Fly Stay Cruise: Princess Cruises 26 Day Mediterranean Journey with Qatar Stopover

Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, make your own way to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax after your flight, or begin exploring the Eternal City at your own pace. This evening, you may wish to enjoy a leisurely dinner at a local trattoria and soak up the atmosphere of Rome’s charming streets.

Today is yours to explore Rome at your own pace. You might choose to wander through the city’s ancient treasures such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum, or admire the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, home to Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling.

For something more leisurely, you could stroll through the charming streets of Trastevere, enjoy a gelato on the Spanish Steps, or toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the Eternal City.

After breakfast and some free time in the morning, make your own way to the Port of Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome. Here you will board the spectacular Sun Princess and settle in for your 20-night cruise through the Mediterranean. Once on board, take some time to explore the ship’s world-class facilities before setting sail on your unforgettable journey.

Italy's third-largest city, Naples is a bustling metropolis famed for it stately buildings, crowded streets, pizza - and notoriously bad traffic. However, this beautiful city is rich in centuries-old culture and customs.

Naples is also your gateway to the Isle of Capri, the fabled Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompeii, buried in ash by the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Naples boasts an ideal location, with both the ruins of Roman cities and the stunning Amalfi Coast in easy reach.

Today is a full day at sea, giving you the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy everything the Sun Princess has to offer. Perhaps start the morning with a leisurely breakfast before taking a dip in the pool, unwinding in the spa, or joining one of the many activities and enrichment programs available throughout the ship.

Weaving a tapestry of awe and wonder, Chania is a centuries-old mix of Minoan myths, well-preserved Venetian mansions, a mesmerizing Old Town complete with labyrinthine passageways, and atmospheric Kastelli Hill, once the site of a Roman acropolis.

But Chania may be best known as the gateway to the breathtaking 4,000 year-old Minoan ruins at Knossos, home of the legendary King Minos and the part man and part bull known creature as the Minotaur. And around every corner of this idyllic area you'll find picturesque villages, breathtaking views and architectural wonders that will remain with you for a lifetime.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as the Sun Princess continues its journey through the Mediterranean. You may wish to begin the morning with a fitness class or a walk along the deck, followed by a coffee overlooking the ocean.

The day is yours to spend as you please — take part in onboard activities, join an informative lecture, or simply lounge by the pool with a refreshing drink in hand.

From the port of Kusadasi on Turkey's Anatolian Coast, one travels into the past. Nearby stand the ruins of ancient Ephesus, a major site of archeological excavation.

The city was once a Roman provincial capital and trading center. Ephesus is also home to several of Christendom's holiest sites. St. Paul preached at the Great Theater and the ruins of Ephesus' Basilica cover the tomb of Christ's most beloved disciple, St. John the Apostle.In Kusadasi, whitewashed stone houses rise in tiers behind the market district.

The palm-lined esplanade is the center of town life, with thousands of merchants offering wares to rival the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Thanks to its proximity to the mainland, Mykonos was one of the first Greek islands to become an international travel destination. During the late '60s and early '70s, Mykonos was famed as a haunt for the rich.

The island's nightlife - then and now - was a glittering whirl of colored lights, music, and parties. But there's another side to Mykonos - the neighboring island of Delos. In classical mythology, Delos was the birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis.

Travelers to Delos can stroll among the island's vast ruins, which include three temples consecrated to the Sun God and the famed Lions Walk.Mykonos town features hip boutiques, restaurants, jewelry stores, souvenirs, taverns and cafés. The island's famed windmills are found just south of the waterfront.

The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens' destiny.

Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece.

Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens' port of entry for over two millennia.

Did the catastrophic volcanic eruption that ravaged Santorini circa 1600 B.C. destroy Crete's ancient Minoan civilization - and give birth to the myth of Atlantis? In 1967, archaeologists on Santorini unearthed the remains of a Bronze Age city that may have been home to as many as 30,000 people.

Whether the Lost Continent of Atlantis is rooted in myth or reality, an undisputed fact remains. The eruption created a caldera - and one of the most dramatic land and seascapes in the entire Mediterranean. On Santorini, whitewashed buildings cling to vertiginous cliffs that plunge to a turquoise sea. Part of the Cyclades Archipelago, the three-island group of Santorini, Thirasia and uninhabited Aspronisi present the traveler with unforgettable vistas.The island has had a number of names throughout history - from Strongyle or "Round" to Thera in honor of an ancient hero.

Santorini is more recent and stems from the island church dedicated to St. Irene - Santa Rini to foreign sailors.Note: Santorini is an anchorage port: passengers transfer to shore via shore tender.

Today the Sun Princess sails onwards, giving you time to relax and enjoy the many facilities on board. Take the day at your own pace — whether that means finding a quiet spot to unwind, making the most of the ship’s amenities, or simply watching the endless blue of the Mediterranean from the deck.

Bar, Montenegro, is an unsung resort town on the country's south coast. Nestled between breathtaking mountains and the glistening Adriatic Sea, Bar offers plenty of culture and history to discover, nature right on its doorstep, and a string of pebble beaches to relax on.While Bar may not be as well-known as, say, Kotor or Budva, two of Montenegro's most well-known destinations, travelers will find an authentic atmosphere here, and plenty to see and do during a short visit.

