Board on the Crystal Esprit and start your fascinating Athens roundtrip cruise. Venture first through Greece’s largest port city, Piraeus, and make your way to one of the most significant archaeological and mythological sites in all of Greece, Delos. Visit magnificent Mykonos and beautiful Paros. Don't miss the Greek isle of Patmos that has a rich Christian heritage - the Monastery of Saint John that was founded in 1088 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore Santorini that has one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Cyclades Islands and famous for its iconic whitewashed buildings. See the influence of the Venetians and the Turks in the city of Chania. Check out the sun-kissed isle of Elafonisos that measures just seven square miles in area, and is home to gorgeous beaches, sand dunes, and cedar groves.
Highlights
Explore one of the most mythological sites in all of Greece, Delos
Visit the picture-perfect Paros, located in the heart of the Aegean Sea
Discover the Monastery of Saint John that was founded in 1088
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Embark on the Crystal Esprit at the port of Athens.
Venture through Greece’s largest port city, Piraeus, as you make your way to the cradle of Western culture. Athens has long since been the location of myth and muse, and its ancient heritage is still an incredible source of inspiration.
One of the most significant archaeological and mythological sites in all of Greece, Delos earns its UNESCO-celebrated status in spades. It is a tiny island in the heart of the Cyclades Archipelago in the Aegean Sea, is believed by Greek Mythology to have been the birthplace of Apollo, and considered to be the most sacred of all islands in ancient Greek culture. Excavations have unearthed tremendous monuments, sanctuaries and other facets of Hellenistic history. Due to its remote location and the fact that it was largely uninhabited since the 7th century AD, its well-preserved ruins are a fascinating journey through time and culture, situated in the heart of one of the most breathtaking stretches of sea in the world.
Mykonos, a former 18th-century pirates' bastion, is now a sophisticated and cosmopolitan island resort.
Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, picture-perfect Paros is exactly what you would imagine a Greek island to be – a maze of narrow alleyways and classic Cycladic architecture with its white, cube-shaped homes accented by blue doors and windows. Make your way up to the 13th-century Venetian castle that sits at the top of the hill and be rewarded with a view that rivals that of Mount Olympus. A lack of modern buildings enhances the island’s unique, genuine character.
The Greek isle of Patmos has a rich Christian heritage - the Monastery of Saint John was founded in 1088 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as is the Cave of the Apocalypse, the grotto where John the Apostle received the visions he recorded in the Book of Revelation. The island’s white-sand beaches, secluded coves and beautiful marina make it a popular destination for worshippers of the sun.
Of all the Cyclades Islands, Santorini is often considered the most dramatic with its dark landscape and iconic whitewashed buildings. The rich soil is ideal for grapes and local vines produce a cherished crop known for its special volcanic taste. Picturesque "Thíra," or Fira Town, laid out along the edge of a cliff at the rim of the now-extinct caldera, exudes easy charm.
Grecian? Venetian? Turkish? The answer is all three, as the Cretan city of Chania has been ruled and influenced by both the Venetians and the Turks. Current-day Chania (pronounced Hahn-yah and sometimes spelled without the C is home to the Municipal Agora, a marketplace built-in 1913 on the site of the old southern Venetian walls, and features a waterfront that would look right at home on the Venetian Lagoon. A maze of narrow alleyways opening onto squares edged by Byzantine and neo-classical buildings are quintessential Greece: quaint, friendly and gracefully aged. In classic Greek style, the Venetian structures that lack rooftops due to the bombings of World War II have beautifully evolved into open-air shops and restaurants, inviting locals to stop to appreciate the mild Mediterranean weather and warm companionship of friends.
The ship will make a clearance stop at Neapolis. All guests to remain aboard the ship during this stop.
Elafonisos, a sparsely populated Greek island, is situated in the glistening aquamarine waters of the Bay of Laconia, between the Peloponnese and Kythira. The sun-kissed isle measures just seven square miles in area and is home to gorgeous beaches, dunes and cedar groves. Its white houses, red-tiled roofs, and narrow lanes exude the picturesque charm of a typical Greek island. Visitors looking to go swimming, sunbathing or camping often head to Simos, the famous beach located on the southern side of the island, at Simos Bay. On the northern coast lies the quaint port town of Elafonisos, where the amenities include seaside cafés, seafood restaurants, and bars. Not far from the village of Elafonisos is another popular attraction, a small church dedicated to Agios Spyridon, the island's patron saint. The church is built on a separate stretch of land that is connected to the island by a bridge.
Day 8: Athens, Greece | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast aboard the ship, disembark at the port of Piraeus, Athens.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Notes
Solo Supplement: A select number of cabins are available for single use. The single supplement varies by cabin type, please contact us for details. Child Discount: Children age 11 or under receive 50% off when sharing a cabin with two full paying guests. Children, regardless of age pay full rate in a double occupancy cabin.
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
7 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Complimentary Wi-Fi Access
All-suite, butler-serviced accommodations
All gratuities, shipboard and shoreside
The Pantry: 24-hour self-service venue offering specialty coffees, teas, wines and nonalcoholic beverages
Complimentary airport transfers between the airport and the river ship on days of embarkation and disembarkation
Complimentary marina and water sports equipment including a wide variety of aquatic toys (water skis, wakeboards, kayaks, jet skis, snorkeling equipment) based on destination's local rules and regulations and the discretion of the Captain due to weather and sea conditions
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Crystal Esprit's submersible equipment
Massage, spa services or hair styling for which separate charges may be imposed.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.6 | 108 reviews
TrustScore 4.6 of 5
Based on 108 reviews on
23 hours ago
Personal knowledge of the trip I was considering. Patience with our figuring out which dates we could travel.
Brian
1 day ago
Clara and Rhenee were gracious and available. Phone contact is so important to answer questions and discuss all aspects of trip. If not immediately available they scheduled a time to speak.
They were knowledgeable, honest, realistic and very friendly. They are both very professional and take their role seriously.
Happy Camper
1 day ago
Jason has been wonderful. He is full of information and was very willing to listen to what was of interest to us.
Lee
3 days ago
The ability (of Kassandra) to tailor a guided trip to my exact preferences is very valuable to me, as well as the ability (of Kassandra) to provide expert guidance on destinations and travel dates. I also appreciate the ability of the backup staff (Maria Ignacio, Exito Travel) to coordinate all the details to make the travel logistics easy for the customer.
Mark Whalen
3 days ago
Our Costa Rica trip was amazing! Kassandra planned everything and the excursions, hotels, overall organization were outstanding. Everything worked out smoothly, the excursions guides were knowledgeable allowing us to see so much of the fauna and flora of the country. The hotels were great as well, all in fantastic locations and with beautiful views.