From Venice to Athens calling on Ravenna, Kotor, Corfu, Mykonos, and Istanbul with 3 days at sea from $4,665

NOTE: You may choose this exclusive shore event, credit toward a customized Virtuoso on-shore event, credit toward a Virtuoso Discovery pre/post hotel stay or shipboard credit. Ask us for complete option details. Credit amount may vary based on stateroom category booked. Credit may not be offered in all categories.

Exclusive Shore Event: Istanbul | Historic City Tour and Lunch

The Bosporus Strait divides Asian Istanbul from European Istanbul. It's the only city in the world that sits astride two continents. And what a treat this exotic, ancient metropolis is to explore. Empires have been won and lost, come and gone, here. World history and its cultures and religions converge here. Istanbul's plethora of sights will leave you breathless.

Your Voyager Club tour begins in the "east" and travels "west." The world's pre-eminent empires have added layers of intrigue as well as stunning contributions to Eastern and Western civilization in the fertile valleys of Turkey and its premier city. We'll wander the Roman Hippodrome, center of life in Byzantium for more than 1,000 years.  The Hippodrome was a colossal stadium housing horse races around which the socio-political life of the Roman capital was centered. In its great days, it was 1575 feet long, 384 feet wide and held 100,000 spectators. It was the site of chariot racing, gladiator fights, circuses, inaugurations and triumphal parades.

Next we will visit the Blue Mosque, the masterpiece of 17th century Ottoman Architecture, famous for its unique hand made original Iznik Tiles impressing observers with their rich dominant blue colors and oriental patterns.

This city is also home to one of the most gorgeous and photographed houses of worship in the world. The Hagia Sofia, originally the Church of St. Sophia, was the vision and passion of the great Emperor Justinian. Construction began in AD 548. This expansive and ornate Church of Divine Wisdom, as the Emperor declared it, was built in a mere four years. A feat unheard of in the first century AD, when such structures usually took more than 100 years to complete. True to the Byzantine Empire's diverse nature, the church's name was also rendered in two additional spellings: Aya Sofya and Haggia Sofia. At the time it was the greatest church in Christendom with its immense walls and impressive dome. In the late 15th century, St. Sophia became a mosque under the auspices of the powerful Ottoman Empire and remained so until the end of the 19th century. This architectural masterpiece remains crowned with its massive dome, and encircled with six soaring minarets. Today this structure is a secular museum.

Our special lunch is conveniently planned at the historical Armada Hotel.  We will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the historical ambiance and the spectacular view of the Old Town and the Marmara Sea, along with lunch we will be treated to a private folklore performance.

After this relaxing lunch, we will visit the Grand Bazaar, more dazzling than any other oriental bazaar, built in 1461 and in service ever since. It contains 3,500 shops employing more than 20,000 people all under one roof. Everything imaginable in the world is for sale here, glittering gold and silver jewelry, antique tiles, leather, souvenirs. Just seeing and experiencing this fascinating bazaar is a memorable experience nad not something to be missed.

We will return to the pier by 3:00 pm.

Approximate Length: Seven hours.

Suggested Attire: Casual wear with comfortable shoes (no shorts, please). Moderate walking in and out of sights, including some steps. At the entrance to the Blue Mosque, there is a flight of approximately 20 steps; visitors are asked to remove their shoes upon entering the mosque.