Greek Islands with Istanbul & Cappadocia 7 Nights Greek Islands With Celstyal Cruises On October 19 - 26, 2024 + 6 Nights LAND Extension Tour To Istanbul & Cappadocia On October 26-Nov 1, 2024.

INCLUSIVE Fare includes:

• All port charges and gratuities
• Complimentary dining: breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Onboard entertainment
• Daily activities
• Specially selected beverages served with meals
• Complimentary $80 shore excursion credit

ENHANCE Package includes:

• Inclusive package as above
• Premium Drinks Package
• Complimentary $160 Shore excursion credit
• 1 hr Wi-Fi access
• 25% Specialty dining discount

ITINERARY

Piraeus (Athens. Greece) Depart 5.00pm

The largest port in the Mediterranean and primary departure point for Greek Island cruises from Athens, Piraeus is a hubbub of activity that will bring your senses to life. With a sun-soaked promenade, al-fresco cafes and bars and countless shops. It's a place where you can easily relax with a glass of wine and watch the world go by.

Thessaloniki Arr 10.00am Dep 7.00pm

Thessaloniki is the capital of Macedonia and second largest city of Greece. It was first established in 316 B.C. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki, half sister of Alexander the Great. It means Victory in Thessaly. It is here that the Apostle Paul first brought the message of Christianity (50 A.D.) and that Demetrius, a Roman officer died in martyrdom (303 A.D.), thus becoming the holy patron of the city. The city was rebuilt in the 1920s and today Thessaloniki is a lively modern city bustling with life and movement. Large avenues, parks and squares, lines of trees that frame commercial streets with showy shop windows. Old houses, neoclassical buildings, stand side by side with modern dwellings which makes a walk through any section of the city an interesting journey.

Kusadasi (Turkey) Arr 01.00pm Dep 19.00 (7PM)

This beach resort is famous for its beautiful marina and its huge colorful bazaar. Enjoy the buzz of the trendy seaside restaurants and bars and explore the myriad of shops. This town is also known for its proximity to the Hellenistic ruins of Ephesus, the ancient city famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Take a not-to-be-missed shore excursion and tour the archaeological site, one of the largest open air museums in the world. See incredible relics of the Greek, Roman and early Christian eras and discover the beautifully preserved marble-paved main street of Kouretes.

Suggested Excursion: Ancient Ephesus through the ages - Hellinistic and Roman

The Ancient Ephesus bus tour is a journey through the golden ages which shaped a pivotal center of commerce and spirituality. Built 3,000 years ago, Ephesus shaped the history of Greek, Turkish and Christian civilizations from its privileged location, chosen (according to legend) by the oracle of Delphi. A site of pilgrimage, due to its proximity to the Temple of Artemis (one of the 7 Wonders of the World) and the presence of major Christian figures (the apostles Paul and John and the Virgin Mary) within the city walls, Ephesus is currently one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. The splendor of its golden age is visible throughout its streets and exceptionally well-preserved ruins. As we explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site you will have the opportunity to breathe in the centuries of cultural effervescence, visible in the Ephesus Agora, Odeon, the Houses of the Patricians, the beautiful Temple of Hadrian and the astonishing Library of Celsus. You will also have the opportunity to bargain and shop local merchandise such as carpets, leather goods, souvenirs etc.

Heraklion (Crete, Greece) Arr 08.00 Dep 7.00pm

The busy capital of Crete is a former Venetian harbor with a history dating back even further to the Minoans. Visit Knossos, once home to Europe's oldest civilization and delve into the art and creativity of the Minoans and the city's extraordinary archaelogical museum. Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city. The tour of the palace is fascinating - you will see amazing examples of ingenious architecture, incredible artwork, plumbing and construction techniques thousands of years ahead of their time and the palace where the word "labyrinth" (maze) was first used to describe all of the corridors, hallways and rooms here.

You can also enjoy the city with it's local market (great prices here!) - pick up some local Greek herbs for your salad dressings when you get home and some other Greek delicacies and souvenirs.

Suggested Excursion: Minoan Palace of Knossos - 1st European civilization

Half Day: Up to 4 ½ hours

As you venture into the incredible open-air museum of the Palace of Knossos, your bus tour will take you along the proud Venetian heritage of Heraklion - the Koules Fortress (the stronghold overlooking the Heraklion harbour), the Venetian Loggia (the 17th century administrative and social center), the harmonious Morozini fountain and the 10th century Church of St. Titus. As you explore the Palace of Knossos, considered Europe’s oldest city, you are entering and experiencing the incredible world of the legendary Minoan civilization. The long and winding roads of Crete’s ancient city gradually expose the remarkable art, architecture and daily life of the Minoan people. Breathe in the millennia of history and imagine the legends of Daedalus, Theseus and the Minotaur come to life in the remarkable Hall of the Royal Guard and the Double Axes, the King’s Chamber or the Queen’s Apartment. Enjoy free time to savor the beauty and uniqueness of Crete’s largest city (and the fourth largest in Greece). The city is brimming with an assortment of museums that satisfy every taste- entre, full of busy cafes and elegant shops or retrace the steps of its Venetian rulers at the impressive fortified port, the vast arches and the arsenals.

