We Were Into The Second Day Of A 10-Day Roman Empire Mediterranean Cruise, Having Boarded In CivitavecchiaTthe Previous Morning After Three Enchantingly Chaotic And Fascinating Days In Rome.

This incredible sight heralded our dawn entry to the Strait of Messina between the southern “toe of Italy” and the island of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

We were into the second day of a 10-day Roman Empire Mediterranean cruise, having boarded in Civitavecchia (Rome’s seaport) the prior morning after 3 wonderfully chaotic and interesting days in Rome. This was our 2nd cruise, and we are now committed to the cruising culture. Our noon boarding of the ms Noordam was nearly a homecoming and we were soon settled into our stateroom and were under way.

We cruised through the Strait of Messina and north into the Adriatic on this first “at sea” day familiarising ourselves with our wonderful environment. The Noordam was spectacular.

The central curving glass staircase between decks was striking and the art-bedecked lounges and the nautical paintings, antique model ships and collections of period navigational instruments were fascinating.

We relished our dinners. The continually changing Vista Dining Room’s five-course menus never did not satisfy. Rosenthal china, glistening silver and sparkling crystal glasses set on crisp white table-cloths were wonderful to behold. We chose for “open dining” and made many new buddies. There were 3 “formal” evenings and 7 “smart casual”.

The casual Lido Griddle smorgasboard food court offered a selection of cuisine and made-to-order “super sandwiches” or burgers and hot dogs, all of which you might carry back to your stateroom, or out on to the deck to enjoy by the pool. On occasion, we requested a maid service meal to our stateroom. The Indonesian crew anticipated our each need and delivered morning tea, juice and a fresh flower to our stateroom.

On morning 3, we ghosted with the dawn into the harbor at Dubrovnik, Croatia, and after an important breakfast, we rode the Holland America Line shuttle to the gates of the ancient walled city.

The Old Town’s Pile Gate opens on to the white marble streets and buildings of the medieval city. This fairytale place is completely enclosed inside its thirtheenth century 2km-long fortified wall. We walked the wall to impressive perspectives which changed at each turn. Along the Placa, the main street below, cafeterias and shops are tucked into the old buildings, and churches and monuments rule the plazas. The ornate 16th-century Sponza Palace museum keeps Dubrovnik archives and art collections.

After another smooth overnight sailing, we awoke to a crimson dawn over the island mountains of Corfu, Greece. The shuttle carried us into city, but before discovering its delights, we climbed the steps to explore tunnels under the stronghold castle overlooking the island’s harbour.

The city of Corfu is captivating. We looked and shopped and then relaxed outside a cafe in the city square, devouring baklava oozing honey with our iced moccachinos.

Having cruised south overnight, we docked at Katakolon, Greece. Our third shore excursion was to Olympia, a name that’s legend as the site of the first Olympics around 776BC. The Olympic torch is lit here each 4 years for the modern games. The Archaeological Museum exhibits sculptures, bronzes, pottery, jewellery and other artefacts.

Those famous white buildings and bright blue domes adorned the island’s skyline. We had appeared at Santorini and were soon tendered ashore, anxious to explore the alleyways and courtyards draped with crimson bougainvillea.

But first, we had to scale the 220m caldera (cliff). There is a cable-car and the donkey ride up was alluring, but we chose to stroll and shared the gradual, winding cobbled trail with the donkeys and their mounts. The dwellings, shops, narrow alleys, open plazas and churches of Santorini, and the nearby city of Oia were enchanting.

Kusadasi, Turkey, is the port gateway to the Roman city of Ephesus. The shore excursion and tour of this best preserved of Roman ruins brings alive the day-to-day life of its citizens of 2k years back. The walk down Curetes Street past villas, public baths, fountains and meeting places to the Augustus Gate, the Library of Celsus, the Church of Hadrian and the amphitheatre is interesting.

Ferries have priority over cruise ships, so we waited a while outside the narrow entrance to Piraeus Harbor, the ancient port gateway to Athens.

To stroll round the Acropolis and gawk up at the Parthenon is the achievement of a lifetime dream for many – it was for us. To stand on those smooth granite rocks where the ancients had trod and absorb the grandeur was remarkable.

Messina was our last port of call and the drive down the coast to the picture-perfect Sicilian community of Taormina, high on an escarpment overlooking the Ionian Sea, was a well-liked shore excursion. The old hamlet, “the pearl of the Ionic Sea”, provided a last chance for shore shopping or walks through the pretty streets to the English Gardens and the Roman Greek theatre.

The last sea day on the return voyage, a last glance of Mt Stromboli, a last grand dinner before retiring and at 7am we berthed at Citeveccia prior to returning to Rome, writes tagza.com.