11-night Greece, Cyprus & Turkey Cruise: Rhodes, Limassol & Antalya

Corfu Town & Achilleion Palace - 4.5 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We drive to the old historical village of Gastouri and we arrive at the Achilleion Palace, the former residence of Empress Elizabeth of Austria and later that of Kaiser Wilhelm the 2nd.  Here we visit the museum with mementos of the two Royalties and enjoy the splendour of its landscaped gardens and the statues including the famous statue of the dying Achilles.

Continue through the coastal road of Perama to the beauty spot of Kanoni, where there will be time for drinks (upon consumption) and to photograph the famous views of Mouse Island.

From Kanoni, we continue to Corfu Town for a walking tour in the Historical centre of the fascinating old city where the following historical sights are to be seen:

• The residence of the High Commissioner, a splendid Edwardian building completed in 1824, once the sea  of the Knights of Saint Michael and Saint George up to 1864 and later the Palace of the King of Greece.
• The bronze statue of the British High Commissioner, Sir Frederick Adam.
• The Venetian quarters of Cambiello and Corfu's Historical Centre.
• The Town Hall, once a Venetian theatre, built in 1690.
• The Church of Saint Spyridon, Patron Saint of Corfu with the rare icons and where the Holy body of the Saint lays in a crypt.
• There will be free time for shopping before transfer back to the Port

Duration: approx. 4 1/2 hours

Notes:
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Crete: Knossos - Archanes - Heraklion Museum -5 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We will first visit the Archaeological Museum in the town centre and then continue with the exploration of the ruins of Knossos Palace. The palace is one of the major must-see archaeological sites in Greece, presenting visitors with a rare glimpse into Minoan civilization. Accompanied by a knowledgeable, qualified archaeological guide who will offer in-depth personal attention, you will browse through the restored palace. By examining the structures the Minoans lived in, you will have the best avenue for piecing together the threads of the Great Minoan civilization. After a walk through the award winning historically restored village of Archanes, you can enjoy lunch in its picturesque main square, before returning back to the pier.

Duration: approx. 5 hours

Notes:
Because of the extensive walk in Knossos, comfortable shoes and a hat are required.

Private Excursion of Alanya

Highlights:

• Aspendos
• Side
• Perge

• Transportation by A/C non-smoking deluxe vehicle
• Service of an English-speaking professional private tour guide throughout the program
• All entrance and parking fees for the sightseeing
• Complimentary beverages on vehicle throughout the journey
• All taxes and service charges

• Meals and beverages
• Honorary gratuities for guide and driver
• Personal expenses

Antalya: The Greco-Roman Heritage of Antalya, Perge & Side - 7 hours

An English speaking private lecturer/guide will meet you at Antalya pier at 9 am for departure by chauffeur driven a/c deluxe minivan, to start your private sightseeing tour of Antalya.

First, you will drive to Perge, the largest ancient settling of both Hellenistic and Roman Age, which possesses a Roman Bath, Colonnaded Street, Agora, Stadium, and Water Aqueduct. These structures are in good order and well protected after the excavation.

Continue to Aspendos, the best preserved Roman Theatre in the World which is still in use. This 15.000 seated theatre hosts many concerts and competitions, during the Song Festival.

The third impressive site is Side whose name meant "Pomegranate" in antiquity. Today, it is a pretty Resort Town with two sandy beaches, many shops along the ancient street as well as Theatre, Agora, ancient harbor, archeological museum. This triangle historical tour ends at Manavgat Waterfalls with refreshment break at the edge of showering water drops.

Lunch will be served at a selected local seafood restaurant by the pier.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your cruise ship by 5pm.

Added Value:

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chauffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Private Excursion of Antalya

Highlights:

• Archaeological Museum of Antalya
• Aspendos
• Perge

• Transportation by A/C non-smoking deluxe vehicle
• Service of an English-speaking professional private tour guide throughout the program
• All entrance and parking fees for the sightseeing
• Complimentary beverages on vehicle throughout the journey
• All taxes and service charges

• Meals and beverages
• Honorary gratuities for guide and driver
• Personal expenses

Rhodes Town & Lindos - Full day tour approx 8 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Our tour begins with a drive through Mandraki Harbour and the new part of the city of Rhodes. We make our way to Mount Smith to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and continue on to the ruins of ancient Rhodes. We will explore the Acropolis of Rhodes, where remains of the Temple of Apollo and the ancient Stadium of Diagoras dominate the skyline. At Porte d’ Amboise, we begin our walking tour through the old city of Rhodes, filled with historical reminders of the ancient and medieval past. We will walk through the northern part of town, where knights once lived, and view the Grand Master’s Palace and then continue our walk down Chevalier’s Road, and the shopping districts around Socratus street, where we will enjoy some free time.

