Saturday, March 23, 2024

Cruises To The Greek Islands

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Can I Add A Few Days Before Or After The Cruise

Greek Islands Cruise with Celebrity Cruises

Yes absolutely. More than 90% of the clients that book their cruises with us book either a pre or post cruise extension. The most popular cruise extension tends to be an extra 2 nights in Athens giving guests the opportunity to visit ancient Delphi and Olympia which are private day tours we do from Athens. We also are seeing an increasing number of clients wanting to do Turkey before the cruise, visiting Istanbul for a few days followed by Cappadocia and then a short flight to Athens to board the cruise.

Romance And Culture Await On A Greek Island Cruise

Its no wonder the Greek Islands have always been a perennial favorite of travelers. Greece is a magical, romantic destination where you can wander alongside stunning coastlines, explore the ruins of ancient cultures, and dine on fresh Mediterranean cuisine all in one vacation.

On one of our luxury Greek Island cruises, explore far-flung beaches, drift out to sea on catamarans and kayaks, and duck into tiny tavernas where you can eat and drink like a local. From the sun-soaked stone buildings in Santorini to the white-sand beaches that beckon in Mykonos, a Greece cruise is the best way to experience the captivating Greek Islands.

Essential Greek Island Cruise Vacations

An essential stop is the glamorous island of Mykonos, with its gleaming white-washed houses and winding lanes of Chora. The islands main town and port, along with its famous array of beaches, combine to make it an unforgettable port of call. The Mykonian reputation for exuberance is truly second to none.Among the most popular Greek islands with Vacationmakers is Rhodes, a mesmerizing presence with its astonishingly well-preserved medieval old town and lush scenery beyond. While considerably smaller, Patmos occupies a vaunted place in Christendom on account of John the Evangelist who, having been expelled from Ephesus by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in 95 AD, received his Revelation in the Cave of the Apocalypse. And then there is Crete. With an array of historic cities and a vast and dazzling coastline, its no wonder the Greeks call Crete the megalonisos: the big island. In the Bronze Age, from about 3000 BC to 1200 BC, the Minoan culture flourished on the island and left behind the palace ruins of Knossos where the mythical lair of the Minotaur is among our complimentary excursions.

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What Is The Difference Between A Main Deck Or Lower Deck Cabin

Main deck cabins benefit from a small picture windows which makes them quite popular. Lower deck cabins have 1-2 port holes which still let light in but not as much as the main deck cabins. Size wise the lower deck cabins can often be slightly larger than the main deck cabins. During the warmer busier months, lower deck cabins are worth considering as they tend to be cooler and quieter than the main deck cabins. If you have any disabilities, then we suggest booking a main deck cabin.

Top Food And Drink Spots Near The Athens Cruise Port

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Varoulko – Piraeus

Address: Akti Koumoundourou 52, Mikrolimano, Piraeus

This Michelin-rated restaurant serves a variety of fresh seafood dishes and main courses cooked expertly, like white fish served with zucchini cream and horseradish, or cuttlefish risotto, or delicious leek soup.

Strofi – Athens

Address: Rovertou Galli 25, 11742 Athens, Greece

Just steps from the Acropolis, youll find Strofi, a restaurant that has been open since 1957. Try lamb stuffed wrapped in vine leaves and stuffed with cheese, or octopus with olive oil and oregano. Enjoy the outdoor dining area, with views of the Acropolis in the near distance.

Orizontes – Athens

Address: Lycabettus Hill, Athens, Greece

Most of the novelty of Orizontes is the fact that its located on Mount Lycabettus, the highest peak in Athens. Talk about views. Come for homemade bread, an extensive wine list, and classically Mediterranean lamb and fish dishes.

Mama Psomi – Athens

Address: 42-44 Zacharitsa St, Koukaki

This family-owned bakery is a favorite, providing everything from pies with sweet filling to bulgur wheat bread or walnut bread. Find and quickly devour these at Mama Psomis.

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Shopping Near The Athens Cruise Port

The port of Piraeus has an abundance of shops, making it easy to pick up a quick souvenir along the way. Youll find a variety of shops along Sotiros Dios, which is a pedestrian shopping street lined with name-brand stores and smaller locally owned boutiques, as well as cafes and unfussy restaurants.

