8 days from $1399*

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, most meals, touring and more!

Have more time? Check out our Athens & 4 Day Greek Isles Cruise!

Athens is the city where past meets present and east meets west, and where you will begin your magical visit to Greece this Fall. Enjoy three nights in the city that is known as the birthplace of Western civilization, then sail off into the Greek world of sparkling blue waters, Mediterranean sunshine and ancient islands full of history, myth, and ancient wonders.

Our package includes flights, superior hotel accommodations in Athens for three nights, a Greek Island cruise for three nights, buffet breakfast daily, all meals aboard the cruise, and transfers. Explore Athens and the islands on your own, or take interesting and inexpensive optional tours. All the flexibility and fun is yours for incredibly low prices. And, if your schedule permits, why not not take advantage of your already-included international airfare, and join us on an inexpensive and exciting Classic Greece extension?

Itinerary at a Glance & Port Call Times

Athens & 3 Day Greek Isles Cruise† Day Destination/Port of Call Arrive Depart 1 Wednesday  Depart USA  2 Thursday  Athens  3 Friday  Athens/Piraeus  11am Mykonos, Greece  6pm 11pm 4 Saturday  Kusadasi, Turkey  7am 12pm Patmos, Greece  4pm 9pm 5 Sunday  Heraklion, Greece  7am 11:30am Santorini, Greece  4:30pm 9pm 6 Monday  Piraeus/Athens  7am 7 Tuesday  Athens  8 Wednesday  Depart Greece/Arrive USA  Classical Greece Extension 6 Monday  Athens, Mycenae & Olympia  7 Tuesday  Olympia, Nafpaktos & Delphi  8 Wednesday  Delphi & Kalambaka  9 Thursday  Meteora & Athens  10 Friday  Athens  11 Saturday Depart Greece/Arrive USA

† Passengers on the 2009 departures will visit Rhodes instead of Heraklion & Santorini. On these departures, the stop in Rhodes will take place on Day 4 and the stops in Kusadasi and Patmos will take place on Day 5. Ports of Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini: Disembarkation by tender boats, weather permitting. Kusadasi & Patmos stops might be in inverted order. Passengers taking the optional shore excursions will disembark first.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA. Your exciting journey to Greece begins this evening as you check in for your overnight flight.

Day 2: Athens/Piraeus. You'll be met by our representative and then escorted to your centrally located hotel. Athens, the birthplace of western civilization, once hailed as the Paris of the Mediterranean, is now a bustling modern city, a colorful tapestry of eastern and western influences, full of outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets, parks and gardens, street bazaars, dilapidated mansions and ancient ruins. Titania Hotel

Day 3: Athens/Piraeus & Mykonos. Transfer to Piraeus this morning to board your cruise ship, the Louis Cruise Lines' Aquamarine, Aegean Pearl or Cristal. Spend the afternoon enjoying the sun, sea breezes, pool and shipboard facilities.

Arrive at the gorgeous island of Mykonos later this afternoon. Chic crowds flock to the island's beautiful beaches by day and to the trendy restaurants and discos each night. You can too, or just sit seaside and unwind, sipping ouzo and watching the sunset while listening to traditional Greek music.

Before heading back to the ship, enjoy a stroll through Mykonos town with its labyrinth of winding alleyways and whitewashed buildings, basket-laden donkeys, cascading geraniums and upscale shops and cafes. Note: In November and March, arrival at Mykonos (about 6pm) is after sunset. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Patmos & Kusadasi, Turkey. Arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey this morning. Just ten kilometers from the port of Kusadasi, you'll find the ancient city of Ephessos, where you'll find an archaeological site that ranks among the wonders of the world. Explore this fascinating town where history truly comes to life on an optional tour that includes the the Great Theatre of Ephessos, which had a capacity of 25,000 people, and the Library of Celsus dating from 135 A.D.

