Istanbul Icons & Aegean Artifacts via the Corinth Canal Cruise Tour
 
Istanbul to Athens, Greece
Wed Oct 9, 2024 - Fri Oct 18, 2024,
 9 days
 on Star Legend
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Istanbul to Athens, Greece
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.
 
voyage map
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Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, a city that has enchanted visitors for thousands of years. As your guide whisks you from the airport to your hotel, get a sense of this City of Seven Hills that spans two continents. Spend the rest of the day on your own exploring the neighborhoods surrounding your hotel, or, just explore your hotel. Built in 1892 to host guests on the Orient Express, it’s loaded with history, from the room where Agatha Christie supposedly penned Murder on the Orient Express to the Ataturk Museum in room 101 – a favorite spot for the founder of Turkey’s republic. Even Mata Hari stayed here.
 
(Includes overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.)
 
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Day 2: Istanbul Full Day of Sightseeing
Begin your discovery of Istanbul with the historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site crowded with centuries-old gems. See the remains of the Hippodrome, the site of chariot races and the social center of the city back when it was known as Byzantium. Decide for yourself which is more spectacular, Ayasofya, built as a Christian basilica nearly 1500 years ago, or the Blue Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I to outshine Ayasofya. Visit the newly restored Serefiye Cistern, one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. After a traditional Turkish lunch, wrap up the day at Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries.
 
(Includes overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.)
 
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Day 3: Istanbul Full Day of Sightseeing
You’ll be surprised to discover just how advanced architecture was in the 16th century when you visit Suleymaniye Mosque, one of the best (and largest) examples of Ottoman Islamic architecture in Istanbul. Perfectly placed windows provide natural lighting, superb acoustics were achieved by positioning empty pots under the domes, and there’s even a soot room designed to prevent damage to the mosque from candles and oil lamps. The soot was later collected and recycled into ink. From here, it’s off to the Grand Bazaar to try your hand at haggling, or at least window shopping. (Without the windows.) Later, take in Istanbul’s unparalleled skyline during a motor yacht cruise along the Bosphorus.
 
Overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.
 
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Day 4: Istanbul Sightseeing and Embarkation
Approaching the lovely Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus with its rococo/Baroque exterior you might think you’ve been transported to early Europe. Sumptuous details include a 4.5-ton crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria, and handmade silk Hareke carpets. Contrast that with the classic Ottoman architecture of the intimate Rustem Pasa Mosque. The Spice Bazaar is next, an explosion of colors and aromas. Pick up some Turkish delight, dried figs, fresh-ground coffee or nuts for later. After these visits, make your way to the port and your waiting yacht.
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Day 4: Istanbul
Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight). 
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Day 5: Myrina
Limnos is a delightful, off the beaten path island with wild mountainous geology and large, uncrowded, sandy beaches all along the coastline. Windsurfing is becoming increasingly popular here. Sites to see here include the Medieval Castle of Myrina, Ancient Poliochni, Ancient Kavirio and the legendary cave of Philocetes.
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Day 6: Mykonos
Wake this morning to the postcard-like scene of Mykonos, the classic Greek isle dotted with hundreds of whitewashed churches and thatch-roofed windmills, in a harbor bobbing with fishing boats and luxurious private yachts. An optional  tour including a scenic ferry ride takes you back to the 6th   century B.C. to the tiny island of Delos, a UNESCO site and the mythical birthplace of Apollo.
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Day 7: Mykonos
Wake this morning to the postcard-like scene of Mykonos, the classic Greek isle dotted with hundreds of whitewashed churches and thatch-roofed windmills, in a harbor bobbing with fishing boats and luxurious private yachts. An optional  tour including a scenic ferry ride takes you back to the 6th   century B.C. to the tiny island of Delos, a UNESCO site and the mythical birthplace of Apollo.
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Day 8: Kusadasi
Few places offer such a rich combination of history and scenic beauty. In Ephesus, one of the greatest outdoor museums in the world, you’ll explore legendary sites steeped in history. Also visit the houses of Bulbul Mountain, where the roof of one forms the terrace of the next. This evening we present our Destination Discovery Event -- dinner in the moonlight and a concert near the  Celsus Library or on Harbour Street in ancient Ephesus. 

