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Southampton

19 nights · Mediterranean

19-night Mediterranean cruise from Southampton on Arcadia

The Eastern Mediterranean Discovery is a 19-night Mediterranean cruise aboard Arcadia, operated by P&O Cruises. Departing Southampton on October 2, 2026, the voyage visits 8 ports including Motril, Granada, Palermo, Athens (Piraeus), Greece. CruiseCaptain has fare history for this sailing.

Length
19 nights
Departs
Oct 2, 2026
Returns
Oct 21, 2026
Ports of call
8
Days at sea
11

Voyage code J613

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Why this route stands out

A closer look at the journey

Fixed editorial images from the places on this itinerary. They stay stable each time you return to this sailing.

Southampton

Cruises from Southampton are part of a storied maritime heritage. Famous ships have sailed from Southampton port and, before commercial air travel, it was the gateway to the world with Hollywood celebrities like Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor passing through to board a Southampton cruise. In its atmospheric Old Town, 12th-century churches, cobbled streets, and timber-framed houses like the impressive Tudor House & Garden sit side-by-side, surrounded by one of the most complete Medieval city walls in the UK where the Bargate – the ancient entrance – still stands intact. There are bustling marina-side bars, shiny shopping districts and a vibrant cultural quarter where the Mayflower Theatre puts on West End musicals and the SeaCity Museum catalogues Southampton’s seafaring past. Some of England’s most impressive landmarks are an easy drive away, including the Neolithic wonder Stonehenge, the picturesque spa city Bath or Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern and Tower Bridge in the bustling capital of London. Discover 5,000 years of history and more on a Southampton cruise.

Palermo

The capital of Sicily is situated on a crescent-shaped bay on the island's north coast. Once the intellectual capital of southern Europe, Palermo has always been at the crossroads of civilization. Due to its favourable location, Sicily's most interesting city has attracted almost every people and culture touching the Mediterranean world. Its most unique characteristic is a harmonious blend of Arab-Norman cultures mixed with Byzantine and Jewish elements, which created some unforgettable and resplendent works of art. Phoenician traders first colonized Palermo in the 6th-century BC, but it was the Carthaginians, who built the important fortress here that caught the covetous eye of the Romans. After the first Punic War, the Romans took control of the city in the 3rd-century BC. Following several invasions by the Vandals, Sicily was settled by Arabs, who made the country an emirate and Palermo a showpiece capital that rivalled in splendour both Cordoba and Cairo. The city became a magical place of palaces and mosques, minarets and palm trees. In the 11th-century Palermo was conquered by the Norman ruler, Roger de Hauteville. During the Normans' hundred-year occupation, the city experienced a remarkable period of enlightenment and a flourishing of the arts. Counting a population of more than 300,000, Palermo became the centre of Norman rule and one of the most important trading centres between East and West. Eventually, Palermo was incorporated into the “Kingdom of the Two Sicilies” under the Swabian ruler Frederick II, known as the Holy Roman Emperor. After the bloody Sicilian Vespers uprising in 1282, the Spanish took control and brought the Inquisition to Palermo. Some historians believe that the nature of the Inquisition helped foster the protective secret societies that eventually evolved into the Mafia. Today, visitors can still experience the legacy of Palermo's rich past. Great Arab-Norman buildings include the Cappella Palatina, La Martorana, San Giovanni degli Eremiti and, a few miles outside the city, the Cathedral of Monreale. Palermo's bustling streets and animated markets give the town an Oriental feel. The Quattro Canti, or Four Corners, is the monumental crossroads laid out in 1608-1620 at the central intersection of the four longest and straightest streets of the city. North of Piazza Castelnuovo lie the avenues of the new city. Most sights are scattered along three major streets: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Maqueda and Via Roma. A vigorous metropolis with a strong historical profile, Palermo is packed with interesting sights, which make it an enriching and enjoyable place to explore.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece

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.

Price tracking

Today’s fare, in context

Show all 28 cabin grades
Cabin grades and pricing
Name Supplier code Type
Deluxe Balcony EA Balcony
Deluxe Balcony EB Balcony
Deluxe Balcony EC Balcony
Deluxe Balcony ED Balcony
Deluxe Balcony EE Balcony
Deluxe Balcony EF Balcony
Single Balcony QF Balcony
Large Inside OA Inside
Large Inside OB Inside
Large Inside OC Inside
Inside PA Inside
Inside PB Inside
Inside PD Inside
Inside PE Inside
Inside PF Inside
Single Inside SC Inside
Outside LB Oceanview
Outside LC Oceanview
Outside LE Oceanview
Outside LF Oceanview
Outside (Obstructed View) NB Oceanview
Outside (Obstructed View) NC Oceanview
Suite B1 Suite
Suite B2 Suite
Suite B4 Suite
Mini Suite CA Suite
Mini Suite CB Suite
Mini Suite CE Suite

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

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The journey

19 nights, in order

Follow the entire sailing from its first day to its last, with the route and schedule in one view.

Southampton

Day 1 Oct 2, 2026

Southampton

Cruises from Southampton are part of a storied maritime heritage. Famous ships have sailed from Southampton port and, before commercial air travel, it was the gateway to the world…

Explore Southampton

Day by day

The full itinerary

20 scheduled calls
Arcadia

Your ship

Arcadia

Welcome aboard Arcadia The indulgent explorer A firm favourite with some of our long-returning guests, mid-sized Arcadia offers timeless style. From the art deco domed roof of the atrium and the glass-fronted life to her sleek bars and opulent spa, Arcadia’s a worthy home for the epic World Cruises.

4★ 83,781 GT 2,094 Passengers Built 2004
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