12-night Islands Of The Mediterranean Voyage

Piraeus: The Ancient City of Athens - 8 Hours

Dominated by the remarkable Parthenon, which has stood for over 2,000 years, Athens is a city of major architectural and archaeological treasures. At Piraeus Port you will receive a warm welcome from your guide and driver who provides a captivating insight into the city’s history and culture during your full day tour.

For most, the highlight of a visit to Athens is the world famous Acropolis and the Parthenon. Dedicated to the Goddess Athena, it is one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world. This afternoon, delight in the mesmerising display of eclectic Greek and Oriental art at the Benaki Museum. Complete your day with a drive past the Panethenaic Stadium, the pure marble masterpiece that served as the original site for the modern Olympics. At the end of the tour you are privately transferred back to your cruise ship.

Highlights:

• Ascend the Acropolis to the Parthenon, one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world
• Tour the Benaki Museum

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
  All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Piraeus: Cape Sounion - 5 hours

Meet your guide as you disembark your cruise ship in Piraeus and venture along the scenic coast to Cape Sounion where you visit the ancient ruined Temple of Poseidon. This temple is believed to date from the 5th century BC and was built to honour Poseidon, who ranked second only to Athena herself in terms of power. The Temple enjoys an impressive position, high on the cliffs, and has, over the centuries, been marked by many travellers’ carved signatures, including that of Lord Byron. After touring the site, you return to your cruise ship in Piraeus.

Highlights:

• Venture along the coast to Cape Sounion to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon

Kusadasi Port - The Glories of Ephesus (Full Day Tour)

Kusadasi Port - A Taste of Ephesus- (Half day tour)

Kusadasi Port - Ephesus & Virgin Mary House - (Half Day Tour)

PORT: KUSADASI

EPHESUS & VIRGIN MARY HOUSE

Half-Day Tour

Arrive in Kusadasi, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for your half- day tour in Ephesus.

First, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, where the Virgin is said to have lived the last years of her life. The building was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Lazartis from Smyrna based on the vision of a German nun. The site is officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church and visited by Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.

Then, you will drive to Ephesus, enter and view the Odeon Theatre, where state affairs and concerts were held. Walk down the marble walkway and visit the Hadrian Temple. It was dedicated in 118 AD to Hadrian, Artemis, and the people of Ephesus but greatly reconstructed in the 4th century. This impressive Corinthian style temple has beautiful reliefs on the porch. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.

Next, you will proceed to the Celsus Library, The library is the best preserved structure of its kind. The inscription on the side of the building’s front staircase says that the library was build by Julius, in his father’s honour, after his death. His father, Celsus was the Roman governor of Asia Minor early in the 2nd century AD. His tomb is in the library as well.

Next, visit the Great Theatre, dating back to the Hellenistic period. In the 1st century AD it was successfully reconstructed and expanded by the Romans until it reached the seating capacity of 25,000. This is also the place where it is believed that St.Paul preached. It is still used for performances today.

At the end of your day, you will return to Kusadasi and have some time for shopping in town before you embark your ship.

Includes:

• 1 half-day of private sightseeing in Ephesus
• Licensed professional guide in English Language
• Air- conditioned luxury vehicle with a professional driver
• Entrance fees to museums and sites according to the above itinerary
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour
• Welcome package
• VAT tax

Not Included:

• Gratuities to guide and driver
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Meals that are not indicated on the itinerary

Kusadasi Port - Three Ancient Cities; Didyma, Miletus & Priene (Full Day Tour)

• 1 full day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver in Three Ancient Cities.
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program.
• Officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour.
• Welcome Package
• VAT taxes.

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  • At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Suggested lunch

Kusadasi Port - Biblical Tour of Ephesus ( Full Day tour)

• 1 full day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver in Ephesus
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program.
• Officially license, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour. 
• Welcome Package
• VAT taxes.

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  • At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Recommended lunch

Kusadasi Port - Ephesus & Didyma & Miletus (Full Day Tour)

Arrive in Kusadasi, you will meet your professional guide, holding a name sign outside of the terminal building at the port for private full day sightseeing. 

First, visit Ephesus, famous throughout the ancient world for its Temple of Artemis.  You will first visit Odeon Theatre where the state affairs used to be held. Then, view The Temple of Hadrian is one of the main attractions at Ephesus, with a beautiful arch on the front facade and interesting reliefs of Medusa. According to the belief of Ephesians, the Medusa head on the porch, would protect the city from its enemies.
 
