Istanbul/athens Cruise- Windspirit Questions

[aphigirl74]

1. Are there any excursions that people would recommend? I heard the excursion in Santorini or Mykonos (cant remember which one- but was where you swim in hot springs and take the donkey up) was really great...

 

2. Is gratuity included?

 

3. Can you take your own alcohol on the boat?

 

4. Has anyone tried the spa?

 

5. Has anyone experienced smoky rooms?

 

Thanks for your help!!! Getting really excited!!

[lovecruisingtoo]

If you do a search you will find that most of your questions have been discussed numerous times. In fact, if you just scroll down the list of topics you will see the some of the same topics you raised.

[Lair Bear]

Let me comment on your first question only.

We were on the Wind Star from Istanbul to Athens and found that there is one tour you definitely have to do: The bus trip from the port of Kusadasi to the Roman ruins of Ephesus. It was inspiring!

Other than that we explored the Greek islands and Bodrum on our own and had a marvelous time and experience.

For example, on Santorini you have to take the donkey ride to the top. Take a cab or local bus to the town of Oia, a pictureque series of white homes (with blue doors) nestled against the sheer drop to the ocean. The reason we did this quickly was to leave the rest of all the cruise ship people in our wake. After several hours in Oia, and lunch there, we took the local bus back to Fira and the cable car down to the dock. Don't think taking a local bus is brave or dangerous; it is a great way to get around.

On Mikonos you definitely have to tour the harbor and town on you own. Likewise in Rhodes unless you really want to see more of the island.

[elz1]

Just returned from Wind sprit Athens to Istanbul cruise. Following the advice of cruise critics posters, we only signed up for the Ephesus tour. We did all other islands on our own and we did not have any problems and enjoyed doing it all on our own. We did many of the same trips as the Wind Spririt shore excusions but at a much lower cost. In Santorini we booked a tour of the volcano and a swim in the hot (warm springs) same as the shore excursion. In Rhoades we explored the walled city on our own and then rented a car in the afternoon right by the pier and explored the island for less than the price of the shore excursion. In Bodrum we bargained ( with another couple we met on the ship) a great price for an afternoon gulet ride

on our own right at the pier. Everyone but about 4 people took the Windstar shore excursion to Ephesus, so I would definetely wouldn't skip that. We loved the ship and will rebook with Windstar in the future.