Best Cruises To Greece

Explore the wondrous history and culture of the Greek islands and their Mediterranean neighbors on these cruises to Greece.

Is the economic turmoil in Greece deterring you from planning that dream cruise to the Greek islands? Dont let it. Prices in port are likely to be more tourist-friendly, now, and there are plenty of fantastic ships to make cruises to Greece memorable.

Visit a variety of some of the worlds oldest and most awe-inspiring wonders, as you stand side by side with 34-foot columns at the Parthenon, for example. Before embarking on your journey from Rome, visit landmarks like the Colosseum or St. Peters Basilica.

From Greek cruises focusing solely on the country and its islands to ventures beginning in another significant western influence, Italy, our list of the five best cruises to Greece is sure to have an itinerary fit for you and your party.

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Culture & History Of The Athens Cruise Port

Clues point to settlement in Athens dating as far back as the Neolithic period. In the 6th century BCE, Athens saw both geographic and cultural growth, where new structures and sculptures were built to replace more rudimentary, earlier works on the Acropolis. The Acropolis quickly became a symbol of the city. In the 5th century BC, Athens became the first democratic city-state, or polis, to be brought into existence, and its effects on history rippled well into the modern era.

During the Roman and Hellenistic periods, Athens saw an increase in its importance in trade and commerce, producing and shipping more oils and goods to Italy. As the Roman Empire saw its zenith, Athens was a particular favorite of Emperor Hadrian, who built Hadrians Library on the north side of the Acropolis in 132 AD. However, as the Roman Empire fell into decline, Greeces global prominence sharply withdrew. Like many parts of Greece, Athens switched hands frequently throughout the centuries. In the 19th century, the Turks possessed the Acropolis until 1833, when Athens was selected as the capital of the kingdom of Greece. During World War II, Athens was thankfully spared of major destruction.

Athens Port Facilities & Location

You have two options to get to Athens from the terminals: take a taxi, available from every terminal gate, for a 20-30 minute ride to Athens, or you can take a subway train from Piraeus.

Swim Stops In The Aegean

Greek Island Cruises. 10 Best Islands, Ports And Things To Do

One of the highlights of a small-ship cruise through the Greek Islands is the chance to swim in the enticing cobalt blue waters of the Aegean. Thanks to the sleek size of the vessel, its possible to anchor in secluded bays and hidden coves so you can enjoy unforgettable dips among magnificent surroundings.

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Places To Visit When Island Hopping In Greece

When it comes to unforgettable and extravagant summertime adventures, there’s nothing like a week spent Greek island hopping. Take it from me I sailed across the Aegean Sea on an 11-night Greek Isles cruise, and nothing comes close to topping the amazing culture, crave-worthy food and jaw-dropping beaches I had to look forward to every day. The many shores that make up this one-of-a-kind destination offer something for every type of traveler: rich history infused with colorful ancient mythology, dramatic landscapes that beckon with plenty of outdoor activities, delicious cuisine that goes big on fresh, locally sourced flavor and warm hospitality that will make you feel right at home everywhere you go. If you’re anything like me, the perfect getaway involves all of the above.

Greek Isles Cruise Packages

Anyone you ask will tell you that the absolute best time to visit Greece is in the spring and early summer months , or in the autumn . When visiting at these times you often avoid the summer high season, which comes with crowds of people and inflated prices. While lodging won’t be a concern, Easter weekend can be pretty busy, and many museums and other tourist areas are closed for the entire weekend. You will also find that visiting in the spring and in autumn will provide you with some of the best weather. During the months of July and August, the temperatures can be unbearably hot and you might find yourself enjoying shelter indoors rather than exploring the areas around the ports.

