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If you’ve ever fancied following the footsteps of Odysseus—albeit in considerably more comfort—then Viking’s latest cruise offering might be the modern mariner’s ticket to paradise, minus the shipwrecks and sirens. The line’s latest deal is a corker: save up to $3,000 per couple on the sumptuous 29-day Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores voyage, sailing from Barcelona to Istanbul, or if you’re feeling contrary, the other way around.

This isn’t just your average “whistle-stop-through-the-Med” cruise, mind you. Viking has cleverly stitched together a grand journey that combines the Iconic Western Mediterranean, Italian Sojourn, Venice, the Adriatic and Greece, and Ancient Mediterranean Treasures—a full-circle cultural deep dive that makes the term “immersive” look like a puddle.

At $24,095 per person for a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom, this epic journey spans from Spain to Turkey, pausing for overnight stays in cities like Barcelona, Florence/Pisa, Venice, Athens, and Istanbul. It’s an itinerary that reads more like a UNESCO wish list than a typical cruise schedule.

Here’s where it gets even better—and I love a cherry on top. Travellers who book one or more pre- or post-cruise extensions will knock a handsome $3,000 off the couple’s total bill. Yes, that’s actual cash savings—not just a “room upgrade” or an extra bread roll at dinner.

Extension Options Worth Writing Home About:

Pre-Cruise in Barcelona (3 nights): Wander the whimsical labyrinth of Gaudí’s La Sagrada Família, sip through Cataluña, and visit the mystical Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. Priced from $3,799pp, this add-on feels more like a second holiday.
Post-Cruise in Cappadocia (3 nights): Balloon over fairy chimneys, walk the cave churches of Göreme and get wonderfully lost in the spice-scented bazaars of Istanbul. All from $2,399pp—barely more than a week’s rent in Bondi.

What You Get—Because It’s Viking, After All:

Let’s face it—Viking doesn’t do anything by halves. The inclusions read like a traveller’s Christmas list:

A guided excursion in every port
All onboard meals (including wine and beer with lunch and dinner—thank you kindly)
Alternative dining venues
Unlimited Wi-Fi
Access to the Nordic spa
Self-service laundry
24-hour specialty tea, coffee and bottled water
And yes, all tipping is included to retire your stash of Euro coins.

Add to that a ship with no children, no casinos, fewer than 1,000 guests, and veranda staterooms for everyone, and you’ve got yourself an ocean-going haven of civilised calm.

It’s the journey that makes you want to pack your linen shirts and shout, “Darling, we’re doing Europe properly this year!”

For bookings, more details, or to plan your Mediterranean escape, visit: 👉 https://www.vikingcruises.com.au.