Itinerary

Day 1 Jan 9, 2027 Bari Departs 20:30 Bari, capital of the province of Apulia, lies on southern Italy's Adriatic coast. Its busy port is a leading commercial and industrial centre as well as a transit point for travellers catching ferries across the Adriatic to Greece. Bari comprises a new and an old town. To the north, on a promontory between the old and new harbours, lies the picturesque old town, or Citta Vecchia, with a maze of narrow, crooked streets. To the south is the spacious and regularly planned new town, which has developed considerably since 1930, when the Levant Fair was first held here. The heart of the modern town is Piazza della Liberta. The busy thoroughfare, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, separates the new town from the old. At the eastern end of the Corso begins the Lungomare Nazario Sauro, a magnificent seafront promenade that runs along the old harbour. Bari and the Apulian region were long recognized for their strategic location, attracting a succession of colonizers such as the Normans, Moors and Spaniards, each leaving their mark. Romanesque churches and powerful castles built by 13th-century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Swabia are among the most impressive buildings in the region. Bari's Basilica of San Nicola became famous as the final resting place of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus). According to local tradition, sailors from Bari went to Myra in Turkey, stole the saint's remains and brought them back to Bari. St. Nicholas was the popular bishop of Myra, who was revered as the patron of sailors, virgins and children. In addition to unspoiled scenery and historical sites, Apulia is also known for its hearty cuisine that has evolved from more than 2,000 years of foreign influences. While not as famous as other areas in Italy, Bari and its surrounding region hold many surprise attractions that make it well worth exploring this ancient land and its capital at the heel of Italy's boot. Bari Bari port guide Search cruises visiting Bari

Bari photo — Day 1 Jan 9, 2027 Bari Departs 20:30 Bari, capital of the province of Apulia, lies on southern Italy's Adriatic coast. Its busy port is a leading commercial and industrial centre as well as a transit point for travellers catching ferries across the Adriatic to Greece. Bari comprises a new and an old town. To the north, on a promontory between the old and new harbours, lies the picturesque old town, or Citta Vecchia, with a maze of narrow, crooked streets. To the south is the spacious and regularly planned new town, which has developed considerably since 1930, when the Levant Fair was first held here. The heart of the modern town is Piazza della Liberta. The busy thoroughfare, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, separates the new town from the old. At the eastern end of the Corso begins the Lungomare Nazario Sauro, a magnificent seafront promenade that runs along the old harbour. Bari and the Apulian region were long recognized for their strategic location, attracting a succession of colonizers such as the Normans, Moors and Spaniards, each leaving their mark. Romanesque churches and powerful castles built by 13th-century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Swabia are among the most impressive buildings in the region. Bari's Basilica of San Nicola became famous as the final resting place of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus). According to local tradition, sailors from Bari went to Myra in Turkey, stole the saint's remains and brought them back to Bari. St. Nicholas was the popular bishop of Myra, who was revered as the patron of sailors, virgins and children. In addition to unspoiled scenery and historical sites, Apulia is also known for its hearty cuisine that has evolved from more than 2,000 years of foreign influences. While not as famous as other areas in Italy, Bari and its surrounding region hold many surprise attractions that make it well worth exploring this ancient land and its capital at the heel of Italy's boot. Bari Bari port guide Search cruises visiting Bari

Day 3 Jan 11, 2027 Athens (Piraeus), Greece 07:00 – 16:30 9.5 hrs ashore A city of legend, civilisation and enduring culture, Athens is a majestic and magical urban sprawl. Extraordinary elegance and grace combine with grit and graft in Greece's capital, where highways encase ruins from antiquity, and gleaming museums and galleries stand beside concrete sprayed with edgy street art. These contrasts enhance and elevate the wonders of this 2,500-year-old city, however, which can count notable contributions to philosophy, drama and democracy, among its global legacy. Piraeus' giant port and naval base welcome you to the edge of the Athens' urban area. From there it's a simple jaunt to the centre. The majestic ancient citadel of the Acropolis dominates an elevated platform and is a constant presence as you explore the city. The wonderful remains of the columned temple of the Parthenon - which date back to the 5th century BC - stand here, representing the pinnacle of classical architecture. The nearby Acropolis Museum adds context to your visit and frames the broad views from its giant glass windows. Or rise up Mount Lycabettus, to be rewarded with perhaps Athens' best panorama of the Acropolis sitting high over the city on its grand stage. See the marble horseshoe of the Old Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, for more of the city's enduring legacy. Elsewhere, golden beaches and temples stretch out along the coastline, should you wish to explore a little further afield. Coffee is an art form to the Greeks, and it's an unwritten rule that coffee time must never be rushed. So prepare to settle down for a couple of hours and lose yourself in a good chat. Feeling hungry - try traditional souvlaki made with sauces handed from generation to generation. Athens (Piraeus), Greece Athens (Piraeus), Greece port guide Search cruises visiting Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Day 4 Jan 12, 2027 Izmir 07:00 – 14:30 7.5 hrs ashore IZMIR Formerly known as Smyrna, Izmir is located in the Aegean province, which, of all the seven geographical regions of Turkey, enjoys the finest climate. In population it is the third city in Turkey. It is located in an area whose magnificent history has made it a tourist centre. It lies at the centre of the most important land, air and sea communication network in the ancient Aegean region. Izmir is lively and cosmopolitan, also scenic with palm-lined promenades lining the bay, backed by graceful avenues and attractive horizontal terraces rising up the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Visitors come to see the sights, and haggle in the colourful bazaar. Izmir Izmir port guide Search cruises visiting Izmir

