Escapade
to the Greek Isles
and Istanbul
13 days . Tour code # 5 with an Extended stay in Crete
This
Aegean tour (
Including a 7 day CRUISE ) voyage of discovery includes classical
Athens and the islands of the Aegean: Santorini , Mykonos, Rhodes and
even takes you to Istanbul
Starts in Athens Weekly
every Wed & Thu : Apr - Nov
Add : Santorini & Crete
, Paris , or
Egypt , or
Italy , extend your stay in Greece: Compare
with the 14 day version
DAY
1 - ATHENS -
Wednesday
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 Thursday (B)
A half-day 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; or the Sound and Light show at the base
of the Acropolis, combined with folk dancing.
DAY
3 - 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, where you'll embark around
04:00 PM on your seven-day cruise.
DAY 4 - 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 $$$ cost) are available
on board the ship or through our office to help you take it all in.
There's no need to unpack. Your ship serves as your hotel in port.
DAY 5 - Full Day Private tour of Istanbul - Sunday (BL)
We are providing on a complimentary basis , a full day tour , with
private car/van/ driver & English speaking guide ( please advise
if you prefer other language), visiting Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque,
the Topkapi Palace, the bustling and strategic Bosphorus straits and
a choice of visiting Istanbul Jewish Heritage & the Synagogues (
the Jewish Heritage portion is not available during weekends) . 6
p.m. sailing.
DAY
6 - MYKONOS -Monday (BLD)
We reach MYKONOS late afternoon : the fabled isle of windmills,
beaches, cliffs, blue seas, and over 350 churches and chapels. Photo
opportunities are unlimited, and shopping options are almost as plentiful.
Set sail around 11 PM
DAY
7 -
PATMOS -Kusadasi -Ephesus -Tuesday (BLD)
This morning we'll drop anchor at Patmos (Using tenders in Patmos) .
Here you can visit ( all shore excursions are optional) the Monastery
of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written. You'll reboard
around 10:30 , as we head to Turkey .
Once again, we'll drop anchor in the Turkish mainland and Kusadasi (
around 2:30 PM) , gateway to ancient Ephesus. Join one of the
ships shore excursion (Additional$$$) , 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
8 -
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 9 - 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 museumand , 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 muleback! . Disembark and on to your hotel in Crete
DAY
10 - Crete - Friday (B)
A full day at leisure to explore this enchanting on your own.
DAY
11 - Crete - Saturday (B)
Another day at leisure .
DAY
12 - Crete / ATHENS - Sunday (B)
Morning at leisure before we head back to Athens , transfers are included,
in Athens please proceed on our own to check-in at the Sofitel Athens
Airport property l.
DAY
13 - RETURN HOME - Monday (B)
Proceed on your own to the airport next door to board your flight home.
Bon Voyage
Rates
per person in US$
Double Occupancy Cabins with 2 lower beds
Louise
Cruises
or
The M/S Agean |
First
class Hotels
|
Deluxe
Hotel |
| Outside
Cabins with 2 lower beds Cat B |
$
4750 |
$
5280 |
| Outside
Cabins with 2 lower beds Cat A |
$
4870 |
$
5350 |
| Outside
Cabins with 2 lower beds Cat TC |
$
4950 |
$
5440 |
| Single
Supplement |
$
2210 |
$
2600 |
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.
-
Hotel accommodation as per itinerary
-
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:
- Shore excursions.
- International airfare from/to your
home country
- Gratuities Personal expenses.
- Beverages, and meals not specifically
listed.
- Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation
Insurance ( available upon request.)
|
Cruise Skd is subject to change
without notice
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.
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