This trip we will, at last, get to Trieste, currently an Italian port, previously the port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, once a Roman port, and before that a Greek port. That should add up to a wonderfully interesting city.
From Trieste we will go to Ancona - same story minus the Austro-Hungarian interlude, and there we will  do what makes sense in a port, namely get on a boat, across to Patras, currently Greek with Roman and Venetian interludes.
From Patras the next ports will be a couple of the air variety but will be quickly followed by Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania. Then Athens, and I don't think we have ever been there without last one trip to  Pireaus; that will no doubt be true of this visit also.