Best of Classical Greece & Cruise | 10 Days

Morning tour of Athens. Pass by the Prime Minister’s residence, Constitution Square, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Parliament. Stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games. Visit the spectacular Acropolis with its Parthenon and then, visit the Acropolis Museum. Overnight in Athens.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Depart Athens and reach the Corinth Canal for a brief stop. Continue to Epidaurus with its well preserved Theatre, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Proceed to the town of Nafplion for a short photo stop. Continue to Mycenae and visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Depart for Olympia.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

Morning visit to the Archaeological Site of Olympia with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the archaeological museum. Drive over the amazing Rio-Antirrio Bridge that crosses the Corinthian Bay. Pass by some picturesque towns, before arriving in Delphi.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, visit the Archaeological Site of Delphi with the Temple of Apollo and the museum featuring the bronze statue known as the Charioteer of Delphi. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

Visit Meteora with its ageless monasteries, amazingly perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air. Visit a couple of monasteries and see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Return to Athens via Thermopylae for a short stop to see Leonidas Monument

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Transfer to Lavrion port to embark your cruise. 18:00pm arrival at the picturesque island of Mykonos.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the town of Kusadasi. Excursion to Ancient Ephesus through the ages (shore excursion). Afternoon departure to Patmos, arriving at 16:30pm. Depart Patmos at 21:30pm.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning arrival into Heraklion. Excursion to Knossos Palace (shore excursion). Late afternoon arrival into Santorini. Depart at 21:30pm.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive into Lavrion, Athens. Disembark after breakfast. End of services.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Multilingual licensed guide

Tours as per itinerary

Shore excursions include on Celestyal Cruise:

• Ancient Ephesus through the ages, Kusadasi:
  • Duration: Half Day
  • This is a wonderful journey through some of the most important and formative periods of history and we hope you will be enthralled by the stories of the Hellenes, Romans and of Christianity in our fascinating exploration of Ephesus. This marvellous city, sitting on the hills outside Kusadasi is a fabulous open air archaeological wonder founded by the Greeks around 2000 BC. It was one of the most important cities of the region and was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The Temple built in her honour was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It had more than 100 marble pillars each standing 56 feet tall and it earned the city the name ‘Servant of the Goddess.’ A single pillar remains standing on the site, found during an excavation in the 1870s. We will be able to see the Agora, Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the marvel-paved Main Street of Curetes, the Baths of Scholastica, Trajan’s Fountain, the Temple of Hadrian and the Houses of Koressus, where the wealthy families of Ancient Ephesus lived. Only 13 per cent of Ephesus has so far been uncovered. The finds from the excavations made so far are housed in the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in the city of Selcuk. We have time for shopping for carpets, jewellery, leather and other souvenirs at the end of our tour.
• Minoan Palace of Knossos, Crete
  • Duration: Half Day
  • The ancient city of Knossos, near Crete’s capital Heraklion, was the place that ‘gave birth’ to the very first civilisation of Europe, the Minoans. So we can say with some certainty it is Europe’s oldest city. Our excursion will open up the world of the Minoans as we visit one of the continent’s most important archaeological treasures. The first excavations were undertaken in the 1870s by Minos Kalokairinos, a Cretan himself. A few decades later in the early 1900s, more work by Sir Arthur Evans from Britain brought to the world’s attention the full impressive scale of the Palace of Knossos, according to legend the residence of wise King Minos. We will be able to explore the large Central Court, the wonderful Throne Room, the imposing Grand Staircase and see the fresco of the ‘Prince of the Lilies.’ As you stroll through the palace apartments and view the archaeological fi nds, we think you will be just a little in awe of the rich cultural heritage of the Minoan civilisation. You will undoubtedly hear the Cretan legend of the Minotaur, half man, half bull who lived in the Labyrinth and was slain by Theseus. But that’s another story. Exploring from room to room we will relive time in the Hall of the Royal Guard and the King’s Chamber, hearing about the extraordinary rule of King Minos.

9 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 5 Dinners

Transfer from Athens airport or port to hotel

Transfer from Athens hotel to port

Transportation by air conditioned vehicle during sightseeing tours

Optional Shore Excursions:

• Mykonos:
  • Mykonian Dinner – $133 per person
  • Mykonian Countryside tour with Chora and Little Venice – $114 per person
• Kusadasi:
  • House of Virgin Mary & Ancient Ephesus – $126 per person
  • Ancient Ephesus and the Terrace Houses – $126 per person
• Patmos:
  • Religious visit to St John’s Monastery – Grotto of Apocalypse – $114 per person
  • Countryside Tour with Chora and the Grotto of Apocalypse – $114 per person
  • Transfer to Agriolivadi Beach – Sold On Board Only
  • Traditional Feast in Patmos – $99 per person
• Heraklion:
  • Minoan Palace of Knossos – 1st European Civilisation – $126 per person
  • Experience the Cretan Countryside and Lifestyle – $126 per person
  • Venetian Heraklion and the Unique Archaeological Museum – $114 per person
• Santorini:
  • Spectacular Oia Village perched on the Caldera Rim – $126 per person
  • Cruise to Santorini’s Islands and Volcanoes – $117 per person
  • Akrotiri Village excavations – $126 per person
• Athens:
  • Athens Monuments and the Acropolis – $133 per person
  • Athens Tour and the New Acropolis Museum – $133 per person

Entrance fees to sites listed in the itinerary

All inclusive drinks package on Celestyal Cruise: includes unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for adults and unlimited non- alcoholic drinks for children under 18 years.

Port taxes & services charges on Celestyal Cruise

Passport or visa fees

Gratuities

Drinks with meals

Any other items of personal nature

Tours do not include any tourist taxes that apply. These will need to be paid locally.

In some tours we list multiple hotels in the same class and destination. We do so as to display the most common hotels we use on our tour. As always, these hotels are a guide only and subject to change. Where we need to use a different hotel than that which we list, we endeavour to use hotels with a similar class.