Mediterranean Treats

Santorini Edition - Fridays Year Round
13-Day Including a Greek Cruise from Turkey to Greece

City of the Sultans Istanbul , Constantinople, Ephesus & Kusadasi
14 day Mediterranean escapade . For your honeymoon, anniversary , birthday celebration , this is the perfect getaway. Your days are filled with enough Mediterranean exotic sights, sounds, scenes and scents to make it seem like weeks. combines the best of travel in Greece and Turkey , classical Athens, a cruise through the Aegean, including Rhodes, , Patmos, Crete , Santorini .

DAY 1 - ISTANBUL - Friday ; Weekly : May - Oct
Arrive any Friday in Istanbul : May - Oct
You're met at the airport or seaport by our representative, who sees you to your hotel .
Our local rep will answer any questions you may have about getting to know the city. As you ride into the great metropolis from the airport/or seaport , two thousand years of history are revealed: towering Roman walls, ancient Byzantine churches, slender minarets framing the bulbous domes of graceful mosques. These ancient monuments float on the skyline of a bustling modern metropolis of ten million people. Extend your stay in Istanbul ?

DAY 2 - Istanbul - Saturday (BL)
You are on your own in the City of Istanbul Istanbul's history was formed by the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Now, as in ancient times, it is a maritime vital link between the countries bordering the Black Sea and those in the rest of the world.
Along its shores are ranged palaces great and small-Topkapi, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, Küçüksu, Hünkar Iskelesi. Four great fortresses rise on the hills, reminding us that to control the Bosphorus was to control the destinies of nations.

Day 3 - Istanbul , Board your Cruise - Sunday (BD)
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out around 3 PM . Our local rep. will meet you at the hotel for the transfer to the Port to board your cruise in Istanbul. Sailing is usually around 6 PM . Dinner on board your Louis cruise or similar . All of the Greek cruise are considered modest 3-4 stars category. Extend your stay in Istanbul?

Day 4 - Mykonos- Cruise - Monday (BLD)
Cruising all morning and reach Mykonos late afternoon 3-4 PM. Your cruise will stay in port until midnight.

Day 5- Cruise - Patmos - Kusadasi - Ephesus -Tuesday (BLD)
In the morning your ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written ( shore excursions are always a supplement you may purchase on board or ask us for a private tour ) . Sail out of Patmos around 10:30 AM

Arrive Kusadasi around 2:30 PM . Complimentary shore excursion with us to Kusadasi& Ephesus:
Your first stop on this fascinating tour is at the House of the Virgin Mary. Then, you will continue on to visit ancient Ephesus, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeion, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath, Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theatre with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. See the

After lunch visit the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk and see the Temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the ancient world. View Basilica of St John and Isabey Mosque. En-route to Kusadasi enjoy the scenery and the local arts , enjoy shopping opportunity. Transfer back to the pier. The cruise leaves Kusadasi early evening.

Day 6 - Rhodes - Wednesday (BLD)
Our cruise ship arrives early at the harbor, 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 ( all optional tours when on board the cruise ) 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. The cruise also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies. We'll set sail again in the evening. Heading for Crete.

DAY 7 - HERAKLION (CRETE) , SANTORINI - Thursday (B)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail at noon for Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished . In Santorini we escort you to your hotel .

DAY 8 - SANTORINI (B) - Friday
You'll take a leisurely breakfast on your private terrace. An optional tour to the archaeological site of Akrotiri is offered. Or, you can spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano and caldera.

DAY 9 - SANTORINI (B) - Saturday
The day is yours for relaxing or exploring on your own or both! You might take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Or savor a soak in hot sulphur springs.

DAY 10 - SANTORINI (B) - Sunday
Enjoy the views from your villa, discover a black-sand beach, savor the sea breezes from the terrace of a cafe, or try your hand at fishing. Or arrange a winery visit or another excursion. The choice is yours.

DAY 11 - SANTORINI, ATHENS (B)- Monday
Our personnel will assure a seamless transfer to Santorini's Airport. Air ticket Santorini / Athens is included in our rate, ticket issued & delivered in Athens. You'll catch an early morning flight to Athens, and your hotel. Transfer is included.

DAY 12 - ATHENS -Tuesday (B)
Full day on your own in Athens

DAY 13 - Athens Departure- Wednesday (B)
There are many more things to see and do in this fascinating city, but they will have to wait for your next visit. After breakfast, our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight--until next time! . Bon Voyage.

Rates per person in US$
Double Occupancy Cabins with 2 lower beds

Price includes:

• Lonely Planet travel guide to Greece, Map of Istanbul .
• Hotel accommodation , with tax & continental breakfast daily.
• Mediterranean cruise of the Greek Islands as per itinerary.
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary. In Athens seat in coach
• All meals on board the cruise.
• All airport/hotel/cruise transfers as per itinerary.
• Hotel service charges and taxes as per itinerary.
• Domestic air ticket in Greece as per itinerary , tax included. Economy class.
• Port taxes and Istanbul Embarkation fee .

Sample hotels in:

Athens : Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis.
First : Electra Palace. Stanley

Istanbul : Deluxe: Inter.Continental or similar . First: Divan.
If you prefer to stay in an Ottoman Mansion boutique hotel in Istanbul, please let's know in advance

Santorini : Astra . Chromata. Dana . Cliffside Suites

Other Choices:

• Compare with the Independent Traveler Version .
  
• Compare with the 11 -Day Version
  
• Compare with the Private Tour and Private Cruise Yacht .
  
• Extend your stay in Istanbul?
  
• Compare with the Cappadocia Version.
  
• The Island Hopping Version.
  
• Add Santorini.

Not included:

• International airfare between USA and Athens.
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
• Gratuities. Suggested tipping on the cruise : $ 10 Per person per day , covering all crew members , be it house keeping, dinning rooms etc.
• Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed
• Turkish Visa Fee : $20 in cash upon arrival, for US citizens, or $45 (Can) for Canadians, or from any of the Turkish Consulates

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