Athens; Post cruise tour

[flossie009]

Has anyone experience of Regent's post cruise offerings in Greece?

We are booked on a cruise ending in Athens (Piraeus) in the Spring of 2024.

Two 3-night post cruise tours are offered: Ancient Greece & Wineries or Sacred Treasures of Greece

Both visit Delphi; one visits the Acropolis and Meteora; the other Corinth & the Corinth Canal

 

Any comments on the good, bad or indifferent would be very welcome.

Thanks

 

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by flossie009

[Techno123]

If you are staying in Athens the Acropolis is easy enough to do on your own but go early morning (as it opens) as it gets hot climbing up there and very busy 😁

[cwn]

We did Meteora on a very long day ship’s tour on Seabourne some years ago. The area is fascinating, well worth a visit! But then you can do the Acropolis own your own so…. Maybe someone will report on what Regent’s offering are like.

[GOARMY]

Anecdotal, and YMMV: But--

 

Did a 2 1/2 day stay-on, on our own, at Athens way-back when Radisson was converting to Regent. 

 

Our TA put us in a hotel two doors from Radisson's assigned post-cruise hotel.  On a street adjacent to Parliament complex.  We were in a 5+ lodging paying less than half what the Radisson folks were paying.  We learned this when rubbing shoulders with some of our recent cruise comrades met when on a visit to a local museum.   

 

And--as we were in that hotel's check-in process--Front Desk advised our assigned room was not available.  So--had been "upgraded" to a Suite, on an upper floor.  What an upgrade; what a Suite!  Opened the window blinds upon entry--and there, almost-within seeming touch, was the Acropolis! 

 

Easy walking distance to, not-only the Acropolis later that afternoon, and the following day; but two other magnificent museums.  Could have spent a day-each in either one.  Hotel Concierge facilitated a 1/2 day taxi excursion with a guide to adjacent areas for more visits to ancient sites. 

 

Bottom line:  When given the chance to visit Athens:

 

Carpet diem. 

 

Either on your own, or via Regent. We continue to treasure memories and photos from that all-too-short visit. 

 

GOARMY!

 

[Techno123]

3 hours ago, GOARMY said:

Opened the window blinds upon entry--and there, almost-within seeming touch, was the Acropolis! 

 

 

 

Either on your own, or via Regent. We continue to treasure memories and photos from that all-too-short visit.

 

Got to agree with GOARMY. We have been twice now - both linked to Seabourn cruises. First time we had booked a hotel close to the Acropolis. Looked out of the bedroom window, lovely view with a 'mound' in the distance - was that it - not so close then. Went to dinner feeling a tad disappointed and as we stepped onto the terrace, there it was lit up and as GOARMY said, almost within touching distance - just spectacular. Next day we had time to explore it and have a wander before joining the ship.

Second time we had a late flight home so Seabourn provided a day room - quite a hike from the city centre but we walked in and explored.

 

What I would say is that even before Covid, the Greek economy was struggling and away from the centre, Athens was quite run down - I would imagine after the last 3 years things have not improved.

Edited April 5, 2023 by Techno123

[GOARMY]

A couple of random remembrances of our Athens visit:  

 

Dogs.  Street dogs.  Big dogs.  All had been neutered.  They had been, more or less, "adopted" by a particular business, whether hotel or museum.  The canines had staked-out their particular turf.  But, would move away from a doorway--to include our hotel's--allowing coming and going by two-legged intruders. 

 

Ambience.  Agree with Techno's comment about somewhat run-down street scenes.  The Greek economy was still recovering from expending enormous amounts of money preparing for, and hosting, the Olympic Games.  It had really not recovered.  

 

Our taxi drivers, and Guide made a uniform observation that the youths of the country were either flocking to Athens--or leaving the country to seek better economic opportunities.  The rural areas were suffering.  

 

And then--political instability and crisis.  A few years later, near-anarchy on the streets we had walked on at, or near Parliament complex.  People killed.  Tragic.  

 

GOARMY!