|
Escapade
to the Greek Isles and Istanbul
11 days . Tour code # 5
Our
Aegean tours,This ten-day (
Including 7 day CRUISE ) voyage of discovery includes
classical Athens and the islands of the Aegean : Santorini
, Mykonos, Rhodes
and even takes you to Constantinople!
Stamboul! Istanbul! the fabulous city where East and West have clashed,
met, and blended over the centuries
Starts in Athens Weekly
every Tue , Wed & Thu : Apr - Nov
Add : Santorini & Crete
, Paris , or
Italy , extend your stay in Greece: Compare
with the 14 day version . Add
Sicily , or Egypt
DAY
1 - ATHENS -
Tuesday
Our local representative will meet you at Athens airport, assist with
arrival procedures, and escort you to your hotel. You'll have time on
your own to explore the Greek capital, browse for treasures and curios,
and venture to a terrace cafe or a fine meal in the old Plaka district.
Or, we'll be pleased to arrange an optional Athens by Night tour, which
includes a Greek dinner and musical entertainment.
DAY
2 - ATHENS - Private Tour - Wednesday (B)
A half-day private city tour will orient you to the high points of Athens.
We'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city; the Parliament;
Hadrian's Arch; and culminate with the Acropolis and its museum. Your
afternoon is free for further exploring, shopping, or, perhaps, another
visit to the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional tours,
such as an afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon,
with spectacular sunset view.
Private air-conditioned vehicle. Private guide. Private Chauffeur
.
DAY
3 - DELPHI (BL)-
Thursday
Private
Air Conditioned Vehicle - Private Chauffeur - Private Guide
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch is included at a local restaurant . Bottled
water / tea or coffee : included with your lunch Delphi or Zemeno (near
Delphi)
Tour
Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of Mount Parnassus. During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped
in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary
and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment
of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the
Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be
autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its
panhellenic religious
and political influence. The Pythian Games
were re-organized, the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with
nice buildings, statues, and other offerings. In the 3rd century B.C.
it came under the domination of the Aetolians
and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman
occupation the site was sometimes plundered but was also favoured by
some of the emperors. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary
lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree
of emperor Theodosius the Great.
We
tour the ruins of Delphi and
its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus. Return to Athens in the early
evening. The
drive from Athens to Delphi is 2:30hrs each way . The distance is 170
kilometers each way.
DAY
4 - ATHENS, EMBARKATION- Friday (BLD)
Your morning in Athens is unscheduled, leaving you the choice of relaxation,
meeting up with friends at a cafe, or browsing the shops. In the afternoon,
we'll see you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, Private air-conditioned
vehicle. Private Chauffeur for your transfer to Piraeus where
you'll embark around 04:00 PM on your seven-day cruise.
DAY 5 - ISTANBUL - Saturday (BLD)
Constantinople! Stamboul! Istanbul! Today you reach the fabulous city
where East and West have clashed, met, and blended over the centuries.
Where to start? We reach Istanbul around 05:00 PM
Choices
and optional evening escorted tours (additional $$$ cost) are available
on board the ship or through our office to help you take it all in.
There's no need to unpack. Your ship serves as your hotel in port.
DAY 6 - Full Day Private tour of Istanbul - Sunday (BL)
We are providing on a complimentary basis , a full day tour , with
private car/van/ driver & English speaking guide ( please advise
if you prefer other language), visiting Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque,
the Topkapi Palace, the bustling and strategic Bosphorus straits. Transfer
to Istanbul Port to board your cruise , in time for check in and get
ready to sail around 6 PM
DAY 7 - MYKONOS -Monday (BLD)
We reach MYKONOS late afternoon : the fabled isle of windmills,
beaches, cliffs, blue seas, and over 350 churches and chapels. Photo
opportunities are unlimited, and shopping options are almost as plentiful.
Set sail around 11 PM
DAY 8 - PATMOS -Kusadasi -Ephesus -Tuesday (BLD)
This morning we'll drop anchor at Patmos (Using tenders in Patmos) .
Here you can visit ( all shore excursions are optional) the Monastery
of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written. You'll reboard
around 10:30 , as we head to Turkey .
Once again, we'll drop anchor in the Turkish mainland and Kusadasi (
around 2:30 PM) , gateway to ancient Ephesus. Join one of the
ships shore excursion (Additional$$$) , or Stroll the streets on your
own and stop in at shops filled with leather goods, carpets, and bargains
in gold. Or we'll be glad to arrange for a our private basis optional
tour takes you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities
in the world. We set sail from Kusadasi around 8:30 PM
DAY
9 - RHODES- Wednesday (BLD)
You'll sail into the harbor of Rhodes at first light, allowing a full
day on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect
for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights
of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some
time in a seaside cafe. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis
of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies, we sail out around 06:00
PM.
DAY
10 - SANTORINI, HERAKLION - Thursday (BLD)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion / Crete Santorini around 07:00
AM . Explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old
Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum and , reboard
in time for lunch , then it is off to Santorini , and drop anchor around
5 PM . ( using tenders to disembark / reboard) . Explore on your own,
the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. Enjoy the outdoor cafes
and wander the lanes of Thira, lined with craft and clothing shops and
bakeries and cafes. Ride the funicular to the cliff top, or be adventurous,
and do it on mule back! . We set sail for Athens at 11 AM.
DAY
11 - PIRAEUS, RETURN HOME - Friday (B)
You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning (06:00 AM) . Our Athens-based
personnel will take you to the airport . Bon Voyage
Rates
per person in US$
Double Occupancy Cabins with 2 lower beds
Louis
Cruises Lines
Or Golden Star
Cruises |
First Class Hotels
|
Deluxe
Hotel |
| Outside
Cabins with 2 lower beds Cat B |
$
5060 |
$
5360 |
| Outside
Cabins with 2 lower beds Cat A |
$
5130 |
$
5410 |
| Outside
Cabins with 2 lower beds Cat TC |
$
5280 |
$
5560 |
Supplemental
charges:
-
Upgrade
to Deluxe Room at the Grand Bretagne in Athens: $390 Per person
in double ( added to the deluxe rate), or $820 per person for an
upgrade to the Deluxe Suite at the Grand Bretagne.
- CAT/B
cabins all have port holes.
CAT/A (additional $$) can be either with window or port hole, depending
on ship
Rate
includes:
- Seven-day
cruise to Greek Islands and Turkey.
-
Two nights at the hotel of your choice in Athens.
-
Athens sightseeing tour .
- Breakfast
daily at the hotel.
- All
meals during the cruise.
-
Greeting and assistance on arrival, and transport to hotel, to cruise
ship, and back to airport .
- Hotel
service charges, taxes, and hospitality services .
-
Port taxes .
- Lonely
Planet guidebooks
Not
included:
Cruise
schedule is subject to change without notice
Greek
cruise :
Clothing on shore:
Look forward to warm, even hot weather with some
cooler breezes at night.
Especially for shore excursions, we recommend loose, comfortable cottons
or other lightweight clothing.
Some
of the tours involve long bus rides and/or considerable walking, so
comfortable shoes are recommended.
Please
bear in mind that shore excursion coaches are air conditioned and you
may wish to bring a light sweater.
On
tours that include visits to places of worship, shorts and bare shoulders
are not permitted.
|
