Greece & Aegean Islands Cruise
Greece & Aegean Islands Cruise
$3729
Greece & Aegean Islands Cruise
15 Days Starting and ending in Athens, Greece
Visiting: Athens, Sparta, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete
Tour operator:
Tour code:
6660-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Greece and Turkey with the "Greece & Aegean Islands Cruise." This cultural and historical adventure begins in Athens, where you'll explore iconic sites like the Acropolis and the ancient theatre of Epidaurus. Travel through picturesque towns such as Nauplia and Sparta, and visit the awe-inspiring monasteries of Meteora. The tour includes a cruise on the Celestyal Discovery, offering a basic drink package and select excursions. Discover the wonders of Ephesus in Turkey, the medieval town of Rhodes, and the breathtaking beauty of Santorini. Optional excursions include a day cruise to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Poros, and a visit to the cliff-top village of Oia. With comfortable accommodations and guided tours, this trip promises a rich tapestry of history, culture, and stunning landscapes.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Athens,Greece
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Gallery Suites and Residences
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the Greek capital with the help of your CosmosGO app. Later, meet your Local Host.
Day 2: Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Gallery Suites and Residences
Meals Included: Breakfast
A day to relax and discover Athens at leisure. In the evening, free time to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music.
Day 3: Athens,Corinth,Nauplia
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Rex
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join the included guided tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of this ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis. Cross the Corinth canal, a project conceived in ancient Greece but only completed in 1893, then head for the coast to the picturesque seaside town of Nauplia. Today’s Distance: 90 mi/ 145 km
Day 4: Nauplia,Epidaurus,Mycenae,Sparta
Location: Sparta
Accommodation Name: Maniatis
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, stop in Epidaurus, located in the hilly countryside dotted with pine trees and oleanders. In this magnificent setting, visit the ancient open-air theatre, which can still seat 14,000 spectators. Later, enjoy the included guided excursion to the archaeological site and museum of Mycenae, with the imposing ruins of the great city that dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. It played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture and is linked to the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Travel into the Peloponnese to Sparta, where history hangs between reality and legend. Today’s Distance: 126 mi/ 202 km
Day 5: Sparta,Mystra,Olympia
Location: Olympia
Accommodation Name: Olympia Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy the included sightseeing of the medieval Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the East.” Before arriving in Olympia, stop to visit an olive oil museum. Today’s Distance: 99 mi/ 160 km
Day 6: Olympia,Patras,Delphi
Location: Delphi
Accommodation Name: Apollonia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed as a tribute to the king of deities, Zeus. Spend free time in this pretty town or score a perfect 10 with an optional guided tour of the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Later, drive north to Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Continue by crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion bridge, through the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland to legendary Delphi. Today’s Distance: 134 mi/ 215 km
Day 7: Delphi,Kalambaka
Location: Delphi
Accommodation Name: Famissi Eden Resort Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy free time in town or feel the good fortune of an optional morning sightseeing tour of the archaeological site of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke at the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world.’ Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious hub and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. On to Kalambaka. Today’s Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km
Day 8: Kalambaka,Meteora,Athens
Location: Meteora
Accommodation Name: Illisos
Meals Included: Breakfast
Discover Meteora, a cluster of Christian-Orthodox monasteries perched in an unforgettable manner on a set of rising rock formations. They were originally built by hermit monks living in caves carved into the rocks. Your included visit is certainly the day’s highlight. Continue south to Athens. Today’s Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km
Day 9: Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Illisos
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend a full day at leisure exploring the unseen parts of the city or visiting a museum. Tonight, it’s all Greek with an optional dinner of local specialties, served with the rhythmic dance steps of the Sirtaki keeping time with the sounds of the bouzouki lute.
Day 10: Athens,Embarkation Port,Mykonos
Location: Mykonos
Accommodation Name: Celestyal Discovery
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning embarkation and afternoon cruising in the Aegean. Arrive this evening in Mykonos, a granite island and the most typical of the Cyclades. Its white and blue houses, windmills, and chapels make the island’s light even more translucent. Spend some time visiting a taverna or just wandering around the town, enjoying its timeless beauty.
Day 11: Kusadasi,Turkey & Patmos,Greece
Location: Kusadasi
Accommodation Name: Celestyal Discovery
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Two ports of call await today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast for an included morning excursion to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit.