Next, you will visit the newly excavated spectacular The Terrace Houses on the Curetes street belonged to the rich people of Ephesus. Many of them were three-storied and had peristyles surrounded by rooms without windows but included frescoes and mosaics of mythological scenes. Some of the frescoes were scenes from the comedies of Menander and the tragedies of Euripides. They were luxuriously furnished private houses with fountains and central heating. Between the street and houses was a portico with a mosaic floor, behind which were shops.

The Great Theatre, dates back to the Hellenistic period. It is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus which has the capacity of 25,000 seats. The theatre was used for concerts, plays and religious, political and philosophical discussions and for gladiator and animal fights. Marble Road, runs between the Library of Celsus and the theater and is a part of the sacred  walk way.  
 
Then, you will drive approximately 1½ hours to visit the ancient cities of Miletus and Didyma.
 
Lunch suggested at a local restaurant.
 
Next, visit Miletus an ancient city located near the present Akkoy at the mouth of the Buyuk Menderes (Meander) River, owed its importance to its position on trade routes. It was one of the largest cities in Anatolia with a population of between 80,000 and 100,000. Highly prosperous, it founded many colonies and was the home of the 6C BC philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Thales, the town planner Hippodamus and architect Isidorus. Miletus seems to have produced geniuses the way Aphrodisias produced sculptors.
 
Last, you will visit Didyma. The word Didyma meant "twins" and was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo which served a similar purpose as the Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city but a sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with a 19 km/12 m sacred road. However, this road may not have been constructed until the end of the 1C AD. In addition to pilgrimages made by sea, some festivals of drama, music and sports were held there every four years.

OUR NET PACKAGE RATE INCLUDES 

• 1 full day of sightseeing in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver in Ephesus, Didyma and Miletus.
• Private chauffeur driven a/c deluxe vehicle throughout the program
• Licensed professional  guide in English language.
• Officially licensed, English speaking guide throughout the tour program.
• Entrance fees to all museums, parks, and historic sites as marked on the itinerary.
• Bottled water provided throughout the tour. 
• Welcome Package
• VAT taxes.

• Gratuities to the Guide & Driver
  •  At the discretion of the guests
• Personal expenses of the guests
• Suggested lunch

Kusadasi: Ancient Ephesus Tour - 7 hours

An English speaking lecturer/guide will meet the guests at the exit of the cruise pier in KUSADASI.

After a short drive to Ephesus, the guests experience their private tour of this fascinating historical site. First, a visit will be made to the remarkable Greco-Roman archeological city of Ancient Ephesus, that flourished as a prominent cultural city and seaport between 600 BC and 500 AD.

The walking tour will begin along the Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, the 4th century white marble chariot thoroughfare whose most striking sight today is the two-story Library of Celsus. Uniquely beautiful, the Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus manuscripts making it the second largest library in the ancient world after the one in Alexandria, Egypt. The walk along the Royal Road also takes the visitors past the remains of some of the ancient city’s major civic buildings and temples as you move toward the Ephesus Theater from which St. Paul once preached to the Pagan Ephesians. The theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances in summertime.

Then move to see the ongoing excavations of the Greco-Roman places-the “Elite Yamac Homes of Antiquity” (Terrace Houses) with their magnificent mosaics and frescoes.

From here, the guests will proceed to the small, but distinguished and rightly famous Ephesus Museum with unique examples of the very best Greco-Roman sculpture in the world, and with an exciting new display of Medical instruments from that era.

Finally, drive up the mountainside to visit to the so-called House of the Virgin Mary, a lovely chapel set in the hills behind Ephesus, said by some to be the last home of the Virgin Mary, where St. Paul took her for her safety away from the Pagan Ephesians.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel or to your cruise ship.

Added Value:

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Partial

Physical Activity Level: High

Included: Transportation by a cheaffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Kusadasi: Priene Day Tour - 7 hours

The guests will be met by a lecturer/guide at the exit of the pier in KUSADASI and drive south to visit Priene.

