Adriatic, Corinth Canal & the Greek Islands

Welcome to Croatia. On arrival in Dubrovnik, youll be transferred to your Emerald luxury yacht to begin your voyage along one of Europes most celebrated coastlines. This evening, settle in, meet your fellow guests, and let the citys famous silhouette – terracotta rooftops rising behind great stone walls – set the tone for the journey ahead. Please book your flight to arrive into Dubrovnik prior to 07:00 PM.

Few cities announce themselves quite like Dubrovnik. Set along Croatias rugged Dalmatian Coast, its Old Town is encircled by massive stone walls completed in the 16th century and it is one of the finest examples of a medieval citadel in Europe. The limestone-paved streets within are lined with Baroque churches, Renaissance palaces, and the kind of architectural detail that rewards those who slow down to look. Beyond the walls, the Adriatic stretches south towards Montenegro and Albania, and the days ahead.

The sixth-largest island in the Adriatic, Korcula is among the most quietly rewarding in Croatia. Its main town – compact, walled, and perched on a small peninsula – is sometimes called Little Dubrovnik by locals. However, it has a character entirely its own: medieval churches, Gothic palaces, and photogenic squares that seem untouched by the pace of the wider world. Inland, the villages of Cara and Smokvica are known for producing some of Croatias finest dry white wines, and the islands relaxed pace makes it an ideal introduction to the Dalmatian island life that defines this stretch of the Adriatic.

Enclosed by medieval walls that climb steeply into the mountains above, Kotor is one of the Adriatics most compelling destinations. This World Heritage-listed city sits at the innermost point of the Bay of Kotor, a deep, fjord-like inlet that carves dramatically into Montenegros coastline. The combination of imposing mountains, calm water, and a remarkably preserved Old Town gives it an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on this voyage. Venetian palaces, cobblestone lanes, and café-lined squares reveal a city shaped by centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchange.

Sarandë curves around a crescent bay on Albanias southern coast, a relaxed coastal town with a lively promenade and an important ancient site nearby. Butrint, a short distance from the town, is a World Heritage-listed archaeological site of remarkable depth, its layers of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian history compressed into a landscape that feels almost improbably rich. From here, cross the Straits of Corfu to Greeces greenest island, a landscape of sandy coves, rugged hills, and groves of olive, cypress, and citrus trees that have defined this corner of the Ionian for centuries. 

Corfus Old Town is a place of genuine architectural distinction. Renaissance and Baroque influences are layered across narrow lanes and elegant squares that reflect the islands long history as a point of strategic and cultural significance in the Mediterranean. The Spianada, the largest square in Greece, sits at its heart, framed by the arched colonnades of the Liston. Beyond the town, the island opens into authentic villages, quiet beaches, and the kind of unhurried island life that has drawn visitors here for generations.

Parga sits on the Greek mainland with the ease of a place that has never needed to try too hard. Its harbour is watched over by a medieval castle that offers sweeping views across the town and the shimmering Ionian coastline below. The lanes that wind down from the castle are lined with traditional tavernas and bougainvillea-draped houses, and the beaches that frame the town are among the most appealing on this stretch of coast.

Connected to the Greek mainland by a narrow bridge, Lefkada has a different character from its island neighbours. The Castle of Agia Mavra, dating to the 14th century, stands at the islands northern tip as a reminder of the strategic importance this place once held. Beyond its history, Lefkada is known for its natural beauty — turquoise lagoons, dramatic white cliffs, and a wine culture that produces some of the Ionians most characterful local varieties.

The small port of Itea serves as the gateway to Delphi, the ancient sanctuary that the Greeks believed to be the centre of the world. The sites position on the slopes of Mount Parnassus gives some sense of why it held such powerful significance in the ancient world, and why it remains a deeply affecting place to visit today. Later, transit through the Corinth Canal, a slender 19th-century waterway cut through the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Ionian and Aegean seas. Few vessels can navigate this canal, and the experience of passing through its sheer rock walls at close quarters is one of the more extraordinary moments of the voyage.

A small, largely uninhabited rocky island at the heart of the Cyclades, Delos holds an outsized place in Greek mythology and archaeology. According to ancient tradition, it was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and for centuries it functioned as one of the most sacred sanctuaries in the Greek world. The sites extraordinary state of preservation, including temples, colonnaded avenues, and mosaic floors still intact, makes it one of the most significant archaeological visits in the Aegean. The afternoon brings a very different proposition: Mykonos, with its whitewashed lanes, blue-domed chapels, and iconic windmills, is one of the most recognisable islands in Greece, and its blend of traditional Cycladic character and cosmopolitan energy is as arresting in person as it appears in any image.

Paros offers a quieter version of Cycladic life than its famous neighbour. Its capital, Parikia, is a beautiful town with whitewashed houses with bright blue doors and window boxes thick with bougainvillea lining lanes that open unexpectedly onto ancient churches and marble squares. The islands interior is green and fertile, with vineyards and orchards of citrus and pomegranate, and its beaches are among the finest in the Aegean.

Your voyage concludes in Athens, the ancient birthplace of democracy and one of the worlds great cities, where the Acropolis still presides over a sprawling, vital metropolis. After farewelling your crew and fellow guests, youll be transferred from your Emerald luxury yacht to the airport for your onward or homebound flight, or to continue your journey. Please book your flight to depart out of Athens after 01:00 PM. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will operated unaltered from the itinerary states above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.