Day 12: Rhodes
Location: Rhodes
Accommodation Name: Celestyal Discovery
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Dock in Rhodes, largest of the Dodecanese Islands and site of the legendary Colossus of Rhodes, a 105-foot statue destroyed by an earthquake in 224 BC. Explore the historic Old City with its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. Another possibility: join an included excursion to Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights. If sightseeing is not your preference, Rhodes’ sun-drenched beaches and vibrant shopping districts are within easy walking distance of the port. Depart from Rhodes around dinner time.
Day 13: Crete & Santorini
Location: Crete
Accommodation Name: Celestyal Discovery
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the morning in Heraklion on the island of Crete. A few miles away is Knossos, the hub of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization, calling you to join an optional excursion to explore the ancient sites. Next port of call (weather permitting) is Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” Breathtaking beauty is a shore thing on an optional shore excursion up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most breathtaking panoramas.
Day 14: Disembarkation Port,Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Illisos
Meals Included: Breakfast
Early morning docking at Athens’ port; disembark and drive to Athens.
Day 15: Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation Name: Illisos
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Transportation
Travel through Greece and Turkey with a mix of guided tours, scenic drives, and a cruise on the Celestyal Discovery. Enjoy comfortable transportation between historical sites, picturesque towns, and beautiful islands.
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Accommodation
Stay at the Moxy Athens City, Hotel Rex in Nafplio, Maniatis Hotel in Sparta, Olympia Palace in Ancient Olympia, Apollonia in Delphi, and Famissi Eden Resort Hotel in Kalambaka.
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Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 lunches; 7 dinners.
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Guided Tours
Included guided tours of Athens, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Mystra, and Meteora.
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Cruise
Cruise on the Celestyal Discovery with included basic drink package and select excursions.
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UNESCO Sites
Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Acropolis Athens, Archeological site of Mycenae, Archeological site of Mystras, Ephesus, Medieval Town of Rhodes, Meteora, and Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus.
What's Not Included
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Optional Excursions
Optional sightseeing tours such as the day cruise to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Poros, and the shore excursion to the cliff-top village of Oia in Santorini.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks not included in the basic drink package.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and should be purchased separately.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and cruise staff are not included.
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Upgrades
Upgrades for cabins on the cruise are available but not included in the base price.
Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 lunches; 7 dinners
Notes
Please ask your Travel Consultant for cruise ship details. The ship scheduled to depart for the cruise portion of your vacation is the Celestyal Discovery, operated by Celestyal Cruises.This tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs. CRUISE DETAILSPrices are based on Inside cabin (category IB) - All air-conditioned cabins with private shower and toilet. Upgrades available.Rotation of ports of call may vary for congestion reasons at certain ports with or without prior notice.Included select excursions as per detailed itinerary.Full entertainment program on board.Included drink package: selection of non-alcoholic & alcoholic drinks.Cosmos Host service throughout the cruise.
UNESCO Sites
Acropolis Athens|Archeological site of Mycenae|Archeological site of Mystras|Ephesus|Medieval Town of Rhodes|Meteora|Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus
Accommodation
Stay at the Moxy Athens City, Hotel Rex in Nafplio, Maniatis Hotel in Sparta, Olympia Palace in Ancient Olympia, Apollonia in Delphi, and Famissi Eden Resort Hotel in Kalambaka.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes a mix of guided tours, scenic drives, and a cruise on the Celestyal Discovery. Comfortable transportation is provided between historical sites, picturesque towns, and beautiful islands, with included excursions and optional sightseeing tours.
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Are meals included during the tour?
Yes, the tour includes buffet breakfasts daily, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners.
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What kind of accommodations can I expect on this tour?
Accommodations include stays at the Moxy Athens City, Hotel Rex in Nafplio, Maniatis Hotel in Sparta, Olympia Palace in Ancient Olympia, Apollonia in Delphi, and Famissi Eden Resort Hotel in Kalambaka.
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What are some of the highlights of the cruise portion of the tour?
The cruise on the Celestyal Discovery includes a basic drink package, select excursions, and a full entertainment program on board. Ports of call include Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.
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Are there any optional excursions available during the tour?
Yes, optional excursions include a day cruise to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Poros, and a shore excursion to the cliff-top village of Oia in Santorini.
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What should I know about the walking conditions on this tour?
The tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or those reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
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What is the policy on gratuities during the tour?
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and cruise staff are not included in the tour price.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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