Imagine a cruise of the Greek Isles. You'd board in Venice Italy. Of course, you would want to arrive a few days early to get adjusted to the time difference and to enjoy the city of Venice. While there, take in the beauty of Venice by gondola, dine on fine food and wine and enjoy the romance of the city.

Departing Venice, the first stop will be Ancona - a port town located on the Adriatic Sea. In Ancona, you will have the chance to shop, visit museums, see the Cathedral church of San Ciriaco, and learn the history of this ancient city (founded approximately 387 BC).

Following Ancona will be Santorini Greece. Santorini is a small archipelago of islands in the southern Aegean Sea. Santorini is a volcanic island with a very interesting history. It was the site of the largest volcanic eruption ever recorded - which occurred about 3600 years ago (known as the Minoan or Thera Eruption).

After Santorini, the cruise will stop in Mykonos, Greece. Mykonos is an island that was settled in the 11th century BC and is made up almost entirely of granite. It is a popular tourist destination with its active nightlife and overall party atmosphere.

Athens is the next stop where one can take in the modern city life and then just a jaunt away see some of the world's oldest archaeological sites. Athens is home to the original Olympic Games, The Parthenon, The Acropolis, and the only stadium composed entirely of marble.

Departing from Athens, you will head to the island of Corfu. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands. This island is very developed as far as resorts and hotels go. It is also well known for it's abundance of beautiful flora. There are over 40 varieties of orchids that grow wild in the countryside and many olive groves. It is a great island to visit to either enjoy the cosmopolitan city life, or escape it all and enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside.

The final stop before heading back to Venice is Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik is located in the south of Croatia along the Adriatic Coast. This is a very culturally rich city, offering events year round such as musicals, theatre shows and art exhibitions. It's not a widely known fact that Croatian wines are among the best there are. Why not go on a wine tour while you're there?

And of course, you will deboard for good from the cruise ship back in Venice. If you didn't spend a few days prior to the cruise touring this lovely city, then you certainly should on the return.