FOR ROMANCE
Two overnight stops, in Istanbul and Venice, make Holland America Line’s 12-day itinerary stand out from the crowd. Moderately sized Nieuw Amsterdam, which takes just 2,106 passengers, leaves Venice for an eastern Mediterranean cruise that includes a day at the seaside town of Katakolon for excursions to the ancient Greek ruins of Olympia, then on to Piraeus for a day in Athens. Scenic cruising through the Dardanelles, the 37-mile wide waterway that divides Europe from Asia, ends in Istanbul for two days of sightseeing that might include the sublime beauty of the Blue Mosque, the grandeur of Topkapi Palace where the Ottoman sultans kept their harem, or perhaps the Grand Bazaar full of spices, rugs and leather goods. There are calls at the ridiculously picturesque Greek island of Mykonos, historic Rhodes and Crete, before heading north to Croatia’s UNESCO-listed island, Korčula, where 400 years of Venetian rule is reflected in its charming streets, then an overnight stop in Venice itself – possibly the most romantic city in the world.
*The Mediterranean Empires cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam departs on 9 and 21 July, with prices from £1,849pp, based on two people sharing, on a cruise only basis (0244 338 8605; hollandamerica.com).