This ancient city is not especially large, but has an unusual intimacy and charm, in part because so many historical private houses have survived to this day. All the monuments you will see, date from the Hellenistic period, and all of them are aligned according to a strict grid-plan of the kind developed by Hippodamos, a native of neighboring Miletus. The monuments include the Temple of Zeus, a council chamber, and a small amphi-theatre. Yet Priene’s greatest treasure is its Temple of Athena, which was considered the masterpiece of the architect Pytheos who also designed the Mausoleum at Halicarnassos (Bodrum) known to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

After exploring Priene, the guests will cross the broad flood-plain of the river Maeander to continue to Miletus. This was once a major port but silt carried down by the River Meander blocked its harbor centuries ago. The ancient harbor is now several miles from the sea. The town is laid out according to a grid-plan designed by Hippodamos, which centers on three spacious agoras (marketplaces) today. The most striking features of the site today are the Baths of Faustina and the massive Roman Theatre.

A paved Sacred Way leads from Miletus to Dydima, not a classic town but rather a sacred precinct centering on a colossal Temple of Apollo surrounded by a double colonnade of no less than 108 huge columns. Work on the temple continued for 500 years, but its design was so ambitious that, when work was abandoned in the 4th C. AD, it was still unfinished. Even unfinished and in ruins, the temple at Dydima remains to be one of the most awe-inspiring antique monuments to be found anywhere around the Eastern Mediterranean.

At the end of the tour, the guests will be escorted back to their hotel or to the pier in KUSADASI.

Added Value:

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chaeffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Kusadasi: The Greco-Roman City of Ephesus & the Wine-making Village of Sirince - 7 hours

At 8:30 am, an English speaking private lecturer/guide will meet and greet you outside the Bonded Area of the Kusadasi cruise pier. You will then be escorted to your chauffeur driven private deluxe air-conditioned vehicle, for a comfortable ride of about half an hour to the remarkable Greco-Roman archaeological site of Ancient Ephesus. Dating back to the 11th century B.C., it has been painstakingly excavated and restored and is one of the world’s most fascinating sites of antiquity. Ephesus flourished as a prominent city and seaport between 600 B.C. and 500 A.D. We will begin our private walking tour along Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, a 4th century white marble chariot thoroughfare whose most striking sight is the two-story Library of Celsus.

Uniquely beautiful, with its restored facade now the famed symbol of Ephesus, the Library once housed 12,000 scrolls of papyrus manuscripts making it the 2nd largest in the ancient world after the library in Alexandria, Egypt. Your walk along the Royal Road will also take you past the remains of some of the ancient city’s major civic buildings and temples as you move toward the Ephesus Theater from which St. Paul once preached to the Ephesians. The theater, seating 25,000 has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances.

You will also visit the ongoing excavations of the Greco Roman PALACES the ''ELITE YAMAC HOMES OF ANTIQUITY'' (Terrace Houses) with their magnificent mosaics and frescoes being restored by archeologists as you visit the site.

Next visit will be to the old Greco-Turkish Village of SIRINCE, located approximately 18 miles away from the Kusadasi pier. The town itself houses about hundreds of old local Greek homes which have been superbly renovated and opened to the public.. The town also houses an authentic local market where different agricultural products are sold.

Following lunch (at your own cost) at the celebrated local Bizim Ev (meaning “Our House”) Restaurant in Sirince, you will stop by the famous wine cellar of this village, to be welcomed by the owner, and will taste his white or red wines, produced in the same style as in the old days from grapes at the vast vineyards of the Aegean Region.

You will then be returned to Kusadasi where you may explore or shop at the charming local marketplace, while your guide will escort and assist you until you wish to return to the pier to board your ship by 4 pm.

Added Value:

Tour can operate: Starting mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: No

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Included: Transportation by a chauffeur driven a/c private vehicle, an officially licensed bilingual private lecturer/guide, entrance fees to the sites/museums

Not Included: Gratuities to the guide and driver, meals and personal expenses

Ephesus Full Day Tour - 8 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Ancient Ephesus
• Library of Celsus
• Excavations of Terrace Houses
• House of the Virgin Mary

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Ephesus & Sirince Full Day Tour - 8 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Ancient Ephesus
• Sirince
• Home-style lunch in a local village
• Visit to a wine house

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Ephesus Half Day Tour - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Ancient Ephesus
• Library of Celsus
• The Library
• Ephesus Theatre

• Officially licensed, private guide
• Transfers to/from port in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle
• Parking fees and entrance fees of the sites/museums stated in the tour program
• Bottled water
• Welcome package
• Applicable taxes

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Ephesus 3D Experience Full Day Tour – 6 hours

Ephesus 3D tour is an extraordinary experience offering an innovative way to visit Ancient Ephesus. Our 3D virtual tour brings you inside the site with accurate replicas of Ephesus, the Celcus Library, Great Theatre and more! By using this technology, you will see reconstructed major sites of the Ancient city. During this experience, your guide will further explain 7 sites; Odeon Theatre, Curetes, Trajan Fountain, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcus, Commercial Agora  and Arcadia way with a visual show of the Ancient Romans featuring live actors! Based on cutting edge technology and the master work of artists - our virtual tour is incredibly accurate.
 
