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Classical Greece Land & Cruise - WCBD TV
Highlights
- Day 1: Fly to GreeceWe begin with an overnight flight across the Atlantic.
- Day 2: Arrive in AthensUpon arriving in Athens, we check in to our luxurious accommodations that are conveniently located near the Acropolis. Enjoy a restful afternoon or take time to explore the city independently before getting to know fellow travelers at tonight’s Welcome Dinner.
Meals Included: Dinner
- Day 3: City Tour & Leisure TimeSavor an included breakfast every morning of our getaway. Today, we meet our local guide for a fascinating tour of Athens featuring Parliament, the Presidential Palace, the Temple of Zeus, Olympic Stadium, and the Acropolis, which offers storied masterpieces of classical Greek architecture and beautiful vistas. This afternoon, we have free time in the heart of the city at Syntagma Square. Later, you may freshen up and relax at the hotel before our dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 4: DelphiWe depart for Delphi this morning, traveling through the picturesque village of Arachova on the slopes of Mount Parnassus and Thebes, Livadeia. Reaching our destination, we explore the Delphi Archaeological Site and Museum with a local expert. Admire the Oracle of Delphi, one of the most important shrines in ancient Greece. Built over a sacred spring, it’s considered the center of the world and symbolizes unity. Afterwards, we pass through charming villages en route to our comfortable accommodations in Kalambaka.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5: MeteoraWe travel to Meteora today, where monasteries lie between the earth and sky atop huge rocks featuring priceless historical and religious treasures. Enjoy a guided tour through some of these ancient pinnacles that were home to hermit monks as early as the 9th century, once their ideal place for solitude and prayer. Before returning to our hotel in Athens, we visit the battlefield area of Thermopylae to see the Leonidas Monument, created in honor of the Spartan king who heroically sacrificed himself during the famous battle in 480 B.C.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 6: Cruise to MykonosOur spectacular four-night cruise on the Aegean Sea with Celestyal Cruises aboard Celestyal Cruises’s Discovery begins today and our first destination is Mykonos, known for its beautiful sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife. Enjoy time in the evening to explore this Mediterranean paradise’s open-air tavernas, whitewashed buildings, and cobblestone streets. Later, we set sail for Kusadasi.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7: Kusadasi & PatmosOur exciting day includes two ports of call: Kusadasi and Patmos, both brimming with historical sites. In the morning, we arrive on the Turkish coast for an exciting shore excursion - a guided tour of ancient UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean’s largest Roman archaeological sites. See the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Houses of the Patricians, and the former Temple of Artemis location, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the afternoon, our ship sails to the Aegean island of Patmos. Choose from free time in Skala village or book optional tours of the Monastery of Saint John, who authored the Book of Revelations, or the Cave of the Apocalypse, where he received his visions. After dinner, our cruise ship departs for Rhodes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8: RhodesWe dock in Rhodes this morning, the largest island in the Dodecanese chain. The present-day city still looks much as it did in the 1300s, surrounded by Byzantine walls and fortresses built by the Knights of Rhodes. Embark on a guided tour through Lindos and discover a clifftop archaeological site with extraordinary views of the Mediterranean Sea in its awe-inspiring Acropolis. Next, we visit the Medieval City of Rhodes for a guided tour that includes the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, also known as the Kastello. Your afternoon is free to explore the cobbled Street of the Knights, winding alleys, towers, and decorated facades. After dinner, we cruise to Crete.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 9: Crete & SantoriniEnjoy two ports of call to explore on your own today, beginning with Heraklion on the island of Crete. View its astonishing Venetian fortress at the harbor gate and discover the wonders of Old Town, such as the gorgeous pedestrian mall on August Street, or book an optional tour of Knossos Palace. Later, we visit Skala on the volcanic isle of Santorini. Marvel at the breathtaking caldera, created by the island’s volcano in ancient times, or sign up for an optional tour to Oia, a romantic cliffside town that is the most photographed location in all of Greece.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 10: National Archaeological MuseumAfter breakfast on the ship, we disembark and enjoy a picturesque drive back to where our adventure began in Athens, at the same charming hotel. We visit the National Archaeological Museum, devoted to ancient Greek art and antiquities, then the rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. Browse unique gifts at the Monastiraki flea markets or take a stroll through Anafiotika or Plaka, both charming neighborhoods with great shops and eateries. This evening, we celebrate our unforgettable Greek adventures at a delicious Farewell Dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 11: Fly HomeWe return home with wonderful memories of our Greek adventure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
What's Included
All Accommodations
- 2 nights at Divani Palace Acropolis in Athens
- 1 night at Grand Meteora Hotel in Kalambaka
- 1 night at Divani Palace Acropolis in Athens (before our cruise)
- aboard Celestyal Cruises’ Discovery
- 1 night at Divani Palace Acropolis in Athens (before we return home)
Attractions & Highlights
- Athens guided walking tour feat. the Acropolis & time at leisure
- Delphi Archaeological Site & Museum
- Meteora monasteries guided tour
- Battlefield area of Thermopylae
- Time at leisure in Mykonos, Patmos, Heraklion & Santorini
- All meals included aboard the ship
- Mykonos, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; Patmos, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Crete, Greece; Santorini, Greece
- Ephesus guided walking tour
- Rhodes guided walking tour feat. Lindos Acropolis & Medieval City’s Palace of the Grand Master of the Nights
- National Archaeological Museum
22 Excellent Meals
- Welcome Dinner in Athens
- All meals included aboard the ship
- Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant
Learn more about what's included with the Holiday Advantage.
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