GREECE, EGYPT, ISRAEL, CYPRUS & TÜRKIYE (TURKEY)
Visit Europe, Africa, and Asia on this 7-night Mediterranean cruise plus Athens. Along the way, we’ll marvel at ancient wonders like the famed Acropolis in Athens, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Library of Celsus at Ephesus. We’ll also visit the Old City of Jerusalem, beautiful Cyprus, the island of Rhodes, and enjoy an excursion to Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Nafplio. Consider an optional tour to Aegina Island, the largest of the Saronic Islands and home to the Temple of Aphaia.
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 10 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 1 night in Athens
- 7-night Mediterranean Cruise to Cairo (Egypt), Ashdod (Israel), Limassol (Cyprus), Rhodes (Greece), Kusadasi (Türkiye)
- 2 nights in Athens
Tour Highlights
- Explore Three Continents in 8 Days
- Acropolis & Parthenon
- Athenian Agora
- Great Pyramids of Giza
- National Archaeological Museum (Cairo)
- Old City Jerusalem
- Bethlehem
- Limassol (Cyprus)
- Old City of Rhodes
- Lindos
- Ancient Ephesus
- UNESCO-listed ruins of Mycenae
- Ancient theater of Epidaurus
- Old quarter of Nafplio
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Ground transportation in air-conditioned motor coach
- 7-night cruise on the Mediterranean
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 28 meals: 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 10 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees as indicated in the itinerary
- Professional, English-speaking Tour Director throughout
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Intermediate
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
Many of the shore excursions include walking tours that include stairs and uneven surfaces. It might not be best for those with walking difficulties. During the cruise, there are early wake-up calls as the touring starts as soon as the ship arrives at the port.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Arrive in Athens, the capital of Greece, and continue to our conveniently located hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation at a local restaurant.
Accommodations: Electra Hotel Athens (or similar)
Meals: 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.
Accommodations: Celestyal Crystal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We'll spend the day at sea as we make our way to Egypt. Enjoy some of the ship's on-board activities and amenities.
Accommodations: Celestyal Crystal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early this morning we'll disembark our ship, 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 acquaint 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 Tutankhamun. Stop at a Papyrus Institute where we'll learn how Ancient Egyptians made paper from reeds before we return to our ship in Port Said.
Accommodations: Celestyal Crystal
Meals: 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.
Accommodations: Celestyal Crystal
Meals: 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.
Accommodations: Celestyal Crystal
Meals: 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.
Accommodations: Celestyal Crystal
Meals: 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.
Accommodations: Electra Hotel Athens (or similar)
Meals: 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
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Mar. 31, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
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$4,886
$4,386
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$4,699
$4,199
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$4,699
$4,199
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$4,499
$3,999
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Book with Flights |
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$4,619
$4,119
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Book with Flights |
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From
$4,086
$3,586
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Join Waitlist |
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$3,999
$3,499
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Book Tour Only |
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$3,899
$3,399
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Book Tour Only |
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$3,699
$3,199
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$3,819
$3,319
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* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00am - 5:30pm EST)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 120 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
First, we'll make our way to the center of Limassol where we have the opportunity to walk in the old city at the medieval fort and through the Fishing harbor area with a local guide. We'll see the exterior of the medieval fort was built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier Byzantine Castle. It is believed that Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre here and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. After some free time to explore, we'll continue to the archaeological park of Curium, an ancient city-kingdom founded by the Greeks in the 14th century BCE. We'll visit the Greco Roman Theatre and the House of Efstolios, originally a private Roman villa that became a public recreation center during the early Christian period. It consists of a complex of baths and a number of rooms with beautiful 5th century mosaic floors.
Please Note: The Panoramic Limassol & Curium optional tour, the Paphos Excursion, and the Curium, Wine Village of Omodos & Limassol City optional tour are all offered on the same day (Day 6) so only one option can be chosen.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Explore Paphos which is on the western coast of the island and one of the most important archaeological regions of the island. The whole town is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world heritage. First we'll drive to "Petra tou Romiou", which is where, according to Greek mythology, was where Aphrodite, the Goddess of beauty and love, was born. After a quick photo stop, we'll continue to the Tombs of the Kings. Spread over a vast area, these impressive underground tombs date back to the 4th century BCE. Despite its name, high officials were buried here rather than kings. Instead, the tomb was named for the magnificence of the tombs.
Our journey continues to Kato Paphos and after an independent lunch break we'll visit the Archaeological Park where the House of Dionysos, the House of Aion, and the House of Theseus are. The mosaic floors of these noblemen's villas dating back to the 3rd to the 5th century CE are considered among the finest in Eastern Mediterranean. Enjoy some free time in the fishing harbor before returning to the ship.
