From legendary ruins and grand palaces to gorgeous landscapes and diverse cultures, the Eastern Mediterranean is a window to the past you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Cruises around the Eastern Mediterranean usually starts from Athens, Venice or Istanbul and visits fascinating Greek Islands like Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes, whilst some of the small ship cruises also visit the idyllic, scenic and historic islands of Patmos, Skopelos and Skiathos. Stand atop the Acropolis in Athens. Be moved by the history of Sevastopol. Enjoy a glass of ouzo on a terrace café in cliff-hugging Santorini. Walk through the magnificent curtain of walls of Dubrovnik. Or delve into the bazaars of lively Istanbul. Be seduced by Eastern Europe’s endless supply of sights.CruiseBay brings to you the perfect combo of small vessels which not only offer a personalized setting while exploring this part of the globe but also bring in more geographic access to the world’s less-trafficked ports.

Variety Cruises Founded in 2005, Variety Cruises is the largest Small Ships Cruise Company World-Wide with a fleet of over 15 fully owned vessels offering the consumer a total yachting experience. Variety Cruises and its budget sub-brand, Zeus Casual Cruises, offer low-key cruises to the Greek Isles, the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. With sizes varying from 4 to 25 cabins, the private yachts and small ships allow passengers to visit well known destinations or to discover unique and more private ports of call in a private, convivial and relaxed environment. For the Greece cruises, the sailings mix in offbeat stops like Monemvassia and Spetses with traditional picks like Mykonos and Santorini. Both the modern yachts of Variety Cruises and the more homey sailing ships of Zeus Casual Cruises carry fewer than 70 passengers and typically feature swimming/sports platforms with snorkeling and kayaking equipment so that passengers can actually engage in the passing scenery. Fine cuisine, with a strong local flavor, exciting itineraries blending well known ports of call and less know gems of the Mediterranean along with personalized service have positioned the company as the choice for an ever growing number of cruise goers looking for a small ship cruise experience.

Gulet Cruises in Turkish Coast 
Discover the beauty of the Aegean Coast in a traditionally Turkish hand-crafted Gulet Cruise, native to Bodrum and Marmaris alone. These two-masted wooden vessels, traditionally made from local pine, were long used for transport and fishing along the southern coasts of Turkey. They feature a selection of the best constructed and equipped yachts you can find in Turkey. Handmade using mahogany, pine and teak, the Gulets follow a design developed for these waters in Byzantine times, with a sharp bow, broad beam and rounded aft. They are stylish, graceful, fitted with comfort and bursting with character. Gulet Cruises offer a variety of 1 and 2- week scheduled Gulet cruises in Turkey, along the ancient coasts of Ionia, Caria and Lycia, stretching from the Aegean to the Mediterranean, from Kusadasi in the north-west to Antalya in the east. Along the way you’ll visit some of the most beautiful and fascinating archaeological sites, such as Aspendos, with the best preserved ancient theatre in the world; Kaunos, with its extraordinary rock cut temple tombs; Knidos, with terraces of temples, streets and shops arranged around a double harbor; and Ephesus, with its gigantic theatre, magnificent private houses and stunning library. Service is a prime consideration here and this cruise boasts some of the most skilled captains and finest chefs to make your adventure simply unforgettable.

Compagnie Du Ponant
Going to sea on a Compagnie du Ponant ship is to experience the unrivalled pleasure of a private cruise. Compagnie du Ponant, the world’s only French-flagged cruise company offers luxury small-ship cruising on five distinctive yachts. Each of their five ships, L’Austral, Le Boréal, Le Diamant, Le Levant and Le Ponant have their own individual personality and each symbolizes the art of cruising “à la française” in line with Compagnie du Ponant’s philosophy. The small ships look and seem more like private yachts than traditional cruise ships, and all cruises are bi-lingual (French and English). The onboard atmosphere is much quieter than a regular ship, with few announcements, no casino, and limited organized onboard activities. Expansive sun decks and open-air restaurants allow guests to enjoy an authentic sailing experience. Because of the intimate size of the vessels, guests feel as if they are sailing on their own private yacht. Personalized service is assured, with a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2. Ponant has over 15 sailing itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean including Athens to Venice, Istanbul to Athens, Venice to Istanbul and several round trip Venice options of 7 nights / 8 days duration.

Katrinia Cruise Line 
Katarina Line is one of Croatia’s premier cruise specialist companies with a fleet of 30 vintage and motor sailing ships providing guaranteed departures from the major ports of Opatija, Split and Dubrovnik and sailing throughout Croatia. With a fleet of over 30 ships ranging from basic to deluxe accommodation, these Croatian cruises are ideal for individuals and groups in search of blue sea and beaches, at the same time exploring the little coastal towns and island villages (Hvar, Korcula, Brac, Dubrovnik, Makarska, Rab, Krk). During your 7-day cruise, immerse yourself in the beauty of the crystal-clear waters, hidden bays and the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Enjoy the walk through the narrow alleys and rich heritage, or maybe on one of the pebble beaches with fresh water springs, that stretch along the whole eastern side of the Komiža bay. Visit the famous Stari Grad Field – the oldest in Croatia and the best preserved example of ancient Greek system of agriculture. If you feel adventurous you can experience white-water rafting on Cetina River, the perfect relaxation during hot summer months, or you can join an excursion to Mostar in Bosnia/ Herzegovina before or after the cruise and discover the beauty of this magical town where east meets west.

SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream Yacht Club is the perfect choice if you desire an alternative to ‘big ship’ cruising. From the moment you step on board you’ll feel you are being welcomed onto your own private luxury yacht. SeaDream Yacht Club offers guests a choice of two luxury yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream II. These stunning cruise ships are the perfect embodiment of SeaDream’s ethos, offering ultra-luxury accommodation and dining options as well as exuding a unique casual elegance. Both vessels can cater for a maximum of 56 couples who in turn are looked after by a crew of 95. What really differentiates this cruise line is the superb service on board; attentive, pro-active and friendly without being obsequious. Readers of Conde Nast Traveler ranked Sea Dream Yacht Club as one of the top 100 travel experiences worldwide. SeaDream offers a wide choice of voyages in the Eastern Mediterranean ranging from Istanbul – Venice, Civitavecchia (Rome) – Nice, Monte Carlo – Civitavecchia (Rome), Venice – Dubrovnik, Nice – Monte Carlo, Piraeus (Athens) – Venice and more. On your Mediterranean cruise, you can capture the exclusive glamour of the French and Italian Rivieras, take in the art and architectural wonders of Florence, Venice and Rome, witness the myths and wonders of Athens and the Greek Isles, behold the grandeur of Istanbul and Renaissance-era palaces of Croatia.

About CruiseBay
CruiseBay is India’s first and only Cruises-only Holiday Company with a website www.cruisebay.com that features over 1000 cruise itineraries from 30+ cruise liners. In addition, we have pioneered the concept of CruiseBay Lounges in multiple cities in India with professionally trained cruise consultants to help clients plan their cruise vacation.