Best cruise line for a Greek Isle Cruise?

[Angiet75]

What do you recommend for a Greek Isle Cruise?

Seems like I am having a hard time finding Greek Isle cruises for some reason.

Thanks

[Hlitner]

What do you recommend for a Greek Isle Cruise?

Seems like I am having a hard time finding Greek Isle cruises for some reason.

Thanks

 

You have a bunch of different options depending on what pleases. Yes, you can take anyone of several mass-market cruise line itineraries that will include stops in one or more of the Greek Islands..among other ports. You can also find some good itineraries on the very expensive luxury lines such as Seabourn. Another option is to take a small yacht-like cruise that only goes to Greek Islands. We did this several years ago and spent a week on a 150 foot schooner with 18 other passengers. It was possibly the best single week of travel we have ever experienced (and we travel about 6 months a year) but the company we used has since been sold and changed hands multiple times. But those cruises still exist. You might want to look at the web site for Variety Cruises who still operates this type of cruise where you book as an individual and do not need to charter a yacht :).

 

I should add that when we did that week cruise it was in the Ionian Islands (out of Corfu). They also have these cruises to other islands such as the Cyclades (this would be where you find Santorini). The small vessels are a totally different experience and you can get an interesting mix of passengers. When we were on the Sea Crown we had 10 Germans, 8 Dutch, and us. Our crew of 8 were all Greek and 3 of them spoke pretty good English. Our Dutch passenger "friends" decided they would only speak English out of respect for us, and several of the Germans spoke English. But since our cruise included unlimited wine and beer it soon did not matter what language anyone spoke :)

 

Hank

[WeBeGone]

The Holland America Ryndam does a round trip from Athens that in 7 days does half the islands. Book a back to back and you can do 11 islands plus Istanbul in 14 days. If you can go in the next 3 weeks, oceanview cabins are $349pp.

[kuldalai]

Check the Princess website for the smaller OCEAN PRINCESS (800 pax) which does some great Greek Island itineraries. Specifically there are two 7 day Greek Island itineraies 1. Rome to Athens and vice versa and 2. Athens to Venice and v.v. Better still the two cruises can be taken back to back as a 14 day Rome - Athens - Venice cruise or v.v.

 

We took the bb alternative in 2011 and it was just magical visiting so many different Greek Islands plus Dubrovnik . OCEAN PRINCESS is a magical little ship with a great crew and atmosphere . Better still her small size allows her to berth at many Greek islands where the larger vessels are forced to tender .

[John Bull]

"Best" cruise line is subjective.

Mediterranean cruises tend to be port-intensive, they're all about itineraries & the cruise line is much less relevant.

 

Unless you opt for a small gullet, you'll struggle to find a cruise which concentrates solely on the Greek islands - they usually mix them in with places like Venice, Athens, Croatia, Turkey, even Rome.

 

But, with that caveat, you should find plenty of choice.

What time of year are you considering? The islands aren't much fun out-of-season, most of the beach resorts close for the winter, and most cruise ships re-position to places like the Caribbean.

 

Do check times in port. Often they allow only a half-day, particularly Costa Cruises.

 

JB :)

[Hlitner]

We should have mentioned that there are actually more then 1,000 Greek Island of which approximately 200 are inhabited. The large mass market cruise ships go to only a small number of these islands.....and many of the best islands are not even accessible to large cruise ships.

 

Hank