Greek Island Cruise
including
Ephesus, Turkey
Join us for our amazing Greek Islands cruise with a port of call at Ephesus, Turkey. A truly magical experience. We visit Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Ephesus (Turkey), Rhodes, Santorini, and Hydra – all aboard the Celebrity Infinity and what a beautiful ship she is.
As part of their $500-million fleet-wide modernization program, Celebrity Infinity is now making even more waves in the cruise world. From adding brand new staterooms and elevating design concepts together with technology across the ship, this brilliant star shines with a modern luxury makeover. Slip into new eXhaleTM bedding featuring CashmereSM mattresses that will surround you in luxury—literally. Marvel at completely new bathroom modernizations. Wine and dine in reimagined restaurants and lounges, including the main dining room, Oceanview Café, Sunset Bar, and Rendezvous Lounge. Surrender your senses in the newly redesigned spa. Shop in new retail boutiques.
Day 1 Departure Airport to Athens, Greece
After checking-in at your designated departure airport, please go directly through to the departure gate so you don’t get caught in a long line for security. Once aboard your transatlantic flight, sit back and relax on your overnight flight.
Overnight aircraft – Meals as provided by the airline.
Day 2 Arrive Athens, Greece and overnight.
When you arrive in Athens, proceed through Immigration and Customs to the baggage re-claim area for your flight and an ABS Travel Representative will meet you there. After all bags have been re-claimed, you will be directed to your transportation for transfer to the hotel in Athens for overnight.
ATHENS:
Athens offers a looking glass back in time into Greece's powerful ancient civilization. Art lovers, epicureans and history buffs will be delighted by the ancient ruins, museums and tavernas of this picturesque town. Just 10 minutes from the port, you'll find the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, filled with sculptures from the Bronze Age to the Romans. Walk to the Zea Harbour to discover how the Hellenic Maritime Museum will bring to life the grandeur of ancient Greece's naval capacities. Jump onboard an Athens cruise and relax at the small harbor of Mikrolimano, enjoying a meal of grilled octopus and chilled white wine at a small restaurant overlooking the sea.
In addition to being the birthplace of democracy, Athens is also considered the cradle of western civilization. This is due to their progress in the fields of philosophy, literature and even architecture. Athens was the heart of ancient philosophy. It was the location of Plato's Academy as well as Aristotle's Lyceum.
Overnight Athens, Greece
Day 3 Board Ship and sail at 4.00pm
Mid-morning we depart the hotel and head for the Port of Piraeus where our floating hotel awaits us. Once on board we can settle into our staterooms and then explore the ship. Dinner tonight is in the Main Dining Room at 6pm as it will be throughout our cruise.
Overnight sailing to Thessaloniki
Day 4 Thessaloniki, Greece – 10am to 6pm
Thessaloniki overlooks the Aegean against the backdrop of Mount Olympus. Steeped in mythology and the warm Mediterranean sun, Greece's "Second City" is a first-class delight that welcomes visitors with its Byzantine churches, ancient ruins, historic monuments and the lively ambiance of its cafe-lined waterfront. Cruise to Thessaloniki and visit the Mount Olympus, now Greece's first national park; The White Tower, dating back to the 15th century, now home to Byzantine art and the icon of the city; and the ancient church that was built in the 4th century in honor of the city's patron saint, Hagios Demetrius.
Overnight sailing to Mykonos, Greece
Day 5 Mykonos, Greece – 9.30am to 8.30pm
Nestled in the heart of Greece’s Cyclades archipelago, Mykonos pulses with irrepressible energy. With its powder white houses, sparkling blue waters, and red-hot nightlife, The Island of the Winds is as colorful as the people who call the island home. You can walk narrow marble pathways laced with purple bougainvillea blooms, or go cycling on two wheels past off-the-path Ano Mera village. Explore Greece’s maritime history at Armenistis Lighthouse, and check out the Folklore Museum’s Mykonian ship models. Join in the raucous beach party on Super Paradise’s shimmering sands, or watch the sun burn out beyond an Aegean horizon from an open-air seaside taverna.
Overnight sailing to Kusadasi for Ephesus,Turkey
Day 6 Ephesus, Turkey – 8.00am to 8.00pm
The UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Ephesus impress even those familiar with the world's other ancient cities. Though excavations have been underway for 150 years, only 20 percent of the city has been uncovered. Check out the the Celsus Library — built in 117 A.D., the site is made up of towering columns highlighted by the statue of the goddess of wisdom. Cruises to Ephesus will give you a taste of Turkish life by strolling the seafront promenade and the bustling city center. Walk Marble Street, paved with actual marble slabs, which takes you from downtown to the Temple of Artemis — you can still see one lone remaining column from this wonder of the ancient world.
Overnight sailing to Rhodes, Greece
Day 7 Rhodes, Greece – 8.00am to 6.00pm
The Colossus might not be standing anymore, but the Greek island of Rhodes still delivers beauty and allure on a giant scale. The island instantly greets you with serene white-sand beaches and wide-open blue skies. See the site in the harbor where the now-destroyed wonder of the ancient world once stood. Then, head to the Old Town, surrounded by medieval walls and seven ancient gates. Don't miss the Palace of the Grandmaster, with its mosaic floors dating from Hellenic, Roman and early Christian times. Shop for a colorful menagerie of seashells by the shoreline — and don't forget to spend some time relaxing beside the translucent blue waves with your Greece cruise.
Overnight sailing to Santorini, Greece
Day 8 Santorini, Greece – 7.00am to 10.00pm
Santorini is one of the world’s most popular islands, known best for its dramatic scenery, whitewashed villages and fiery volcanic activity. Here adventure bubbles above the Aegean Sea in the most bold and breathtaking ways. A cable car takes you to the capital of Fira, a bustling cliff-top town awash with old cathedrals, enthralling museum collections and cozy tavernas. Venture to the coast for a swim in the deep blue waters that lap red and black pebbled beaches. And peel back layers of lava and history among excavated Akrotiri. Whether it’s by bicycle, ATV or on your own two feet, exploring this Cyclades isle never fails to impress.
Overnight sailing to Hydra, Greece
Day 9 Hydra, Greece – 8.00am to 6.00pm
It has one real town, no real roads, no cars, and not even any bikes. Water taxis whisk travelers from the quaint little harbor to isolated beaches and tavernas. Donkeys are the main way to transport things here. These surefooted beasts of burden, laden with everything from sandbags and bathtubs to bottled water, climb stepped lanes. Behind each mule-train toils a human pooper-scooper; I imagine picking up after your beast is required. On Hydra, a traffic jam is three donkeys and a fisherman.
Overnight sailing for Athens, Greece
Day 10 Athens, Greece & Home – Dock at 6.00am
After breakfast it’s time to head back to the airport and check-in for your flight home
$5,295 per person based on double occupancy of an Oceanview Stateroom
$5,995 per person based on double occupancy of an Ocean View with Private Balcony Stateroom
Starts: Thursday September 14th 2023
Ends: Saturday September 23rd 2023
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