SO MANY HIGHLIGHTS
MSC Mediterranean Cruise with Tour of Turkey & Flights
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What's included
- Accommodation based on twin share room
- Baggage charge
- Cruise as per itinerary
- Cruise meals and non-chargeable entertainment
- Daily breakfast
- Entrance tickets to sites on tour
- Escorted tour
- Expert local guides
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- International flights from Australia
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Transport in air conditioned vehicles
- Airport transfers
- Any items or services not specified
- Cruise gratuities
- Cruise transfers
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Medical and emergency insurance
- Optional tours and activities
- Personal expenses
Med Cruise & Turkiye Tour Overview
Fly to Istanbul, where you’ll board impressive MSC Poesia for an exciting 11-night voyage. Spend time in the ancient capital of Athens. Discover Italian delights in Palermo on the isle of Sicily, Rome and Genoa. Before returning to Istanbul, drop anchor in Kusadasi, the port where you can join shore excursions to see the remarkable well-preserved ruins of Ephesus.
Then swap the cruise ship for a motor coach. While on the escorted tour, visit Istanbul’s great sights and lively bazaars. Honour ANZAC heroes at Gallipoli. Tour the 4000 year-old city of Troy and view the cascading thermal pools at Pamukkale. Enjoy time exploring the dreamlike landscapes of Cappadocia, learn about the founder of the first Turkish Republic in Ankara and much more.
Appreciate the ease of a Mediterranean cruise, the comfort of first class hotels on tour and the convenience of having flights included on this amazing journey!
SEE FULL ITINERARY
Inclusions at a glance
- Flights – Return economy airfares to Istanbul, Turkey
- Fly from Australia capital cities (prices may vary)
- Cruise – 11 nights Mediterranean Cruise from Istanbul
- Choice of cabin aboard MSC Poesia
- All meals & non-chargeable entertainment on the ship
- Tour accommodation – 12 nights in 4- to 5-star hotels
- 4 nights Istanbul
- 1 night Canakkale
- 2 nights Kusadasi
- 1 night Pamukkale
- 1 night Konya
- 2 nights Cappadocia
- 1 night Ankara
- Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
- Hotel porterage
- Meals on tour: 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 9 dinners
- Tour sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Services of English-speaking tour manager (days 14-25)
- Entrance fees per itinerary on tour
- Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring
Special features on tour
- At Gallipoli, visit the Anzac Cemetery, a memorial to the casualties of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
- Tour the classical 4000-year-old city of Troy immortalised in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad
- Visit Pergamum, a kingdom dating back to the 4th century, home to the Roman centre of Asklepion
- View Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famed for its sacred hot springs
- Visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic
- DAY 1
- DAYS 2-13
- DAY 13
- DAY 14
- DAY 15
- DAY 16
- DAY 17
- DAY 18
- DAY 19
- DAY 20
- DAY 21
- DAY 22
- DAY 23
- DAY 24
- DAY 25
Fly to Turkey
Board your flights in Australia and get set for your adventure in Turkey.
Med Cruise on MSC Poesia
Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
Day 2 |
Istanbul, Turkey |
Embark |
|
Day 3 |
Istanbul, Turkey |
1:00am |
|
Day 4 |
Athens (Piraeus), Greece |
8:00am |
6:00pm |
Day 5 |
At Sea |
||
Day 6 |
Palermo, Sicily, Italy |
8:00am |
4:00pm |
Day 7 |
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy |
9:00am |
6:00pm |
Day 8 |
Genoa, Italy |
8:00am |
5:00pm |
Day 9 |
At Sea |
||
Day 10 |
At Sea |
||
Day 11 |
Ephesus / Kusadasi, Turkey |
9:00am |
7:00pm |
Day 12 |
At Sea |
||
Day 13 |
Istanbul, Turkey |
7:00am |
Istanbul
Upon disembarkation in Istanbul, make your own way to the hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to explore this great city that’s at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Istanbul
Today is free to see more of Istanbul. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manger at approximately 7:30 PM.