Return to the ship in time to enjoy lunch as you sail to Patmos, Greece. Disembark at Skala harbor, a lively place with whitewashed houses, flowered courtyards, tavernas and shops. The Island of Patmos is famous in history as the place where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. An optional tour takes you to the cave where St. John lived and the nearby Monastery, built on one of the island's highest points, housing priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Heraklion & Santorini. Arrive in Heraklion, Crete, early this morning. An optional shore excursion will take you to see the ruins of Knossos, the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization on Crete, just five kilometers from Heraklion city center. The palace at Knossos was an intricate collection of over 1000 interlocking rooms, used as a religious and administrative center, as well as for workshops for artisans and food processing. The ruins have largely been excavated and much of them colorfully painted and restored.

Back in Heraklion, the open air market is a must-see, where a boisterous crowd buys and sells everything from goats and sheep to huge cauldrons of fresh yogurt. Other points of interest here include the Archaeological Museum, one of the finest in Greece, housing exquisite findings from Knossos and other Minoan ruins, numerous Venetian fortresses, fountains and loggias scattered throughout the city and the Historical Museum of Crete, with its Byzantine and folklore collections.

Return to the ship to continue sailing to Santorini. This striking island is a volcanic crater immersed in the sea. The island is famous for its breathtaking and rugged landscapes, whitewashed houses, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques which cling to steep cliffs, accessible by foot, cable car or mule.

Enjoy an optional tour of Santorini that takes you up along the volcanic caldera. Pass through the rocky landscape and several traditional villages to Oia, a town that brims with many fine examples of Cycladic architecture. Return to the ship for a final evening at sea. (B,L,D)

*Important Note: Passengers on the 2009 departures will visit Rhodes instead of Heraklion & Santorini. The stop in Rhodes will take place on Day 4 and the stops in Kusadasi and Patmos will take place on Day 5.

Day 6: Piraeus/Athens. Disembark from your ship at Piraeus. Enjoy a full day to explore Athens. Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city, within short distance of many major attractions, as well as the best shopping and dining. Our Athens representatives will be glad to make suggestions if you prefer to explore independently.

To make the most of your visit, our representatives will offer you some exclusive excursions to the city's highlights, including a half-day tour of Athens in the morning (€52 per person) and a tour of Cape Sounion in the evening (€40 per person). See tour descriptions and special discounted rates below. Titania Hotel or similar (B)

Day 7: Athens. Enjoy a full day to explore Athens on your own or on optional tours (below). Or continue on our Classical Greece Extension.

We suggest an evening at the Plaka, where you'll find typical Greek tavernas complete with music, dancing, and celebratory throwing of plates. It's an experience not to be missed! (B)

Day 8: Depart Greece/Arrive USA. Bid farewell to Athens as you you're escorted to the airport to board your return flight. Your journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today. (B)

Classical Greece Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare and visit the classical cities of Corinth, Mycenae, Olympia, and Delphi? Your extension includes superior hotels, most meals and guided touring of the most fascinating of the classical cities of Greece including entrance fees to places visited.

Day 6: Athens, Mycenae & Olympia. After breakfast this morning, board your touring coach and begin a tour of the classical cities of Greece. Drive across the Corinth Canal, which connects the Ionian Sea with the Aegean, to the Peloponnesian Peninsula, where 4,000 years of history are more fully and comprehensibly illustrated than anywhere else in Europe.

Here we'll visit the famous theater of Epidaurus, the best preserved in Greece, which reached the height of its fame in the 5th & 4th centuries B.C. The acoustics are so perfect that even from the last of the 55 tiers, every word can be heard. Continue to ancient Mycenae, which, according to the poets, was founded by Perseus and built with the aid of the mythological Cyclops. Drive on to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic games, for dinner and overnight. Hotel Amalia Olympia (B,D)

Day 7: Olympia, Nafpaktos & Delphi. This morning we'll tour the archeological site and museum at Olympia, where the Olympic games were conceived as a tribute to Hercules, son of Zeus. These games were the most important international event in the Hellenic world from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. and continue today, with the lighting of the Olympic flame that is carried by runners throughout the world. Visit the Sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus and the Museum.

