Greece Cruises 2021 - 2022 | Greek Isles Cruises

Treasures of the Greek Isles

Port to port

Athens to Athens

Duration

7 Days

Discover the magic and mythology of the Greek Isles – one of the most storied regions of the world. Sail across the azure waters of the Aegean Sea visiting the small hidden ports of Nafplio, Monemvasia, and Patmos and the legendary islands of Santorini and Mykonos. Windstar brings you closer to unique island cultures, ancient treasures, and the breathtaking beaches of Greece. Your vacation includes visits to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a complimentary local Destination Discovery Event featuring dinner in the ancient city of Ephesus.

Looking for more? Go in-land and combine the best of the land and sea with a Cruise Tour that includes this itinerary:

Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Treasures Cruise Tour

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A Piece of Greece, a Slice of Sicily & the Corinth Canal

Port to port

Barcelona to Athens

Duration

8 Days

Discover Italy and Greece at their best, when towns and beaches are less crowded and the weather is just right for strolling historic ruins and admiring Greece’s 5,000-plus wildflowers. Feast your eyes on the smooth bone-white columns of Athens’ Parthenon, and the honeycombed spires of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia. Inhale the heady aroma of wild rosemary and thyme mingled with fresh-baked guttiau bread in Cagliari, and the citrus tang of kumquat liqueur in Corfu. In Messina, watch as the bell tower clock’s bronze characters come to life, announcing noon with a lion’s fierce roar and a rooster’s loud crow. Spot bright pink flamingos stilt-walking the white salt flats in Trapani. Enjoy the sweet sound of Argostoli’s street musicians playing kantades on mandolins. And discover the tranquility of Delphi, where oracles channeled the prophecies of Apollo to kings and commoners. On this voyage you’ll visit ports reserved for small ships like Itea, dock closer to key attractions than larger ships can in Trapani and Barcelona, and cross the Corinth Canal, too narrow for most modern ships but just wide enough for your small ship.

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Icons of the Ancient World: Greece & Israel

Port to port

Athens to Haifa

Duration

8 Days

Greek mythology, courageous rebellions against Rome, and the rediscovered wonders of Petra’s sandstone tombs, temples, and treasuries are a few of the hallmarks on this 8-day journey along the eastern Mediterranean harbors and coastlines of Greece, Cyprus and Israel. Savor sweet, almond flavors of amigdalota pastries in Mykonos, or catch a boat bound for the temples and amphitheater on Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Wander the shadowy recesses of the Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete, lair of the mythic Minotaur, and peruse ancient sacred relics at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Follow Jesus’s footsteps through Gethsemane to the former garden and olive grove where he was arrested, and visit the cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Ride a cable car to the imposing heights of Masada Fortress. Float in the warm, mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea. Stroll among Petra’s pink, sandstone columns and caves in the glowing morning light.

Looking for more? Go in-land and combine the best of the land and sea with a Cruise Tour that includes this itinerary:

Holy Lands & Petra Cruise Tour

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Adriatic Archipelagos and Greek Goddesses

Port to port

Venice to Athens

Duration

9 Days

Greek temples, rugged coastal mountain ranges, and rustic, tile-roofed villages dotting the eastern Adriatic shoreline define this exceptional 9-day cruise with an overnight port stay in Kotor, Montenegro. Toast the benefits of Croatian microclimates during a wine tasting near rocky vineyards outside Zadar. Sail, swim and snorkel at a pristine archipelago near Hvar, or rise early to pick fresh, organic vegetables for your family-style Croatian breakfast in the village of Hora, near there. Master Montenegro cuisine under the guidance of a decorated restaurant chef in Kotor. Admire the royal ambiance of Achillion, the Greek mansion of a former Austrian empress on Corfu. And enjoy Greek music performances and take your mark on the hallowed grounds of Olympia, the birthplace of Greek and global athletic competitions.

