Viking Cruise Trip Report: Empires of the Mediterranean

Part 1 trip report of our recent Viking Cruise. The second part was self-directed in Bosnia and will be forthcoming.

The Itinerary

**March 7 — Athens (Piraeus)**
Arrived in Athens and boarded the ship. Embarkation was organized and gave us time to get settled before departure.

**March 8 — Athens**
Spent the morning in port. Easy day to adjust, walk around a bit, and then sail out in the afternoon.

**March 9 — Santorini**
Classic Santorini stop with the caldera views and bright weather. Busy as always, but still a great port day.

**March 10 — Olympia (Katakolon)**
Visited the archaeological site and museum. One of the more historically interesting stops of the trip.

**March 11 — Corfu**
Explored Corfu’s Old Town and waterfront. Good mix of history and scenery.

**March 12 — Kotor, Montenegro**
The sail-in through the Bay of Kotor was a standout moment. The town itself was easy to navigate and worth the time.

**March 13 — Dubrovnik, Croatia**
Walked the old city walls and enjoyed perfect weather. A strong highlight of the itinerary.

**March 14 — Zadar, Croatia**
Saw the Sea Organ and spent time along the waterfront. Relaxed, low-key port day.

**March 15 — Koper, Slovenia**
Quiet stop with access to the old town and surrounding wine areas. Nice change of pace.

**March 16 — Venice (Fusina/Chioggia)**
Disembarked and wrapped up the trip.

Why We Stick With Viking

7 River / 3 Ocean: 10 Total. We keep coming back to Viking because the ships are small and uncrowded, the atmosphere is quiet and adult-focused, and the staterooms are designed in a way that actually works. Service has been consistently solid, the food is reliably good, and the itineraries focus on ports and culture instead of sea days and upselling. Pricing is straightforward, and the experience is the same across the fleet.

Highlights

Olympia Greece:

I liked Olympia because the archaeological site is genuinely impressive and the history is easy to appreciate when you’re standing where the original Olympic Games were held. The museum is well done, the layout is simple to follow, and the whole stop feels meaningful without being overwhelming.

Kotor Montenegro:

Kotor stood out for the sail-in alone — coming through the bay is one of the best arrivals on any itinerary. The old town is compact, walkable, and easy to explore at your own pace. It’s a scenic stop that doesn’t require a lot of planning to enjoy.

Also, definitely the optional excursions. I don’t usually book the optional tours because you can often do similar things through Viator for less.

• Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle (Slovenia): Postojna is one of Europe’s major cave systems with huge chambers and an easy mini-train ride, and Predjama Castle is built directly into a cliff. Seeing both in one stop made for a great day.

• Krka National Park (Croatia): This one was absolutely worth it. Beautiful scenery and one of the standout experiences of the entire itinerary.

Selected Photos From Trip