Athens & 3 Day Greek Isles Cruise

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA

• Check in for your overnight flight to Greece

Day 2: Athens

1 night Royal Olympic Hotel or similar, Athens.

• Arrive in Athens, where you'll be met and escorted to your hotel
• Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure

Full Day Itinerary: Arrive today in Athens. You'll be met by our representative and then escorted to your hotel, centrally located near Constitution Square and the famous Plaka (Old Town). 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.

Day 3: Athens, Piraeus & Mykonos

3 nights  Celestyal Olympia. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Board your cruise ship and set sail
• Evening at leisure on the island of Mykonos

Full Day Itinerary: Transfer to Piraeus this morning to board your cruise ship, Celestyal Olympia. Spend the afternoon enjoying the sun, sea breezes, pool, and other onboard facilities.

This evening, arrive at the gorgeous island of Mykonos and transfer from the port via complimentary shuttle. Enjoy an independent stroll through Mykonos town with its labyrinth of winding alleyways and whitewashed buildings, basket-laden donkeys, cascading geraniums and upscale shops and cafés.

Day 4: Kusadasi, Turkey & Patmos, Greece

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Half day sightseeing tour of ancient Ephesus
• Afternoon at leisure on the Greek island of Patmos

Full Day Itinerary: Arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey this morning. Just ten kilometers from the port is the ancient city of Ephesus, where you will find immortal relics of the Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Christian era. At the archaeological site, you will be given a guided tour among the Agora, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the marble-paved main Street of Kouretes, the Baths of Scholastica, Trajan's Fountain, the Public Latrines, the Residences of the Patricians, the Prytaneum, and the Temple of Hadrian.

The Great Theatre, built in the 4th century B.C. could accommodate 24,000 spectators and is famous even today for its acoustics. The finds from the excavations, which have yet brought to light only 13% of ancient Ephesus, reside in the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus, in the city of Seljuk. During the excursion you will have the opportunity to ramble, bargain for jewelry, cosmetics or leather products at small shops.

Later this afternoon, return to your ship for lunch aboard as you sail toward 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, which you can explore on an optional excursion.

Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.

Optional Excursion: Patmos countryside tour with Hora & Grotto, $67 (purchased locally). Begin your panoramic tour from the port and drive to the central part of the island. At the main town, Chora, you will visit the Cave of the Apocalypse. This grotto is believed to be the spot where John received the visions that he recorded in the Book of Revelation. The nearby Monastery of St. John the Theologian, built on one of the island's highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury. Together, the grotto and monastery have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue to the windmills of Chora, once the landmark of all Aegean Islands. Drive around the island to see its outstanding natural beauty, comprised of rocky hills, tongues of land reaching out into the sea, and an intricate coastline of tranquil bays and coves. Your tour will conclude in Scala, a quaint port town. A refreshment or coffee will be offered at Arion Café, the oldest and most picturesque café in town.

Adults: $67. Children: $44. Duration: 2 hours.

Day 5: Heraklion & Santorini

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning at leisure in Heraklion, or join an optional  excursion
• Half day sightseeing tour of Oia Village on Santorini

Full Day Itinerary: Arrive in Heraklion early this morning. Crete is the largest and the most rugged of the Greek islands. It is also the home of the great Minoan civilization and the mythological home of Zeus. Heraklion's 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 cafés, and glittering boutiques which cling to steep cliffs, accessible by foot, cable car or mule. Enjoy an included half day of sightseeing. Begin with a scenic drive, from which you can admire the panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and the neighboring islands. Continue to Oia Village, perched on the Caldera rim, and an excellent example of Cycladic architecture. Its cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses, and blue shutters and domes are some of the most photogenic in all of Greece. Your coach will bring you back to the port of Athinios, where you'll return to the ship via tender boat for a final evening at sea.

Optional Excursion: Minoan Palace of Knossos, First European Civilization, $74 (purchased locally).  A 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.

Here, Sir Arthur Evans' archeological discoveries revealed a civilization dating back to 4000 B.C., when a great empire once flourished on the island. Based on the wealth of artifacts found, Evans theorized that this was the site of the ancient Minoan Kingdom. These findings will be viewed in detail, as your guide will lead you on a journey of discovery to learn of the sophisticated culture that flourished thousands of years ago on this island.

