2025 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Silversea Cruise Offer

2024 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Athens – 26th April 2025

Board your morning flight from London Heathrow (regional available) to Athens. On arrival, transfer to your 5* hotel for the night, The Dolli at Acropolis and enjoy the remainder of your day and evening at leisure. As one of the world’s oldest cities, Athens is not short of interesting things to see and do.

Day 2 – Embark on Silver Spirit – 27th April 2025

Wake up in Athens and enjoy your morning at leisure – includes breakfast at your hotel. Early afternoon, a private car will collect you from your hotel to take you to the Port of Peiraias where you will embark on to the Silver Spirit for your 10 night voyage.

Day 3 – Mykonos, Greece – 28th April 2025

Indulge in idyllic island life, as you take your fill of superb foods and wines, and soak in endless views of sweeping turquoise seascapes and pretty whitewash buildings. True to its roots, Mykonos is a rich land of culture, tradition and swirling legend, and the island is said to be built on the frozen bodies of giants slain by Hercules and to have been the legendary battleground between Zeus and the Titans. Head out onto the crystalline waters to seek out serene islands, hit perfect beaches, or venture into the labyrinth of Mykonos Town. White facades, red roofs and cobalt blue shutters add to this lively town’s appeal. Explore narrow streets housing studios – where artisans piece together mosaics – and plenty of restaurants and bars offer sanctuary.

Day 4 – Monemvasia (Laconia), Greece – 29th April 2025

A town of rustic, lyrically romantic beauty, Monemvasia boasts a glorious natural setting – perched on a colossal rock island, which rears spectacularly from the waves. A truly unique castle city, the island is linked to the mainland by just a single solitary causeway. It is hard to imagine a better – and more impenetrable – setting for a fortress town than this, and the rock is laced with tight cobbled streets, exposed stone masonry and pretty Byzantine churches. Known as the Gibraltar of Greece, you would be forgiven for assuming that the limestone monolith was unoccupied as you approach from the seas.

Day 5 – Katakolon (Olympia), Greece – 30th April 2025

Holding the torch as the spiritual home of the Olympic Games, Olympia has an enduring legacy, and its values echo around the world during humanity’s greatest sporting contest. Come ashore at Katakolon – a small port village on the Peloponnese peninsula facing the Ionian Sea, and relax on beautiful Kourouta Beach. Or, head inland through this legendary destination, to the historic home of the Olympic Games. Located in the valley of the River Alfeios, Olympia is a staggering archaeological site of immense ruins and enduring legacy.

Day 6 – Day at Sea – 01st May 2025

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Day 7 – Kotor, Montenegro- 02nd May 2025

Embedded into the slopes of the steep Lovćen mountain, and overlooking the deep blue Adriatic, the fortified town of Kotor boasts a spectacular, imposing staging that few can match. Squeezing in through the tight Bay of Kotor is a daunting and impressive approach in itself, as you arrive via one of Europe’s most stunning waterways. A pearl of Montenegro and the Adriatic, Kotor’s warren-like streets drip with history and authenticity. Under Venetian influence for four centuries, the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site old town invites you to wander amid atmospheric stone-clad streets, overlooked by a sea of terracotta roofs and the double towers of the cathedral.

Day 8 – Bari, Italy – 03rd May 2025

Welcoming ferries from across the Adriatic and serving as the gateway to Puglia – Bari is a historic port town that invites you on a journey through everyday life in Italy’s unpretentious south. Explore further afield to immerse yourself in Puglia’s beauty and cultural wonders – or simply soak up the atmosphere roaming the crooked streets of Bari’s old town – Bari Vecchia – where matriarchs roll out sheets of pasta in open doorways, footballs rattle along dusty streets, and sun-wrinkled old men lay out hands of cards. The photogenic old town’s streets are crowned by the chalky white Cattedrale di San Sabino, where vaulted archways, pretty mosaics and a large rose window await. Wander along the ruler-straight Lungomare Promenade to breathe in fresh salty air and look up at the slowly twirling ferris wheel – take a ride for some of the best views out over Bari’s waterfront.

Day 9 – Dubrovnik, Croatia – 04th May 2025

Croatia’s crowning glory rears up vertically from the tranquil waters of the Adriatic, and Dubrovnik’s daunting fortresses town is a truly imposing sight to behold. Encircled by chunky stone walls so thick and dramatic they could have been purpose-built as a film set, this city’s unmatched old town is the setting for countless films and shows – from Star Wars to Robin Hood, Game of Thrones and every production in-between seeking a truly authentic medieval flavour. Dubrovnik’s streets are crammed with eateries and candlelit tables, where couples splash wine into glasses and enjoy gnocchi mixed with creamy truffle sauces. Nearby beaches like Banje are also close by, and hidden bays reward the intrepid who venture out beyond the old town.