There's sizzling weather, too, with 270 days of sunshine every year. Culture and history are present, too. If you enjoy delving into a destination's past, Stari Bar, the picture-perfect old town, is a must-visit, while lazy beach days are encouraged on the coast.

The lush and verdant island of Corfu lies in the Ionian Sea, midway between Greece and Italy. The island has a long and colorful history. First colonized by the city-state of Corinth, Corfu has been ruled by the Romans, the Venetians, the French and the English. Corfu Town boasts fortresses bearing the insignia of the Venetian Republic, an esplanade lavishly planted by the French during the Napoleonic Wars, and an English cricket pitch.

The island also offers some of the finest coastal scenery in the entire Mediterranean.Corfu's old town is a mixture of the medieval and the modern. The Esplanade, planted with palms and eucalyptus by the French, leads to the English cricket pitch.

Messina has played a major role in European history since its founding as a Greek colony in the 8th century B.C. During the Roman Empire, the city was a major port and commercial center, during the Middle Ages, Messina was the major port of departure for Crusaders. History has also left its scars: a massive earthquake leveled much of the city in 1908 and the World War II campaign for Sicily devastated Messina.

Yet Messina emerged from that devastation with some of its historic treasures intact, including the 12th-century Annunziata dei Catalani Church. Messina is also your gateway to the rugged beauty of southeast Sicily, from the seaside resort of Taormina to Mt. Etna.Between the fall of Rome and the 1861 unification of Italy, the Arabs, the Normans, the Germans, the Spanish and the French ruled Sicily.

Spend the day at leisure as the Sun Princess makes its way across the Mediterranean. With no set plans, you’re free to enjoy the journey however you choose — relax, explore the ship, or simply take in the views of the open sea.

The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew - Barcelona is one of the world's greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia.

Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi's Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic - also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler's paradise.

Today is yours to enjoy as the Sun Princess continues its voyage. Take the opportunity to unwind, explore the ship at your own pace, or simply sit back and appreciate the beauty of being at sea.

The Rock crouches over the sea like an ancient stone beast, looking Sphinx-like to Africa. Beneath the white cliffs of this natural fortress grows a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers thrive here, some not found anywhere else on Earth. Gibraltar's stunning setting is matched by its history - five countries have battled for 13 centuries to control the passage between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

The result made for a cultural melting pot. Veiled Moroccan women in caftans and vacationing Englishmen and Spaniards stroll along the narrow, steep lanes. The locals revert to a liquid Spanish when talking among themselves. And visitors to a 15th-century cathedral pass through a blue-tiled courtyard, once part of a 13th-century mosque.

Helmeted bobbies, pillar-boxes and pubs make for a bit of Britain in the Mediterranean. Gibraltar is a fascinating place, from its caves and batteries to the Barbary apes gamboling on the slopes of the Rock.

Enjoy a full day at sea, moving at your own pace as the Sun Princess sails through the Mediterranean. Whether you choose to relax, explore the ship, or simply watch the waves roll by, the day is entirely yours.

The largest port on the Mediterranean, Marseille is France's second largest city and a virtual melting pot of peoples and cultures. It is also a place of striking contrasts, from the fishing boats and pleasure craft of the picturesque Vieux Port to the modern Canebiere.

Dominating the harbor is the infamous Chateau d'If, the rocky prison from which Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo escaped. Marseille is also your gateway to Provence.

Explore the countryside around Arles and Avignon, immortalized in the canvases of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso.

Genoa is the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. Many regard Genoa as having the largest historic city center in Europe as a result of having been, for centuries, a powerful commercial center seaport and city-state. It was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and its maritime roots have fostered a dialect that has, absorbed elements of Neapolitan, Calabrese and Portuguese over the centuries.

Genoa's harbor is a bustling swarm of activity, which makes it a great launching point for the sprawling metropolis of Milan.

Florence, Italy, is a timeless city at the heart of Tuscany, where art, history, and culture abound. Nestled along the Arno River and surrounded by rolling hills, Florence offers countless treasures to explore, from world-class museums to charming piazzas and historic streets.

While it may not have the beachside charm of Italy’s coastal towns, travelers will find an authentic Italian atmosphere and plenty to see during even a short visit. The city enjoys warm, sunny days, perfect for wandering through its vibrant markets or admiring Renaissance masterpieces.

For those who love history and culture, the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio are must-sees, while slower moments can be spent sipping coffee in a quiet café or strolling along the riverbanks.

After breakfast on board, it’s time to say farewell to the Sun Princess as you disembark in port. Make your own way to the airport for your onward flight to Doha. The rest of the day is spent in transit, arriving in Doha where your journey continues.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day to discover Doha at your own pace. You might wander through the maze-like alleys of Souq Waqif, admire the striking architecture of the Museum of Islamic Art, or stroll along the Corniche with sweeping views of the city skyline. For something different, consider venturing into the desert on an optional excursion, where golden dunes meet the sea.

The evening is free to relax, perhaps sampling Qatari cuisine at a local restaurant or enjoying the city’s glittering nightscape.

Your adventure comes to an end today. After breakfast, make your way to the airport at the appropriate time for your flight home.

Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.