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Aegean Sea Odyssey via the Corinth Canal

Port to port

Athens to Istanbul

Duration

8 Days

Greek temples and Turkish mosques punctuate the golden coastlines of these ancient rival nations throughout this 8-day coastal exploration of the Aegean Sea, scenic Dardanelles and the Sea of Maramara. Transit the narrow, time-saving Corinth Canal to Itea and the sacred ruins in the Sanctuary of Apollo, the former home of the ancient world’s most respected oracle. Sip tart and flavorful white wines made from local Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani grapes grown atop the windy ridges of Santorini. Hike between black lava rocks and white pumice stones to the smoldering crater on Nea Kameni. Shop for fresh fruit and vegetables in an open Turkish market with a local chef, then return to his Bodrum restaurant and cook up Turkish meals paired with regional wines and beer. Stroll in the shade of former terrace houses and columned buildings in ancient Ephesus prior to a late-night stay in the markets and cafes of Kusadasi, Turkey.

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Ancient Wonders of Greece & Ephesus

Port to port

Athens to Athens

Duration

10 Days

Enjoy a cruise worthy of Greek gods as you visit the land of myth and legend on your own white chariot. Feast your eyes on Santorini’s raven-black cliffs draped in Cyclades-blue and white homes. Inhale the scent of heather and pines on the sacred island of Patmos, where the book of Revelation was penned. Walk on cobblestones worn smooth by peasants and knights in the living medieval cities of Rhodes and Monemvasia. Stray off the beaten path to Ermoupoli where the strains of rebetiko (Greek blues) flow from open-air tavernas, and to Agios Nikolaus, to swim in the lagoon where the goddess Athena was said to bathe. Blur the lines between dreams and reality as you dine in the shadow of Ephesus at a complimentary Destination Discovery Event. Each day adds a new page as you write your own legend

Looking for more? Go in-land and combine the best of the land and sea with a Cruise Tour that includes this itinerary:

Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Antiquities Cruise Tour

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Cappadocia & Aegean Rhapsody Cruise Tour via the Corinth Canal

Port to port

Athens to Cappadocia, Turkey

Duration

11 Days

Hand painted Iznik tiles in deep lapis lazuli, turquoise, emerald, and coral. Fairy chimneys of taupe and burnt umber. The white, charcoal, and Aegean blue palette of Santorini. On this journey through Turkey and Greece you may expand on your list of favorite new places, and even add new favorite colors, aromas, and flavors. Istanbul is your portal to this sensory world, with its Ottoman mosques, sultans’ palaces, Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Cappadocia’s weird landscape of rock pillars and subterranean homes is next, followed by a string of pearls. Sparkling Aegean isles, the marble ruins of Ephesus, an ancient oracle, a Trojan horse. And while larger ships must go around, you cut straight through the narrow Corinth Canal to Athens, one of the world’s oldest cities, and some say one of the finest.

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Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Antiquities Cruise Tour

Port to port

Athens to Athens

Duration

13 Days

Venture to the epicenters of ancient Western Civilization during this pairing of guided Delphi and Meteroa tours and an extensive Greek Isles cruise. Explore the high halls of medieval Meteora monasteries perched on clifftops. Delve into tales of Titans, Olympians and early deities as you step between limestone blocks hewn by hand, etched by turmoil and strewn among the angular shadows of the Parthenon’s marble pillars. Raise your voice and test perfect acoustics in classical amphitheaters near the storied Temple of Delphi and the Epidaurus Theatre. Pull up a bar stool at a bustling estiatorio and sample grilled pita bread paired with a creamy spread of tangy taramasalata--a pureed blend of potato, lemon juice and briny local fish roe. Wander among the white-walled shops of Santorini and the stirring cloth sails of village windmills on Mykonos. Slip between broken walls in Ephesus, a former trading port along the picturesque Turkish Coast, plus appreciate the special dinner at Ephesus during our Destination Discovery Event and the small ship delightful ports of Ermoupoli, Monemvasia and Agios Nikolaos.

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Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Treasures Cruise Tour

Port to port

Athens to Athens

Duration

10 Days

Delve into the ancient wonders of early Western Civilization on this 10-day journey featuring Meteora and Delphi and delve into the islands of Greece. Stroll the monument-lined Sacred Way toward the Grand Temple of Apollo in Delphi. Savor a moonlit Turkish dinner and romantic concert among the broken columns and weathered walls of Ephesus in Turkey during Windstar’s complimentary Destination Discovery Event. Imagine the sense of adventure among Medieval Turkish raiders as you stare skyward at distant monasteries topping foreboding cliffs and natural sandstone pillars throughout Meteora Valley. Sip tangy, bright citrus flavors of local Assyrtiko wine paired with freshly caught calamari while relaxing on a whitewashed patio high above Santorini’s steep volcanic slopes. Relax by the crystal clear waters of Acropolis, Mykonos and Santorini beaches. Gaze across the Baroque-styled parapets of Palamidi Castle at Nafplio’s red-tiled roofs and the azure Argolic Gulf. Scale the marble steps leading to the Acropolis high above the city of Athens and lose yourself amid the iconic Parthenon’s limestone blocks and marble columns.

