venice and greek islands

[b0684]

Would like to cruise Venice and the Greek Islands. Anyone have any recommendations on which cruise is the best.

[Bruin Steve]

Would like to cruise Venice and the Greek Islands. Anyone have any recommendations on which cruise is the best.

"Best" is a tough question...Everyone has different criteria, needs, standards, etc.

 

We've cruised this region twice in the last 3 or 4 years...

In 2003, we did a 13 night on the Celebrity Millennium (Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Santorini, Athens, Naples, Rome, Livorni, Villefranche, Barcelona)

...We absolutely loved that cruise...but it's also a wider itinerary than just

Venice and Greece...The passenger to space ratio on that ship is sensational--2,000 passengers to 91,000 gross tons...and the food and service is the best in the large ship category (Trust me, I've cruised on 7 different cruise lines--but, of course, again, that's MY opinion)...

 

This last July, we did a different sort of cruise to the region on the Oceania Nautica--14 nights...Istanbul, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Mykonos, Athens, Santorini, Taormina, Amalfi, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice...That itinerary gets you a more concentrated Aegean experience with more stops in the Aegean and Adriatic...The food is EXCELLENT, but it's also a slightly different experience--smaller ship, less to do at night and on "at sea" days, no kids program (a plus or a minus depending on your needs and desires), entertainment not as good, but sufficient...far fewer people, but the equivalent roominess to the Millie--684 on a 30,000 gross ton ship...

 

Both of those are excellent choices depending on your wants and needs...

 

Good luck...

[sunsetbeachgal]

My husband and I cruised Med/Greel Isles with Princess in October and it was wonderful-first and foremost if you can cruise in the off season, it would be highly recommended. Many of the stops on a Greek Isles cruise are summer resorts so cruising in off season proivides a less crowded atmostphere but with great weather-most days in the 70s with no rain-perfect for sightseeing.

 

We were both very pleased with Princess-we sailed on the Golden Princess and were pleased with the food, service and ship. Also, this is an intinerary where splurging for a balcony stateroom was well worth the price-you can sit on your verandah watching the ship pull away from one great port after another, sipping a glass of Greek wine and appreciating the beauty. Also, if you can, pick an itinerary that includes Dubrovnik-it was the highlight of our trip walking on the ancient city walls.

[alinehu]

Another one for Princess

[edinburgher]

Hard to give you any advice as its going to be difficult to find one which does ONLY Venice and Greek Islands. These itineraries are often combined with Med ports or Eastern European or Black sea ports. And not every itinerary will have every Greek Island. Its more usual to find a few Greek Islands on one itinerary, a few others on a different itinerary. And then theres the Adriatic/Greek Islands itineraries.

 

And some ships will call into Venice for one day, others will overnight, and others will start or finish an itinerary there, which gives you the option of having a few days pre or post cruise in a hotel. Same applies to Athens. Its not an "island" but is a popular pre and post stay port as well as a port of call. on a trip which began elsewhere.

 

Perhaps you should look at different ships and itineraries to get an idea of whats available. Theres so much to choose from and depending on the time of year and your interests you might find certian ones appeal more than others. Then you need to compare flights, ship sizes and prices to help you reduce the choice further.

[cusyl]

We chose the Grand Princess from Venice to Barcelona specifically because of the ports it called at which included Istanbul.:D :D

[b0684]

Thanks for all the replys. We would like to go either Sept. or Oct. 2007. We cruised the Western Med. with Royal Caribean in 2003 on Splendor of the Sea and we loved it. The ports were wonderful. We would like to go on a newer ship, maybe I'll check out the Princess.

Any info on Venice and the Greek Islands (what to see at each port, if we can do it on our own or will we need a guide) would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance and HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

[bubbadog]

princess seems to do europe very well,weve done 2 cruises so far and are doing the emerald princess in venice in april o7,they a really good job of embarking and dis embarking food,tours etc etc,these are such amazing itineraries,and if you have an aft balcony its to die for,we have one on our upcoming cruise to venice,just cant wait:))))):p ;)

[qsuzi]

I recommend the April 23, 2007 12 day sailing of the Emerald Princess Venice to Rome--Greek Isles. It includes 6 of the best greek ports plus fabulous Ephesus and the beautiful Amalfi (Naples/Capri) italy.:D

[Floflegs]

We are going on Splendour in June on a B2B from Venice to Croatia, Turkey and Greece and the Greek islands. It looks an interesting itinary

[b0684]

Thanks everyone. Haven't decided yet. Let you all know when what we decide.

[LILynn]

Another vote for Princess here.

 

We were on the Grand Princess last September. We started in Rome and went to Monte Carlo, FLorence, Naples, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Athens, Kusadasi, Olympia and ended in Venice.

 

It was amazing - the ports and the ship!

 

We are looking to go back again this year and trying to decide which Princess European cruise to pick.

 

Lynn

[b0684]

Has anyone been on the Costos Med. They have a 7 day cruise from Venice to the Greek Islands. Any info on this cruise would be greatly appreciated. They seem to be very reasonably priced and the ports all seem great.

 

Thanks in advance.

[mozfoz]

You may also want to cosider RCCL Splendor of the Seas. It is only a 7 dayer, which for us is just right, while adding on 2 precruise nights in Venice. Ports include: Venice, Dubrovnick, Ephesus, Santorini and Corfu. Have fun!:D

[Floflegs]

You may also want to cosider RCCL Splendor of the Seas. It is only a 7 dayer, which for us is just right, while adding on 2 precruise nights in Venice. Ports include: Venice, Dubrovnick, Ephesus, Santorini and Corfu. Have fun!:D

That's the one we are doing but we are doing another B2B to give us 14 days.

[Sea Day Cruiser]

Another vote for Princess. We were on the Golden in October, 2006 and had a wonderful cruise. Ephesus, Dubrovnik, Athens, Venice - the whole cruise was just wonderful.

[fmax]

Hi

 

My sister and I are going ont he RCI 7 day greece and 7 day greece and turkey cruises back to back in October 2007. Have only sailed RCI so don't have anything to compare it with but with regards to what to do in the ports, if you check out the posting under Royal carribean Meet and Mingle then hit on the October 13-18th posting she has lots of information which would be useful no matter which line you decided to go on. Hope you have a wonderful time no matter which one you choose.

[edinburgher]

Theres some really lovely itineraries around the Adriatic, Greek Isles, and Turkey. Many to choose from and the good thing is you can go more than once.

 

We did an Adriatic/Greek Isles cruise 2 years ago and are booked with a different line (Orient) this October for Adriatic/Black Sea. Theres some Greek islands too. Our only "repeat" ports are Venice, Corfu, Dubrovnik and Athens. We are really looking forward to it.

 

Its this one:

 

17-Day Adriatic & Black Sea Adventure