7-day cruise Idyllic Aegean

The cruise departs from (and returns to) Piraeus, the port of 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.

“There is a homeland for everyone, while there is Thessaloniki” wrote Nikiforos Choumnos, a 14th-century Byzantine dignitary and scholar. And he was right: Thessaloniki is a gorgeous and cosmopolitan seaside city and the largest in Greece after Athens. This historic capital of the Macedonia region was founded in 315 BC by the Macedonian king Cassander and named after his wife who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great. This is the city that in the days of Philip II of Macedon would steal Athens’ thunder. It’s relatively flat but there are simply mountains of history: Roman and Byzantine ruins, early Christian heritage (the Apostle Paul brought the first message of Christianity here in 50 BC), Pontic Greeks and Armenians, remnants of Venetian and Ottoman rule and perhaps most movingly, a remarkable Jewish history too. Centuries of cultural commingling has also made Thessaloniki a culinary nirvana, with almost too many great restaurants and little eateries to count.

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.

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.

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.

Milos is a unique and mesmerizing island! You will be spellbound by its lunar volcanic landscape and its contrasting surprises. The coastline reveals surreal shapes of sculpted rock, blended seamlessly with quaint white-stone fishing villages.
Find tranquility on one of the many beaches and feel the refreshing effect of the Aegean as you swim in its serene sea caves. Admire Cape Vani’s geological formations and the multi-colored sea cliffs at Paleochori.
Arching its way around a central caldera, the island’s volcanic coastline spoils you for choice. Near Trypiti village, you’ll be able to explore one of the most ancient monuments in Christianity – the Milos Catacombs, where expansive underground chambers and passages were carved into the volcanic rock. Or just sit back and relax in one of Milos’ quality terraced tavernas, serving only the freshest catch of the day, and stroll along Plaka’s hilltop cobblestone streets.