Greet the day with breakfast at your hotel, then join a guided tour of Istanbul. See the 17th-century Blue Mosque, delve beneath Sultanahmet – the Old City, formerly known as Constantinople – to visit the Basilica Cistern, dating back almost 1,500 years, and take a trip to the renowned Spice Market.
Later, embark on a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, gliding through the waters that separate Europe and Asia.
At 7pm, meet your tour director and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner.
This morning, wander the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, and peruse more than 3,000 stalls. Later on, join the group for a private tour of a local carpet workshop, where delicate weavers craft colourful designs out of fine silks and cottons. Then, wander through the fragrant Spice Bazaar and sample aromatic local delicacies.
The rest of the day is at leisure. You may wish to head out and visit incredible sites such as Dolmabahçe Palace, Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia, or lounge in your room ahead of tomorrow’s adventures.
Following breakfast at your hotel, travel southwest to Canakkale, a gateway to the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli. Arrive at the Gallipoli Peninsula, the famed site where ANZAC troops fought for nine months during the Great War. Here, take the time to wander ANZAC Cove, where soldiers landed on 25 April 1915. Pause for a moment of silence to pay your respects at the Lone Pine Memorial, commemorating the Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in battle.
Cross the Dardanelles Strait to check in at your Canakkale hotel. From here, the group will head out for a nice, local dinner before turning in for the evening.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
Set off this morning to the historic city of Troy, immortalised in the tales of the Trojan War. Follow your guide as you visit the Troy Museum to learn about the siege of Troy, detailed in the Iliad.
Next, pay a visit to Pergamon, a once-mighty Greek city boasting the Asklepion hospital. In ancient times, patients would enter the Asklepion temple via a sacred pathway believed to mark their journey back to good health. Afterwards, do as the locals do and congregate in a local pide restaurant for a hearty lunch of flatbread with all the fillings.
Later, travel further on to Izmir, where you can check in and freshen up at your hotel before turning in.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours
This morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing for one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Follow your guide through the Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus. A century’s worth of excavation has uncovered rich architectural history here, including the ruins of the imposing Temple of Artemis and the restored Library of Celsus.
Travel to the nearby village of Sirince, a traditional Greek-Ottoman village known for its olive oil and fruity wine production. Sit down for lunch, then head to Pamukkale, famed for its thermal springs and travertines. Pay a visit to a local workshop for leather production, a practice with a centuries-old legacy.
This evening, savour dinner at your hotel and free time to explore its health facilities.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Ephesus ruins visit
Pamukkale stay
Rise and shine for a day exploring Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Tour the travertine pools, admiring their glacial appearance.
Visit Hierapolis, the ancient city founded by the King of Pergamon atop the thermal terraces in 130 BCE. Make your way to the Cleopatra Antique Pools within its ruins, a famous spa rumoured to have once been visited by the Queen of the Nile herself.
Spend time admiring the thermal pools before travelling onward to Konya. Upon arrival, check-in and sit down for a well-earned dinner at a local restaurant.
Travel time: Driving – approx. five hours
Your day begins with a guided tour of Konya, renowned for the Sufi whirling dervishes. Explore the Mevlana Museum, dedicated to the 13th-century poet and religious figure. Visit a dervish hat workshop and learn about the practice and origins of felt making, and the significance of the ‘tombstone’ hats to Sufism.
Continue to Cappadocia, a landscape of caves and ‘fairy chimneys’ – unique formations of eroded volcanic rocks – and attend a ritual of the dervish dancers.
Arrive in Urgup village in the heart of Cappadocia, characterised by terraces and skies often dotted with hot air balloons. Check into your unique cave hotel and get settled for an evening of leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Cappadocia stay
Gather your energy over breakfast and set your sights on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Goreme Open Air Museum. You may even choose to rise early to take a hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys themselves (surcharges apply).
Move on to a Turkish carpet factory to learn about the artistry of traditional carpet-weaving. Savour a traditional lunch at the charming Old Greek House, located in the village of Mustafapasa.
On return to Urgup, you will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Cappadocia stay
Following breakfast, depart for an exploration of the broader area surrounding Cappadocia. Begin at the Three Beauties, prominent fairy chimneys with boulders resting at their tops, believed to represent a family immortalised in stone. Then, explore the Valley of Love and the hills of the Red Valley.
Descend into the underground avenues of either Ozkonak or Mazi, subterranean cities dating back to the early Roman and Byzantine periods. Join a traditional pottery demonstration to discover the skilled process and local techniques in shaping clay. Continue on to a nearby local winery for a Turkish wine tasting with cheese pairing. Then, return to your hotel for one last evening. An optional experience (surcharges apply) entices travellers to head out for one last dinner accompanied by a Turkish dance performance in an enchanting and cavernous venue.
Cappadocia stay
This morning, head to the airport for your economy class flight to Istanbul Airport (IST). Once you’ve arrived, the rest of the day is at your leisure.
In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner.
Travel time: Flight – approximately 90 minutes
After one last breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow Turkiye travellers and transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST). After a short flight to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) in Rome, make your own way to the Port of Civitavecchia where the Celebrity Ascent awaits.
Boarding the vessel before 5pm, you’ll be shown to your Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda before time to explore the many bars and restaurants on offer.
The rest of the evening is at leisure, with plenty of facilities and dining venues to discover before arriving in Naples tomorrow morning.
Travel time: Flight – approximately three hours
11-night Greece, Crete and Malta cruise aboard the Celebrity Ascent
Arrive in Naples, a port city framed by Mount Vesuvius and shaped by more than 2,800 years of history. Spend time exploring the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre, where churches, museums and archaeological sites fill the narrow streets.
You could visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, explore the Roman remains beneath San Lorenzo Maggiore or simply follow the city’s food trail. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, so make time for a wood-fired Margherita, spaghetti alle vongole or a sweet zeppole before returning to the ship.
Enjoy a full day at sea as the Celebrity Ascent continues through the Mediterranean. With no port commitments, you can settle into the ship’s easy rhythm and choose how to spend your time.
Take a swim, relax on deck, visit the spa or sample the ship’s dining options. You might also browse the onboard shops, attend a show or find a quiet seat with a book as the coastline passes beyond the horizon.
Arrive in Souda Bay, the gateway to Chania on Crete’s north-west coast. The city’s history reflects successive Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman influences, visible in its harbour, old town and historic buildings.
Wander through the Venetian port, visit the lighthouse or settle into a waterside cafe. Further afield, you could explore the traditional village of Vamos, visit a monastery or discover local produce and Cretan cuisine. Chania also offers easy access to beaches and the island’s rugged countryside.
Return to Celebrity Ascent this evening and make the most of the ship’s onboard programme. Choose from live shows and entertainment, enjoy a drink in one of the bars, or settle in for dinner before relaxing with fellow travellers.
Spend the day on Mykonos, known for its whitewashed buildings, blue accents and winding lanes. Explore the island’s main town, where cafes, boutiques and small churches line the streets, then continue towards the waterfront and the famous windmills.
If you prefer a slower pace, find a beach and enjoy the clear Aegean waters before returning to the ship. Mykonos is also known for its evening atmosphere, with plenty of places to stop for a drink or a meal.
Come back from Mykonos and watch the Aegean fade from the Sunset Bar before exploring the evening’s entertainment.
Dock in Kusadasi, the gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. Once the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor, Ephesus is now an archaeological site filled with colonnaded streets, temples and civic buildings.
Walk along Marble Street towards the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus, built in the second century. The Temple of Hadrian and the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, offer further insight into the city’s Greek and Roman past.
Following Ephesus, unwind in the onboard Eden Bar with a craft cocktail, or head to the Martini Bar to watch the flair bartenders at work.
Discover Santorini, where whitewashed villages sit above the deep-blue waters of a volcanic caldera. Explore the island’s clifftop towns, browse local shops or pause at a café for views across the Aegean.
Santorini’s volcanic soil supports distinctive vineyards, and the villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori are known for their local wines. You could also visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri or travel to Oia, a popular viewpoint for the island’s late-afternoon light.
Return from Santorini for dinner on board, followed by live music in the Grand Plaza or a late-night show.
Arrive in Piraeus and continue into Athens, a city where ancient landmarks sit alongside lively markets, restaurants and neighbourhood cafés. The Acropolis remains the centrepiece, with the Parthenon overlooking the modern city.
Visit the Acropolis Museum to see artefacts from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods, then explore the surrounding streets at your own pace. Athens also offers time to browse central markets or continue towards the coast for a change of scenery.
Once Athens is thoroughly explored, take in the sea views from the ship’s Rooftop Garden before choosing an evening performance or one of many onboard bars.
Take another day to enjoy Celebrity Ascent’s onboard facilities as you cruise towards Malta. Relax beside the pool, book time at the spa or explore the ship’s restaurants and lounges.
The day also gives you space to catch a show, join an onboard activity or simply watch the Mediterranean from the deck.
Make the most of your final sea day with time at the Solarium, then enjoy dinner and live entertainment after sunset.
Arrive in Valletta, Malta’s fortified capital and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city founded by the Knights of St John in 1565. Walk along the cobbled streets to see Baroque churches, historic palaces and the city’s defensive walls.
Visit St John’s Co-Cathedral, explore the Upper Barrakka Gardens or travel beyond Valletta to the medieval streets of Mdina. Malta’s food reflects its Mediterranean setting, with fresh seafood, local wines and dishes shaped by Italian, French and North African influences.
Return from Valletta for an evening at the onboard Grand Plaza, where dining, drinks and changing light create a lively setting on board.
Spend your final full day at sea enjoying Celebrity Ascent at your own pace. Return to a favourite restaurant, relax in one of the ship’s outdoor spaces or take time to organise your belongings before disembarkation.
Enjoy a final evening aboard Celebrity Ascent, with time for dinner, live entertainment and a last look at the ship before Rome slides into view.
Disembark Celebrity Ascent in Civitavecchia after breakfast, bringing your Mediterranean cruise to an end. From the port, continue with your onward travel arrangements or extend your time in Rome to explore its ancient landmarks, galleries and piazzas.