Aegean Gems & Ephesus

Piraeus has been the port for Athens since 482 BC. The busy harbor is filled with ferries and cruise ships making their way to the Greek Islands and other Mediterranean cities. The busy metropolis of Athens and its treasure trove of antiquities lie just a few miles from the port. Even as the reality of the modern city took hold, with its high-rise apartments, crowded sidewalks and bustling traffic, the beauty of the Acropolis, the outstanding museums, charming cafés, sidewalk markets and startling views come together in a cultural mosaic for all to enjoy.

This small island is the westernmost of the Northern Sporades group in the Aegean Sea. It is best known for its beaches, of which the island boasts 60 beaches along its 44 km coastline. These include the nearly legendary Kokounaries beach, Banana beach and Lalaria beach with its picturesque rock arch, which is accessible only by small boats. Skiathos town curves around a pretty harbor and has a lively nightlife during the tourist season. The campanile of the Panaghia Limnia church, built in 1837, rises above pine trees on a hill atop the town. A few miles away through the island’s handsome pine forests is the Evangelistria Monastery, only entered through an imposing stone gateway.

A major seaport for the Macedonia region of northern Greece, Kavala captivates visitors with more than 2,500 years of history. Known as Neapolis during antiquity, the port’s enviable position along the Via Egnatia — an ancient trade route that linked Europe and Asia — made it a cultural crossroads for East and West. Byzantine and Ottoman influences abound, from Kavala’s medieval fortress and Halil Bey Mosque to its dramatic, 16th-century aqueduct that divides the old town from the larger city. The Imaret, constructed in 1817, served as an Islamic seminary for more than 100 years; the exquisite complex is now a luxury hotel. Kavala was a hub for the tobacco industry during the mid-1800s; the interactive Tobacco Museum offers excellent insight into this “Mecca of Tobacco,” while Kapnergatis Square and Kyprou Street are lined with grand neoclassical buildings and mansion of former tobacco merchants. Just to the north lies the UNESCO World Heritage site of Philippi, one of the world’s most important Greco-Roman cities and a center of Christianity after Apostle Paul visited in 49 AD.

Spanning Europe and Asia, exotic Istanbul is one of the world's most fascinating cities. Domes and minarets enhance the skyline. In the old Stamboul area, traces remain of every city built since the community was established over 600 years before Christ. Once Rome's eastern capital, Istanbul was also the center of the huge Ottoman Empire. Landmarks include Hagia Sophia, once Christendom's greatest church; the Blue Mosque with its striking Iznik tiles; Topkapi Palace, containing a sultan's ransom of treasures; Chora Church with its Byzantine mosaics; and the Grand Bazaar, the ultimate shopping experience.

Enjoy the onboard amenities and services. 

The magnificent Aegean coast features no shortage of appealing ports of call, and Izmir is a fine example thereof. The birthplace of Homer has grown into a thriving metropolis, filled with fine hotels along its sweeping bay. A fine Archaeology Museum and Ethnography Museum house a multitude of treasures and exhibits, while nearby resorts provide distractions of another sort. Earthquakes and fires over the centuries have obliterated most of ancient Smyrna, as it was once known, but remnants of the 4th-century fort atop Mt. Pagos still provide excellent views of the city and Gulf of Izmir.

Kusadasi, which means "bird island," is set in a superb gulf known for its sparkling water, broad sandy beaches and large marina. The city has managed to retain a certain earthiness while doing a brisk trade in Turkish carpets and leather goods to visitors. The town's old quarter is a picturesque maze of winding streets and houses adorned with flowers and birdcages. In the center stands a 17th-century caravanserai, now converted into a hotel. The resort is also gateway to important sites of archaeological and religious interest.

The quintessential Greek island of Mykonos is marked by whitewashed houses, domed churches, imposing windmills, and a labyrinth of winding streets designed to disorient pirates. Everywhere there is a dash of bright, bold blue - doors, shutters and window frames, sea and sky. The harbor bustles with colorful fishing boats, vendors selling fish and locals gathered with visitors in the casual seaside cafes. The port even comes with two beloved mascots, the pelicans Petros and Irini.

In prehistory, Milos was a source of precious obsidian, the volcanic glass that yielded razor-sharp blades in the Neolithic age. Its volcanic origins still produce minerals which comprise a substantial portion of its revenues. Although less well-known by travelers, it shares the signature attractions of its Cycladic neighbors Santorini and Mykonos. If they do know anything about Milos, it’s that the famous marble statue of Aphrodite known as the Venus de Milo was discovered here.  Beaches and white-washed villages, combined with a dramatically carved coastline, make Milos a good choice. Plaka, the de facto capital, is on a hilltop some distance from the port of Adamas. Its Archaeological Museum has artifacts from the Neolithic to the Byzantine periods. There are mineral springs on the island which have been recommended by physicians since the time of Herodotus.

Piraeus has been the port for Athens since 482 BC. The busy harbor is filled with ferries and cruise ships making their way to the Greek Islands and other Mediterranean cities. The busy metropolis of Athens and its treasure trove of antiquities lie just a few miles from the port. Even as the reality of the modern city took hold, with its high-rise apartments, crowded sidewalks and bustling traffic, the beauty of the Acropolis, the outstanding museums, charming cafés, sidewalk markets and startling views come together in a cultural mosaic for all to enjoy.