Istanbul City Tour
Embark this morning on a tour* of Istanbul, the only city that straddles two continents. Your tour includes the Rustem Pasha Mosque, a 16th century Ottoman Mosque famous for its large quantities of Iznik tiles, which are set in a very wide variety of floral and geometric designs. Proceed to the lively Spice Market with its unforgettable aromas. Continue to the Topkapi Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultans housing the richness of 700 years. In the afternoon, visit the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, which houses a collection of Islamic writings, tiles, and carpets as well as various cultural displays that provide insight into Turkish life throughout history. Afterward head to Hippodrome, the place where chariot races and competitive athletic events took place during the Roman period. Conclude with a visit to St. Sophia, the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century, which was later converted to a mosque. This evening, savour dinner together
*Due to traffic congestion the order of sightseeing may change
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Anzac Cemetery, Drive to Canakkale
This morning, drive to the town of Gallipoli, site of the famous Ottoman victory against the Allies during World War I. Visit the Anzac Cemetery, a memorial to the casualties of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose fame grew back home as word of their heroic efforts spread. Afterwards, cross the Dardanelles by ferry and continue to the Canakkale province, located in northwest Turkey, where you will arrive in the early evening.
Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit Troy, Pergamum, Drive to Kusadasi
This morning, proceed to the classical city of Troy. Tour this 4000-year-old city and legendary centre of the Trojan War, made immortal by Homer's epic poem The Iliad. Then, drive to Pergamum, a powerful kingdom during the ancient Hellenistic period, and visit the Asclepion, the ancient Roman spa centre. Continue to Kusadasi, a city believed to be the birthplace of Homer, where you will arrive in the early evening.
Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Full Day in Kusadasi
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Kusadasi. Or, join the optional tour to Ancient Ephesus where the Temple of Artemis, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World," once stood. Walk along the 2000-year-old marble streets; see the Great Theatre, the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, and the Library of Celsus. Visit the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be her last residence and the Basilica of St. John. Following the tour, participate in a leather factory visit to shop or return to the hotel.
Optional: Full Day Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary with Lunch
Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Pamukkale Hot Springs, Necropolis, and Hierapolis
Depart Kusadasi and drive to Pamukkale, famous for its mineral-rich hot springs and white terraces. Visit the Necropolis and the ancient city of Hierapolis "Holy City," a UNESCO a World Heritage Site situated atop the Pamukkale hot springs. The Pamukkale hot springs have served as a therapeutic thermal spa since the 2nd century B.C. Tonight, gather together for dinner.
Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Konya
Today, travel from Pamukkale, the "Cotton Castle," to Konya, a city renowned for its Seljuk architecture and also as the home of the "Whirling Dervishes." Arrive in the afternoon and visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana with its distinctive fluted dome of turquoise tiles. View works of the 13th century leader Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, one of the greatest mystical poets of Islam. The Mevlevi Sufi order was founded to follow his teachings. After exploring the museum, join your fellow travellers for dinner together.
Overnight: Konya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit Caravanserai of Sultanhan en route to Cappadocia
Depart for Cappadocia, visiting the magnificent Caravanserai of Sultanhan en-route. Afterward, visit Guzelyurt, a fine example of cave dwellings and Greek influences in the Cappadocia region. Following a special home hosted lunch, continue to Nevsehir in Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, visit a carpet atelier and watch a demonstration of carpet weaving. After, check into your hotel with free time before dinner. Tonight, attend the optional Whirling Dervish performance; their captivating mystical ritual connects one in infinite spinning to perfect harmony.
Optional: Whirling Dervishes Performance (PM)
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Sightseeing in Cappadocia
Awake very early to participate in the optional hot air Balloon Ride that takes you soaring over the magnificent Cappadocian landscape with its incredible fairy chimney rock formations -- the feeling is both serene and sublime. Then, explore Cappadocia with your group to see Guvercinlik, Uchisar, Pasabag, and the Devrent Valley. Famed for temples and houses cut directly into the region's spectacular rock formations, Cappadocia has captivated travellers for centuries. Perhaps, opt to join the optional half day tour of Cappadocia that includes the Open-Air Museum in Goreme Valley; see early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes. Explore the village of Avanos, famous for its beautiful old houses and onyx, and visit a local pottery shop. The tour ends at the fascinating Ozkonak Underground City, built on the northern slopes of Mt. Idis. Return to the hotel with free time before dinner tonight.
Optional: Cappadocia Balloon Ride (AM)
Optional: Half Day Cappadocia (PM)
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Ankara, Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk
This morning, depart for Ankara, the capital and the second largest city of Turkey. Upon arrival, visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. Leading up to the Mausoleum, also known as the Anitkabir, lies a vast brick courtyard and monumental avenue lined with Neo-Hittite stone statues and cenotaphs beneath its colonnades. The most noted cenotaphs within the complex are those of General Ismet Inonu, a close comrade of Ataturk's and his successor, and that of Ataturk himself, a large and highly decorative marble cenotaph, beneath which lies his tomb. Continue to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum built in two Ottoman buildings located near Ankara Castle. The museum features exhibits of Anatolian archaeological artifacts, as well as artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the present.