Our team of artists, technicians and writers create each 3D tour with a great emphasis on colors, shapes, symmetry, sizes, compositions and proportions. Every element of the Ephesus 3D virtual tour is designed to convey the true atmosphere of the site.
 
Tour Duration: 6 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Net Price: Per Person € 130.00 based on 2 guests

Inclusions:

• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees and applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from Kusadasi Port
• Lunch at a typical Village Restaurant, included unlimited soft drinks and wine
   
  Not Included:
• Gratuities to driver and guide
• Personal expenses

Ephesus: Jewel of Roman Archeology - 6 Hours

Highlights:

• Temple of Artemis
• Ephesus including Marble Road, Temple of Hadrian, Terrace Houses, Library of Celsus and Great Theater of Ephesus
• House of Virgin Mary

• Transportation by A/C non-smoking deluxe vehicle
• Service of an English-speaking professional private tour guide throughout the program
• All entrance and parking fees for the sightseeing
• Complimentary beverages on vehicle throughout the journey
• All taxes and service charges

• Meals and beverages
• Honorary gratuities for guide and driver
• Personal expenses

Santorini Island Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours

You will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the ship, at the bottom of the cable car at the Old Port of Fira. Our lovely tour starts with a scenic drive through the plains of Santorini to picturesque Oia, the crowning glory of peace and tranquility. 

Built on the northern part of the caldera rim, it is here where many artists have been inspired due to its magnificent location with its most superb views of the caldera, the rest of the island and the Aegean Sea.. We then stop at one of the famous wineries to enjoy a wine tasting tour of the fine wines produced on the island. Our final stop is Fira, the islands capital town.

The island used to be circular, but a massive volcanic explosion around 3,500 years ago blew out the centre of the island. (Many people attribute the decline of Minoan civilization on Crete to this cataclysmic eruption. High cliffs jutting into the sea are all that's left of the crater rim.

The surrounding islands are the remains of the sides of the crater, and the sea has filled in the gaps, forming a beautiful bay. Sunsets on the island are particularly striking; all the restaurants and bars in Fira face west over the sunken volcano and the Aegean Sea.

Santorini's ancient Akrotiri excavation & Oia Tour approx 4 hours

Begin with a scenic drive through the plains of Santorini to the picturesque village of Oia, the crowning glory of tranquillity, boasting the most superb views of the caldera. Stroll around the narrow streets and explore its quaint boutiques of local art, paintings and semi-precious jewellery.
Continue with a visit to Akrotiri and marvel at the “Minoan" excavations that have revealed complexes of multi-level buildings, streets and squares, with remains of walls standing as high as 8 meters, all entombed in the solidified ash of the famous eruption of Thera.
Our final stop is to Fira, the capital, perched on the edge of an impressive cliff 260m high, where you will have free time to explore on your own. Many of its beautiful buildings blue domed churches and sun-bathed veranda were constructed during the Venetian invasion and offer stunning views over the submerged volcano

Santorini cooking and wine tasting class approx. 4 hours

Today you will be closer to the genuine tastes of Santorini through a farm to table experience. You will be offered fresh vegetables and herbs as well as other precious ingredients from local farmers, so as to cook them under the guidance of an experienced chef. This is an interactive course, where each participant is offered a glass of wine from Artemis Karamolegos Winery. Afterwards, you will enjoy the fruits of your labour at the picturesque veranda of the restaurants main area while enjoying 2 more wines while the presentation of the wines is given from experienced sommeliers. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel/ship.