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Limited To 148 Guests

or speak to your travel professional

Included With This Luxury Expedition Cruise
  • An Exclusively Chartered, All-Inclusive Voyage Led by A& Ks Expedition Team and Local Guides
  • Pre- and/or Post-Cruise Stays at Stylish, Ideally Located Hotels and A& K-Led Excursions
  • Airport Meet and Greet and Transfers
  • Private Balcony with Every Onboard Accommodation and Butler Service with Every Suite
  • Maximum Personnel-to-Guest Ratio of 1 to 1.3
  • Culinary Program Featuring French-Inspired Cuisine, Including House Drinks, Afternoon Tea and Pastries
  • 24-Hour Room Service and Breakfast in Bed
  • Choice of Curated, All-Inclusive Shore Excursions
  • Enrichment programming, lectures and presentations
  • Travellers Valet® Laundry Service

Cruises From Various Parts Of Europe

Jewel Of The Sea Greek Island Cruise

In summer, one of the most popular ways to travel in Europe is to book a cruise around the Mediterranean. Some of the biggest cruise ships dock in Piraeus . To mention a few:

  • Royal Caribbean International offers a 7-night cruise departing from Venice around some of the Greek Islands and includes a stop at Athens.
  • Seabourn also departs from Venice during a seven-night tour of the Greek Islands and stops the last day in Athens.
  • Celebrity Reflection departs from Rome and stops in Athens.

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Greek Island Cruises That Make Dreams Come True

Cosmopolitan Greek Islands

The iconic islands of the Cyclades are undoubtedly one of the most magical experiences in the eastern Mediterranean. With cosmopolitan architecture and clusters of iconic white-painted houses perched atop reddish-black volcanic cliffs, the exquisite natural settings of the Greek islands beckon to take you on a journey that most will only dream of. And as you meander through the charming narrow lanes, there is a pleasant surprise around every corner.

Awe-Inspiring Attractions

From the elaborate monument of Athens to the clifftop village of Oia and the charming medieval city of Rhodes, Greece and the Greek Island cruise Vacations of any length leave you dreaming of your next visit.

Where Does The Ship Dock Overnight

Most evenings our boats are docked in the small ports, giving guests the opportunity to go and enjoy dinner in a wonderful selection of traditional Greek tavernas. This is one of the highlights of our cruises, the opportunity to enjoy evenings dining alfresco and soaking up the local atmosphere. There will be a handful of dinners on board the boat, one of these being Greek night which is great fun and one of the highlights of the cruise.

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Island Hopping To Mykonos

Mykonos, another of Greece’s most famous islands to visit, has earned a reputation as a party island getaway. True, you’ll find no shortage of beat-thumping, celebrity-frequented beach clubs near Ornos, Paraga and Paradise Beach, as well as vibrant nightlife in Mykonos Town. Though you can also find plenty of sun-kissed rest and relaxation. Ftelia, Kapari, Fokos and Mersini are some of Mykonos’s quieter, more secluded beaches. Since the island has very few taxis, and they’re all in demand during the busy summer months, consider splurging and chartering a boat during your time in Mykonos. I chartered a sailboat with a captain for the whole day and quickly found it’s the most convenient way to get to the island’s quieter beaches and hidden coves. The captain regaled me with stories of each location’s history and offered insider tips on where to eat and party on the island a priceless bonus.

If you’re a history lover, you should definitely pencil in an excursion to the nearby island of Delos. In ancient times, Delos was believed to be the birthplace of the Greek goddess Artemis and the god Apollo and served as the region’s holiest and most important island. Today, it’s home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s considered one of Greece’s most significant and best-preserved archeological wonders. Visitors can explore the ruins of Greek, Roman, Syrian and Egyptian shrines dating back thousands of years before heading back to Mykonos by boat or ferry.

Tours From Cruise Ships

10-Night Greek Islands & Malta Cruise on Celebrity Beyond

Many cruise companies discourage the use of taxi and limo companies for private tours in destinations like Rhodes, Athens, Crete, Santorini and places in Turkey. Whether this is to ‘protect’ the passenger or because the cruise ships themselves offer tours I don’t know . I do know that you can get excellent service from taxi companies which offer personalized tours, many of whom charge by the trip and not by the person. These tours are like having a local host show you around the islands, towns and cities that they know. Instead of eating in some giant tourist trap that accommodates the dozens of people who take the bus tours, you can go to small tavernas where the locals eat, on quietstreets or on the sea.