This afternoon we drive via Patras to Rion, Antirion and picturesque Nafpaktos, where according to mythology, Hercules slew the Erymanthine boar and where we'll view the lovely circular Venetian harbor. Continue our drive to Delphi for dinner and overnight. Hotel Amalia Delphi (B,D)

Day 8: Delphi & Kalambaka. After breakfast we'll explore the ancient site of Delphi, located on the slopes of the breathtaking Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty. Here lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the museum, which contains masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture including the famous bronze Charioteer.The site had been sacred since at least the Bronze Age. According to legend, the shrine was originally guarded by the she-dragon Pytho. She was killed by Apollo who then took over the oracle. In antiquity, Delphi was regarded as the center of the world.

Later, we'll depart for the small town of Kalambaka, built at the foot of the majestic gray rocks, at the point where river Pinios leaves the Pindos Mountain. Hotel Amalia Kalambaka (B,D)

Day 9: Meteora & Athens. This morning we will visit the spectacular Meteora monasteries, perched upon the summits of some precipitous and isolated rocky pinnacles, which rise above the almost flat valley of the Pinios river, 9 km beyond Kalambaka. The monastic history of Meteora goes back to the 11th century AD, when the monks constructed inaccessible eagle's nests in the crannies of these rocks and today, four are still occupied.

Later this afternoon we'll drive back to Athens, via Thermopylae, famous battleground from the Persian wars. Arrive in Athens and check in at our hotel. Hotel Titania (B)

Day 10: Athens. Enjoy a full day to explore Athens on your own or on optional tours (see below). (B)

Day 11: Depart Greece/Arrive USA. Today you'll be escorted to the airport and bid farewell to Athens as you board your flight back home. Your exciting journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today. (B)

Optional Tours in Athens

$120/person if pre-booked

To take full advantage of your visit to Greece, we offer a discounted package of the most popular optional tours featured on our tour.

Half Day Athens
Enjoy a morning tour of the principal modern and classical sites, including Constitution Square, the Panathenian Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), the Presidential Palace, The Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parthenon with its many monuments atop the Acropolis. (€52 per person)

Cape Sounion
Drive along the coastal road past countless coves and the beautiful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza to Cape Sounion. Dominated by the spectacular Temple of Poseidon, the sanctuary at Sounion is one of the most important archeological sites in Attica. Although evidence suggests that the site dates back to the prehistoric period, the sanctuary is first mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, as the place where Menelaos stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides. Learn about the rich history of this area as you take in stunning views of the Aegean on this fascinating optional excursion. (€40 per person)

Our discounted optional tours package includes both the Athens half-day & Cape Sounion tours. Get both for the special package price of $120/person if you book and prepay prior to departure. Or book these tours individually when you arrive in Greece for a little more (€92/person, or approximately $135/person, for both).

We regret that we cannot accept bookings for the pre-paid optional tours package within 75 days from departure or after final payment has been received.

Louis Cruise Lines MV Aquamarine

Click here for specifications, deck plans and more photos of the ship.

The cruise ship MV Aquamarine is Louis Cruise Lines' most recent acquisition. With her chic and modern design and array of amenities and comforts typical of those of an upscale hotel, the MV Aquamarine provides the perfect floating base for exploring the beauty of the Greek Isles.

With 525 spacious staterooms and suites, the Aquamarine can accommodate over 1200 passengers. Her 339 outside staterooms and 186 inside spacious staterooms, are tastefully decorated and equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning, ample closet space, private bathroom, radio and telephone.

Destination FAQs

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Greece, click here.

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Turkey, click here.

