Signature Cyclades & Crete Cruise-Tour

Upon arrival into Athens International Airport, you’ll be welcomed by your driver who will provide a private transfer to your 4-star hotel in the city center. Take time to rest and refresh before enjoying a preview of the city. You’ll be within walking distance of a number of major sites, including the Temple of Zeus and Athens’ oldest neighborhood, Plaka. It’s fun just to wander through this colorful district with plenty of shops and cafes. You might want to return to your hotel to grab a seat at the rooftop restaurant just before dusk, enjoying a beautiful sunset with cocktails and a fine dining meal.

For those who have any interest in history and archaeology, this morning is a definite highlight. On this private half-day tour, you’ll walk with your guide, following the footsteps of legendary names like Socrates and Plato on Acropolis hill. Enjoy an up-close look at the Parthenon and other remarkable 5th-century BC monuments before heading to the Plaka neighborhood to witness historic sites like the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, and Hadrian’s Library. In the afternoon, take a private transfer to the port of Lavrio where your ship awaits. You’ll soon be enjoying the first swim stop of your cruise in the sapphire waters that surround Cape Sounion.

• Included Excursion Private Highlights of Athens Walking Tour

Having sailed throughout the night, we’ll reach Delos Island early this morning, perfectly timed for an optional tour of one of the country’s most significant archaeological sites. The sacred island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a wide range of well-preserved ruins that date back to the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Your guide will provide expert insight into the temples, theater, mosaics, Venetian and Byzantine architecture, as well as a look at some of the fascinating Delos myths before departing for nearby Mykonos with a swim stop along the way. Upon arrival on the island, the rest of the day is yours.

• Optional Excursion Guided Tour of Delos

We’re likely to be in Naxos when you wake up this morning. Known for its powdery sand beaches, mountainous terrain, and farm-to-table cuisine, you’ll have the chance to join the optional Traditional Naxos Villages Tour that will bring you into those soaring mountains. Visit several villages known for their long-held traditions, including Hilltop Apeiranthos. The “marble village” was built amphitheatrically into a foothill of Mount Fanari and boasts marble buildings along its marble-paved streets. After your tour, return to Naxos Town with the remainder of the day at leisure. Enjoy dinner on your own along the waterfront or in an eatery tucked among Chora’s alleyways.

• Optional Excursion Traditional Naxos Villages & Apiranthos

Cruising toward Koufonisia, we’ll stop just south of Naxos for a swim stop at the “Island of the Sun,” Schinoussa Island. It’s the perfect place for a refreshing dip with sandy beaches edged by surreal, calm, and clear turquoise water. After reaching Koufonisia, enjoy the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. It’s a great place for a walk, strolling into pretty Chora with its Cycladic buildings, historic windmill, and cobblestone alleys lined with family-run shops and traditional tavernas. If you want to enjoy a swim, head to one of the postcard-perfect stretches with golden sands nearby.

While our next destination is Santorini, we’ll stop at Ios Island to enjoy a dip from Magganari Beach, a pristine stretch with clear, shallow aquamarine waters. It’s a vision to behold but your next sight will be of Santorini’s dramatic caldera, something you’re unlikely to ever forget. Here an optional excursion will bring you to prehistoric Akrotiri, a settlement covered beneath ash during the volcanic eruption. Left frozen in time like Pompeii, it provides a glimpse of life in 1600 BC. Afterward, visit beautiful Oia with leisure time for dinner, ideally while watching the world-famous sunset. Return to the ship by 11 pm.

• Optional Excursion Guided Tour of Akrotiri & Oia

After our late-night departure, you’ll be able to wake up at Milos this morning with an optional excursion available that will bring you to one of its most popular attractions. The otherworldly Sarakiniko Beach looks like a lunar landscape with smooth white volcanic rock contrasted by a bright turquoise sea. Afterward, learn about the island’s mining history at the Geological Mining Museum through intriguing artifacts and exhibits. You’ll have time to sample the local fare for lunch as tonight your dinner will be served on the ship with time to explore your next destination, peaceful Kimolos with its Venetian castle.

• Optional Excursion Guided Tour of Milos

Heading back to where it all began, we’ll visit Serifos and Kythnos before reaching the port of Lavriou. Tiny hilltop Serifos boasts romantic streets and alleys with whitewashed buildings and enticing traditional tavernas. An optional tour will bring you through Chora, overlooked by a majestic fortress. Enjoy a breathtaking view over the island and insight into its history followed by an independent lunch before returning to the ship. We’ll depart for Kythnos with your final swim stop of the trip en route. After anchoring in one of the picturesque bays, look forward to the fun Farewell Dinner with live entertainment this evening.

• Optional Excursion Visit the Island of Serifos

After breakfast and time for goodbyes to your fellow passengers, captain, and crew, disembarkation will be by 10 am. You still have quite a bit to look forward to, transferring to Athens Airport to hop on a flight to Crete. Upon arrival into Rethymnon in the late afternoon, a walking tour will reveal the highlights of the city, including a Venetian fountain, Venetian harbor, and a castle overlooking it all. With the evening yours to enjoy dinner and drinks, there is such a long list of good options you’ll want to ask your guide for restaurant or bar recommendations based on your preferences.

• Included Excursion Private Walking Tour of Rethymnon

A private tour will bring you to the former capital of Minoan Crete. A highlight of your time on the island, you’ll join your guide to visit the home of the first organized civilization and the center of life in the Bronze Age. Explore the ancient hilltop palace, built around 2000 BC, the Royal Villa, Temple Tomb, and more. Note the elaborate sewage and drainage system that can still be seen unground, revealing how advanced the Minoans were. After touring you’ll visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum which showcases artifacts from the site, followed by time on your own to dine and shop.

• Included Excursion Private Tour of Knossos Minoan Palace

A memorable private day trip will bring you to one of Crete’s most beautiful beaches. Located on the south coast, Elafonisi boasts fine pink sands, the result of white sand combined with tiny, crushed red shells. When contrasted with the surreal Easter egg blue water, it’s incredibly photogenic. First, visit Agia Sofa cave to witness its stalactites and stalagmites, with a chapel at the entrance. Once at Elafonisi, you’ll have three hours to enjoy swimming in the shallow, calm sea and relaxing with a spectacular view. On your return, a stop can be made in Elos village for an independent dinner at a traditional taverna.

• Included Excursion Private Day Trip to Elafonisi Beach

With your Crete Cruise Tour coming to an end this morning, you’ll want to have your bags packed and ready as our driver will meet you at your hotel in Rethymnon for a private transfer. You can choose to spend more time here by transferring to a local hotel or heading to the airport in Heraklion or Chania to catch your flight home. If you need assistance with further travel arrangements, our staff is always happy to help. Otherwise, we hope to see you again on another unforgettable trip.