above a city of galleries, markets and tavernas, where the old and the contemporary keep easy company. Wander the streets below, then make for the harbour at Piraeus towards evening, where the bars are dim, the beer cold, and the fishing boats slip out for the night's catch.
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Türkiye
09:00 – 19:00
Inland from Kusadasi, the marble avenues of Ephesus rise from fields of cotton and olives, the great temple once raised to Artemis still legible among the columns and shrines. Further on, the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale pool warm water across the hillside. Visit the weavers at their looms, and savour the region's filo, feta and a small cup of Turkish coffee.
Syros, Greece
08:00 – 18:00
Just across the water from Mykonos, Syros keeps its own composure. Its capital, Ermoupoli, once the trading heart of the Aegean, is a neo-classical town of marble boulevards, the waterfront cafes of Little Venice and the Apollo Theatre. Climb to Ano Syros, the hilltop village the Venetians settled, crowned by the cathedral of San Giorgio, then seek out the island's quieter coves.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
Another day given over to the open water. The ship moves at its own measured pace, and the day arranges itself around small pleasures, the warmth of the deck, the turn of the light on the sea, conversation that need not hurry. Between one shore and the next, there is time simply to be aboard.
Sea dayBari, Italy
08:00 – 19:00
Bari Vecchia is a knot of medieval lanes where the basilica holds the relics of Saint Nicholas and grandmothers shape orecchiette in their doorways. Beyond the Norman fortress and harbour-front theatre lie the coves of Polignano a Mare. Inland wait the conical trulli of Alberobello and the cave-dwellings of Matera, carved into Puglia's pale limestone.
Trogir, Croatia
08:00 – 17:00
Trogir is a small island town of marble lanes and creamy stone, its Romanesque, Renaissance and baroque layers held within UNESCO walls. Gather in the Gothic square, step inside the Cathedral of St. Lawrence and climb its bell tower, then walk out to the Kamerlengo Fortress. Nearby Split guards Diocletian's Palace, and Krka's waterfalls lie a short way inland.
Fusina (Venice), Italy
Arrival 08:00 · Disembarkation 09:15 – 10:30
A last morning in Venice before the journey closes. Return to the Grand Canal and the painted churches, climb the campanile for a final view across the rooftops, or simply follow the water back to Piazza San Marco. The city that opened the voyage now sees it home, its bridges and canals as quietly absorbing as on the first day.
Explora Journeys · All-Inclusive
Every journey includes
- All dining across the ship's six restaurants, cafés and 24-hour in-suite dining
- Fine wines, champagne, spirits, cocktails and specialty coffees, anywhere on board
- All gratuities and service charges
- An in-suite bar, replenished daily to your taste
- High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Curated shoreside experiences and port-to-town transfers where offered
Your Ship
EXPLORA II
Explora's ships are all-suite and ocean-front — there isn't an inside cabin on board. Pale, calm interiors borrow the codes of the grand European hotel rather than the megaship: six restaurants plus a dozen bars and cafés, four pools including a retractable-roof Conservatory, and one of the most generous spa and thermal areas at sea. At roughly fifty gross tons per guest, the space-per-person ratio is close to double that of a mainstream cruise ship.
More on Explora JourneysSuites
461–463
All ocean-front
Guests
~922
Double occupancy
Restaurants
Six
Plus cafés & bars
Pools
Four
Incl. the Conservatory
