The magical Greek Isles spread across more than 8,000 square miles of the sparkling Ionian and Aegean Seas, taking a cruise is a great way to experience multiple islands. A variety of cruise lines sail among the isles on ships large and small. The cruise season is generally spring through fall, but you can find cruises in the winter months, too. Some itineraries focus only on the isles, and others include additional Eastern and/or Western Mediterranean ports.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most-visited Greek
Isles: Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete.
Corfu is one of the greenest of the Greek Isles, receiving enough
winter rain to sustain pine forests and olive groves. Corfu Town, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, has impressive historic fortresses; Spianada Square, a
large town square with historic landmarks, a music pavilion, and a cricket
pitch; and restaurants serving delicious moussaka and dolmades.
Santorini, one of the most visually stunning Greek Isles, is part
of the rim of a water-filled, steep-sided caldera. Ride a cable car (or a
donkey) up the cliff to the town of Fira, where there are shops, galleries,
churches, and museums to explore. Or, stretch out on a lounge chair on a black
sand beach.
Mykonos is known for windmills, white sand beaches, and
sunbathing (which is sometimes clothing-optional). You can ride horses, visit
archaeological and maritime museums, or take a boat to the sacred isle of Delos;
Greek mythology says Apollo and Artemis, the twin children of Zeus, were born
there.
Crete is the largest of the Greek Isles and has scenic mountains,
valleys, rivers, and lakes. During the Bronze Age, Crete was the center of the
Minoan civilization, and you can see an excavated Minoan palace at the Knossos
archaeological site. There are national parks, beaches, and caves to explore as
well.
When cruising the Greek Isles, it’s important to wear plenty
of sunscreen, drink lots of water, and wear good walking shoes and a sunhat – most
of the isles have few trees and little shade.
If accessibility is an issue for you, note that many ports in
the Greek Isles use tender boats to transfer passengers from ship to shore and
back again. Also, many island towns have narrow or cobblestoned streets that
may not accommodate mobility aids.
There’s more to know about sailing the Greek Isles, so to plan
your cruise, talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor.
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