The palace at Knossos was an intricate collection of over 1,000 interlocking rooms, including the Hall of the Royal Guard, the Hall of the Double Axes, the King's Chamber with the alabaster throne, the Queen's Apartment, as well as beautiful courtyards and shrines. The palace was 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, decorated with frescoes and shields.

Walking in the archeological site of Knossos will be on uneven gravel surfaces. Passengers may not be allowed to enter the site with big bags or backpacks.

Day 6: Piraeus & Athens

2 nights Royal Olympic Hotel, Athens or similar. Breakfast.

• Disembark ship in Athens
• Enjoy a tour of Athens, or continue on our Classical Greece Extension

Full Day Itinerary:Disembark from your ship at Piraeus.

Enjoy the striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and modern elegant structures during your tour of Athens. Visit the Acropolis, the crowning beauty and glory of Ancient Athens, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens. Drive to the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1986) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House on Constitution Square. See views of government buildings and elegant structures of the 19th century. Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, University, and National Library. In contrast, conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum, a marvel of architecture with a full exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens.

Day 7: Athens

Breakfast.

• Full day at leisure to explore Athens, or select optional excursions

Optional Excursion: Cape Sounion, €49 (purchased locally). 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 optional excursion.

Day 8: Athens/USA

Breakfast.

• Bid farewell to Athens as you're escorted to the airport to board your return flight
• Arrive in the USA later today

At the ports of Mykonos, Patmos & Santorini, disembarkation is by tender boats, weather permitting. Kusadasi & Patmos stops might be in inverted order. Passengers taking the optional shore excursions disembark first. The itinerary listed, including ports of call, embarkation/disembarkation times, shore excursions and prices, were correct at time of publication. We and our partner, Celestyal Cruise Lines, will do our utmost to adhere to the itinerary as listed, but due to sea conditions and other factors, minor changes to the itinerary may be necessary, and some shore excursions shown may not be available. As necessary, Celestyal Cruise Lines may also substitute another ship from their fleet of similar size and amenities. We will do our very best to immediately inform travelers of any such changes.

Classical Greece 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. This extension is part of our Value Vacation, and groups may be larger than our small group tours.

Day 6: Athens, Mycenae & Olympia

1 night Hotel Amalia Olympia or similar. Breakfast & dinner.

• Drive across the Corinth Canal to Olympia
• Visit the famous theatre of Epidaurus
• Evening at leisure in Olympia

Full Day Itinerary: 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 you'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.

Day 7: Olympia, Nafpaktos & Delphi

1 night Hotel Amalia Delphi or similar. Breakfast & dinner.

• Morning tour of the archeological site and museum at Olympia
• Afternoon drive via Patras to Rion, Antirion and picturesque Nafpaktos
• Evening at leisure in Delphi

Full Day Itinerary: This morning you'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, you'll drive via Patras to Rion, Antirion and picturesque Nafpaktos, where according to mythology, Hercules slew the Erymanthine boar, and where you'll view the lovely circular Venetian harbor. Continue our drive to Delphi for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Delphi & Kalambaka

1 night Hotel Amalia Kalambaka or similar. Breakfast & dinner.

• Morning tour of Delphi
• Evening at leisure in Kalambaka

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast you'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, you'll depart for the small town of Kalambaka, built at the foot of the majestic gray rocks, at the point where the river Pinios leaves the Pindos Mountain.

Day 9: Meteora & Athens

2 nights Royal Olympic Hotel or similar, Athens. Breakfast.

• Morning tour of Meteora monasteries
• Afternoon drive back to Athens via Thermopylae
• Evening at leisure in Athens

Full Day Itinerary: This morning you'll 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 A.D., when the monks constructed inaccessible eagle's nests in the crannies of these rocks and today, four are still occupied.

Later this afternoon you'll drive back to Athens, via Thermopylae, famous battleground from the Persian wars. Arrive in Athens and check into your hotel.

Day 10: Athens

Breakfast.

• Morning tour of Athens, including the Acropolis

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, enjoy the striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and modern elegant structures is what you will enjoy during your tour of Athens. Visit the Acropolis, the crowning beauty and glory of Ancient Athens, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens. Drive to the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House on Constitution Square. See views of government buildings and elegant structures of the 19th century. Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, University, and National Library. In contrast, conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum, a marvel of architecture with a full exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens.

Day 11: Athens/USA

Breakfast.

• Bid farewell to Greece as you're escorted to the airport to board your flight home
• Arrive in the USA later today

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Greece? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Turkey? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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