Santorini (Greece) Arr 7am

Cruising towards Santorini is like being swept away on a current to somewhere truly magical. The island will greet you with striking cliffs, promising adventure and legendary tales. The almost vertical towns of whitewashed houses and blue domes rise above the Aegean like and oasis of beauty and calm. Wander the narrow streets or venture along the pretty clifftop to pretty Oia for that iconic shot of the blue-domed church. Spend the day taking thousands of pictures to cherish or just stroll along, browse the shops and enjoy the delicious local farm-to-table food. Your ship will spend the evening in port so take a ringside seat in a clifftop bar or head to the fabulous seafood restaurants at the waterfront at the bottom of the cliff in Amoudi to watch the spectacular fiery sunset.

Mykonos (Greece) Arr 8.00am

A cosmopolitan paradise which attracts more than its fair share of celebrities and beautiful people, Mykonos Town is the archetypal image of the Cylades Islands with immaculate white-washed houses, windmills and winding alleys. Explore the sandy beaches, wander thru the ancient temples on neighboring Delos and venture out on your overnight stay to enjoy the legendary nightlife. Basking in year-round sunshine, its rugged, rocky landscape blends seamlessly with the smooth, sandy beaches. In the distance, undulating hills host the island's iconic windmills turning in symphony with the seasonal winds that have branded Myknos "Island of the Winds". Bus into Mykonos Town is included.

Day 2 - Cappadocia

• Day 2 - Cappadocia
• SUNRISE HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE - OPTIONAL
• BREAKFAST AT HOTEL
• BLUE TOUR CAPPADOCIA WITH PROFESSIONAL GUIDE AND LUNCH
• • Mustafapasa, famous for beautiful architecture
• • Keslik Monastery
• • Taskinpasa Madrasah
• • Sobessos Ancient City Excavation Area
• • Soganli Valley - Rock Churches
• • Kaymakli Underground City
• OPTIONAL EVENING ACTIVITIES - SUNSET ATV RIDE, HORSES OR JEEPS
• LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL CAPPADOCIA

Day 3 - Cappadocia

• BREAKFAST AT HOTEL
• RED TOUR CAPPADOCIA WITH PROFESSIONAL GUIDE AND LUNCH
• Esentepe vista viewpoint, located between Uchisar and Goreme. This stunning panorama provides breathtaking views of the town of Esentepe and the surrounding landscape of fairy chimneys.
• Goreme Open Air Museum - an impressive collection of monasteries, churches and chapels that date back to the Middle Ages. The site served as an important Christian center of learning. Visitors can marvel at its elaborate and beautifully preserved frescoes.
• Pasabag – Monks Valleymfamed for its three-headed fairy chimneys. This region of is also known as Pasabag, or “Pasha’s Vineyard,” for its stunning earth pillars located within a vineyard.
• A short drive will take us to the surreal Devrent Valley, famed for its almost lunar landscape of small, pointed fairy chimneys. VIsitors will get a chance to explore the valley and take in its astounding formations.
• Our final destination is the small town of Avanos, home to a terracotta industry dating back to 3000 BC. Potters source clay from the Red River that winds through town. Tour visitors we will have the opportunity to visit a traditional pottery workshop and witness the excellent craftsmanship firsthand.
• The Three Beauties, or Three Graces, are three brilliant fairy chimneys located near Urgup. It is the most famous symbol of Urgüp. This amazing natural formation is well-known for its enchanting landscape as well as its fascinating story.
• OPTIONAL TURKISH NIGHT WITH DINNER AND UNLIMITED DRINKS
• LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL CAPPADOCIA

Day 4 - Istanbul

• BREAKFAST IN HOTEL
• TRANSFER TO AIRPORT
• DOMESTIC FLIGHT CAPPADOCIA TO ISTANBUL
• TRANSFER TO HOTEL
• ACCOMMODATION IN LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL ISTANBUL

Day 5 - Istanbul

• BREAKFAST IN HOTEL
• OLD CITY ISTANBUL WALKING TOUR WITH LUNCH
• ACCOMMODATION IN LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL ISTANBUL

Day 6 - Istanbul

• BREAKFAST IN HOTEL
• BOSPHORUS RIVER CRUISE TOUR WITH LUNCH
• MARKETS AND FREE TIME TO EXPLORE THE BAZAARS AND PALACES
• ACCOMMODATION IN LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL ISTANBUL