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Enchanting Greece & the Amalfi Coast

Port to port

Athens to Rome

Duration

7 Days

Idyllic islands, charming cobbled villages, spectacular scenery, intriguing history. Capture the heart of the Mediterranean in a single cruise voyage. Each small harbor is especially suited for small cruise ship exploration. Enjoy the best of the region — from the ancient ruins of Sparta and Mystras to the pure indulgence of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

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Holy Lands & Petra Cruise Tour

Port to port

Amman to Athens

Duration

11 Days

Embark on a far-ranging voyage to Greek temples, Holy Land shrines and Petra’s pink sandstone facades during this exceptional 11-day cruise and tour to Jordan, Israel, and Greece. Stand atop Jordan’s Mount Nebo summit and take in Promised Land views from Moses’ perspective. Walk among tombs, treasuries and temples carved into Petra’s pink sandstone canyon walls. Venture into the cavernous silence of the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. Stroll the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum and through Jerusalem’s Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Stations of the Cross. Stand in the ghostly ruins of ancient Kourion and atop the walls of a nearby crusader fortress above Cypriot citrus groves. Sip pilsner paired with seared calamari and honeyed mantinades dough in a Rhodes neighborhood café. Embrace sea breezes in the shade of Mykonos windmills and venture inland to sample tart and tasty local Greek wines.

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Istanbul Icons & Aegean Artifacts via the Corinth Canal Cruise Tour

Port to port

Athens to Istanbul

Duration

11 Days

With four days to explore glorious Istanbul and another eight to discover what lies beyond the Golden Horn, you don’t need an oracle to tell you this is one auspicious voyage. Everywhere you look in Istanbul you’ll find some fascinating remnant of days gone by – places where chariots raced, sultans ruled, and architects’ greatest aspirations were realized. After you’ve oohed and aahed over the world-renowned mosques, palaces, and bazaars, board your yacht to see more jewels of the Aegean. Islands glowing with whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches; origin stories of gods, oracles, and Atlantis; a canal so narrow you’ll only share it with small mail boats, private yachts, and paddleboarders. Plus, enjoy a complimentary Destination Discovery Event – dinner and a concert in the moonlight in ancient Ephesus.

What’s Included

•Three nights’ accommodation at Pera Palace Hotel in a Deluxe Golden Horn Room
Breakfast at the hotel, lunch at Hamdi Restaurant
•All transfers to and from the included sites
•Two full days and one half day sightseeing in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver and English speaking tour guide.
•2-hour Bosphorus cruise on a private motor boat
•Entrance fees to Byzantine Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Harem Section, Underground Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Ayasofya, and Rustem Pasa Mosque
•8-day cruise between Athens and Istanbul

Please note: Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Order of sites visited may vary based on availability and dates.

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Star Collector: Adriatic & Aegean Sea Adventures

Port to port

Venice to Athens

Duration

19 Days

Romantic serenades on Venetian canals, bright Croatian wines and ancient Greek columns are hallmarks throughout this exceptional 19-day cruise that visits Italy, Turkey, Greece, and the Eastern Aegean coastline. Wander in silence between the centuries-old white pillars of the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Anastasia, then sip bittersweet Croatian liqueur distilled from Zadar cherries and honey. Sail to the picturesque archipelago of the Pekleni Islands and swim and snorkel near Hvar. Skim the waves to the shimmering sunlit splendors inside the Blue Cave near Kotor, then sip Montenegro wines and enjoy local cuisine and evening entertainment during an overnight port stay. Dance sirtaki steps arm in arm and sample cool Tzatziki paired with spicy Greek meatballs in the small port of Katakolon, near Olympia—hallowed grounds of early Greek athletic competitions. Admire weathered columns, intact building facades and the terrace houses of Ephesus, a former thriving port city near Kusadasi, Turkey.

