Three Continents Mediterranean Cruise with Athens

Depart today on your overnight flight to Athens, Greece.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Athens on Day 2.

Arrive in Athens, the capital of Greece, where you’ll be met at the airport and escorted to your conveniently located hotel. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation at a local restaurant.

Electra Hotel Athens (or similar) | Dinner

Enjoy some time to rest and relax in this morning or explore the city independently. This afternoon, our guided tour with lunch takes us 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.” Here, 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. Afterwards, we’ll stop at the Athenian Agora, which was once the marketplace of Ancient Athens. Later, we’ll board our ship, the Celestyal Crystal.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll spend the day at sea as we make our way to Alexandria, Egypt. Enjoy some of the ship’s on-board activities and amenities.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early this morning we’ll disembark in Alexandria, for our full-day excursion to Giza and Cairo by motor coach. Our first stop of the day will be at the Great Pyramids of Giza, built during the Third and Fourth Dynasties, these monuments stand as testimony to the skill and strength of their builders. Continue down the valley to the mighty Sphinx, which famously combines a reclining lion with the head of an Egyptian king. After a delicious lunch buffet, we’ll drive to Tahrir Square (Liberty Square) in the heart of downtown Cairo. We’ll visit the National Archaeological Museum and acquant ourselves with Egypt’s ancient history spanning over fifty centuries. This museum is home to the world’s largest and richest collection of Egyptian Antiquities, including the priceless collection of King Tutankhamen. Stop at a Papyrus Institute where we’ll learn how Ancient Egyptians made paper from reeds before we return to our ship now docked in Port Said.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early this morning, we’ll disembark in Ashdod for our full-day excursion to Jerusalem and Bethlehem which includes the Mount of Olives and the Church of Gethsemane. We’ll also explore the Old City of Jerusalem, including the colorful market and the Holy Sepulcher  before proceeding back to the market and the Via Dolorosa to the Wailing Wall in the Jewish Quarter followed by Mount Zion. Continue to Bethlehem, the city of David and Jacob and to the Church of the Nativity before we return to our ship docked in Ashdod.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we’ll enjoy free time in Limassol, home to the Cyprus medieval Museum and a short drive from the iconic Aphrodite’s Rock and Crusader castle at Kolossi. Explore Limassol independently or join an optional excursion.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we’ll disembark in Rhodes and travel to see Lindos. Along the way, we’ll come across the captains’ mansions built between the 16th and 18th centuries and in the center of the village, the Church of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) of Lindos with its 15th-century frescoes. Ascend to the Acropolis of Lindos with its ancient Temple of Athena, of Doric order, built in 300 BCE on the location of an older monument. The ancient city-state of Lindos was for many centuries, the most important on the island with its heyday in the 6th century BCE. At the old city of Rhodes, we’ll go through the D’Amboise Gate to walk on the Street of Knights. Along this street we’ll find the residences of the Knights, separated according to Order, which bear their corresponding crests. The afternoon is at leisure.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we find ourselves in Kusadasi where we’ll disembark for a morning excursion to Ancient Ephesus. At the archaeological site we’ll have a guided tour among the Agora, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the marble-paved main street of Kouretes, the Baths of Scholastica, Trajan’s Fountain, the Public Latrines, the Residences of teh Patricians, the Prytaneum, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Theatre built in the 4th century BCE which could accommodate 24,000 spectators. During our excursion we’ll have an opportunity to shop for souvenirs. This afternoon will be at leisure.

Celestyal Crystal | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we’ll say goodbye to our crew as we disembark in Athens and depart for our full-day tour. First, we’ll drive to Epidaurus where we’ll visit the ancient teater which was built in the 4th century BCE. This theater is considered to be one of the best preserved of its kind and is known for its incredible acoustics that allow even those at the furthest rows to hear people on stage without any amplification. We’ll continue to Nafplio (also known as Nauplion), a picturesque town nestled at the foot of a cliff which is crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress. After stopping for lunch and photos, we’ll continue to Mycenae. Here, we’ll visit the Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs before we return to Athens this evening to check in at our hotel. The evening is at leisure.

Electra Hotel Athens (or similar) | Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a full day at leisure to explore the city of Athens independently or to join an optional tour. This evening, we’ll join our fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Royal Olympic Hotel (or similar) | Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we’ll transfer to the airport in time for our return flight to the US. Arrive back full of memories of our Three Continent Cruise!

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights on Day 12 in Athens.

| Breakfast