Glamorous Greece
Island-hopping is a breeze on Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Crystal, which sails to a number of iconic Greek islands
TRAVEL SNAPSHOT
With so many beautiful Greek islands to discover and explore, what better way to island hop than on a cruise ship? Celestyal Crystal’s Idyllic Aegean itinerary involves a round trip from Athens to some of the most popular, as well as undiscovered islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, Milos and Crete. If you don’t have a week to spare, you can also cruise for three, four or five nights. What’s not to love?
INSIDER’S GUIDE
When in Mykonos, make sure you visit Little Venice with its romantic vibe and houses that look as though they are about to slide into the sea. And keep an eye out for the island’s famous winged resident, Petros the pelican, who wanders around town mingling happily with tourists. Santorini’s Oia is where you’ll get those picture-postcard snaps of blue-domed, whitewashed buildings. However, be warned, if there’s a couple of cruise ships tendered alongside yours, it’s going to be busy. Meanwhile on the volcanic island of Milos, the unusual lunar landscape of Sarakiniko beach will take your breath away.
DON’T MISS
Two of the three excursions on this cruise tick off the big, cultural highlights of the region, including the ancient city of Ephesus in Kusadasi (Turkey) – where you’ll find artifacts of the Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian era – and the Minoan palace of Knossos in Crete, an archaeological site said to be Europe’s oldest city.
GETTING THERE:
A seven-night Idyllic Aegean round trip cruise from Athens costs from £1,059pp, departing on 2, 9, 23 or 30 September. Price includes all meals and drinks onboard, three shore excursions, port taxes and gratuities. Call Celestyal Cruises on 0800 411 8038 or visit celestyalcruises.uk. For more info, visitgreece.gr
STAYING THERE:
Celestyal Crystal has a mix of interior and exterior staterooms, of which 53 are balcony suites. There’s a robe and slippers in the wardrobe, and the Sana spa is reasonably priced, too. Our seven-night cruise featured six classic destinations and Greek hotspots – including two full days in Santorini and an overnight in Mykonos, allowing us to take advantage of the islands’ nightlife.
FOOD AND DRINK
This all-inclusive cruise includes breakfast, lunch and dinner in the ship’s four restaurants – two of which are à la carte and the remaining two are buffet-style. Food is often locally inspired. We also enjoyed the al fresco Chef’s Corner lunchtime menus and the fabulous poolside BBQ. There is even afternoon tea served daily. If you are adding on a stay in Athens to your trip, a great place for lunch or dinner is Mani Mani, which serves contemporary Greek food in a light and airy setting. It’s also has very affordable prices. manimani.com.gr/english.html