Take a picturesque voyage crisscrossing through the islands and ports of Greece and Turkey aboard the Louis Cristal, an intimate cruise ship. Begin your tour in the heart of Greece, Athens. Explore this extraordinary city’s center and the renowned Acropolis Museum. Accompanied by a private guide you’ll learn about the legends and culture that make Athens one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. From here, board your floating hotel the Louis Cristal and voyage to exotic Turkey. Rich with history, culture and architecture, there is something for everyone in the country’s capital, Istanbul. See the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Church, Topkapi Palace and much more lead by your experienced private guide. Continue cruising onto Mykonos and explore this stunning island’s colourful shops, vibrant nightlife and serene sandy beaches. Head to Patmos where, weather permitting, you can debark and visit the Aegean island. Travel to the picturesque Turkish resort town of Kusadasi. Explore the ancient Greek metropolises of Ephesus before setting sail for Rhodes. This ancient city’s old town has been declared a World Heritage Site and you’ll explore its labyrinth of medieval streets and sights accompanied as always by private guide. Visit the legendary birthplace of Zeus, Crete. Remarkably historic Crete is one of Greece’s most culturally, architecturally and naturally diverse islands. Finish your cruise with the volcanic islands of Santorini. Visit the awe inspiring site of Thera, the ancient Minoan city preserved by a massive volcanic eruption thousands of years ago.

Featuring a variety of incredible Greek and Turkish highlights, travel by land and sea, private Guide and comfortable hotels.
This 10 day tour is a vacation of a lifetime! No small adventure, this private guided expedition should be considered by those who want an action packed vacation for good value.

Request a quote or call Kensington to speak to a European Destination Expert to learn more about various extensions and all the different ways of customizing your tour. Some examples are traveling further into Turkey to the magical cave city of Cappadocia or heading up into the mountains of Greece to the ancient monasteries of Meteora.

Our tours offer worry free hotel bookings, private airport transfers, public and private guided tours, local 24/7 emergency support, and a dedicated team of experts ready to customize to suit your needs. Note: the ship leaves the port on Friday. Cruise departs: Apr 15 & 29, May 13 & 27, June 10 & 24, July 8 & 22, August 5 & 19, September 2, 16 & 30, October 14 & 28.

Athens, the capital of Greece is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, won the city after defeating Poseidon in a duel. The goddess' victory was celebrated by the construction of a temple on the Acropolis, the site of the city's earliest settlement in Attica. As a city state, the coastal capital of Athens reached its heyday in the fifth century BC as a centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato’s Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Athens is also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles and its many other prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world. Nowadays, the city retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city's long history across the centuries.

Enjoy your private airport transfer today.

A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, ferry tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure as you relax at your hotel or enjoy the city sites.

Athens Gate Hotel (4*) is located in the historic district of Athens, opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Gate which was constructed by the Athenians to welcome the Roman emperor Adrianos (Hadrian). Very easy to access, it is located 500 meters from the Acropolis and 100 meters from the New Acropolis Museum. Constitution (Syntagma) Square, and the commercial center of Athens are only 500 meters away. The entrance to the Plaka is just a couple of blocks away. The view of the city from the hotel's Roof Garden is possibly the best in all of Athens. It was fully renovated in 2007. The style is modern and simple, as befits the area. The hotel has 7 floors, a roof garden bar and a la carte restaurant, a lobby bar-cafeteria and a cozy area with fireplace in the lobby.

Overnight at Athens Gate Hotel (4*).

This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take you to see the center of the city, Constitution Square(Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the NationalLibrary .Driving down Herod Atticus street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the Presidential Palace .On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian's Arch , visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea , the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally ' the harmony between material and spirit ', the monument that 'puts order in mind', the Parthenon.

Enjoy a private port transfer in Athens with private vehicle and driver.

Welcome on board and enjoy a relaxing cruise to Louis Cristal ship! Check in and get ready to discover the Turkey and Greece coastline.

Port charges and other services are included in the price of the cruise.

Depart Piraeus, Greece, on the M/S Louis Cristal, a 9-deck cruise ship with a host of amenities designed to make the passengers' voyage a comfortable one. The 480 well appointed staterooms are equipped with shower, WC, wash basin, hairdryer, air conditioning with individual thermostat control, safety boxes, telephone with direct dial , radio and TV. Ship facilities include: 3 lounges & disco, 1 restaurant, 2 dining rooms, bar, terrace bar, pool bar, Casino, Internet corner, duty free & travel value shops, photo gallery, shorex office, reception-cruise office, beauty salon, wellness center, swimming pool, whirlpool bath, telephone, satellite telephone, doctor on board.

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7-nt).