Megalochori village & the lost Atlantis Museum approx. 4 hours

Our tour begins with a visit at Megalochori village and you will walk through the traditional vineyards, the lava-stoned streets, the renovated and abandoned houses after the earthquake of 1956, and the colorful houses. Then we will continue with the Symposium experience. In ancient Greece, the symposium was a ritualized drinking event, when drinking for pleasure was accompanied by music, dancing, recitals, or conversation. Similarly, we will be accompanied by live Lyre playing, mythological and historical wine narration. Afterwards, embark on a journey in Greek History, Mythology, Philosophy and Geology! Discover all the evidence that connects Plato’s Lost Atlantis myth with the volcano eruption of the island. Follow Plato’s Journey that inspired him to write about the ideal city through an interactive fresco. View a Holographic representation of the geological evolution of Santorini Island from the prehistoric ages until today. Re-live, with all your senses, the earthquake, the tsunami, and the volcanic eruption that led to the destruction of Atlantis in a 9D experience.

Santorini Walking food tour approx. 4 hours

Join us on a walking tour through Fira and neighboring Firostefani for a journey through senses - breathtaking views, hidden alleyways, local eateries - all of that while exploring the secrets of Greek cuisine and filling your belly!
The tour starts in Firostefani and ends in Fira, making a minimum of 7 stops to cover different aspects of Greek and local Santorini cuisine - from Greek coffee to local delicacies, to classic mezes and delicious deserts. Greek cuisine is not imaginable without olives and olive oil, as well as wine and ouzo. We will taste all this and much more. The goal of the tour is to introduce guests to the Greek cuisine in a fun and informative manner from the local standpoint, showcasing not only the flavors & ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine, but also the beauty of Santorini as a world-famous destination.

Santorini sunset cruise approx. 5 hours

Enjoy sailing around the crystal-clear blue waters of Santorini. First, we will visit the Red and White beaches, both unique and named after the colour of the volcanic pebbles of which they are comprised. Next, we will sail past Akrotiri and into the Caldera. Sail close the volcanic island of Thirassia is the Hot Springs, where you will enjoy swimming and a spa-like mud bath in the warm waters. We continue to Palea Kameni island for some time for swimming and snorkelling. A delicious barbeque dinner will be prepared and served on board while the magical sunset appears on the horizon.

Santorini caldera hiking trail OIa to Fira approx. 4 hours

This is the most scenic hike on the island of Santorini, starting from the capital city of the island, Fira, you will be led to Oia walking through the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli. The greater part of the path is on the rim of the Caldera. Following this path affords a gorgeous view to the famous volcano and the Aegean Sea and also allows visitors to see the four most important villages of the island.

Santorini Wine Roads Tour (Private) - 5 hours

Highlights/Description:

You will be met in Fira town (top of the cable car) by your Expert Sommelier and seated on a luxury air conditioned coach, where you will travel around the Island visiting three Family Estate Wineries under the continual guidance of your Sommelier. Each Winery is unique in architectural design and you will get to taste fifteen different styles of wine. Our Sommelier will initiate you into the magical artistic process from the grape to the bottle, providing all the knowledge you need whilst enjoying a series of awarded white and upcoming red wines as some of the prestigious signature dessert wines Vinsanto. You will also get a chance to take in the scenery whilst stopping off a Vineyard to see the unique cultivation technique of "Kouloura" and the specificity of soil & microclimate. It is a journey among the paths of ancient vineyards, simplicity traditional family run wineries, modern wine making techniques and most important…the Awakening of the senses whilst tasting The Finest Theraic Wines, returning, having a memorable & most enjoyable experience.
 
Tour Duration: 5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• English-speaking Sommelier guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from Fira town

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Cable car tickets (5 EUR pp) from old Port into Fira town
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Santorini Island Discovery - 5 hours

Highlights/Description:
Begin in the village of Mesa Gonia where you will visit one of the islands greatest treasures; the little Panagia Episkopi Church built in 1115 AD, during the Byzantine period and housing one of the three most priceless icons in the world. You will then be whisked up the hill to one of the more traditional villages, Pyrgos, which also boasts the ruins of a Medieval Venetian castle. The village is overlooked solely by the Mount Profitis Ilias and as one of the highest points of Santorini, offers a fantastic view of the crescent shaped island.  Next we are off to a wine tasting at a family owned wine estate in Megalochori, where you have the opportunity to learn a little about and sip on some of the famous wines of Santorini. The Grand Finale of our tour sees you entering the gates of the ancient site of Akrotiri, also known as the "Minoan Pompeii" which was destroyed and covered by the ashes of an enormous volcanic eruption in 1450BC. The settlement contained sophisticated multi-story buildings and magnificent fresco paintings signifying the just how advanced the Minoans were at that stage. After this exhilarating experience our guide will bring you safely back to your hotel to enjoy the rest of your stay on Santorini.

