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.

Meals Included:

Welcome Dinner

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. Discover the history of this picture perfect town visiting one of the oldest bakeries in Greece, its iconic windmills, Little Venice and several other hidden gems which make up this charming town. In the evening, you are free to enjoy dinner at a fabulous selection of restaurants in Mykonos.

Optional Excursion AM:

Delos archaeological site

Excursions Included PM:

Guided Tour of Mykonos Town with a Local Expert

Meals Included:

Breakfast & Lunch

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 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.

Excursions Included:

Traditional Naxos Villages Tour

Meals Included:

Breakfast & Lunch

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.

Meals Included:

Breakfast & Lunch

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. We highly recommend taking our optional excursion which includes a visit to a fabulous family winery where you will learn the unique way in which wine producers on the island cultivate their grapes and produce their wines. You will get an opportunity to sample their wines and snacks. 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:

Santorini Wine & Oia Tour – EUR70pp

Meals Included:

Breakfast & Lunch

After our late-night departure, you’ll be able to wake up at Milos this morning with an 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.

Excursion Included:

Guided Tour of Milos Island

Meals Included:

Breakfast & Dinner

We begin our return toward the port of Lavrio but there’s still a full day of fun ahead with a visit to Sifnos. You’ll have the option to hike one of the many “Sifnos trails” or choose an optional excursion to the island’s medieval castle and the most photographed spot on Sifnos, the church of Seven Martyrs. Alternatively you could explore Apollonia, the picturesque capital, named after the God of light Apollo. You will also enjoy lunch on your own at one of Apollonia’s traditional tavernas or opt for a cooking experience with the locals. This evening, enjoy the Farewell Dinner with live entertainment.

Meals Included:

Breakfast & Farewell Dinner

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.

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.

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.

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.