Our drive continues along the picturesque coastline to Lindos, the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. Within its medieval walls, erected by the Knights of St. John, stands the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, 400 feet above the sea, crowned by the Temple of Athena. From the heights, you will have breathtaking views of St. Paul’s Bay, where the Apostle cast anchor during his voyage to Ephesus, and the Aegean Sea. If you prefer not to make the climb, you may remain below and explore the village with its many small shops and cafes. At a set time, we will all gather for a wonderful luncheon at a Restaurant by the sea, where we will enjoy an array of local Greek specialties with beverages. After lunch, we will have some free time to enjoy the beach or do some shopping in the village of Lindos prior to returning to the Port. 

Duration: approx. 8 hours

Notes:
•    The Grand Masters Palace is closed on Mondays
•    Steep, uphill walking is involved in Lindos. Guests with walking disabilities are recommended to stay in Lindos town for shopping.                                                         
•    It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Rhodes Medieval town & Lindos Tour approx 5 1/2 hours

Depart Rhodes Town and drive along the east coast to Lindos, one of the three ancient cities on the island, and enjoy a visit of the famous Acropolis. Lindos offers breathtaking views and photo opportunities of the entire village, including its Medieval castle, superb sandy beaches and charming whitewashed, sugar-cubed houses. After a walking tour through the narrow-cobbled streets, colorful courtyards and mosaics, we will return to Rhodes town.
Back in Rhodes town, begin a walking tour of the old city from the Gate D'Amboise. Marvel at the imposing Palace of the Grand Masters (visit not included) and walk on the Street of the Knights, while your guide points out the facades of the many inns once occupied by the crusaders and at the end of the street, the Knight's Hospital, now an impressive Archaeological Museum. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, before meeting your guide for the short ride back to the pier or your hotel.
 

Lindos half day tour 4 1/2 hours

Depart Rhodes Town and drive along the east coast to Lindos, one of the three ancient cities on the island, and enjoy a visit of the famous Acropolis. Lindos offers breathtaking views and photo opportunities of the entire village, including its Medieval castle, superb sandy beaches and charming whitewashed, sugar-cubed houses. After a walking tour through the narrow-cobbled streets, colorful courtyards and mosaics, we will return to Rhodes town.
Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, before meeting your guide for the short ride back to the pier or your hotel.

Rhodes & Filermos half day tour approx. 4 1/2 hours

After meeting your professionally trained guide,  you will drive to Filerimos, a large plateau which contains the ruins of several buildings including the foundations of a temple, an Early Christian Basilica and a Byzantine monastery. Continue with a drive along the seaside road of the city to the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes where the ruins of a stadium and the Temple of Apolonas, will be seen during a short description and photo opportunity.
Next, visit the Old Town starting at the Gate d’Amboise. Visit the imposing Palace of the Grand Masters and walk the Street of the Knights down to the Knight's hospital. Admire the facades of what used to be the Inns of the Knights, nowadays shops and private residences. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, before meeting with your guide for the short ride back to the hotel/ ship 
 

Athens at a Glance - 3 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple.

During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos. Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian's Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian's new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament.

In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.

Notes:

• Sun protection indispensable
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
• Bottle of water recommended

Athens - Enlightening Classical Athens Tour w/ lunch - 6 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We begin our exciting tour with a visit to the glamorous Acropolis, where we admire one of the world's masterpieces, the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics.

Continue with the highlights of historical and modern Athens. Enjoy the most famous historical spots in Athens including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the colourful Evzones, the ex-Royal Palace and the Panathenaikon Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, and admire the unique perspective of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian's' Arch. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Plaka (old part of Athens).

In the afternoon (or even before lunch), continue with a visit to one of the following of your choice:

• The National Archaeological Museum: This is the most important archaeological museum in Greece and one of the richest in the world concerning ancient Greek art. The Ancient Agora: At the foot of the Acropolis is the archaeological site of the ancient Agora. The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens; the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity; the religious and cultural centre and the seat of justice.
• The Cycladic Arts Museum: A private museum founded ten years ago in order to present the art that was created in the Cycladic islands in the central Aegean Sea during the 3rd and 2nd millenniums BC. The sculptures on display are extremely interesting, sophisticated and modern for their time.
• The Benaki Museum: Visit the outstanding Benaki Museum, housed in an elegant neoclassical mansion and travel through the millennia of Greek History starting from the depths of prehistory to the 20th century.