Tour Duration: 5 Hours
 Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:

• Licensed, English-speaking guide

• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Santorini: Santorini Highlights - 4 hours

Meet your local guide and driver as you disembark your ship this morning for a half day exploring Santorini. Drive to Fira, where you will visit the Archaeological Museum which exhibits many items from excavations across the island such as vases from the 5th century BC and items from the Minoan age. After a short stroll in Fira, you may like to drive north to Oia, the most picturesque little town of the island, with white-washed houses, windmills and caves, perched on the very edge of the cliff.

A visit to Domain Sigalas or Boutari Wines will convince you that this small island, with some the oldest vineyards in the world, produces truly unique white wines. Or if you are an art lover you may like to visit the unique experience that is the Art Space, an art gallery set within caves of pumice rock. These carved chambers are those of a century old winery that is still in production now. The old winery production machines can be viewed alongside contemporary art from around the globe followed by a tasting of the wine produced there if you wish.

Highlights:

• Drive to Fira to visit the Archaeological Museum before heading to Oia, the most picturesque little town on the island
• Try some of the white wine produced on the island from some of the oldest vineyards in the world

Greek Food & Wine Tasting - Santorini - 5 hours

Experience the culinary delights of Santorini through a Greek Food & Wine Tasting Tour. Explore two renowned wineries and indulge in a delectable 3-course Greek meze-style menu at a charming traditional restaurant, savoring the flavors of local cuisine and wines. This comprehensive tour offers insights into Santorini's rich food and wine culture, along with valuable tips on Greek gastronomy. Perfect for food enthusiasts, wine connoisseurs, adventurous souls, and anyone seeking an immersive gastronomic journey in Santorini.
 

Crete: Knossos - Archanes - Heraklion Museum -5 hours

Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.

We will first visit the Archaeological Museum in the town centre and then continue with the exploration of the ruins of Knossos Palace. The palace is one of the major must-see archaeological sites in Greece, presenting visitors with a rare glimpse into Minoan civilization. Accompanied by a knowledgeable, qualified archaeological guide who will offer in-depth personal attention, you will browse through the restored palace. By examining the structures the Minoans lived in, you will have the best avenue for piecing together the threads of the Great Minoan civilization. After a walk through the award winning historically restored village of Archanes, you can enjoy lunch in its picturesque main square, before returning back to the pier.

Duration: approx. 5 hours

Notes:
Because of the extensive walk in Knossos, comfortable shoes and a hat are required.

Knossos Palace and Historical Heraklion

Highlights/Description:

• Knossos Palace
• Heraklion

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from departure port 

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Introduction to the Cretan Diet & Cooking- 5 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Tasting of traditional delicacies and local drinks
• Walk in the fields and the olive groves and introduction to the local flora
• Introduction to the Mediterranean and Cretan diet
• Info booklet and Recipe Book
• Hands-on cooking class
• Outdoor lunch paired with wine and raki
• Visit to the chef’s nuno felt, mosaic and beeswax workshop
• Recipe book

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from port of Heraklion

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Looking for the Muses (Crete) - 5 hours

Highlights/Description:
 

• Visit to the oldest olive tree in the world
• Visit to 2 traditional wineries and their vineyards
• Visit to a traditional Cretan musical workshop
• Information about the unique viticulture and the indigenous grape varietals
• Two wine tasting sessions with 10 different types and styles of wines
• Visit to a Minoan farm and a Medieval wine press
• A traditional lunch in the picturesque village of Archanes
• Info booklet and wine certificate

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from port of Heraklion

• Meals, unless otherwise noted

Wine Tasting and Cooking in Crete - 5 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Visit to a traditional winery and its vineyard
• Tour around the scenic area of Peza
• Information about the unique viticulture and the indigenous grape varietals
• A wine tasting session with 5 different types and styles of wines
• Visit to a Minoan farm and a Medieval wine press
• Hands on cooking class
• Outdoor lunch paired with wine and raki
• Info booklet, wine certificate and recipe book

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from port of Heraklion

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Olbia: Costa Smeralda - 4 hours

In March 1962, a small group of international financiers, headed by Prince Karim Aga Khan, founded the Emerald Coast Consortium with the aim of developing tourism in the sites bought in the area. A series of high-quality structures were gradually created, and this, together with the beauty of the area, led Porto Cervo and the Emerald Coast to become one of the top level destinations of international exclusive tourism. The territory of Emerald Coast covers more than 80 kilometres of coastline, with a vast well-watered hinterland of rolling granite hills covered with Mediterranean vegetation and woods of wild olive trees. On the coast a number of resorts with a strong tourist vocation have been created and developed and are now internationally renowned. Porto Cervo was built from scratch and became the heart of the Emerald Coast.