These are some drivers I recommend:

In Athens of course there isGeorge the Famous Taxi Driver who is now something of an international hero for his tours of Athens, the mainland and his ability to get customers from the boats to the airport or hotels comfortably and quickly. George, like the other drivers listed here is non-smoking, English-speaking, knowlegable and drives a very comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes.For groups of more than 4 there is his son Dennis, in the photo above, with his beautiful luxury Mercedes limo that seats 7 plus the driver. For even larger groups there is son Billy with their Mercedes Bus able to seat 12 people. You can e-mail them at

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Greek Travel Agencies Specializing In Cruises

For more information on thecruises and to see Itineraries and dates for3, 4, and 7 day cruises to the Greek Islands,Italy, Turkey and Egypt visit the Cruise pages of these two respected travel agencies in Athens:FantasyTravel atwww.fantasytravelofgreece.com orDolphinHellas atwww.greecetravel.com/dolphinhellas

Economical Cruise Packages

Special offers for the 2021 cruise season by Dolphin Hellas:

  • Variety Cruises:Special offers on small ship cruises by Variety Cruise 10% discount for select departures in the year 2021. This offer is available for a limited number of cabins and are the next best thing tohaving your own private yacht.

  • Celestyal Cruises: Early bird Celestyal Cruises offers for all sailings of Celestyal Cruises in the year 2021 season and for reservations completed by March 31, 2021 a 10% discount.

– Check their Greecetravel special offers page –

New Economical Cruise Packages: Fantasy Travel has put together a number of packages that offer quality accomodation for economical prices. Most packages that seem too good to be true are actually not as good as they seem, often using hotels that are in areas you really don’t want to stay in, to keep the price down. But Fantasy’s economy packages feature hotels in and around the Plaka in Athens and are all goodqualityhotels. I recommend Fantasy Travel’s 8 day package that includes a 4-day cruise plus Athens-Delphi-Meteora which starts at 595 euros per person. For these and more visit Fantasy Travel’s Special Offers Page

Treasures Of The Greek Isles Windstar Cruises

Cruise to the Greek Isles on this seven-day cruise aboard Wind Star, and experience a Mediterranean adventure to remember on one of the best Greek-island cruises. Starting and ending in Athens, this Windstar cruise visits six other ports throughout Greece and includes a stop in Kuadas, Turkey.

Along the way, guests will have the opportunity to visit nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Stand atop Palamidi, a fortress in Nafplio, after climbing 999 rock steps. In Monemvasia, walk with a loved one through the streets, as classic, romantic castles rise above from seemingly every angle.

Windstar Cruises also have 40 different shore excursions available across all stops. Ranging anywhere from four to eight hours and $79 to $1,800, these activities include eating, drinking, boating, sightseeing and more.

All guests are treated to an Evening in Ephesus, too. The Library of Celsus in Selçuk, Turkey, is exclusively accommodates Wind Stars passengers, as guests partake in a five-course meal in the courtyard outside the ancient Roman library that once housed over 12,000 scrolls more than 2,000 years ago.

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Greek Island Cruise Lines

Almost every mainstream cruise line, both U.S. and European, has Eastern Mediterranean itineraries that stop at the larger Greek islands of Mykonos, Santorini and Crete.

To really get an in-depth vacation on the Greek islands, youll want to book with a line that has smaller cruise ships that stop at some of the less-trafficked ports. Options include luxury lines Azamara, Windstar, SeaDream, Seabourn, Silversea and Star Clippers.

Two Greek cruise lines, Celestyal Cruises and Variety Cruises, offer itineraries that focus only on the islands. Celestyal, which has been seeing an influx of North American passengers, uses larger, more traditional cruise ships and normally spends more time than the mainstream lines at each island with full days and overnights in some ports.

Best Cruises For Greek Island Hopping

Cruise from Limassol

World-famous sights such as the Parthenon in Athens, charming seaside tavernas and crystal-clear waters are all part of a Greek island-hopping cruise. Only 227 of the 6,000 islands and islets scattered in the Aegean and Ionian Seas of Greece are inhabited and some are only accessible by boat, making a small ship cruise the best way discover these idyllic destinations.

Take a look at our list of the 10 best cruise lines for a Greek island-hopping odyssey.

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