You’ll stop in some of the world’s most spectacular seaports on this 10-day voyage. Locales like Katakolon, Santorini and Rhodes await! Cruise along the Mediterranean and encounter the whitewashed villages, dramatic coastlines and azure waters of the heavenly Greek islands.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Cruise

Travel on an overnight flight to Italy.

Day 2 - Cruise

Touch down in Venice. After clearing customs, meet your Go Ahead representative, who will escort you to the harbor. If you take our head-start extension, you’ll join the rest of your tour today. After boarding your cruise ship, you’ll have time to settle in to your stateroom. Then, begin discovering the many amenities of the Costa Fortuna. The ship houses a casino, a Roman spa and several pools and jacuzzis. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - Cruise

Cruise the Mediterranean and reach your first port of call, the historic city of Bari, Italy. You’ll have a full free afternoon to explore the medieval Old Town, which dates back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Hidden in the 11th-century Basilica di San Nicola are the remains of Saint Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus. You also might venture off to the nearby Castel de Monte. This ancient castle is a modern mystery—virtually no records exist of its purpose or creation. Some have surmised it was a royal hunting lodge or a stop for pilgrims on their quest for the Holy Grail. (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Cruise

Journey onward to Greece. Drop anchor in Katakolon, located near the town of Olympia. It was here that the first Olympic Games took place, and on your free afternoon, you might choose to visit the ruins that held these ancient athletic competitions. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Cruise

Spend the day cruising the Greek Islands. Today’s first stop is Santorini, a crescent-shaped island known for its romantic ambiance and magnificent sunsets. Many historians believe Santorini was the location of the lost city of Atlantis, due to a massive volcanic eruption that occurred here around 1500 B.C. It created tidal waves and earthquakes similar to those described by Plato in his account of the legendary city. Arrive later in Mykonos with its signature windmills. On your free evening, discover the island’s winding streets—made all the more charming by the fact that there are no cars. (B, L, D)

Day 6 - Cruise

The largest of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes is one of Greece’s most popular resort escapes. According to ancient Greek myth, the island erupted from the sea to appease the Sun God, Helios, after Zeus overlooked him when distributing the earth among other gods. It later became the home of the medieval Knights of St. John. On your full free day on shore, you might choose to explore the three major archaeological sites or visit a Turkish mosque. (B, L, D)

Day 7 - Cruise

Sail the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea as you make your way to Croatia. Relax in the ship’s spa (featuring a Turkish bath, gym, jogging track and sauna) or practice your serves on the Wimbledon-style tennis court. (B, L, D)

Day 8 - Cruise

Reach the ancient city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. During your free morning on land, you might wish to explore the cobblestone streets within the city walls or visit one of the city’s many forts. You can also choose from a host of optional offshore excursions. (B, L, D)

Day 9 - Venice

Your cruise ends upon your arrival in Venice. After disembarkation, join a professional local guide for a sightseeing tour of this romantic city, featuring The Doges’ Palace. Finish by the 900-year-old Basilica of St. Mark and its rich collection of Byzantine, Romanesque and Islamic influences. Inside are the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist. (B, D)

Day 10 - Venice

A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for departure. (B)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

This itinerary includes the following countries: Greece, Croatia and Italy. In order to enter these countries, U.S. citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return to the United States. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Health

There are no major health risks when traveling to Greece, Italy or Croatia. Especially during the summer, take proper care for sun exposure. Also, codeine (found in many headache medicines) is banned in Greece, and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country. It is advisable to check with your health-care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel recommendations.

Transportation / Walking on tour

The Costa Fortuna is part of Costa Cruises, one of Europe’s leading cruise lines, which has specialized in Europe and the Mediterranean for close to 50 years. With an ambiance inspired by the grand Italian steamships that once provided regular transatlantic services between Italy and the Americas, the Fortuna has 12 spacious decks centered around a spectacular atrium. Delight in a variety of daytime and nighttime activities, including theater shows, disco, casino nights and more. When you’ve had your fill of activity, your cabin awaits with all the comforts of home.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Daytime wear aboard the ship is informal and casual. Comfortable walking shoes are a must for shore excursions and for walking around the boat. Don’t forget your bathing suit, cover-up, raincoat and umbrella. Evening attire can range from casual to formal, depending upon the ship’s planned activities. On formal evenings (usually two per cruise) aboard the Costa Fortuna, it is suggested that women wear evening or cocktail dresses and men wear dark suits. During the informal evenings, men wear jackets and ties and women wear pant suits or cocktail dresses. Casual nights mean sports shirt with slacks for men and a dress or pants outfit for women. The suggested dress code for each evening appears in the ship’s daily schedule and varies by departure.


Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitters for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!”

Currency

You’ll use several different currencies on tour. For that reason, we recommend using ATM/bank cards and credit cards or small amounts of changeable cash. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. The currency in Greece and Italy is the euro. The currency in Croatia is the Croatian kuna. Please note: Visa cards are sometimes not accepted in Croatia.

Tipping

For your convenience, Costa Cruise Lines will automatically bill your account $6 per person per day for services rendered while on board. This amount is based on the euro exchange rate and is subject to change. Should you wish to change the amount, contact the Guest Relations Desk on board.

Bartenders, servers, deck stewards and other staff may be tipped as service is received. For your convenience, a 10-percent gratuity is automatically added to beverage purchases.

At the conclusion of your tour it is also customary to offer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend €2 per person per day for your driver and €4 to €6 per person for your tour director. If applicable, we also recommend €1 per local guide.

Tips may only be paid in cash.