Overnight: Ankara
Meals: Breakfast
Travel to Istanbul
Depart for Istanbul, arriving in the early afternoon. Leisure time to explore on your own on this last day in Turkey. Perhaps, embark on the optional cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding straits separating Europe and Asia. View humble fishing villages and suspension bridges set against the dramatic outline of the Strait. Tonight at dinner, bid farewell to your Tour Manager.
Optional: Half Day Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise & Grand Bazaar (PM)
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Depart Turkey - Fly to Australia
The tour ends after breakfast, then it’s time to check out of the hotel and if you're flying out today, make your way to the airport
Meals: Breakfast
More about Greece
More about Italy
More about Turkey Discover Turkey
- Drink a real Turkish coffee. This isn't just a heart-starter in the morning, it's a ritual that should be savoured and appreciated in a local cafe.
- Try a Turkish bath, or hammam. You'll be steamed, scrubbed and pounded in the quest for wellness, but it will be worth it and it's one of those things you need to do at least once in your life!
My Travel Experience Review
Enjoy the ease of cruising to Greece and Italy, along with an escorted tour in Turkey. This trip is a great affordable option with a good balance of included activities and free time. Plus, flights are included from Australia.
More about this tour
See the brochure
Click here to view, download or print a copy of this cruise and tour brochure.
The brochure includes details of the inclusions, itinerary and other relevant travel information. Information contained in the brochure is subject to change and at the time of booking you will be provided with an updated copy that includes the current details for your reservation.
Tour departures
Departs Australia on 01 November 2023 for the lowest price.
Price may vary or change without notice, depending on your travel date.
Please ask us for your preferred departure date and we will advise availability and cost.
Let us know if you would like to travel at other times of the year.
Tour start time
The start time listed for this tour is just a guide and details will be confirmed upon confirmation.
If you book international flights, you will be advised of the flight details and check-in times when your reservation is confirmed.
Is this tour right for you?
This moderately active program covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect from three to four hours walking on some touring days. The pace is moderate, however a majority is over uneven surfaces, stairs, steps and significant slopes. Bus rides to Ankara and Istanbul are approximately seven to eight hours, which may require early wake-ups. Those who are claustrophobic or have pre-existing knee or back conditions may want to avoid visiting the Underground Cities in Cappadocia. Passageways are narrow and can require crouching to navigate. The tour departs during the off season, please contact us if you wish to travel during the main tourist seasons.
Important to remember...
The day-by-day tour descriptions are intended as an indicative guide only. Travel by nature is unpredictable. Weather patterns, road accessibility, public holidays, travel restrictions and a multitude of other factors may necessitate itinerary changes that are ultimately for the client's benefit. It is essential that travellers are flexible and open minded in this regard.
Speak to a travel specialist
The My Travel Experience team are travel experts and we're here to help you enjoy the best holiday - from the time you start to plan your trip until the day you return home. We are only a phone call or email away whenever you need us, so please contact us today with any questions.
Email [email protected]. Phone 1300 168 910 (in Australia) or +61 400 226 454 (from overseas or via mobile).
New safety measures, more flexibility and greater peace of mind.
The wellbeing and safety of our passengers and staff is always a priority, especially as we adjust to a new world for travellers. My Travel Experience is committed to ensuring your peace of mind with customer-friendly booking practices and enhanced health and safety standards on our trips.
To help you book with confidence, we will assist you if any unexpected situations arise and My Travel Experience also offers clients as much flexibility as possible when making bookings.
How to make a booking:
The travel deal is valid for a limited time and can be withdrawn without notice. Please contact us for current rates.
Advertised price is based on lead-price departure(s) and rates will be advised for your preferred travel date prior to any payment being required.
All prices are per person, based on twin share, and listed in Australian dollars (AUD). Lead price was correct as of 11 July 2023.
The package is subject to confirmation at the time of booking and prices may change without notice. Booking conditions and cancellation fees apply.
Please read My Travel Experience Booking Terms & Conditions prior to making a reservation. By booking any travel service with us, you have agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions.
To make a booking please call My Travel Experience on 1300 168 910 or email [email protected].
You can also select a trip and request it via this website - please enter your preferred departure date (if known) and the number of people travelling. If you wish to submit an enquiry, please let us know your travel dates plus any other information that will help us provide a quote, such as departure city and travel preferences.
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