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Star Collector: Atlantic Sunsets & Mediterranean Sunrises

Port to port

Bordeaux to Athens

Duration

20 Days

Combine an Atlantic coastal exploration of France and Spain with a Mediterranean transit during this excursion-rich, 20-day adventure. Taste wines and tour the cellar of Château Ambe Tour Pourret prior to cooking up French regional dishes during a decadent overnight stay in Bordeaux. Relax and indulge in wraps and seawater hydro massage baths at a romantic Belle Époque resort in San Sebastian. Savor amber-hued Basque beers, artisan cheeses and local treats at Bilbao’s oldest nougat shops during a cultural and culinary tour. Kayak through the rural Spanish countryside during a float down the Minho River outside Vigo. Visit a Sicilian winery on the outskirts of Trapani and sample Marsala wines paired with an Italian lunch. Drift through sunlit splendors inside Drogarti Cave, then listen as Greek music reverberates across the stone caverns of Kephalonia. Walk the weathered stones where the Oracle of Delphi paced and advised inside the Temple of Apollo.

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Star Collector: Black Sea Beauty & Eastern Mediterranean Icons via the Corinth Canal

Port to port

Athens to Istanbul

Duration

17 Days

Combine a Black Sea circumnavigation with an extended coastal exploration of Greece and Turkey during this exceptional 17-day cruise. An overnight Istanbul port stay and time-saving passage through the narrow Corinth Canal extend your excursion opportunities. Sample Bulgarian banista—a cheese and egg pastry—after a cooking demonstration and Nessebar folklore performance. Sip Sochi tea and walk the halls of Stalin’s secret dacha, a preserved vacation refuge resplendent in 1940s Soviet Era nomenklatura furnishings. Contrast Russian and Persian influences during a traditional Georgian house tour or savor famed Khareba wines pressed from rare Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane and Krakhuna grapes. Browse unique wares in the smoky clamor of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, a maze of shops and passages decorated with carpets, hammered copper dishes and countless sacks of aromatic spices. Take in a complimentary evening concert performance and dinner near the Celsus Library columns in Ephesus.

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Star Collector: Grand European Bucket List Adventure

Port to port

Stockholm to Istanbul

Duration

79 Days

Maybe you didn’t get quite enough bottles of wine to bring back after your honeymoon. Maybe you’ve seen just enough of Europe’s various regions to hunger for more. Maybe you’re simply ready to get out of town and aren’t in any hurry to come home. Whatever your motivation, this epic European odyssey will satisfy your cravings and show you more shades of Europe than you can imagine. Wander ancient Greek ruins, D-Day beaches, medieval Hanse towns and the Hermitage. Compare the beauty of a Norwegian fjord at dawn with an Aegean sunset, the colors of a Netherlands flower market with a Turkish bazaar, the taste of a fine paella with authentic Sicilian pizza. And perfectly spaced to give you time to absorb it all are relaxing days at sea, small ship-only exclusives like the Kiel and Corinth Canals, and enticing beach resorts.

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Star Collector: Greek Grandeur & Roman Holiday

Port to port

Rome to Athens

Duration

17 Days

Civilizations rise and fall, and you’re a witness to it all on this voyage from Athens to Rome. More than a dozen [KSO1] UNESCO sites transcribe cool stone into stories of days gone by. Walk the ruins of ancient Epidaurus where ill people once slept so the gods could tell them how to regain their health. In Rhodes, explore the Temple of Athena in Lindos, gnarled olive trees, and their branches of peace, supposedly created by the goddess herself. And find surprising discoveries even among well-known ruins, like the nearly hidden Peribleptos monastery in Mystras, built into the rock and seeming to emerge from it, its turret-shaped façade holding a treasure trove of 14^th-century frescoes. When you’re not delving into the past, get closer to local culture in smaller and less-visited harbors like Patmos, Ermoupoli, Monemvasia, Gythion and colorful Ponza. Revel in the beauty of Santorini, Mykonos, and Sorrento. Marvel at the emotional magnetism of Athens’ Acropolis and the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. And dine in the moonlight in front of the Celsus Library in ancient Ephesus—a complimentary Windstar Destination Discovery Event designed exclusively for you.

