Join the Crystal Esprit for this 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 with its Monastery of Saint John that 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 Monemvasia that rises above the sapphire-blue waters of the Aegean Sea looking like a giant slab of rock, and is often called the Gibraltar of the East. Finally, head back to Athens for disembarkation.
Highlights
Explore the Monastery of Saint John that was founded in 1088
Discover the most mythological sites in Greece - Delos
View iconic whitewashed buildings of Santorini
Visit the 12th-century St. Sophia Church at Monemvasia
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.
Tethered to southern Greece's mainland village of Gefyra by a causeway, Monemvasia rises above the sapphire-blue waters of the Aegean Sea looking like a giant slab of rock and is often called the Gibraltar of the East. Its medieval Lower Town, encircled by ancient fortress walls, boasts an array of shops and restaurants. Crowning the islet is the Upper Town, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. It is also home to the 12th-century St. Sophia Church.
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.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.