Athens & 3 Day Greek Isles Cruise
Included Features

• Round trip flights from New York via scheduled carriers (other gateways available upon request) (flight schedule)
• 3 nights superior hotel accommodations at the Hotel Titania in Athens
• 3 nights aboard the Aquamarine, Aegean Pearl or Cristal
• Buffet breakfast daily in Athens and all meals aboard the cruise
• On the Classical Greece extension, 3 nights accommodations at the Superior First Class Amalia Hotels in Olympia, Delphi and Kalambaka
• On the Classical Greece extension, buffet breakfast and dinner daily (except in Athens)
• All group transfers
• Professional, English-speaking tour guide

TourCode: d-000

Athens & 3 Day Greek Isles Cruise Departures & Prices* Depart Return Book by Dec 16 After Dec 16 2009 DEPARTURES Oct 28 Nov 4 $1059 Nov 4 Nov 11 $1059 Nov 11 Nov 18 $1059 2010 DEPARTURES Mar 17 Mar 24 $1259 $1559 Mar 24 Mar 31 $1159 $1459 Apr 7 Apr 14 $1399 $1699 May 12 May 19 $1399 $1699

Tour prices are per person, double occupancy, including airfare. Prices in red reflect an early booking discount if you reserve by Dec. 16, 2009. * Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee for this tour of $168.

Taxes & Fees* Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee +$168 Port Taxes & Fees   Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 11 +$60 All other departures +$70

* Non-US passport holders must check with their local Greece consulate to determine if they require a visa. Those passengers requiring a visa for Greece will need to obtain a multiple entry Greek visa.

Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Optional Tours Package* +$120 Single Occupancy Room/Cabin   Apr 7, May 12 +$385 All other departures +$299 Reduction for child under age 12 sharing with 2 adults –$150 Cabin Upgrades** F (standard inside) (IB)*** included A (outside, porthole) DBL (XB) +$60 A (standard outside, porthole), SNGL (XB) +$90 TA/TB (outside, picture window) DBL (XC/XD) +$100 TA/TB (outside, picture window) SNGL (XC/XD) +$150 SA/SB (deluxe outside) DBL (XE/XF)**** +$200 SA/SB (deluxe outside) SNGL (XE/XF) +$400

* Optional tours package must be pre-booked to receive discounted price. ** Suites available by special request. *** Letters in parentheses represent new cabin names effective March 2010. **** XE/XF Deluxe Outside cabins can accommodate up to 2 passengers. Parties of 3 passengers will need to select another type of cabin.

Classical Greece Extension Service Price Classical Greece Extension   Apr 7, May 12 +$699 All other departures +$599 Single Room Supplement +$199

Departure Airport: This tour departs from New York Kennedy International (JFK).

Coming from somewhere else? Ask us about availability and prices for flights from other cities.

Shop & Compare

Our tours may look similar to others you've seen, but we invite you to shop & compare. There are important differences that make Friendly Planet tours the best you can find.

No Compromise on Quality: Despite our extraordinary prices, there are no compromises on our Athens & Greek Islands cruise/tours. In Athens and on our Classical Greece extension, you'll stay in Superior First Class, centrally located hotels that are noted for their amenities and service.

Included Features: Your group transfers are all included, not expensive extras as in other tours.

Personal Service: Most important of all, the extra ingredient that makes our tours stand apart from others—the wonderful, personal attention you'll receive from our friendly staff in the USA and our representatives in Greece —is completely free of charge. Compare our Greece programs to others, feature for feature. You'll see for yourself that ours are the very best value for money you'll find anywhere.

Transfers: Transfers for this tour are provided on a group basis only. For land-only passengers or for passengers deviating in any way from the group program, transfers are not provided. Individual, private transfers can be arranged at a supplement in price. Taxis and other forms of transportation are also available and may cost less than private transfers. If you wish to arrange private transfers, please request this service at the time of reservation.

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* Prices shown are good while inventory lasts, may reflect an early booking discount, and do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.

TourCode: d-000