Greece Intensive Cruise

Day 1 - Istanbul

Arrive: Sat 10 August 2024 / Depart: Sat 10 August 2024 at 18:00

Istanbul is supremely exotic, warmly welcoming, and quite unique – after all, where else can you tour Europe and Asia on the very same afternoon? Must sees include Haghia Sophia, decorated in 30 million tiny mosaic tiles, the greatest church in Christendom for 1000 years, then a mosque and now a museum; and Topkapi, palace of sultans, complete with harem quarters. And of course shopping in the Grand Bazaar, a medieval version of a mall, for unusual gifts to take home, stopping along the way in a café for a cup of Turkish coffee or mint tea.

Day 2 - Cannakkale

Arrive: Sun 11 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 11 August 2024 at 16:00

Touching both the shores of Asia and Europe, Canakkale sits on the Black and Mediterannean Seas. Visit the ancient city of Troy to see the inspiration for Homer's Iliad and a replica of the Trojan Horse. Once you do, you'll understand why people have been passing through here for centuries.

Day 3 - Kavala, Greece

Arrive: Mon 12 August 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 12 August 2024 at 19:30

The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive in Kavala is the Byzantine castle built in 1425 that sits like a crown atop the city. The second thing you might notice is just how beautiful the scene before you is. Whitewashed, red-roofed buildings sit nestled amongst high stonewalls, with the azure-blue Aegean Sea lapping on the shore.

Day 4 - Thessaloniki

Arrive: Tue 13 August 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 13 August 2024 at 22:00

As the second-biggest city in Greece and the second-most important city of the Byzantine Empire, the word “second” is often used to describe Thessaloniki, but we’re here to tell you: Thessaloniki is anything but second-rate! The energy in this ancient cultural capital is palpable—especially in the vibrant downtown that was rebuilt in a spectacular Byzantine style after a devastating fire in the early 1900s. And this second chance at urban planning resulted in a city built around Aristotelous Square, which acts as a gateway for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Day 5 - Volos

Arrive: Wed 14 August 2024 at 08:30 / Depart: Wed 14 August 2024 at 19:00

The mythical “City of the Argonauts”, Volos is a modern city in the heart of Greece. Dating back to the Neolithic age, this prominent port overlooking the Pagasetic Gulf was built on ancient cities, and is a place of immense natural beauty and cultural heritage. Stroll along the famous seaside promenade to watch the fishing boats and yachts. Fill your day with swimming or sailing at one of the many beaches. Visit one of the area’s many archaeological sites or discover the city’s classic architecture, neoclassical buildings, churches, monuments and museums: the Tsalapatas Brickworks Museum, Kitsos Makris Folklore Center at the Topali Mansion or the impressive Archaeological Museum. Reward your palate with delicious flavors at any number of tavernas or fresh food markets. The traditional picturesque villages of Mount Pelion are the perfect backdrop to what truly is one of Greece’s most alluring cities.

Day 6 - Cesme

Arrive: Thu 15 August 2024 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 15 August 2024 at 20:00

Çe?me (Turkish pronunciation: [?t?e?me]) is a coastal town and the administrative centre of the district of the same name in Turkey's westernmost end, on a promontory on the tip of the peninsula that also carries the same name and that extends inland to form a whole with the wider Karaburun Peninsula. It is a popular holiday resort and the district center, where two thirds of the district population is concentrated. Çe?me is located 85 km west of ?zmir, the largest metropolitan center in Turkey's Aegean Region. There is a six-lane highway connecting the two cities (Otoyol 32). Çe?me district has two neighboring districts, Karaburun to the north and Urla to the east, both of which are also part of ?zmir Province. The name "Çe?me" means "fountain" and possibly draws reference from the many Ottoman fountains that are scattered across the city.

Day 7 - Amorgos, Greece

Arrive: Fri 16 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 16 August 2024 at 18:00

Rocky cliffs that drop off into impossibly clear water. Tiny churches that hold centuries of stories. Beaches of soft sand and smooth pebbles few travelers have ever set foot on. Each Greek Isle offers its own bit of wonder, but Amorgos? It’s especially captivating. The easternmost of the Cyclades, Amorgos has been inhabited since ancient times, though in some places, seems as if it hasn’t been since. Minoan tombs and towers dot the countryside, shipwrecks teeter on secluded beaches, and massive monasteries with few residents emerge from rock faces.

Day 8 - Rhodes

Arrive: Sat 17 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 17 August 2024 at 20:00

Rhodes, the friendliest city in the Mediterranean, welcomes you with seemingly eternal sunshine thanks to more sunny days than any other place in Europe. Situated at the island's most northern point, Rhodes' only neighbors on the east and west are gleaming blue seas. This sunny retreat is also home to many historic sites ranging from the ruins of the Temple of Venus to the medieval Street of Knights.

Day 9 - Santorini

Arrive: Sun 18 August 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 18 August 2024 at 21:00

Your daydream of a Greek island meets reality in Santorini – its whitewashed villages cling to cliff sides, and bright blue roofs reflect the sea and sky. So beautiful is it, that you can almost believe the myths that claim it as the birthplace of gods. Born itself as a volcanic cone, the island blew its top in 1450 BC, its center sank, and it assumed its current crescent shape, outlined by three main islands. The capital, Fira, a pedestrian haven with narrow, meandering cobblestone lanes, is reachable only by cable car, donkey, or for the fit and fearless, a flight of 600 steps.

Day 10 - Aegina, Greece

Arrive: Mon 19 August 2024 at 13:00 / Depart: Mon 19 August 2024 at 20:00

Day 11 - Athens

Arrive: Tue 20 August 2024 at 06:00 / Depart: Tue 20 August 2024

You could spend a lifetime in Europe’s oldest city and still not see everything it has to offer. Settled over 3,500 years ago, Athens is like a mythological crossroads of the past and present, where modern buildings share the skyline with spectacular ruins like the Parthenon. To see a veritable “greatest hits” line-up, make your way to Vasilissis Amalias Street for the archaeological walk. Winding through the heart of the ancient city, the route leads to landmarks like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Agora, Arch of Hadrian, and of course, the Acropolis.