Spectacular Greece with Island Cruise & Crete

Arrive today in Athens, the capital of Greece, and continue to our conveniently located hotel. After some time at leisure, we’ll come together for a welcome dinner.

Accommodations: Electra Palace Hotel or Hotel Divani Palace Acropolis or similar
Meals: Dinner

Sailing is the best way to see the idyllic Greek Islands, and today we’ll embark on four sun-kissed days and starry nights with the award-winning Celestyal Cruises! Refreshed with a sumptuous breakfast, we’ll journey to the port of Piraeus to board our ship and settle into the cruising lifestyle. Our first port of call is Mykonos, where iconic windmills and whitewashed homes harmonize with stylish restaurants and trendy clubs. You’ll have time to stroll through the town, explore shops and winding streets, and watch the local scene from a seaside taverna or café before heading back to the ship.

Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we dock in Kusadasi, Türkiye, a short drive from Ephesus. Considered the world’s best-preserved classical city and famous for its Temple of Artemis, Ephesus is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We’ll return in time for lunch on the ship as we sail to scenic Patmos, a significant Christian pilgrimage destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site. See optional tours for information about an excursion to St. John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Dinner is on the ship.

Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s port of call is beautiful Rhodes, home to a large medieval city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fascinating web of Byzantine, Turkish and Latin ruins. We’ll visit picturesque Lindos, where whitewashed houses are clustered beneath a clifftop acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. Here we’ll see the powerful fortifications that still stand today, including the Citadel of the Knights, a rare combination of Greek setting and Gothic architecture! We’ll continue sailing later today.

Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Awaken to Crete, an island rich with history and culture. We’ll come ashore in the bustling capital Heraklion, where you can stroll the charming Lion’s Square, sample a bougatsa (local pastry) at a café or join an optional excursion to see the ruins of the Palace of Knossos.

Return to the ship in time for lunch, as we continue sailing to romantic and utterly breathtaking Santorini, set on a volcanic crater immersed in the sea. Santorini is actually a group of islands, and we’ll stop in Thira. You’ll fall in love with the whitewashed houses, narrow streets and outdoor cafes that line the steep cliffs, accessible by foot, cable car or mule. Consider an optional tour of the photogenic Oia Village. Return to the ship for a final night at sea.

Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We bid farewell to the wonderful crew of our Celestyal ship near Athens and take off for a three-day road trip to the classical cities of mainland Greece. We’ll pass through several ancient towns, including Thebes (home of King Oedipus), on our way to Delphi, set majestically on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, for a guided excursion. We’ll marvel at the ruins of Sanctuary of Apollo, walk the marble Sacred Way and admire the fourth-century BC theater still in use today, as well as see the glorious “Charioteer of Delphi,” one of the best known and preserved examples of classical bronze statues. This evening, our group enjoys an included dinner. B/D Amalia Hotel (or similar)

Accommodations: Amalia Hotel Delphi or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we pass through the beautiful medieval town of Nafpaktos on our way to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. We’ll join a local expert to tour the archaeological site and museum at Olympia, where the games were conceived as a tribute to Hercules, son of Zeus. As an enduring link between the ancient games and today’s Olympics, the Olympic flame is still lit here in Olympia. We’ll view the impressive remains of the Gymnasium and the Temples of Hera and Zeus, as well as see the magnificent Hermes of Praxiteles, the most famous statue in the Olympia Museum. Later, our group will gather for an included dinner.

Accommodations: Hotel Europa Ancient Olympia or Olympion Asty Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

On our way to Athens, we’ll visit the wonderfully preserved 2,300-year-old theater of Epidaurus. Our travels continue to ancient Mycenae, founded by Perseus and built with the help of the mythological Cyclops, or at least that’s what the poets say! We’ll see excavations that reveal the splendors vividly described by Homer. Sites include the Beehive Tombs, Treasury of Atreus, Lion Gate (Europe’s oldest known monument), remains of Agamemnon’s Royal Palace and the impressive fortifications of the Citadel. We’ll check-in at our city-center hotel later today.

Accommodations: Electra Palace Hotel or Hotel Divani Palace Acropolis or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Our guided morning tour takes you to the famed Acropolis, a must-see UNESCO World Heritage site described as the “most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times.” We’ll see the stunning Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, the Erechtheum with its graceful Porch of Caryatids, and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus before descending the Acropolis for a panoramic drive past the Royal Palace, government buildings and elegant homes of modern Athens. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore Athens on your own. Our hotel is located within easy walking distance of Plaka, Athen’s lively old town. This evening, enjoy dinner together.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we'll fly to Heraklion on the island of Crete, the largest island in Greece. Crete is blessed with a rich history, beautiful landscapes, delectable food and wine, and great weather, making it the perfect last stop for our exploration of Greece. Upon arrival, we'll continue to our hotel with the rest of the day free to relax and enjoy the lovely weather.

Accommodations: Aquila Atlantis Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Today, we'll enjoy a full-day excursion of the Rethymno region including its capital city of the same name. Our first visit is to Arkadi Monastery, a UNESCO European Freedom Monument. We'll continue to Rethymno city, located on Crete's longest sandy beach on the north coast. Known by visitors as the island's "hidden jewel," Rethymno is the only well-preserved Renaissance town in Greece, famous for its literature and arts, and filled with archaeological sites. Since 1400 BCE, the Minoans, Venetians, Turks, and Cretans have all made their contributions to the old world charm we see today from the minarets, citadels, hilltop Fortezza, and winding narrow streets to the fishing harbor and lighthouse. We'll continue to Margaritis, a traditional village in Crete known for its pottery with green rolling hills. We'll have the chance to stroll down the charming, narrow streets and visit the ceramic ateliers before we return to our hotel in Heraklion for an evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Today is to enjoy at leisure. Consider joining an optional tour of Arolithos Village. Here you can learn from the masters while they create famous Cretan dishes which you can participate in before making your very own. After lunch, learn about the "Kompoloe" traditional and create your own worry beads.

Meals: Breakfast

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Athens where our tour comes to an end. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will connect with our return flight and will touch down in the U.S. later today.