$8999—Save $3049 on Cunard Med cruise & 5-star Türkiye tour

This holiday doesn't just take you places. It takes you through thousands of years of history. Ancient Greece, the Roman and Ottoman empires, the Silk Road and Australia's Anzac story all feature in this remarkable 27-day journey. And you'll experience it in two very different ways. First, aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, you'll sail the Mediterranean following coastlines shaped by ancient civilisations. After 2 weeks at sea, Istanbul marks the beginning of another adventure: a 10-night tour of Türkiye. Venture into its heartland, where Cappadocia's otherworldly landscapes give way to ancient cities, legendary Troy and the poignant memorials of Gallipoli. With flights, 5-star Türkiye hotels, escorted touring and transfers arranged, you can enjoy this odyssey without the legendary hardships.

Travelzoo members get early access to this Imagine Cruising holiday, at an exclusive $2000 below regular prices. Our research also found savings of up to $3049 per person compared with self-packaging. That's the equivalent of getting your flights, Rome stay and transfers for free.

What's included

• Return economy flights from Australia*, arriving in Rome and departing Istanbul
• 1-night 4-star Rome stay 
• 14-night full-board cruise aboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth
  • Ports of call: La Spezia, Genoa, Villefranche, Ajaccio (Corsica), Barcelona, Messina (Sicily) and Piraeus (Athens), plus a Dardanelles Strait transit
  • Full-board meals, entertainment, port fees and taxes
• 10-night fully escorted Türkiye tour
  • 5-star hotels in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Kuşadası and Çanakkale
  • Daily breakfast, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Istanbul–Nevşehir flight
  • Guided visits to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy and Gallipoli, including Anzac Cove and Lone Pine
  • Optional Cappadocia balloon ride and House of the Virgin Mary visit
• Transfers throughout

When

This itinerary departs Australia* on 22 September 2027.

Book by 16 November 2026.

Cabin upgrades

Prices are based on Inside cabins while cruising. Upgrades start at $1000 per person:

• +$1000 for an Oceanview
• +$2500 for a Balcony

To find out more, see our partner's website.

Travelzoo tip: Dial up the luxury with Oceania's intimate Sirena, featuring relaxed dress codes and included specialty dining. This 22-night holiday from $9999pp combines nine nights cruising with the same Türkiye tour. You'll also get a free Inside-to-Oceanview upgrade and save up to $625pp against self-packaging.

Holiday snapshot

Australia* - Rome - La Spezia - Genoa - Villefranche - Ajaccio - Barcelona - Messina - Piraeus - Dardanelles Strait (transit) - Istanbul - Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale - Kuşadası - Çanakkale - Istanbul - Australia*

Itinerary highlights

Your journey begins with a night in Rome, the Eternal City. Wander past ancient ruins and lively piazzas before boarding Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth the next day.

After a relaxing day at sea, La Spezia opens the door to the Italian Riviera. Join an optional tour to Florence’s Renaissance treasures or Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower.

Grand palazzos and narrow medieval lanes fill Genoa, Christopher Columbus's historic home port. Don’t leave without tasting the city’s famous pesto.

Pastel houses tumble down to a sparkling bay in Villefranche, one of the French Riviera’s prettiest towns. Nice and Monaco are both within easy reach.

Napoleon's birthplace, Ajaccio sits on Corsica’s rugged west coast. Stroll its palm-lined harbour and sunny old town.

Gaudí’s masterpieces and the buzz of Las Ramblas make Barcelona a Mediterranean favourite. Spend the day among tapas bars, beaches and Gothic lanes.

Set on the strait between Sicily and mainland Italy, Messina is your gateway to Sicilian life. Taormina’s clifftop views and Mount Etna lie within reach.

From the port of Piraeus, the Acropolis and Parthenon of Athens are a short trip away. Stand where Western civilisation began.

The ship then sails through the Dardanelles Strait (transit), the narrow channel linking the Aegean to the Sea of Marmara. Watch Gallipoli’s shores slip past from the deck.

Arriving in Istanbul by sea is a moment few travellers forget. Two nights in a 5-star hotel bring a guided tour of the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.

A short flight carries you to Cappadocia, a surreal landscape of fairy chimneys and cave dwellings. Explore Pigeon Valley, Uçhisar Fort, and Paşabağ Valley, with an optional sunrise hot-air balloon ride.

On the road to Konya, stop at the Sultan Han Caravanserai, a Silk Road resting place. In town, visit the Mevlana Museum, the spiritual home of the whirling dervishes.

Brilliant white travertine terraces cascade down the hillside at Pamukkale, known as the Cotton Castle. Explore the ruins of ancient Hierapolis and its thermal baths and amphitheatre.

From seaside Kuşadası, walk the marble streets of Ephesus, one of the world’s best-preserved ancient cities. You can also join an optional tour to the House of the Virgin Mary, then enjoy a day at leisure.

Take the cable car to Ancient Pergamon, then continue to Çanakkale, the gateway to Troy and its famous Trojan Horse. The journey ends with a moving visit to Gallipoli, Anzac Cove and the Lone Pine Cemetery.

Your holiday ends back in Istanbul, where you board your flight home with memories of two remarkable regions.