 
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Day 9: Bodrum
The 15th century Castle of St. Peter, built by the Crusaders, presides over the city’s dual harbors. Colorful peacocks strut their stuff trying to claim your attention, but they have nothing on the white sugar cube houses, palm-lined boulevards, and shockingly blue Aegean below. For a picture-perfect seaside playground, Bodrum offers a surprisingly rich history, or maybe it’s the other way around. Visit the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Surrender to the captivating magic of bathtub-warm waters and the Marina. Shop the bazaar for Milas cloth scarves and silver jewelry. Stroll the marina to see the other private yachts in port. (None as grand as yours, of course.)
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Day 10: Santorini
As our yacht approaches the spectacular cliffs rising from the deep azure sea, you’ll understand the magic of this area, where some say the ruins of Atlantis remain hidden. Visit the village of Oia and see the iconic Santorini blue domes or take a guided tour of Bronze Age excavations at the UNESCO site of Akrotiri. Toast the day with a crisp, cold glass of local Assyrtiko wine and appreciate the magic accessible to small ships like ours.
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Day 12: Delphi
Before there were fortune cookies there was the oracle of Delphi, dating back to 1400 B.C. The oracle gave cryptic guidance to the leaders of the day and was so highly respected that Delphi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became known as the center of the world. An optional tour lets you go exploring, from the Temple of Apollo to the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which contains some of the finest works of art in Greece. 
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Day 12: Corinth Canal
You’ll want to be on deck today as we transit the narrow Corinth Canal with other private yachts and Greek mail steamers. It’s a shortcut reserved for petite ships like ours, and as we cruise between the narrow limestone walls we are the envy of all the ancient Romans who once portaged their ships along this very route before there was a canal.
 
Canal transit time and duration is subject to change based on traffic and canal authorities.
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Day 13: Athens, Greece
With 3,000 years of history, you can’t turn around in Athens without encountering the past. The Acropolis, a UNESCO site, the Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are must-sees. But leave time if you can to climb Pnyx Hill for photos of the Parthenon at sunset, to buy your own set of Greek komboloi (worry beads), and to explore the metro stations that serve as mini-museums for the relics that are constantly being unearthed. 
Popular Highlights
Blue Mosque
Visit the historic area of Istanbul, a UNESCO site and count the 6 elegant minarets of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Bodrum and Kusadasi
Late night stays in Bodrum and Kusadasi allow for plenty of time to get a flavor of local life there
Bosphorus
Cruising the Bosphorus will reveal the beautiful Dolmabahce Palace, encompassing 1,960 feet of the shore
Corinth Canal
Step out on deck as you transit the narrow Corinth Canal, so close you can almost touch the rock walls.
Ephesus
Visit memorable Ephesus and the House of Mary from Kusadasi
 
Grand Bazaar
Shop the 64 streets of the Grand Bazaar
Itinerary at a Glance
Date
Port
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Depart
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PlatformWatersports Platform: 
Wed Oct 9
Arrive in Istanbul
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Thu Oct 10
Istanbul Full Day of Sightseeing
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Fri Oct 11
Istanbul Full Day of Sightseeing
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Sat Oct 12
Istanbul Sightseeing and Embarkation
Arrive:  
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Sat Oct 12
Istanbul
Arrive:  
Depart:  5:00 PM
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Sun Oct 13
Myrina
Arrive:  11:30 AM
Depart:  6:00 PM
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Mon Oct 14
Mykonos
Arrive:  9:00 AM
Depart:  
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Tue Oct 15
Mykonos
Arrive:  
Depart:  9:00 PM
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Wed Oct 16
Kusadasi
Arrive:  8:00 AM
Depart:  11:00 PM
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Thu Oct 17
Bodrum
Arrive:  9:00 AM
Depart:  7:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Fri Oct 18
Santorini
Arrive:  8:00 AM
Depart:  8:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Sat Oct 19
AT SEA
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Depart:  
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Sun Oct 20
Delphi
Arrive:  8:00 AM
Depart:  1:00 PM
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Sun Oct 20
Corinth Canal
Arrive:  5:00 PM
Depart:  7:00 PM
Watersports Platform: 
Mon Oct 21
Athens, Greece
Arrive:  12:01 AM
Depart:  
Watersports Platform: 
Star Legend
Carrying only 312 guests, Star Legend still tucks into small ports like Sinop and Honfleur or narrow waterways like the Corinth Canal. We can’t wait to welcome you on board for your next 180 degree from ordinary adventure! Learn more about the newly renovated ship and the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative.
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Accommodations & Pricing
This all-suite ship completed renovation as part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative to provide more of what our guests love.
The Windstar Life
The Windstar staff-to-guest ratio is 1:1.5, and it shows.The moment you board you’ll feel it: an ever-attentive crew at your service, providing you with what you want and need, when you want and need it.
Friendly and Relaxed Atmosphere
Signature Onboard Barbecue
Cooking Demonstrations
Genuine and Thoughtful Crew
Crew Talent Show
Open Bridge
Local and Live Performances
Relax at the Pool or Hot Tub
Complimentary 24 Hour Room Service
Signature Sail Away
Shopping With The Chef
Take In The Sun
Watersports Platform
Enjoy regionally inspired treatments at World Spa by Windstar
Relax With A Morning Yoga Session
ALL DATES &
FARES
2024/2025 Fall & Winter Mediterranean
Great cruise-only fares or make it an all-inclusive voyage with Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails, and gratuities. From $89 per guest per day.
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Wed, Oct 9 - Fri, Oct 18, 2024
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