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Star Collector: Mediterranean Odyssey

Port to port

Haifa to Barcelona

Duration

16 Days

Traverse the Mediterranean Sea while exploring lesser-known Italian small ports, Greek ruins and Holy Land shrines during this exceptional 16-day cruise with overnight stays in Rhodes and Haifa. Browse the small, uncrowded shops or nibble on briny local sheep cheese paired with tart, Malvasia white wine amid the unhurried coastal elegance of Cagliari, a less touristy Sardinian port rich in modern art and authenticity. Cook up Sicilian seafood with a chef in the fishing port of Trapani, Sicily. Examine recently recovered Middle Age frescos in the Greek Monastery of St. Andrew, then sip rare Rombola wines in Kephalonia. A small ship exclusive transit of the lesser-traveled Corinth Canal provides more time to explore the Temple of Delphi near Itea and the famed Acropolis high above Athens. Reflect upon Jerusalem’s historic and holy sites and savor optional inland excursions to Masada, the Dead Sea and the sandstone temples of Petra in Jordan.

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Star Collector: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Beyond: Israel, Greece & Turkey

Port to port

Istanbul to Haifa

Duration

16 Days

Plunge into the refreshing minerality of the Dead Sea. Journey inland to the lost city of Petra. Sunbathe beneath the iconic white windmills in Mykonos. Memorable excursions and authentic experiences abound throughout this 16-day cruise to Israel, Greece and Turkey via time-saving Corinth Canal. Walk beside Masada’s scarred walls in Israel. Admire vintage Cypriot architecture and centuries-old frescos near Nicosia’s modern checkpoints and old Venetian fortifications. Stir up tart tzatziki alongside sizzling meatballs during a Greek taverna cooking demonstration, then stay out late in Rhode’s Jewish Quarter cafés and Turkish District restaurants. Stand atop the Acropolis above the Athenian skyline, in the cool shadows of the storied Parthenon. Chat with locals and discover traditional Greek life over coffee in the small village of Arolithos near Crete’s Heraklion. Uncover the influence of seers on ancient nations as you explore the columns and blocks in Delphi. Lean back and relax in the timeless marble decor of a Bodrum Turkish bath.

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Star Collector: Racing for the Grand Prix Along the Rivieras

Port to port

Rome to Rome

Duration

14 Days

Few Mediterranean cruises offer the unique combination of romance and racing like this Star Collector adventure from the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo to the premier yachting playgrounds. Along the way you’ll explore the art, architecture, and cultural customs and cuisines throughout Italy, Monaco, Spain and France. Taste local wines paired with homemade cheese along the Riviera coastline. Discover secluded harbors and immaculate beaches, the mystique and magic of the Rivieras best seen by small ship. Witness Saturday qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix prior to an exclusive tour of the storied pits. After evening festivities and an overnight stay in Monte Carlo, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the track on race day, along with a gift package that includes ear plugs, high-definition binoculars and seat cushion

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Star Collector: Stories of Italy, Croatia & Greece

Port to port

Athens to Rome

Duration

17 Days

Trace the most prosperous ancient world sea routes between Rome and Athens during this 17-day exploration of Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. Stroll beneath shady olive trees and between rustling vineyard rows prior to sampling tart and potent limoncello inside a rustic farmhouse above Sorrento. Glide across shimmering electric-blue reflections inside the famed Blue Grotto sea cave near Giardini Naxos. Serve up an authentic 3-course Montenegro meal under the guidance of a Kotor chef, then explore venerable Old Town towers and walls in twilight shadows during an overnight stay. Sip handcrafted Croatian wines in a vineyard outside Dubrovnik or soar skyward on a cable car ride to coastal views high above Old Town’s crenelated medieval walls. Ride above waves on a swift hydrofoil bound from Corfu, Greece to Sarande, Albania and delve into Greco-Roman artifacts and Butrint ruins. Watch well-worn Monemvasia watermills grind grain prior to kneading your fresh flour and baking it into hearty, Greek-style bread.

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Small Enchanting Ports. Windstar Style Cruising.See More of the Greek Isles with Windstar.

Small Enchanting Ports. Windstar Style Cruising.
See More of the Greek Isles with Windstar.