Venetian tourists wander past the mosaic artistry of Saint Mark’s Basilica, footsteps and conversations punctuated by the pulsating flutter of ascending pigeons. Agile house martins dive and swoop between weathered city walls pockmarked by time or dissent, alighting on centuries-old griffins that once proclaimed fealty to the maritime Republic of Venice. Discover the Adriatic and Greece from new perspectives during this 8-day cruise that touches on storied landmarks and intimate, little-known ports on the Adriatic Sea and in Greece. Admire Zadar’s Medieval city walls and charming boutiques. Learn about the global success of Croatian organic vineyards as you sample varietal wines in a farming village. Take in Dubrovnik’s Old Town charms from the heights of a cable car. Savor local smoked hams, sausages and homemade cheeses on a Montenegro olive farm tour outside Kotor. Then transit the tapered, sheer-walled Corinth Canal, a time-saving dream of the rulers of antiquity for 2,000 years, but only reality in 1893. This Adriatic-to-Greece odyssey ends in Athens, among the shadows of the Parthenon, silent monuments to ancient athletic competitions and the savory aroma of souvlaki, seasoned and skewered grilled meats wrapped in pita bread and sold in countless cafés and sidewalk restaurants.