Greek Islands and Aegean Sea Cruise

Welcome to Greece! Upon arriving in Athens airport, we will be greeted by our friendly local guide and coach driver who will bring us to our hotel in Athens. Let’s take the rest of the day to relax, unpack and get to know our hotel and its surroundings.

Half Day Guided Tour of Athens
This morning let’s explore the delights Athens has to offer on a half day guided city tour of Greece’s ancient capital. Let’s discover the Panathinaikos Stadium, host to the first modern Olympic Games. Of course, no visit to Athens will be complete without a visit to the breath-taking Acropolis, the world-famous ancient citadel perched on a hilltop overlooking the city. Let’s travel back in time as we explore the Parthenon, a beautiful Doric temple, and the Erechtheion, a temple dedicated to Poseidon.

Have the rest of the day at leisure to explore Athens at your own pace. Our guide will be happy to suggest places of interest to see and visit depending on your own tastes.
Please note October departures will begin their cruise on the afternoon of Day 2 after the city tour of Athens and will have an additional day at leisure after their cruise.

Today begins our cruising adventure! Today we travel from our hotel to the port to embark our Celestyal ship for our 7-night cruise. Let’s settle in onboard and get to know our ship and explore the range of facilities on-board. This evening we will set sail for Thessaloniki.

Explore Thessaloniki at leisure
Let’s uncover more of Greece today as we arrive into the cosmopolitan city of Thessaloniki. Packed full of ancient archaeological sites from the Roman, Greek and Byzantine era, the past meets the present in this vibrant city. We have the entire day here to explore its winding streets and restaurants, cafes and interesting shops around every corner. Don’t miss out on seeing the White Tower, the city’s landmark where you can admire beautiful views of Thessaloniki from the top floor.

Our cruise continues as we arrive this afternoon into Kusadasi, Turkey after a relaxing morning sailing at sea. Let’s enjoy an included half day guided excursion to the ancient city of Ephesus, built over 2000 years ago and one of the former major cities of the Ancient Roman Empire. Travel back to the grandeur of this period during our guided tour where we will see sites such as the Grand Theatre, the Library of Celsus and Hadrian's temple.

Approaching Rhodes from the sea is an experience itself as the clifftop Acropolis rises slowly from the blue water. Here, let’s enjoy a half day included guided excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights. Marvel at the temple of Athena atop the Acropolis, offering stunning views over the surrounding area before returning for a guided walk through Rhodes historical old town. We will then have the rest of the day at leisure to discover more of the beauty of Rhodes.

Wake up this morning in Crete where you will have this morning at leisure to explore the ancient Crete capital of Heraklion. Travel back in time at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the top things to do in Heraklion and explore the legacy of the Minoan civilisation which made this area famous. Otherwise stroll along the waterfront and admire the Koules Fortress while sitting down with a coffee. The choice is yours!

The sight of spectacular Santorini will take your breath away, filled with sun-kissed beaches, cobalt seas, dazzling white houses, bright blue domes and dramatic volcanic mountains as we arrive into Santorini this afternoon. Vast sandy beaches, emerald waters, gourmet restaurants and traditional tavernas serving local delicacies add to the charm of this famous Greek Island. We will have some time at leisure to explore before returning to our ship and departing for Mykonos.

This morning begins one of the highlights of our cruise, Mykonos. Mykonos is a classic Greek Island with whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and windmills. Add a reputation for beautiful beaches and you'll understand why Mykonos is the most popular island in the Cyclades. We will have a full day at leisure to enjoy more of this beautiful area. Don’t miss the opportunity to wander around the winding streets of the Chora area and the Little Venice of Mykonos town tasting a meze, Greek wine or pastry along the way.

We arrive this morning at the island of Milos. Its volcanic past has given this island an exciting variety of landscapes, such as a multitude of caves and rock formations as well as over 80 beaches including the lunar like landscape of the Sarakiniko beach. Let's uncover more of this charming island with a full day at leisure to relax on our final stop on our cruise.

This morning we arrive back into Athens. Time to say goodbye to Greece and to an unforgettable cruise experience. Following disembarkation, we will travel to the airport for our flight home with wonderful memories of our holiday in Greece.

Please note October customers will have an additional post night stay in a hotel in Athens and return home the next day.