Day 10 – Split, Croatia – 05th May 2025

Bathing in the Dalmatian Coast’s generous sunshine, and overlooking sparkling, island-studded waters, Split is a city of romantic beauty, built around an extraordinary – still beating – historical heart. The setting may be spectacular, but it’s the Diocletian’s Palace – a Roman remain of incredible scale and detail that is truly bewitching. While immensely historic, Split hasn’t been afraid to move with the times, and the stone walls encasing the streets are alive with buzzy bars and quiet nooks, where bottles of red wine are uncorked and delicious meals devoured. With a natural backdrop of dramatic limestone mountains, and Croatia’s trademark scenic wonders all around, Split is a true heavyweight of the Adriatic.

Day 11 – Zadar, Croatia – 06th May 2025

Croatia’s Capital of Cool, Zadar is a dazzling mesh of influences and creativity. Romans founded the city before the Venetians, Austrians, French and Italians all had their say, leaving a wealth of architectural interest. Glorious turquoise-water beaches and heavenly waterfalls also lie within easy reach of this energetic city of festivals and outdoor fun. See the old town, with its robust city walls, boasting decorative stone gateways and marble streets. The church of St Donatus, was built from stones pillaged from the Roman forum, while Zadar Cathedral – Dalmatia’s biggest – stands among the many architectural treats of this city, which was once an impenetrable stronghold of Venice’s republic. Head for the ‘pillar of shame’ with its chains to humiliate the criminals of a bygone time – or succumb to the tempting treats of shopping in the market.

Day 12 – Venice, Italy – 07th May 2025

Following your incredible voyage aboard Silver Ship, disembark the ship in the city of love, Venice. A private water taxi will be waiting to take you to your hotel, Sina Centurion Palace, where you will spend the next two days at leisure.

Day 13 – Venice, Italy – 08th May 2025

Venice at leisure – includes breakfast at your hotel. Losing none of its allure over the years, this floating city of canals, bridges and masks is a place of eternal beauty and enduring elegance. Navigate Venice’s sparkling waterways by romantic gondola, or on cruises along wide canal boulevards. Span the Grand Canal over its iconic original crossing, the Rialto Bridge, which – with its parade of tiny shops – gives some of the city’s most endearing views.

Day 14 – Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – 09th May 2025

Wake up in Venice and enjoy morning at leisure – includes breakfast at your hotel. A water taxi will collect you from your hotel to take you to Venice Santa Lucia station. Feel the thrill of anticipation at Santa Lucia Station as your journey begins. Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and make yourself comfortable in your cabin. Sit down to a delicious three-course lunch in one of the beautifully restored dining cars. Through the window, the changing scenery takes in the majestic Italian Dolomites and, after Innsbruck mountains, the spectacular Arlberg route. During a relaxing afternoon, browse our onboard boutique for exclusive, elegant gifts or simply unwind in your cabin where a French goûter, served by your steward, makes an indulgent treat. Soon it’s time to dress for dinner. Whet your appetite with an aperitif in Bar Car ‘3674’ before making your way to one of the dining cars. Here, the imagination of celebrated chef Jean Imbert influences both the décor and the menu. Seasonal specialities are accompanied by exceptional wines. After dinner, a lively ambience awaits back at the bar. Listen to the resident pianist play the baby grand as you sip sublime and classic cocktails.

Day 15 – Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Eurostar – 10th May 2025

Today, your luxury cruise and rail itinerary comes to an end. Unwind in your cabin this morning as your steward serves a French breakfast. Continue absorbing the scenic French countryside as you savour an exquisite brunch in the restaurant. After disembarking the train at Paris Gare De Austerlitz or Gare De l’Est, you will be transferred to Paris Gare Du Nord for onward Eurostar to London St Pancras.

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HOTELS

The Dolli at Acropolis, Athens

The Dolli at Acropolis is located in the heart of Athens, only few steps away from the Acropolis (as the name suggests!). The hotel is boutique with only 46 luxurious bedrooms, exuding soulful warmth, intimate spirit and discreet luxury. The WOW factors at this hotel are without a doubt the pool and rooftop. The Dolli’s rooftop restaurant is an icon: overlooking the Atehnian panorama and serving culinary delights. The Dolli infinity pool has been voted one of the best in the world, offering a mesmerizing illusion that you’re floating on the Parthenon.

Sina Centurion Palace, Venice

Once Palazzo Genovese, today Sina Centurion Palace, a 5 star luxury hotel located on the Grand Canal with stunning views of both the Grand Canal and the traditional venetian internal garden. There are 50 rooms and suites with contemporary interiors, either overlooking the Grand Canal or the private internal garden. The hotel’s Antinoo’s Lounge & Restaurant is the ideal location for a romantic dining experience in Venice, thanks to the wide windows and private outdoor decking overlooking the Grand Canal.

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