4-day cruise Iconic Aegean

The cruise departs from (and returns to) Lavrion, a port near Athens.
Capital of Greece, cradle of democracy, birthplace of Western Civilization! Athens is a vibrant city where the ancient and the modern co-exist. The majestic Acropolis with Parthenon rises above the city, its ancient glory still visible in the timeworn stone, and the National Archaeological Museum holds countless treasures from Athens’ Golden Age.

This cosmopolitan and picturesque island is well known for its graphic paved streets with hundreds of boutiques and Cycladic art shops. Beneath the sophisticated surface of Mykonos lies a quintessential Greek Island. Hundreds of tiny chapels dot the island and sheep graze in the shadow of white-washed windmills. Find a table on the waterfront and bask in the serenity of sunset over the picturesque harbor.

Kusadasi is beautiful town in the coast of Turkey. Enjoy a tour in nearby Ephessos, where history comes to life! Walking towards the ancient harbor, down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, you pass architectural masterpieces like the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before arriving at the Great Amphitheater where St. Paul was arrested and cast out of the city.

This island is known as the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is now the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island’s highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury.

The beautiful “Island of Roses” has a rich and varied history. On a hill above the charming town of Lindos rises an ancient acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. Below lies the bay of St. Paul, where the apostle landed during his voyages. The crusading Knights of St. John left the medieval city of Rhodes behind when they were defeated by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The Turks then occupied Rhodes for almost 400 years leaving mosques, minarets and a Turkish bath to mark their presence.

Heraklion, the capital of Crete island and its principal commercial port, is just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations.

The island of Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking and beautiful of all the Greek Islands – it is the ideal place for enjoying the most romantic sunsets. The town of Thera’s white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to steep cliff, accessible by cable-car or donkey. To the south is Akrotiri, where recent Minoan excavations support the theories that Santorini might be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis.