Greece Cyclades Islands Cruise 2024

Upon your arrival at Athens International Airport, you’ll be welcomed by your private driver for transfer to Marina Zeas with embarkation between 2 and 3 p.m. Enjoy a welcome drink and introductions to the crew and your fellow passengers before setting sail across the sapphire waters of the Aegean Sea. Soak up the sun and the spectacular views along the way to Poros, your first stop. You’ll have a few hours to explore this small island in the Saronic Gulf, known for its authentic Greek atmosphere and beautiful beaches. Afterward, we’ll continue cruising to Poliegos, overnighting at sea.

In the morning, we’ll reach Poliegos, the country’s largest uninhabited island renowned for its beaches with luminous clear blue waters, perfect for your first swim stop. Fuel your appetite with a tasty BBQ feast on board before we continue sailing to Folegandros, a tiny unspoiled island. While it’s just northwest of Santorini in the Cyclades, it sees far fewer visitors, offering a tranquil setting away from the big cruise ships and crowds. Enjoy dinner at one of the many enticing traditional tavernas in Chora. With no motor vehicles permitted, the cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed buildings are delightful to stroll.

As we cruise into Santorini’s port, you’ll be faced with the dramatically steep cliffs of the caldera, a view you won’t soon forget. After disembarkation, you can wander through the unique and charming capital city of Fira. It has a cosmopolitan ambiance and a wide array of shops, standing opposite the volcano with jaw-dropping views from the caldera. Afterward, take an optional excursion that includes touring villages like famous whitewashed Oia and the fascinating site of Akrotiri. Like Pompeii, it was covered in ash during a volcanic eruption, leaving the city incredibly well preserved, providing a glimpse nearly 3,700 years back in time.

Optional Excursion:
Tour of Oia and Akrotiri

After departing Santorini, you’ll stop to take a dip in one of the enticing bays with surreal blue waters at Antiparos. Then, venturing to Paros, you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy the island. Discover the main port of Parikia with its maze of marble streets and Cycladic cube-shaped homes splashed with blue, and take a stroll through the winding alleyways in the village of Naoussa. Finally, end the evening with a Greek night with lots of fun and music along with the chance to show off your dance skills. You’ll want to have your camera ready for this one.

While Mykonos is our final destination today, we’ll make a stop for an optional tour of the archaeological site of Delos, home to some of the most extensive ruins from the golden age of classical Greece, some dating back to the 5th-century BC. Marvel at 2,500-year-old mosaic floors, the Temple of Apollo, and wander through the Agora. Before disembarking in Mykonos, enjoy a swim stop in one of the gorgeous bays. After that, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore this popular international jetsetters’ island. We recommend sampling some of its famously lively nightlife.

Optional Excursion:
Tour of Oia and Akrotiri

Start the day with an energizing swim off Mykonos before we continue our cruise to the island of Syros, the capital of the Cyclades. You’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps spending at least part of it on one of the many picturesque sandy and pebble beaches. Or take a stroll through town. There are many architectural treasures here, including Miaouli Square with majestic neoclassical buildings and Ermoupolis’ city hall. You’ll find plenty of local tavernas for dinner, with menus featuring authentic traditional dishes made with island-grown herbs and veggies that can be complemented with Greek wine.

Departing Syros, we’ll sail to Kythnos, stopping in Kolones Bay for one final swim. Soak up the beauty that surrounds you before we continue toward Marina Zeas via Cape Sounion. It’s home to the nearly 200-foot-tall Temple of Poseidon, which rises above the sea, providing a fabulous photo-op. Finally, we’ll overnight where it all began, Marina Keas, providing time back on board the ship to exchange contact information and photos with some of your fellow passengers who’ve likely become new friends. As this is your last night, you might want to get your bags packed and ready for disembarkation tomorrow morning.

You’ll have time to enjoy breakfast and final farewells to the crew and new friends made before taking a private transfer back to Athens International Airport or your local hotel if you’ve decided to extend your stay here. Feel free to reach out to our staff if you need any recommendations for exploring Athens or continuing your journey elsewhere. Otherwise, we hope to see you back on board for another trip soon!