Wonders of the Greek Isles Small Ship Cruise

Welcome to Athens. Our driver will meet you at the airport to provide a private transfer to your chosen four or five-star accommodation in the city. If you’re up for exploring, you’ll find many historical sites and interesting shops for picking up gifts, souvenirs, and last-minute items. There are numerous outdoor cafes for fueling up with strong Greek coffee or enjoying a glass of wine while people-watching.

This morning you’ll meet up with our local guide for a five-hour private walking tour. The first two hours will be spent exploring Acropolis Hill, topped by multiple monuments dating to the 5th century BC, including the iconic Parthenon. Gain insight into the capital’s rich heritage and hear the stories behind the landmarks before embarking on a three-hour food tour in the heart of Athens. You’ll visit specialty food shops, artisans who’ve spent decades perfecting their recipes, and the central food market, sampling delicious local bites along the way.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Included Tour: Private Acropolis & Taste of Athens

Today our driver will provide a private transfer to the Port of Piraeus where your Windstar cruise ship awaits. After embarkation, settle into your cabin and get to know Windstar’s impressive facilities. All ships include a swimming pool, a whirlpool, a watersports platform for easy access to the sea, and a spa, although the specific offerings may differ. If you’re up for relaxation, you’ll have plenty of options although you can always just stand on the deck, enjoying the feel of the sun’s rays on your skin and a salty sea breeze through your hair.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Your first stop is cosmopolitan Mykonos, renowned for its world-class dining and nightlife scene with beautiful white powdery sand beaches. It’s a classic, with whitewashed Cycladic homes and buildings lined along the narrow streets of picturesque Chora (Mykonos Town). Iconic windmills overlook the area known as “Little Venice” renowned for its stunning 18th-century houses hanging over the sea. You can choose to join an optional tour of the tiny sacred island of Delos. A scenic ferry ride will bring you to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring some of the most extensive ruins from the golden age of classical Greece, some dating back to the 5th century BC.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Optional Tour: Delos UNESCO World Heritage Site

Continue to Kusadasi which lies along Turkey’s Aegean coast. It’s renowned for its idyllic beaches with fine golden sands and crystal-clear turquoise water along with its rich history, the perfect combination. Ephesus is nearby, providing one of the world’s greatest outdoor museums where the former estuary of the River Kyastros meets the sea. The Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her final years here. Her home and many intriguing ruins are open to visitors. Visit the houses of Bulbul Mountain and conclude the day with dinner under the moonlight and a concert in ancient Ephesus on the exclusive Destination Discovery Event.

Destination Discovery Event
Enjoy a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience: “Evening in Ephesus.” Exclusive to Windstar guests, you’ll dine under the stars with white-glove service and a delicious five-course meal accompanied by a live performance featuring a trio from the Aegean Orchestra. Immerse yourself in the magic of captivating ruins while savoring every moment.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Included Tour: Evening in Ephesus Discovery Event

Cruising on, we reach Patmos, famous worldwide as the sacred island where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelations. The old settlement of Chora, a monastery dedicated to the beloved disciple, and the Cave of the Apocalypse are all UNESCO-listed sites. The monastery sits on Chora’s hilltop offering the chance to stroll through the maze of whitewashed passageways that date back more than a thousand years. This is also an island for nature lovers, with postcard-perfect beaches edged by clear aquamarine water. Mostly sandy Livadi Geranou is ideal for a swim with calm water protected from the winds.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Venturing to Santorini, one of the most popular Greek Isles, you’ll see the dramatic caldera cliffs rising from the sapphire waters. Some say this is where the ruins of Atlantis remain hidden, but there’s no doubt the setting is incredibly enchanting. You can opt for a guided tour of UNESCO-listed Akrotiri, a Pompeii-like settlement that provides a fascinating glimpse of life nearly 3,700 years ago when it was buried under ash during a massive volcanic eruption. Or visit Oia village with whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches spilling down the cliffs, perfect tasting a glass of crisp, local Assyrtiko wine.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Optional Tour: Visit UNESCO-listed Akrotiri

Next up, the walled castle town of Monemvasia, carved into a massive rock rising from the sea along the Peloponnese Peninsula. Called the “Gibraltar of the East” by the Venetians, it’s a living museum for delving into the past. Step through the gates onto the cobbled streets with the lower town featuring grand mansions. The upper town provides a closer look at the castle and Byzantine Agia Sophia church while a path leading to the Fortress of Youlas brings an awe-inspiring view of it all. When you’re ready to relax there are smooth, pebbly beaches for soaking up the sun.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Continuing to the seaside town of Nafplio, you’re sure to be impressed. Tucked into a bay along the northeast coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula, it’s one of the most photogenic in the region and one of the most romantic in all of Greece. Wander the medieval Old Town’s narrow, cobbled alleyways with neoclassical mansions draped in bougainvillea, and be sure to take in the majestic beauty of Palamidi Castle. An optional tour will bring you to the ancient ruins of Mycenae with its famous Lion’s Gate, or the 350 BC Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Optional Tours: Visit Epidairus or Mycenae

After a week of memorable cruising and endless fun in the sun, we’ll arrive back to the Port of Piraeus near Athens. If you didn’t spend enough time in the capital city before your trip, you might want to consider extending your stay, with so much to see and do in the city. With 3,000 years of history, you really shouldn’t miss it. Otherwise, a private transfer will be provided to Athens International Airport to catch your flight home or head out on further travels.

Meals Included: Breakfast