Whether it's culture and history or food and the beaches, a holiday in Greece ticks all the right boxes. The question is, where do you go? Greece has 227 inhabited islands but most people only see Athens and either Santorini or Mykonos. Anything more usually requires considerable planning. That is, unless you take a cruise.

Why is a cruise the best way to see the Greek islands?
Cruising along the Greek islands has many benefits. To begin with, you unpack once and you’ll get to see much more of Greece. Since you’re sailing through the night, your daytime commutes are quite limited. If you want to get a taste of Greek nightlife, look for a cruise deal that includes an overnight stop at one of the ports. The best part – everything is planned for you. Of course, if you don’t want to join a tour, you’re free to explore the ports on your own too.

Picking the right cruise
Given how popular Greece is as a holiday destination, there are plenty of cruise packages to choose from. It all depends on the type of cruise you’re looking for and the places you want to see.

Ships by mainstream cruise lines usually depart from Athens or Rome and will take you to the larger Greek islands. Given the relative proximity of the islands, these cruises do not usually have more than 1 sailing day. Depending on the size of the ship and traffic at the port, you may be able to go ashore directly from the ship or take a tender boat ride. Some cruise packages may also include stops at ports in neighboring countries. Let’s look at a few itineraries from the top cruise lines.

The ‘big’ ship Greek island cruise itineraries
It’s the size of the ship that determines its itinerary. Take the 7-night Greek Isles & Turkey Cruise on the Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. It’s a large ship that can only dock at large ports. This cruise will show you the stone-paved alleys of Mykonos and beautiful sunsets in Santorini along with an overnight stop in Istanbul and a day at Ephesus.

The MSC Sinfonia is a much smaller ship. Hence, a 7-night cruise on this ship will show you much more. The cruise takes you to Santorini as well as Katakolon – the gateway to ancient Olympia, the Corfu old town, the beaches of Cefalonia and the port town of Bari in Italy.

If you’ve already been to Santorini and Mykonos, you’ll enjoy the 11-night Best of Greece Cruise on the Celebrity Infinity. This round-trip cruise from Athens takes you to some of the less-trafficked ports in Greece. An overnight stay in Thessaloniki lets you see the city by day and enjoy its vibrant nightlife. From there you’ll go to Rhodes- one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, discover Crete’s history in Heraklion and walk through the picturesque squares of Nafplio. The cruise also gives you a day at Ephesus in Turkey and Limassol in Cyprus.

Small ship cruises around the Greek islands
Apart from the mainstream cruise ships, you’ll find several smaller ships cruising through the Aegean Sea. You can read more about them here. These cruises offer a more intimate experience and take you to ports that the big ships can’t get to.

Variety Cruises strike a balance between conventional cruising and private yachting. Most of their cruises follow a 7-night itinerary. Their Classical Greece cruise and Jewels Of the Cyclades Cruise take you to Santorini and smaller islands like Poliegos, Delos, Kythnos and Monemvasia. On the other hand, the Ionian Odyssey lets you explore hidden gems like Kefalonia, Paxos, Ithaca and the Corinth Canal.

Celestyal Cruises is a great choice for short cruises. You can book a 3-night round trip cruise from Athens with stops at Heraklion and Santorini as well as Kusadasi in Turkey or a 4-night cruise with an additional day in Rhodes. They also offer a 7-night cruise that lets you spend the day in Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Mykonos and Kusadasi. The itinerary includes an overnight stop in Santorini so you can experience the Greek party scene too.

The SeaDream Yacht Club takes you on a 7-night yachting trip around the Greek isles of Kythnos, Santorini, Patmos, Symi and Folegandros as well as the port city of Milos on the mainland. Each island is special. While Kythnos is renowned for its thermal springs, it’s the shrimps that put Symi on your must-visit list.

Then there is the 10-night Greece Intensive Voyage by Azamara Club Cruises that gives you an immersive Greek holiday experience. The cruise begins in Istanbul with a stop at Canakkale on the first day. You’ll visit three port cities on mainland Greece; Kavala, Thessaloniki and Volos before you start island hopping between Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Iraklion and Nafplio.

Planning Your Greek Cruise Holiday
If you’re visiting Greece for the first time, you’ll need at least a week.

An island cruise in Greece is the most comfortable way to explore this country’s history, culture and cuisine. At Cruisebay we take care of the little details so you can enjoy this trip. Tell us what kind of holiday you want and we’ll match it to a cruise. From picking onshore activities to choosing a cabin and navigating the visa paperwork, we’ll guide you through every step.

Give us a call and let’s start planning.