After your visit to Porto Cervo continue to Baia Sardinia, one of the island’s finest beaches and on to the village of San Pantaleo, where you have opportunity to enjoy some free time at leisure, before returning to your ship.

Highlights:

• Discover the luxury resort of Porto Cervo, playground of VIPs
• Relax on the magnificent beach of Baia Sardinia, one of the finest in the Mediterranean

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (4 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Olbia: Archaeology & Wine in Sardinia - 4 hours

Depart your ship this morning by private vehicle along with your guide and drive to Arzachena to explore two of the most archaeological sites in Sardinia, dating from the second millennium BC. Begin your guided exploration with a visit to the Nuraghe La Prisgiona, a megalithic fortress composed by a central tower and surrounded by a fortified court and village. Continue from here to the Giants’ Tombs of Coddu Vecchiu, another important archaeological monument. This ancient tomb boasts a stunning, oversize monolithic stele (an ancient stone slab or pillar).
After this unique cultural experience, transfer to the Surrau winery. Surrounded by vineyards, this beautiful winery is a modern and elegant building with wide glass windows overlooking the countryside. Enjoy a visit to the winery before enjoying a wine tasting on site. At the end of your excursion you will be transferred back to your ship.

Highlights:

• Discover the unique nuraghi culture and builings that can only be found in Sardinia
• Taste the delicious fine wines of a modern and elegant countryside winery

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (4 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Barcelona: A Walk Through Barcelona and The Sagrada Familia Park Guell for Families- 6 Hours

Your chauffeur and your guide will
be waiting for you at the port. They will be at disposal for 8 hours. Your chauffeur will drive you to the city center of Barcelona.

A Walk Through Barcelona
You will start your day by an exciting 2-hour walking tour of the oldest parts of Barcelona: the Barri Gothic and Born neighborhoods. You will follow your guide as he/she leads you into the small, narrow streets to discover the vibrant, trendy ambiance of Born and the historical atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter. You will see the Santa Maria Del Mar church, the Royal Palace and the world famous “Las Ramblas” avenue. The fun facts and stories
told by our guide will keep your children highly engaged. The children will each get a game booklet to keep them engaged and entertained. After this tour, you will enjoy a
lunch break. Your guide will be there to give recommendations depending on your taste.

Included: 

• A Walk Through Barcelona:
• Private certified guide
• 2 hour walking tour
• Game booklet for
• each child
• 2-hour experience

• Park Güell:
• Private certified guide
• Skip-the-line tickets to
• Sagrada Familia and
• Park Güell
• Transfer in a private
• mini van
• Game booklet for
• each child
• 3-hour experience

Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)

Highlights:
An architectural delight awaits you today in Barcelona, one of the most exciting cities in Europe.  Receive a warm greeting at the port by your private guide and driver and commence your full-day tour with a visit to Gaudi's masterpiece, the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia.  Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be complete until 2028! 

Next, visit Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's most colourful creations.  Continue along Passeig de Gracia, to view Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Mila from the outside, with its brilliant wave-like façade.

After lunch, lose yourself in the narrow streets of the true heart of the city - the medieval Gothic Quarter.  Here you will visit the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, and the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter's earliest works are housed. At the end of your tour you are transferred back to the port.

• Walk the labyrinthine alleys of the medieval Gothic Quarter to find architectural gems like the Church of Santa Maria del Mar
• Admire the Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum, where some of the artist's earliest works are housed.

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)

Highlights:
Receive a warm greeting at the port from your private guide and driver and commence your half-day tour with a visit to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece; the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be completed until 2028!

Continue on to Parc Guell, a beautiful municipal garden with a superb panoramic view over the city; the focal point is a colourful sea-serpent-shaped central terrace. Visit the gatehouse where Gaudi lived during his later years which is now a museum dedicated to him. Transfer back to the port at the end of your tour.

• Visit the impressive, but still unfinished Sagrada Familia, masterpiece of the Catalan architect
• Wander through Parc Guell, the UNESCO World Heritage Site considered Gaudi's most colourful creation

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities