Cruise description

38 Night Cruise sailing from Rome to Tilbury aboard Aegean Odyssey. Hotel stays pre-cruise in Rome.

38 Night Cruise sailing from Rome to Tilbury aboard Aegean Odyssey. Hotel stays pre-cruise in Rome.

This epic grand voyage stretches from a two-night hotel stay in Rome across the central Mediterranean, to cruise around the western coast of Europe to the shores of England, Holland and Scandinavia.Just some of the many wonders you will experience along the way include the Classical and Renaissance masterpieces of Italy; the islands of Elba, Corsica and Menorca; Portugal and two nights in Spanish Seville; river cruising in France; the Normandy coast; Falmouth and Dartmouth in England; and the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.

Our first ever cruise to Norway then begins as you enter one of the largest fjords in the world, Hardangerfjord, to explore the spectacular landscapes surrounding the village of Geiranger and the port of Olden.

With shore excursions in the cities of Bergan, Stavanger and Kristiansand, this forty-one day odyssey includes the nation’s capital of Oslo, recently voted one of the best places to live in Europe, before concluding with time in the Dutch city of Amsterdam.

Highlights of this cruise:

Rome
Rome is one of the most popular cities in the world and is a history lesson in itself. Key sites include the Vatican City, The Forum, the Colosseum and the ruins of the Circus Maximus. There are many museums and art galleries, with works by Raphael, Bottecelli, Pinturicchio and Belini and many more.

The Vatican City has many spectacular buildings and churches to visit principle amongst which is the Sistine Chapel with its Michelangelo ceiling. It is the world's smallest independent sovereign state and also features St. Peter's Basilica was built over 1,500 years ago the Vatican Library hand the Vatican Garden.

Modern Rome is a city of restaurants, open piazza's, wonderful shopping and more.

Bonifacio
Bonifacio is a town and commune near the southern tip of the island of Corsica, in the département of Corse-du-Sud, France. It is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea, separated from Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio.

Bonifacio is split into two sections. The vieille ville (old town), or la Haute Ville (the Upper city, where most inhabitants live), on the site of a 9th century citadel. It is situated close to beaches and is the gateway to the Lavezzi Islands.

Seville
Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of Andalusia and of the province of Sevilla. It is a city that is steeped in history, boasting many magnificent monuments and buildings, some which date from the 6th century.

One of the richest areas of the city is the Barrio Santa Cruz, with its narrow streets and whitewashed houses. Near here is the Plaza de España, designed as the centrepiece of the Spanish Americas fair, and on the edge of the beautiful Maria Luisa Park.

Other attractions in Seville include the famous Gothic cathedral, third largest church in the world; the Giralda, a Moorish minaret that is the city's landmark; and the Alacazar Palace, where Spanish kings and queens still reside. There are also many museums in Seville, including the spectacular Museo de Bellas Artes.

Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city in the south west of France. It is the capital city of the Aquitaine region and is famous for its many varieties of wine, which are considered among the best in the world.

Bordeaux is a historical city with many tourist attractions. The city itself boasts elegant neoclassical architecture, wide avenues, and attractive public squares and parks. The centre of town lies between Place Gambetta and the Garonne River. There are many fascinating museums and art galleries, excellent shopping and beautiful gardens to enjoy.

Bordeaux also offers a great selection of cafes and restaurants in the Place de la Victoire, the Place du Parlement or the Rue de Parlement Sainte Catherine. Sample some of Bordeaux’s lively nightlife by checking out the city’s late night dance venues on the Quai de Paludate.

Honfleur
Honfleur is a sea and river port of call, located between the tidal Estuary of the Seine and the "Plateau d'Auge", France. It is a city rich in artistic and historic heritage with a picturesque port area characterized by slate-covered houses. Visitors to Honfleur gravitate towards the old centre, around the Vieux Bassin, and the Promenade. The church of St-Étienne nearby is now the Musée de la Marine.

The town's artistic past can be discovered in the Musée Eugène Boudin. Admission also gives you access to the detached belfry of the church of Ste-Catherine. Just down the hill, is Les Maisons Satie, the red-timbered house of the composer Erik Satie, born there in 1866. Inside is Normandy's most unusual and enjoyable museum.

Tilbury
Tilbury is located on the north bank of the River Thames, in the borough of Thurrock in England, at the point where the river suddenly narrows to about 740 metres in width. Tilbury is a modern town, which is home to one of Europe’s largest container ports, together with a international cruise terminal.

To the west of Tilbury is the popular Lakeside shopping complex, and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe.To the East is St. Catherine’s Church which is possibly on the site of one of the first Christian monasteries developed in the 7th C. Henry VIII built riverside block houses at East and West Tilbury, these later becoming Coalhouse and Tilbury Forts.

Olden
Olden is located in the Strynn municipality of Norway. It is the southernmost of the three short branches at the inner end of Nordfjord terminates at Olden from which a lovely valley, Oldedalen, strikes due south for some 20 kilometres between slopes rising sharply to more than 1700 metres to the edge of the Jostedalsbre.

Olden is a base for a journey to the million years old Briksdal Glacier, which is the best-known of the Jostedal Glacier's many icy arms. The turbulent river, which feeds the beautiful Olden Lake, forms magnificent falls that you can see on your ride up to the stunning glacier.

Oslo
Oslo is the capital city of Norway. It is situated on a fjord and is surrounded by forests. It has developed into a thriving city with many restaurants, nightclubs, cafes, shopping complexes and tourist attractions.

Oslo offers some 50 museums and many art galleries. Amongst the internationally known attractions are: the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen.

New attractions in Oslo include the Nobel Peace Centre and the Holocaust Center.