Treasures of the Greek Isles

Visit sun-drenched places as you sail the Greek Isles, discovering a world abounding with seaside scenery and ancient treasures. On such legendary islands as Santorini and Mykonos, views of azure sea and white-washed villages will take your breath away. On your Greek islands cruise, you may embrace the magic and mythology of ancient temples built to honor Greek gods and goddesses. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the amazing hilltop Acropolis in Athens, the haunts of St. John on the tiny island of Patmos, and the ancient Roman city of Ephesus. You may imagine you are Mark Antony, as you walk the same marble streets where the Roman general (and lover of Cleopatra) was once cheered by residents. Dine among the fascinating ruins as a complimentary treat, a Windstar-exclusive evening Destination Discovery Event planned for Ephesus.
 
Windstar’s Treasures of Greek Isles, and all other Greece itineraries, deliver you into the heart of Greek culture. As you cruise to Athens, call, too, at small secluded ports such as Monemvasia, a pedestrians-only village built into a cliffside, and Nafplio, a delightful mainland town where you can wander cobblestone streets and explore Venetian fortresses. On your Windstar small ship cruise, Greece unfolds at a leisurely pace. You’ll have time to linger in magical places, to swim from powdery sand beaches, to explore local cuisine and get to know friendly locals, shouting “ya mas” (“cheers”) as you toast with ouzo. You may even dance like Zorba the Greek at a local taverna. Your Windstar cruise is the best of Greece, the way you imagined it.

Click here for an in-depth look at some of our shore excursion options for this sailing.

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

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. 

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.

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. 

 

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known worldwide as the sacred island where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation, Patmos is the ideal place for nature lovers with its coastline of sheer cliffs and its volcanic soil.  Highlights of Patmos include the Cave of the Apocalypse and the Holy Monastery of the Apocalypse.

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.

This Gibraltar-like town tied to the mainland by a single thread of causeway holds treasures that are old even by Mediterranean standards, with town walls and several churches dating to the 12th century. Climb to the upper town for an up-close look at the castle and Agia Sophia, a Byzantine church. Wander the lanes of the lower town lined with Venetian mansions, many of which have been lovingly restored. Savor the sun on a smooth pebble beach. 

This charming seaside town on the Peloponnese is one of the most romantic cities in Greece. Enjoy the medieval old town with narrow cobblestone alleys, and neoclassical mansions with bougainvillea trees adorning the balconies. Take an optional tour to the UNESCO site of Epidaurus or the UNESCO site of Mycenea, ancient ruins including the famous Lion’s Gate. Stroll the Syntagma Square and take in the beauty of the Palamidi Castle with its 999 steps carved from the rocks. The view is breathtaking. 

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.