9-night Mediterranean cruise: Istanbul to Civitavecchia, Rome on Norwegian Viva
The 9-Day Greek Isles from Istanbul to Rome: Santorini, Athens & Mykonos is a 9-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Norwegian Viva, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. Departing Istanbul on September 7, 2026 and arriving in Civitavecchia, Rome on September 16, 2026, the voyage visits 10 ports including Kusadasi, Santorini, Mykonos. Fares start from $1,769 per person.
Fixed editorial images from the places on this itinerary. They stay stable each time you return to this sailing.
Istanbul
A shore excursion on your MSC Mediterranean cruise can be the opportunity to discover İstanbul which stands astride two continents, Europe and Asia.
As if its spectacular geographical location were not enough, it can also boast of being the only city to have played capital to consecutive Christian and Islamic empires, a role that has shaped the region’s history for more than 2500 years and bequeathed to İstanbul a staggering wealth of attractions.
Most cruise visitors spend all their holiday time in Sultanahmet, home to İstanbul’s main sightseeing attractions: the church of Aya Sofya, the greatest legacy of the Byzantine Empire; the Topkapı Palace, heart of the Ottoman Empire; and the massive Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque). Here also are the ancient Hippodrome, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (housed in the former Palace of İbrahim Paşa), the eerily lit Yerebatan Sarnıcı, a fascinating Byzantine underground cistern, and the Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), the largest covered bazaar in the world.
The monumental architecture, attractive parks and gardens, street-side cafés, and the benefits of a relatively traffic-free main road combine to make this area pleasant for both sightseeing and staying on an MSC Mediterranean cruise excursion. İstanbul’s Ottoman-era Grand Bazaar gets more than its fair share of souvenir-hungry visitors.
The area around it, however, is relatively little explored, which is a shame as it holds some very worthwhile attractions, from the historic Cembirlitaş Hamamı, one of the best Turkish baths in the country, to the city’s very best mosque, the hilltop Süleymaniye Camii. The best single reason to head across to the Asian shore of the city is to experience a Bosphorus cruise. The views from the Bosphorus are superb, with domes and minarets dominating the skyline of the Old City, and skyscrapers the business districts beyond Beyoğlu.
Kusadasi
Kusadasi in Turkey is the gateway to one of the most legendary cities of the ancient world: Ephesus. St. Paul preached in its Great Theater, while the facade of the Celsus Library survives as a testament to the city’s role as a center of learning and culture.
Not far from Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis (also known as the Temple of Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, once stood, drawing pilgrims from around the Mediterranean. While it no longer stands, it is possible to walk amongst its foundations and the remains of its towering columns.
Other historic sites can also be found nearby: The House of Mary is believed to be the home of Jesus’s mother at the end of her life, and the Basilica of St. John, constructed in the 6th century, marks the location of his tomb. (Like Mary, he spent his final years in Ephesus.) Nearby, the Selcuk fortress reflects the period of Byzantine and Ottoman control of the region.
From ancient wonders to holy sites, there are few ports in the Mediterranean as magical as Kusadasi, and a day here is a day spent in the company of some of antiquity's greatest figures.
Santorini
The guests look for a place on board the ship in good time to enjoy the entrance to the port of Fira, the capital of Santorini. Santorin refers to a Greek archipelago in the south of the Cyclades and at the same time its main island. Here a cliff rises up to 350 m above sea level. Nowhere else in the Aegean Sea is the volcanic origin of the Cyclades so clearly visible as here. Because the impressively high and many kilometers wide rock massif is nothing more than a crater wall.
Santorini consists of the main island of the same name, Santorini, which is optionally also called Santorini and Thira, as well as four other Cyclades. With Thirasia, the second largest island and the small uninhabited rock Aspronisi, Santorini forms the geological remains of an outer crater rim. In the middle of the 400 m deep caldera rise the two volcanic islands Palea Kamini and Nea Kamini. They are also uninhabited, apart from the people who receive boat excursions here during the day. On a cruise you will experience this extraordinary island of Greece with the dreamy white houses, black beaches and volcanic stories.
Forward-facing Club Balcony Suite With Large Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $3,469
$385 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
Family Suite With Large Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $3,769
$418 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
Forward-facing Suite With Master Bedroom & Large Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $3,919
$435 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
Family Suite With Master Bedroom & Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $4,019
$446 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
The Haven Penthouse With Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $4,819
$535 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
The Haven 2-bedroom Family Villa With Large Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $7,139
$793 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
The Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite With Large Balcony
Cabin grade
Available
from $11,989
$1,332 / night
per person · incl. taxes & fees
Prices verified Aug 28, 2026
Prices come from third-party data feeds via Norwegian Cruise Line and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works
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The second stunning ship in the Prima Class, Norwegian Viva® is designed for you to live life to the fullest. Stretch out, way out, in some of our most spacious accommodation. Stay connected to the ocean along the 360° Ocean Boulevard or by enjoying a dip in the Infinity pool. And with high staff-to-guest levels, you’ll always feel prioritized and pampered. From our three-story race track and immersive virtual-reality games to the luxurious Mandara Spa® and mesmerizing three-story theatre that transforms into a Vegas-style nightclub, get ready to live it up on Norwegian Viva from sunrise to long after the sun has set.
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