Notes:

• Benaki Museum and Cycladic Museum will remain closed on Tuesdays
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Duration: Approx. 6 hours

Athens - Enchanting Cape Sounion at Sunset with dinner - 6 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica" to Cape Sounion. Enjoy the splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. Here stands the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.

Enjoy the most enchanting at sunset before your transfer to the Ithaki Restaurant located on the waterfront of Vouliagmeni.

Enjoy a lovely dinner at the waterfront restaurant, Ithaki overlooking Vouliagmeni Bay and the sparkling Saronic Gulf, Ithaki is probably the best outdoor sea viewpoint of Attica. A typical Greek fishing boat at the entrance, full of crushed ice, fresh fish and lobsters of all sizes give you a hint that you are not here for steaks, although they are available. The elegant, exclusive seaside restaurant is built amphitheatrically on varying levels in a way to secure privacy and a magnificent view of the bay. The Ithaki cuisine is based mainly on traditional Greek recipes and gives priority to seafood delicacies and fresh fish. Soft piano music and songs are entertaining the guests during the whole evening. Greek hospitality and excellent service are priority at the Ithaki, ensuring clients' satisfaction!

Notes:

• Sun protection is recommended 
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Duration: Approx. 6 1/2 hours

Athens - The Athenian Riviera & the Temple of Poseidon - 4 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica", which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, to Cape Sounion the southern-most point of the entire peninsula of Aemos (Balkans). Here stand the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.

This tour is most enchanting at sunset!

Notes:

• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Duration: Approx. 4 hours

Delphi – History & the Oracle w/lunch - Full Day Tour

In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Delphi via the National Highway passing through the spectacular sites of Boetia, Thebes and Levadia.

Delphi is by common consent the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece and the one, which, even to the uninitiated, most vividly evokes the Classical Past.  In antiquity Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world (omphalos of the earth) and to this, and its oracle, the place owed its prestige, which extended far beyond the Greek world.  

Our visit to Delphi is divided into three parts: the Sanctuary of Apollo with the Stadion; the Castalian spring and the Sanctuary of Athena at Marmaria (from above as it is a steep ragged climb to access it); and the Museum.

Enjoy lunch at a traditional local restaurant.  En route to Athens, there will be a short stop at the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. The village is famous for its attractive hand-woven carpets and rugs as well as for its wine and cheese.

In the early evening return to Athens.

Notes:
•    Sun protection indispensable
•    Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
•    Bottle of water recommended

Athens - Ancient Corinth Tour - 4.5 hours

In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.

Departure for the excursion to Corinth and Cenchreae, from the where St. Paul left for Ephesus.  Stop to view the Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea.  Ancient Corinth is sited inland at the foot of Mount Acrocorinth.  The City’s ‘Long Wall’ began from the summit of the mountain, encompassed the city and ended at the port of Lechaio, which was the artificial harbor built on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth.

In the area of the city itself, the ruins are those of its Agora (Forum) as it was in the days of the Romans in the 1st century AD. On the northern side of the agora, seven of the thirty-eight columns of the Ancient Temple of Apollo (6th century BC) still stand. To the northeast of the Agora are the remains of the Theater and the Roman Odeon. Among the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Bema can be seen single structure from where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians.  Corinth was the city where St. Paul created one of the biggest Christian communities in Europe.  A visit to the Museum is also included as well as a stop at the small port of Lechaio, where Paul disembarked.

Duration: Approximately 4½ hours

Notes:
•    Sun protection is recommended
•    Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
•    Bottle of water - recommended

Athens - Jewish History Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Take a short drive to the city of Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.

Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian’s Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian’s new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament. In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously.  Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.

We continue onward with a visit to the Jewish Museum of Athens. The Museum was founded in 1977 in order to collect, conserve, research and exhibit the material evidence of 2300 years of Jewish life in Greece. Its collection, which is continuously enriched, consists of seven and a half thousand original artifacts, photographs, documents and archives, and includes diverse material pertaining to the domestic and religious life, as well as the historical course of the Greek Jews.

The permanent exhibition illustrates subject areas such as the synagogue, the Jewish Holidays, traditional costumes, the Holocaust, the cycle of life and more.

It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.                   

Opening hours of the Jewish Museum:                             Daily 09:30-14:30 
Sunday 10:00-14:00 
Saturday: closed

Athens - The Acropolis & a walking tour of the Plaka w/lunch - Full Day tour

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.

Enjoy a walking tour the wonderful alleys of the Plaka area.  Following the Ermou Street, the most famous shopping street which begins in the Syntagma square, and going down south, you will arrive in the neighbourhood of Plaka.

The neighborhood is an historic center, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little touristy shops, cafe, bars and taverns (Greek restaurants). One will surely enjoy walking around in the small streets of Plaka Monastiraki - As you near the point where Adrianou and Ayiou Philippou Streets meet, you will have the impression that you are entering a melting pot of sound; all kinds of music can be heard simultaneously from the loud-speakers of record shops and street-vendors selling second-hand records. Shopping or simply walking around in Monastiraki is an experience not to be missed. You will be amazed by the variety and the quality of the things sold in this busy market.

Notes:
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Argolis – Mycenean & Epidavros Adventure w/lunch - 9 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We begin this exiting tour with a scenic drive along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea After a short stop we drive on to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides. Visit the Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the famous Royal Tombs of King Agamemnon. Continue to Nafplion through the fertile plain of Argolis. The picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress was the first capital of Greece. After lunch in Mycenae, leave for in the hinterland of Epidavros to visit the sanctuary of Asklepios, the most brilliant centre of healing in the ancient world and the 4th century theatre is one of the most perfect and the best preserved of the ancient Greek theatres.

Duration: approx: 9 hours


Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Athens the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum approx 4 hours

Join us on this tour of Athens and learn the history of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and most vibrant cities of Europe If this is your first time visiting Athens this is the ideal way experiencing as city rich in history and culture.  Our enthusiastic licensed guides will narrate the significance of all the landmarks and sites and bridge the past with present, while you enjoy your leisurely panoramic drive through the city of Athens.
 
The next stop on the tour is the Acropolis the most important ancient site in the Western world.  Crowned by the Parthenon positioned high above and visible from almost every part of the city.   You will feel  uplifted  high above the city as you marvel and stand  amongst this everlasting achievements of ancient Greece:  The  Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Apteros Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erechtheum, with its classical stone draped maidens, the Caryatids.
 
The Acropolis is the prelude to the final visit on the tour the Acropolis museum, where the final chapter of the tour will be told and your short odyssey will end. The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and throughout the middle ages. These circumstances cultivated the need and conception of the Acropolis museum. One museum that would house and conserve the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited. 

Bits & Bites Athens street food walking tour approx 3 hours

Start on a walking tour of the local markets: The senses of taste and smell are so powerful that Greece will intoxicate you and create a mystical experience. Take a look, sniff, and taste the vegetable, meat, and fish markets of Athens. Try the traditional Greek tastes: Greek sweets, koulouri, sausages, olive oil, olives, cheeses, rusks, Greek alcohol (wine, ouzo), and spices and herbs.
-Ariston (for tyropitta)
-Zisis, traditional small fish bites in a paper cone
-Bairaktaris Souvlaki
-Varvakios central food and spice market, then visit Ouzeri for ouzo-meze
-Traditional honey dough bites in Lukumades
-Brettos, for a shot glass of masticha,
-Time permitting, go for a Greek coffee at Café Melina in Plaka

The program and shops visited are indicative and may differ on the day depending on opening hours
Available May to October, morning to mid-afternoon*

Inclusions: Licensed English-speaking guide, Metro Tickets, Taxes
Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses, anything not mentioned above, Snacks or meals

Tips: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes a hat & plenty of sunscreen. Don’t eat before the tour!

Acropolis & Plaka walking tour approx 3 hours

Athens at a Glance - 3 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple.

During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos. Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian's Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian's new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament.

In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.

Notes:

• Sun protection indispensable
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
• Bottle of water recommended

Athens - Enlightening Classical Athens Tour w/ lunch - 6 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We begin our exciting tour with a visit to the glamorous Acropolis, where we admire one of the world's masterpieces, the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics.

Continue with the highlights of historical and modern Athens. Enjoy the most famous historical spots in Athens including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the colourful Evzones, the ex-Royal Palace and the Panathenaikon Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, and admire the unique perspective of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian's' Arch. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Plaka (old part of Athens).

