Cruise description

18 Night Cruise sailing from Athens to Venice aboard Aegean Odyssey. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Athens.

18 Night Cruise sailing from Athens to Venice aboard Aegean Odyssey. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Athens.

AEGEAN ODYSSEY is apremium class ship that is being especially rebuilt to cater for cruising in the coastal waters of the central and southern Mediterranean. The vessel provides the best features of a mid-size ship such as passenger space, a choice of restaurants and stability in inclement weather. It also has the personal service and intimate surroundings of a small ship. Other advantages of the ship’s size are that it is able visit ports that are too small for larger vessels, navigate around the scenic islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean and can also pass through the Corinth Canal.

Originally a mid-size vessel carrying up to 570 passengers, Aegean Odyssey’s new configuration includes generously sized suites, junior suites and staterooms with and without balconies. This means she now accommodates fewer than 380. By creating these new staterooms we will add a dimension of luxury to the vessel and this has enabled us to create a special level of accommodation entitled “Concierge Class”. These guests will benefit from a few extra features to those enjoyed by all passengers on the ship. Classically elegant but far from stuffy and formal, Aegean Odyssey has been designed to offer the sophisticated traveller every comfort at sea.

LIFE ON BOARD: FROM BOOKS TO YOGA
Aegean Odyssey has a beautifully appointed and well-stocked library. As well as a selection of books covering classical history and literature, the library also has range of modern fiction, magazines and newspapers. For those passengers who want to keep in touch with friends, check the markets or find out what’s happening in the world, there is also an internet centre on board. To attend to the body as well as the mind, you can relax on the sweeping sun decks and cool off in the outdoor pool. There is also a fully equipped gym with lockers and showers, a spa with his and hers saunas, massage and beauty treatment rooms and early morning yoga on the Lido Deck. The hairdressers and beauty centre are located on the Belvedere Deck adjacent to the reception area.

Highlights of this cruise:

Athens
The port of Piraeus is one of the last old-style Mediterranean ports from where you can catch ferries to all of the Greek islands and travel a short distance to Greece's capital city Athens.

In the heart of the city lies the ancient Plaka district, with its honeycomb of streets, little shops - and tavernas that come alive at night. Situated on the north and east slopes of the Acropolis, it is rich with historic sites, such as ancient monuments and churches. Within Athens there are eight large hills, including the Acropolis, and on the outskirts, Mount Parnitha, Mount Pendeli and Mount Hymettos surround the city. A trip to Athens' most famous tourist attraction, the impressive Parthenon built on the Acropolis around 2,500 years ago, will be memorable to say the least.

There are an extraordinary number of historic tourist sights in Athens and many of these are known world-wide. Some of the top Athens attractions include the Agora - a grand, ruined Roman building, Hadrian's Arch - originally the city gate linking the Roman quarters with original town of Athens and the stunning Dionysos Theatre - the world's oldest theatre where many great plays have been performed over the years.

Santorini
Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is one of the best-known of the Cyclades where towering cliffs crowned by tiny white houses plunge straight into the depths of the sea. The steep coastline of the west is countered by the vast beaches of the east side, some of them sandy and others with pebbles.

Santorini is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from Oia town, the strange white aubergine, the town of Thira and naturally its very own active volcano. There are also fantastic beaches such as the Perissa and Kamari.

Mykonos
Mykonos is the most famous tourist island in the Eastern Mediterranean and certainly the most cosmopolitan among the Cyclades. Mykonos easily captures the visitors interest, thanks to the great variety of choices on offer here. There is something for everyone; “holidays” here can mean anything from the most peaceful relaxation to the wildest partying.

Located on the islands’ western harbor, the “Chora” of Mykonos is a very beautiful old island town, which in the past had its own merchant fleet. Today it maintains a balance between tourism-related development and the preservation of its very picturesque features.

There are whitewashed houses, proud windmills, a multitude of chapels, busy back streets with balconies full of flowers and a multicolored fleet of fishing boats in the port.

In the background is the Paraportiani Church; alongside it, sea-washed “Little Venice”. After sunset everything changes: crowds throng this luxurious marketplace and the restaurants, bars and discos consign the tiny town to the pleasures and the different rhythm of the night.

Ano Mera one of the most eastern side of the island, a tranquil village in the midst of farms, is a lovely locale, known for its excellent taverns. It is ideal for bicycling and hiking, and there are beaches nearby for swimming and water-sports. Tourists may also visit the two monasteries in the area, “Tourliani” and ”Paleokastro”.

As long as the sun is shining, the island’s greatest attractions are the many beautiful beaches and the clean blue-green sea. Most of the beaches are on the south side of the island. Among these are the much frequented Platy Gialos, Psarou, Ornos, Paranga “Paradise” (Kalamopodi), “Super Paradise” (Blintri), Elia, Kalafati, Kalo Livadi, and Lia. On Mykonos western shore are Agios Stefanos, Houlakia, Tourlos, Megali-Ammos and Agios Yannis (opposite Delos).

A day devoted to exploring Delos is a must before returning home. This ancient ruined city dedicated to Apolo, was also a major center in the Mediterranean.

There are a number of small museums in Mykonos town and, during the summer, there is an outdoor cinema, the Cine Mando, and various art exhibitions, theatrical performances and concerts.

Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is located on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist resorts, a seaport and the center of the Dubrovnik–Neretva county.

Nicknamed "Pearl of the Adriatic", Dubrovnik is a beautiful medieval walled city which is over 1,000 years old and virtually untouched by the modern world. The same light-coloured stone can be seen in the marble-paved squares, cobbled streets, tall houses, convents, churches, palaces, fountains and museums. The oldest pharmacy in Europe, located in the Friars Minor monastery is a highlight.

Venice
The city of Venice sits at the top of the Adriatic Sea in the north east corner of Italy. It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city sits on 118 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon – a salt marsh. In the 12th century Venice became a city state and its location at the top of the Adriatic made it a key naval and commercial centre as well as a flourishing art centre.

Modern Venice is stunning and retains the wonderful history of this unique city. It is a city of museums, galleries, piazzas, palaces, churches and more. One visit isn’t enough to see all that Venice has to offer but visitors should try and see the Basilica San Marco and San Marco Square, the Doges Palace and the Gallerie dell'Accademia which houses some of Italy’s finest art treasures.