Athens & 3 Day Greek Isles Cruise
Ancient Athens, then a 3 day cruise to Mykonos, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Patmos, Santorini & Crete; independent adventure with flights & hotel included. Optional Classical Greece extension.
Overview
| Style | Independent PackageThese un-escorted packages have no set schedule or guides, so you have the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own from your centrally-located hotel. More of these packages
Freedom to explore at your own pace; unescorted |
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| Departures | March – November 2025 | ||
| Themes | Small Ship Cruises | ||
| Activity Level | Recreational | ||
| What to Expect | This is a moderately-paced, independent package. Excursions with local tour guides include a reasonable amount of walking and requires and average level of physical fitness. | ||
| Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. | ||
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Don't miss your chance to tour Athens and the Greek Isles and experience all the wonders they have to offer. Athens is the city where past meets present and where you will begin a magical vacation to Greece. 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 round-trip flights, superior hotel accommodations in Athens for three nights, a Greek Island cruise for three nights, breakfast daily, all meals aboard the cruise, and transfers. Explore on your own, or take interesting and inexpensive optional excursions in Athens and on the islands. All the flexibility and fun is yours for incredibly low prices. And, if your schedule permits, why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare, and join us on an inexpensive and exciting Classic Greece extension?
Package includes
- Flights
- Cruise
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Round trip flights from New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) via scheduled carriers including taxes & fees, with other gateways available on request
- 3 nights in Deluxe hotel accommodations at the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens
- 3 nights standard inside cabins (cat. IA) aboard the Celestyal Discovery
- Port Charges and Cruise Tips
- 12 Meals: 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners
- On-board drink package package during dining hours
- 2 Shore Excursions: Ancient Ephesus and Minoan Palace of Knossos
- Sightseeing in Athens
- All group transfers
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Optional shore excursions: Patmos countryside with Hora & Grotto, and the Spectacular Oia Village
- Optional tour of Cape Sounion
- Optional Classical Greece extension (Value Vacation, groups may be larger)
Why you'll love it
- Enjoy 3 nights aboard the Celestyal Discovery, cruising along the Mediterranean Sea en route to some of Greece's stunning islands.
- Spend an evening independently exploring the charming town of Mykonos.
- Explore ancient Epheseus and discover the Agora, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, Trajan's Fountain, the Public Latrines, the Temple of Hadrian and more.
- Spend the afternoon at Patmos, famously known as the place where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation.
- Explore the ruins in Crete of the magnificent rooms, courtyards and shrines that was once the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the first European civilization.
- Enjoy Santorini independently, or join an optional tour of Oia Village.
- Tour Athens and marvel at the Acropolis, the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and more.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Athens
- 3 Athens & Mykonos
- 4 Kuşadası, Turkey & Patmos, Greece
- Optional Excursion: Patmos countryside tour with Chora & Grotto (purchased locally), $77
- 5 Heraklion & Santorini
- Optional Excursion: Spectacular Oia Village (purchased locally), $86
- 6 Athens
- 7 Athens
- Optional Excursion: Cape Sounion (purchased locally), $55
- 8 Athens/USA
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Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Note: Some departures will follow Celestyal Cruise's winter schedule and will note stop in Crete on Day 5 and spend the full day in Santorini.
Day 1 Depart USA
- Check in for your overnight flight to Greece
Day 2 Athens
- Arrive in Athens, Greece, where you'll be met and escorted to your hotel
- Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure
Royal Olympic Hotel or similar
Full Day ItineraryArrive today in Athens. Our representative will meet you and then escort you 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 & Mykonos
- Board your cruise ship and set sail
- Enjoy the evening at leisure on the island of Mykonos
Celestyal Discovery or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryTransfer to the port this morning to board your cruise ship, Celestyal Discovery. In the afternoon, enjoy the sun, sea breezes, pool, and other onboard facilities.
This evening, arrive at the gorgeous island of Mykonos and transfer from the port via a complimentary shuttle. Enjoy an independent stroll through Mykonos town with its labyrinth of winding alleyways, whitewashed buildings, basket-laden donkeys, cascading geraniums, and upscale shops and cafés.
Day 4 Kuşadası, Turkey & Patmos, Greece
- Enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of ancient Ephesus
- Spend the afternoon at leisure on the Greek island of Patmos
Celestyal Discovery or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, arrive in Kuşadası, Turkey. 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 eras. At the archaeological site, enjoy 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 excavation findings, which have yet to reveal only 13% of ancient Ephesus, reside in the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in Seljuk. During the excursion, have the opportunity to ramble and 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, taverns, and shops. The Island of Patmos is famous in history as 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 Chora & Grotto (purchased locally), $77Begin your panoramic tour from the port and drive to the central part of the island. Visit the Cave of the Apocalypse in the main town, Chora. This grotto is believed to be where John received the visions 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. 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 downtown café.
Day 5 Heraklion & Santorini
- Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the first European civilization
- Spend the evening at leisure in Santorini
Celestyal Discovery or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryArrive 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 birthplace of Zeus. 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, and 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 been mainly excavated, and much of them colorfully painted and restored, decorated with frescoes and shields.
