Windstar Cruises

Athens Istanbul Itinerary

Meanwhile, modern Athens buzzes busily below, a city of chic restaurants, lively bazaars, sophisticated banking, historical museums, and the sights and smells of the Plaka district.

Sunday - MYKONOS, GREECE
Weather permitting... today we visit Mykonos, the classic Greek isle, with hundreds of white-washed churches and cubist houses; round, thatched windmills catching the brisk breeze; and a harbor bobbing with fishing boats and luxury yachts. Sit in the shadow of a café and watch as native fishermen and jet set Europeans pass by. Or explore the Parportiani church, a Byzantine architectural masterpiece.

Monday - SANTORINI, GREECE
Santorini is a spectacular sight, especially when approached by sea. Steep cliffs rise dramatically from deep azure waters. The capital of Fira is located 1,000 feet above our anchorage, accessible by donkey, cable car, or foot. The views from on top are unforgettable: stark white-washed buildings are scattered along the clifftop village; the sea stretches outward from black volcanic sands. Santorini has an explosive history of volcanic activity, and some say that here in the ruins at Akrotiri lie the remnants of the lost civilization of Atlantis.

Tuesday - RHODES, GREECE
Rhodes, called the island of roses, is mountainous, with beautiful beaches. On the plains, figs, wheat, and citrus fruits grow. When the three ancient Doric cities of Ialissos, Lindos, and Kameros banded together in 408 B.C. to create a new capital, Rhodes flourished. Great temples were erected, a modern code of law was instituted, and the Colossus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built to symbolize Rhodian strength and wealth. In 1291, the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem took refuge on Rhodes and reigned for over two centuries. The Street of the Knights, from the 15th- and 16th-centuries, leads to the Palace of the Grand Masters.

Wednesday - BODRUM, TURKEY
White-washed and flower-bedecked Bodrum is one of the most charming cities and sophisticated resorts on the Aegean coast. Beautiful, Turkish-made wooden boats called gulets line the waterfront and can be hired for the day. (In fact, Bodrum has been a center for boatbuilding since the days of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.) Local restaurants feature specialties of octopus and calamari; shops are filled with Turkish treasures such as leather and woven rugs.

Thursday - KUSADASI, TURKEY
Not far from the pier you'll come across Meryemana, the House of the Virgin Mary, said to be where St. John took the mother of Jesus after the crucifixion. From there you'll enjoy a panoramic view of Ephesus below. Take time in Kusadasi for a little shopping and a cup of Turkish coffee.

Friday - AT SEA

Saturday - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul… The city has worn many names over the centuries, and its rich mix of cultures and history is present everywhere. Aya Sofya, built in 537A.D. and one of the world’s greatest churches, is here; along with the Blue Mosque, the splendid mausoleums of Suleyman the Magnificent, the palace of the Ottoman sultans, and museums filled with Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. Throughout the city are the sounds of the evening call to prayer, the smell of exotic spices, and the sight of minarets against the sky.

Cost of This Itinerary

The least expensive cabin costs:
$486 per person per night

The most expensive stateroom costs:
$700 per person per night