Day 5 Jan 13, 2027 Istanbul Arrives 09:00 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. Istanbul Istanbul port guide Search cruises visiting Istanbul

Istanbul photo — Day 5 Jan 13, 2027 Istanbul Arrives 09:00 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. Istanbul Istanbul port guide Search cruises visiting Istanbul

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 148-day span: $342 · range $342–$422

Lower than 84% of peers This short-break sailing's from-price per night is lower than 84% of comparable sailings.

same cruise line, destination, and duration · from-price per night · as of Aug 24, 2026 · Broader cohort: same cruise line and duration, compared by from-price per night.

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

from $448

$112 / night

Oceanview

from $422

$105 / night

Fare rows

JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW WITH OBSTRUCTED VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $422

$105 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $472

$118 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW WITH OBSTRUCTED VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $646

$161 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $696

$174 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Balcony

from $702

$175 / night

Fare rows

JUNIOR BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $702

$175 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

JUNIOR BALCONY FANTASTICA

Cabin grade

Available

from $926

$231 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Suite

from $862

$215 / night

Fare rows

DELUXE SUITE AUREA

Cabin grade

Available

from $862

$215 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

JUNIOR SUITE AUREA

Cabin grade

Available

from $902

$225 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

DELUXE SUITE AUREA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,086

$271 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

JUNIOR SUITE AUREA

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,126

$281 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Prices verified Aug 24, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via MSC Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Lowest fares with no residency, age, or service requirement — verify eligibility at booking. How our pricing works

Price history

Cheaper than 80%

30 days

We've tracked this sailing's fares every day for the past 148 days. Here's what each cabin type has cost — today's fare is cheaper than 80% of days we've recorded.

Price history by cabin type
Cabin	Current	Lowest	Highest
Inside	$448	$342 · Jul 21	$448 · Aug 24
Oceanview	$422	$422 · Jul 21	$479 · Jul 6
Balcony	$702	$702 · Jul 21	$759 · Jun 27
Suite	$862	$862 · Jul 21	$919 · Mar 30

Lowest and highest fares we've recorded for each cabin type · verified 3 hours ago.

○ = last seen (sold out or delisted). · Verified 3 hours ago.

Lowest fares with no residency, age, or service requirement — verify eligibility at booking. How our pricing works

Cabin grades

Lines step when the price changed; a gap means sold out or no public fare that day. Plot up to 6 at once.

Show all 13 cabin grades

Cabin grades and pricing
Name	Supplier code	Type
BALCONY BELLA GUARANTEED	BB	Balcony
JUNIOR BALCONY FANTASTICA	BM1	Balcony
INTERIOR BELLA GUARANTEED	IB	Inside
JUNIOR INTERIOR FANTASTICA	IM1	Inside
JUNIOR INTERIOR FANTASTICA	IM2	Inside
Inside	SPL	Inside
OCEAN VIEW BELLA GUARANTEED	OB	Oceanview
PREMIUM OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA	OL1	Oceanview
JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA	OM1	Oceanview
JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW FANTASTICA	OM2	Oceanview
JUNIOR OCEAN VIEW WITH OBSTRUCTED VIEW FANTASTICA	OO	Oceanview
DELUXE SUITE AUREA	SR1	Suite
JUNIOR SUITE AUREA	SR2	Suite

Ship

Your ship MSC Lirica 4★ **65,591** GT **2,548** guests Built **2003** There is a relaxed atmosphere on board aided by the elegant interiors and unimpeded ocean views from the lounges’ floor-to-ceiling windows. There are plenty of lounges and bars to enjoy a pre-dinner or pre-theatre drink including the swish Beverly Hills Bar and traditional English-style Lord Nelson Pub and the Broadway Theatre plays host to jaw-dropping entertainment 6 nights a week. Spacious new cabins with balconies offering superb panoramic views and we have enlarged the restaurant and buffet areasto serve up an even greater variety of culinary treats. MSC Lirica MSC Lirica ship guide Search cruises on MSC Lirica

Similar cruises

Other sailing dates

Same itinerary, different dates. Prices per person · incl. taxes & fees.

Other available sailing dates
View	From pp	Departs
	from $485 $121 / night	Oct 31, 2026Voyage OR20261031BRIIST
	Call for price	Jan 9, 2027Voyage LX20270109BRIIST
	from $340 $85 / night	Mar 13, 2027Voyage OR20270313BRIIST
	from $459 $114 / night	Oct 23, 2027Voyage OR20271023BRIIST