Heraklion's open-air market is a must-see, where a boisterous crowd buys and sells everything from goats and sheep to vast cauldrons of fresh yogurt. Other points of interest include the Archaeological Museum, one of the finest in Greece, exquisite housing 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 famous for its breathtaking and rugged landscapes, whitewashed houses, open-air cafés, and glittering boutiques that cling to cliffs, accessible by foot, cable car, or mule.
Note: Walking in the archaeological site of Knossos will be on uneven gravel surfaces. Passengers may not be allowed to enter the site with big bags or backpacks.
Note: November 6, 2024 departures will follow the winter cruise schedule and will not stope in Crete and spend the full day in Santorini.
Optional Excursion: Spectacular Oia Village (purchased locally), $86Enjoy a half-day of sightseeing, beginning with a scenic drive where you can admire the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the neighboring islands. Oia Village is an excellent example of Cycladic architecture built on the Caldera rim. Explore the village, walking along the cobblestone streets and admiring the white-washed houses with blue shutters and domes, some of the most photogenic in Greece. Your coach will bring you back to the port of Athinios, where you will embark on your tender boats to return to the ship for a final evening at sea.
Day 6 Athens
- Disembark the ship in Athens
- Enjoy a tour of Athens
Royal Olympic Hotel or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryDisembark from your ship in Athens.
Witness the striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and elegant modern 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 Olympian 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, the University, and the National Library. In contrast, conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum, a marvel of architecture with an entire exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens.
Day 7 Athens
- Spend a full day at leisure exploring Athens, or join an optional excursion
- Or, continue on our Classical Greece Extension
Royal Olympic Hotel or similar Breakfast
Optional Excursion: Cape Sounion (purchased locally), $55Drive 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 Attica's most important archeological sites. Although evidence suggests that the site dates back to the prehistoric period, the sanctuary is first mentioned in Homer's Odyssey, where Menelaos stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides. Learn about this area's rich history as you take in stunning views of the Aegean on this optional excursion.
Day 8 Athens/USA
- Bid farewell to Athens as you're escorted to the airport to board your return flight
- Arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
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 7 Athens, Mycenae & Olympia
- Drive across the Corinth Canal to Olympia
- Visit the famous theater of Epidaurus
- Spend the evening at leisure in Olympia
Amalia Hotel Olympia or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, board your touring coach and begin a tour of Greece's classical cities. 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 elsewhere 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 and 4th centuries B.C. The acoustics are so perfect that every word can be heard, even from the last of the 55 tiers.
Continue to ancient Mycenae, which, according to the poets, was founded by Perseus and built with the aid of the mythological Cyclops. Then, drive to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Olympia, Nafpaktos & Delphi
- Enjoy a morning tour of the archaeological site and museum at Olympia
- Embark on an afternoon drive via Patras to Rion, Antirion, and picturesque Nafpaktos
- Spend the evening at leisure in Delphi
Amalia Hotel Delphi or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, tour the archaeological 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 runners carry across the globe. 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 9 Delphi & Kalambaka
- Enjoy a morning tour of Delphi
- Spend the evening at leisure in Kalambaka
Amalia Hotel Kalambaka or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, 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, where the river Pinios leaves Pindos Mountain.
Day 10 Meteora & Athens
- Enjoy a morning tour of the Meteora monasteries
- This afternoon, drive back to Athens via Thermopylae
- Spend the evening at leisure in Athens
Royal Olympic Hotel or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, visit the spectacular Meteora monasteries, perched upon the summits of some steep and isolated rocky pinnacles, which rise above the almost flat valley of the Pinios River, 5.5 miles 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, drive back to Athens via Thermopylae, a famous battleground from the Persian wars. Arrive in Athens and check into your hotel.
Day 11 Athens/USA
- Bid farewell to Greece as you're escorted to the airport to board your flight home
- Arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
Hotels & Ship
Hotels
This 5-star, family-run hotel is located directly opposite the Temple of Zeus and the National Garden, overlooking the Acropolis and a short walk to the new Acropolis Museum.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens and trees, Amalia Hotel Olympia is ideally situated not far from the archaeological sites of the Olympic Stadium, the Sanctuary of Zeus, the Temple of Hera and the archaeological museum.
Superbly located on a mountain slope at the foot of Mount Parnassus, the Amalia Hotel Delphi enjoys a breathtaking view of the green valley below stretching all the way down to the sea and the picturesque ports of Itea and Galaxidi. The Amalia Hotel is also conveniently located near the museum and archaeological sites of Delphi, considered by the ancient Greeks to be the center of the world.
Located on a 14-acre property just a few minutes away from the town of Kalambaka, the Amalia Hotel Kalambaka boasts extensive gardens and beautiful views of the Meteora Rocks.
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
Cruise Ship
The Celestyal Cruise ship Discovery is the perfect vessel for exploring the Mediterranean. Its sleek design and top-of-the-line amenities offer guests an unforgettable travel experience. From the moment you step aboard, the dedicated, friendly staff ensures your every need. Whether you're looking to relax in one of the ship's many luxurious lounges or indulge in a gourmet meal at one of its restaurants, there's something for everyone. With stops in some of the most beautiful destinations in Greece and Turkey, you'll have ample opportunity to explore ancient ruins, stroll through picturesque villages, and soak up the sun on pristine beaches.
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