Athens (Piraeus) Round Trip Cruise

Day 1 - Athens

Arrive: Sat 09 August 2025

Piraeus is Greece's largest port and has been a gateway to the Mediterranean since 482 BC. It lies on the innermost point of the Saronic Gulf and is a short drive from Athens, the cradle of Western democracy and culture. Throughout the ages, Athens' lofty Acropolis has been a source of inspiration. The ancient ruins scattered throughout this legendary city are reminders of Greece's great cultural heritage.

Day 2 - Athens

Depart: Sun 10 August 2025 at 04:00

Piraeus is Greece's largest port and has been a gateway to the Mediterranean since 482 BC. It lies on the innermost point of the Saronic Gulf and is a short drive from Athens, the cradle of Western democracy and culture. Throughout the ages, Athens' lofty Acropolis has been a source of inspiration. The ancient ruins scattered throughout this legendary city are reminders of Greece's great cultural heritage.

Day 2 - Hydra

Arrive: Sun 10 August 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 10 August 2025 at 17:00

If there is a holiday retreat where rustic meets chic, it is Hydra, one of Greece’s Saronic Islands. Put on the map in the 1950s and by artists, celebrities and musicians and a perennial favorite for locals, the island is a place to see and be seen, with the harbor putting on a veritable show of taste and fashion with each catamaran’s arrival from Piraeus. People-watching has become an unofficial pastime, along with sipping cappuccino at the cafes centered on the crescent-shaped port. Energized by your brew and ready to explore, head out by foot and in fact, by foot is the only way to conduct your discovery. Other than a few city-operated vehicles, no cars, scooters or motorcycles are allowed on the island. Walking along the steep, stone streets, some of the best-preserved anywhere, you will surely appreciate a sense of stepping back in time and an intimate look at the 18th- and 19th-century mansions, or archontika. Be sure to yield to the primary mode of transportation, the donkey, and any temptation you may have to wander into a gallery or quiet back lane.

Day 3 - Mykonos

Arrive: Mon 11 August 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 11 August 2025 at 17:00

Mykonos, a former 18th-century pirates' bastion, is now a sophisticated and cosmopolitan island resort. This quintessential Greek island offers a maze of winding streets, graceful windmills, inviting beaches, domed churches and whitewashed houses accented in blue. Dotting the waterfront are cafés, taverns and tempting shops.

Day 4 - Kavala, Greece

Arrive: Tue 12 August 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 12 August 2025 at 17:00

Kavala is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala regional unit. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos and on the Egnatia motorway, a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Thessaloniki and a forty-minute drive to Drama and Xanthi.

Day 5 - Istanbul

Arrive: Wed 13 August 2025 at 13:00

For poets, Istanbul, next to Venice and Rome is the loveliest city in Europe and one of the most splendid in Asia. It is the only city in the world spread over two continents, separated by the Bosphorus. Istanbul was founded by Greek scouts in 660 BC and later became capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. With its 3,000 years of history behind, it has always been the meeting point of East and West. It is a city filled with wonders of architecture and monuments to the faiths that inspired them. Formerly known as Byzantium, then Constantinople, its mosques, minarets and museums span two continents where the Bosphorus divides Asia from Europe. This strategic position has assured Istanbul's status as a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange during the centuries. Must-see attractions include the dazzling treasury in Topkapi Palace and exquisite buildings of timeless beauty such as the Blue Mosque and Basilica of St. Sophia. Even those who are not avid shoppers will be enticed by the colorful sights and sounds of the world's largest bazaar.

Day 6 - Istanbul

Depart: Thu 14 August 2025 at 23:00

For poets, Istanbul, next to Venice and Rome is the loveliest city in Europe and one of the most splendid in Asia. It is the only city in the world spread over two continents, separated by the Bosphorus. Istanbul was founded by Greek scouts in 660 BC and later became capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. With its 3,000 years of history behind, it has always been the meeting point of East and West. It is a city filled with wonders of architecture and monuments to the faiths that inspired them. Formerly known as Byzantium, then Constantinople, its mosques, minarets and museums span two continents where the Bosphorus divides Asia from Europe. This strategic position has assured Istanbul's status as a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange during the centuries. Must-see attractions include the dazzling treasury in Topkapi Palace and exquisite buildings of timeless beauty such as the Blue Mosque and Basilica of St. Sophia. Even those who are not avid shoppers will be enticed by the colorful sights and sounds of the world's largest bazaar.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Kusadasi

Arrive: Sat 16 August 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 16 August 2025 at 23:00

Alovely seaside resort town on the Aegean coast, Kusada?i is famous for sparkling waters, sandy beaches and enticing shops filled with designer clothing and hand-woven carpets and leather goods. More than these modern trappings, it is the gateway to Ephesus – the UNESCO-listed, 4,000 year old city – as well as the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), Basilica of St. John, and House of the Virgin Mary.

Day 9 - Rhodes

Arrive: Sun 17 August 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Sun 17 August 2025 at 18:00

Rich with natural beauty and colorful history, Rhodes represents one of the most architecturally varied locations in Europe. Hellenistic, Byzantine, Medieval and Turkish influences intermingle with abundant sunshine and dry air to cast a magnificent light over the island that the ancients dedicated to Apollo, the God of Light. High on a cliff, the ruins of the Temple of Athena sit amidst the beautifully preserved Acropolis at Lindos.

Day 10 - Santorini

Arrive: Mon 18 August 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 18 August 2025 at 18:00

Of all the Cyclades Islands, Santorini is often considered the most dramatic. Once an active volcano, it was known as Stongyle, or the Round Island. In about 1500 BC, the volcano erupted with such force that the center of the island literally exploded, leaving the haunting submerged crater into which Crystal Serenity sails. The island's small villages were preserved in the ashes and recent excavations have uncovered a fascinating view of everyday life from 3,500 years ago. Santorini's dark landscape offsets its simple, yet refined Cycladic buildings, which glimmer in the sunlight. The rich volcanic soil is ideal for grapes and the local vines produce a cherished crop known for its "special volcanic taste." Thíra, or Fira Town, is laid out along the edge of a cliff that partially forms the rim of the now extinct caldera. A picturesque site, it exudes charm and an atmosphere of leisure that can be attributed to the easy-going Greek lifestyle.

Day 11 - Chania, Crete

Arrive: Tue 19 August 2025 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 19 August 2025 at 19:00

Renowned for its Venetian Harbor – to where all the town’s criss-crossing lanes do lead – Chania boasts the legacies of both Turkish and Venetian rule. The maze of narrow alleyways opens onto squares edged by quaint Byzantine and neo-classical buildings. Current-day Chania is home to the Municipal Agora, a marketplace built in 1913 on the site of the old southern Venetian walls.

Day 12 - Athens

Arrive: Wed 20 August 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 20 August 2025

Piraeus is Greece's largest port and has been a gateway to the Mediterranean since 482 BC. It lies on the innermost point of the Saronic Gulf and is a short drive from Athens, the cradle of Western democracy and culture. Throughout the ages, Athens' lofty Acropolis has been a source of inspiration. The ancient ruins scattered throughout this legendary city are reminders of Greece's great cultural heritage.