Please Note: The Panoramic Limassol & Curium optional tour, the Paphos Excursion, and the Curium, Wine Village of Omodos & Limassol City optional tour are all offered on the same day (Day 6) so only one option can be chosen.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
On our tour we'll first visit the Archaeological Park of Curium, an ancient city-kingdom founded by the Greeks in the 14th century BCE. We'll visit the Greco Roman Theatre, and the House of Efstolios, which was originally a private Roman villa that became a public recreation center. It consists of a complex of baths and a number of rooms with beautiful 5th century CE mosaic floors. We'll continue to the vineyard area of Limassol where we'll visit one of the most beautiful and traditional villages of the island, the village of Omodos. Here, we'll have free time to enjoy lunch in the village before we visit the Monastery of the Holy Cross at the village square and the medieval wine press. Enjoy a wine tasting in one of the villagers' wine cellars before we return to Limassol and enjoy a panoramic bus tour along the coast of the city as we make our way back to the ship.
Please Note: The Panoramic Limassol & Curium optional tour, the Paphos Excursion, and the Curium, Wine Village of Omodos & Limassol City optional tour are all offered on the same day (Day 6) so only one option can be chosen.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
We'll meet our guide this morning at the hotel and travel to Piraeus port to take the ferry to Aegina on our full-day excursion. Aegina is the largest of the Saronic Islands with a glorious history dating back from antiquity. One of the island's fascinating highlights is the Temple of Aphaia which is situated on a pine-clad hilltop, and just north of Aegina town, a single column (Kolona) is all that is left of the ancient Temple of Apollo. We'll visit Perdika village and have some free time to enjoy the beach and an independent lunch before continuing to the beautiful town of Aegina. We'll also visit the magnificent church of St. Nektarios and Monastery before returning to Athens.
Please Note: The Aegina Island optional tour and the Cooking Class Experience in Athens are all offered on the same day (Day 10) so only one option can be chosen.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Experience a cooking class in a local restaurant, a cozy environment to cook traditional Greek food the way our mothers and grandmothers do. You will be encouraged to participate and immerse yourselves in the cooking process. You will learn about Greek Mediterannean cuisine, prepare and taste traditional Greek food.
Please Note: The Aegina Island optional tour and the Cooking Class Experience in Athens are all offered on the same day (Day 10) so only one option can be chosen.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
5 Ermou Str., 10563 Athens, Greece
Website
Celestyal Cruises organizes a variety of cruises in the Mediterranean with older and renovated ships offering comfortable and modest accommodations. Celestyal prides itself as being a Greek company made up of local experts, offering travelers wonderful experiences on their shore excursions.
Website
Jasmin N
This was a great and amazing cruise tour especially all that you see with the days of the tour. Our hotel, Hotel Electra Palace in Athens was great and had amazing view of the Acropolis from the 8th floor restaurant. It was great. We truly had a great time especially having our tour director, Gina Agelopoulou, who was so amazing, attentive and very hospitable. She made our trip so amazing and so memorable. Thank you Gina. I would highly recommend this cruise tour to anyone. You will truly enjoy it. I would di it again. Thank you Smartours.
Jasmin N
This was a great and amazing cruise tour especially all that you see with the days of the tour. Our hotel, Hotel Electra Palace in Athens was great and had amazing view of the Acropolis from the 8th floor restaurant. It was great. We truly had a great time especially having our tour director, Gina Agelopoulou, who was so amazing, attentive and very hospitable. She made our trip so amazing and so memorable. Thank you Gina. I would highly recommend this cruise tour to anyone. You will truly enjoy it. I would di it again. Thank you Smartours. Already booked our next tour to Turkey, can’t wait.
Jasmin V
This was a great and amazing cruise tour especially all that you see with the days of the tour. Our hotel, Hotel Electra Palace in Athens was great and had amazing view of the Acropolis from the 8th floor restaurant. It was great. We truly had a great time especially having our tour director, Gina Agelopoulou, who was so amazing, attentive and very hospitable. She made our trip so amazing and so memorable. Thank you Gina. I would highly recommend this cruise tour to anyone. You will truly enjoy it. I would di it again. Thank you Smartours.
Mavon
Just came back from my European Cruise I an awesome time and can't wait to be on my next trip with SmarTour.
Blanca S
My husband and I returned very happy from this experience, the very beautiful places, the boat with good service, the tour companions and Renan the guide were all excellent.
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