In the afternoon (or even before lunch), continue with a visit to one of the following of your choice:

• The National Archaeological Museum: This is the most important archaeological museum in Greece and one of the richest in the world concerning ancient Greek art. The Ancient Agora: At the foot of the Acropolis is the archaeological site of the ancient Agora. The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens; the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity; the religious and cultural centre and the seat of justice.
• The Cycladic Arts Museum: A private museum founded ten years ago in order to present the art that was created in the Cycladic islands in the central Aegean Sea during the 3rd and 2nd millenniums BC. The sculptures on display are extremely interesting, sophisticated and modern for their time.
• The Benaki Museum: Visit the outstanding Benaki Museum, housed in an elegant neoclassical mansion and travel through the millennia of Greek History starting from the depths of prehistory to the 20th century.

Notes:

• Benaki Museum and Cycladic Museum will remain closed on Tuesdays
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Duration: Approx. 6 hours

Athens - Enchanting Cape Sounion at Sunset with dinner - 6 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica" to Cape Sounion. Enjoy the splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. Here stands the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.

Enjoy the most enchanting at sunset before your transfer to the Ithaki Restaurant located on the waterfront of Vouliagmeni.

Enjoy a lovely dinner at the waterfront restaurant, Ithaki overlooking Vouliagmeni Bay and the sparkling Saronic Gulf, Ithaki is probably the best outdoor sea viewpoint of Attica. A typical Greek fishing boat at the entrance, full of crushed ice, fresh fish and lobsters of all sizes give you a hint that you are not here for steaks, although they are available. The elegant, exclusive seaside restaurant is built amphitheatrically on varying levels in a way to secure privacy and a magnificent view of the bay. The Ithaki cuisine is based mainly on traditional Greek recipes and gives priority to seafood delicacies and fresh fish. Soft piano music and songs are entertaining the guests during the whole evening. Greek hospitality and excellent service are priority at the Ithaki, ensuring clients' satisfaction!

Notes:

• Sun protection is recommended 
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Duration: Approx. 6 1/2 hours

Athens - The Athenian Riviera & the Temple of Poseidon - 4 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica", which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, to Cape Sounion the southern-most point of the entire peninsula of Aemos (Balkans). Here stand the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.

This tour is most enchanting at sunset!

Notes:

• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Duration: Approx. 4 hours

Delphi – History & the Oracle w/lunch - Full Day Tour

In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Delphi via the National Highway passing through the spectacular sites of Boetia, Thebes and Levadia.

Delphi is by common consent the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece and the one, which, even to the uninitiated, most vividly evokes the Classical Past.  In antiquity Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world (omphalos of the earth) and to this, and its oracle, the place owed its prestige, which extended far beyond the Greek world.  

Our visit to Delphi is divided into three parts: the Sanctuary of Apollo with the Stadion; the Castalian spring and the Sanctuary of Athena at Marmaria (from above as it is a steep ragged climb to access it); and the Museum.

Enjoy lunch at a traditional local restaurant.  En route to Athens, there will be a short stop at the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. The village is famous for its attractive hand-woven carpets and rugs as well as for its wine and cheese.

In the early evening return to Athens.

Notes:
•    Sun protection indispensable
•    Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
•    Bottle of water recommended

Athens - Ancient Corinth Tour - 4.5 hours

In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.

Departure for the excursion to Corinth and Cenchreae, from the where St. Paul left for Ephesus.  Stop to view the Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea.  Ancient Corinth is sited inland at the foot of Mount Acrocorinth.  The City’s ‘Long Wall’ began from the summit of the mountain, encompassed the city and ended at the port of Lechaio, which was the artificial harbor built on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth.

In the area of the city itself, the ruins are those of its Agora (Forum) as it was in the days of the Romans in the 1st century AD. On the northern side of the agora, seven of the thirty-eight columns of the Ancient Temple of Apollo (6th century BC) still stand. To the northeast of the Agora are the remains of the Theater and the Roman Odeon. Among the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Bema can be seen single structure from where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians.  Corinth was the city where St. Paul created one of the biggest Christian communities in Europe.  A visit to the Museum is also included as well as a stop at the small port of Lechaio, where Paul disembarked.

Duration: Approximately 4½ hours

Notes:
•    Sun protection is recommended
•    Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
•    Bottle of water - recommended

Athens - Jewish History Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Take a short drive to the city of Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.

Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian’s Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian’s new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament. In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously.  Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.

We continue onward with a visit to the Jewish Museum of Athens. The Museum was founded in 1977 in order to collect, conserve, research and exhibit the material evidence of 2300 years of Jewish life in Greece. Its collection, which is continuously enriched, consists of seven and a half thousand original artifacts, photographs, documents and archives, and includes diverse material pertaining to the domestic and religious life, as well as the historical course of the Greek Jews.

The permanent exhibition illustrates subject areas such as the synagogue, the Jewish Holidays, traditional costumes, the Holocaust, the cycle of life and more.

It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.                   

Opening hours of the Jewish Museum:                             Daily 09:30-14:30 
Sunday 10:00-14:00 
Saturday: closed

Athens - The Acropolis & a walking tour of the Plaka w/lunch - Full Day tour

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.

Enjoy a walking tour the wonderful alleys of the Plaka area.  Following the Ermou Street, the most famous shopping street which begins in the Syntagma square, and going down south, you will arrive in the neighbourhood of Plaka.

The neighborhood is an historic center, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little touristy shops, cafe, bars and taverns (Greek restaurants). One will surely enjoy walking around in the small streets of Plaka Monastiraki - As you near the point where Adrianou and Ayiou Philippou Streets meet, you will have the impression that you are entering a melting pot of sound; all kinds of music can be heard simultaneously from the loud-speakers of record shops and street-vendors selling second-hand records. Shopping or simply walking around in Monastiraki is an experience not to be missed. You will be amazed by the variety and the quality of the things sold in this busy market.

Notes:
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.

Argolis – Mycenean & Epidavros Adventure w/lunch - 9 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We begin this exiting tour with a scenic drive along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea After a short stop we drive on to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides. Visit the Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the famous Royal Tombs of King Agamemnon. Continue to Nafplion through the fertile plain of Argolis. The picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress was the first capital of Greece. After lunch in Mycenae, leave for in the hinterland of Epidavros to visit the sanctuary of Asklepios, the most brilliant centre of healing in the ancient world and the 4th century theatre is one of the most perfect and the best preserved of the ancient Greek theatres.

Duration: approx: 9 hours


Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended

Athens the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum approx 4 hours

Join us on this tour of Athens and learn the history of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and most vibrant cities of Europe If this is your first time visiting Athens this is the ideal way experiencing as city rich in history and culture.  Our enthusiastic licensed guides will narrate the significance of all the landmarks and sites and bridge the past with present, while you enjoy your leisurely panoramic drive through the city of Athens.
 
The next stop on the tour is the Acropolis the most important ancient site in the Western world.  Crowned by the Parthenon positioned high above and visible from almost every part of the city.   You will feel  uplifted  high above the city as you marvel and stand  amongst this everlasting achievements of ancient Greece:  The  Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Apteros Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erechtheum, with its classical stone draped maidens, the Caryatids.
 
The Acropolis is the prelude to the final visit on the tour the Acropolis museum, where the final chapter of the tour will be told and your short odyssey will end. The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and throughout the middle ages. These circumstances cultivated the need and conception of the Acropolis museum. One museum that would house and conserve the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited. 

Bits & Bites Athens street food walking tour approx 3 hours

Start on a walking tour of the local markets: The senses of taste and smell are so powerful that Greece will intoxicate you and create a mystical experience. Take a look, sniff, and taste the vegetable, meat, and fish markets of Athens. Try the traditional Greek tastes: Greek sweets, koulouri, sausages, olive oil, olives, cheeses, rusks, Greek alcohol (wine, ouzo), and spices and herbs.
-Ariston (for tyropitta)
-Zisis, traditional small fish bites in a paper cone
-Bairaktaris Souvlaki
-Varvakios central food and spice market, then visit Ouzeri for ouzo-meze
-Traditional honey dough bites in Lukumades
-Brettos, for a shot glass of masticha,
-Time permitting, go for a Greek coffee at Café Melina in Plaka

The program and shops visited are indicative and may differ on the day depending on opening hours
Available May to October, morning to mid-afternoon*

Inclusions: Licensed English-speaking guide, Metro Tickets, Taxes
Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses, anything not mentioned above, Snacks or meals

Tips: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes a hat & plenty of sunscreen. Don’t eat before the tour!

Acropolis & Plaka walking tour approx 3 hours