Istanbul (Byzantium, and later Constantinople) is the world's 3rd largest city and Turkey's cultural and financial center. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is therefore the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

Enjoy the stunning views as you travel by ship from Athens to Istanbul

Experience the great nightlife of Istanbul. With private transfers to and from your hotel, you'll enjoy dinner at one of the city's famous supper clubs. Your evening also includes a traditional Turkish show -a stunning performance of folk and belly-dancers, with Turkish music and traditional singers. (including 1/2 bottle of wine per person) .

Enjoy a comfortable night aboard your cruise ship and fall asleep to the sounds of nature and silence.

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7-nt).

Enjoy a privately guided full day tour of Istanbul and see the most important sights. Visit the St. Sophia Church, the pride and glory of the Byzantine architecture (excluding the Gallery floor); the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles; Byzantine Hippodrome, where once chariot races were held; and the Grand Bazaar, world’s largest covered bazaar with 4000 shops. Visit Topkapi Palace, the famous residence of the Sultans (The Harem section is not included in the tour).

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7-nt).

Mykonos is a Greek island renowned for its sandy beaches, cosmopolitan atmosphere and its intense nightlife. The island is part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Siros, Paros and Naxos. Many Greek and a few international celebrities have summer residences in Mykonos and can often be spotted having dinner at a small street-side table of an expensive restaurant or in a cozy taverna. The island has a legendary nightlife featured by a vast number of bars and nightclubs, but peace and tranquility can easily be found away from these areas.

Mykonos is world famous. It is the most cosmopolitan of the Greek Islands and attracts many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Enjoy an optional shared tour with other people offered by the cruise line or request a quote for a private tour. On the shared optional tour, your coach will take you to “Hora” the island’s capital where you will enjoy a walking tour in the narrow cobbled streets of the town, passing by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs and white–washed houses until reaching Alefkandra. Alefkandra is a charming corner of Hora, known also as the “Venice” of Mykonos. The houses are built on the sea, with wooden balconies that evoke Venice. These were built from the mid. 18th century onward and were homes of wealthy merchants and captains. At Louis Theoxenia Hotel, you will enjoy the atmosphere while drinking your refreshment accompanied by Greek ‘meze’. You will return then to Mykonos Town (Hora) from where you will take the ship’s shuttle service back to the port to meet your ship. The ship arrives in the port at 18:00 PM and departs at 22:00 PM. The tour is not included in the tour price and can be purchased at arrival.

Depart Piraeus, Greece, on the M/S Louis Cristal, a 9-deck cruise ship with a host of ammenities designed to make the passengers' voyage a comfortable one. The 480 well appointed staterooms are equipped with shower, WC, wash basin, hairdryer, air conditioning with individual thermostat control, safety boxes, telephone with direct dial , radio and TV. Ship facilities include: 3 lounges & disco, 1 restaurant, 2 dining rooms, bar, terrace bar, pool bar, Casino, Internet corner, duty free & travel value shops, photo gallery, shorex office, reception-cruise office, beauty salon, wellness center, swimming pool, whirlpool bath, telephone, satellite telephone, doctor on board.

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7-nt).

Kusadasi is a resort town in Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the district of the same name in Aydin Province. Its main industry is tourism and is a port of call for cruise ships. The city stands on a bay in the Aegean with the peninsula of Guvercin Ada sticking out into the sea at one end, and the mountain of Kaz Dagi behind. It is 90 km (56 mi) south of Izmir, the region's largest metropolitan center. It is 71 km (44 mi) from the provincial seat of Aydin situated inland.

Enjoy an optional shared tour of Patmos with other people offered by the cruise line or request a quote for a private tour. Patmos island is known as the site of the apocalyptic revelations of St. John the Divine, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is near the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island’s highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury. The tour will be available by tender boats, weather permiting and can be paid on the spot.

A tour to nearby Ephesus should not be missed, for here history truly comes to life. Walking towards the ancient harbor, down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, you pass architectural masterpieces like the Library of Celsus before arriving at the Great Amphitheater where St. Paul preached. This tour can be purchased on the spot, or on request we can arrange private tours.

Fall asleep in your cabin again tonight after a fun-filled day.

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7-nt).

Enjoy an optional shared tour with other people to Rhodes offered by the cruise line or request a quote for a private tour. On the shared tour, you will drive along the picturesque south-eastern coastline, dotted with white-washed villages, to Lindos, one of the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. See how this entire city is guarded by medieval walls which were constructed by the knights of St. John in the 13th century. From the Acropolis, marvel at the breathtaking views covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St. Paul’s bay, where the apostle cast anchor during his historic voyage to Ephesus. Proceed on foot uphill, to the great staircase leading from the Hellenistic Portico to the Acropolis and Temple of Athena. Should you wish to make your way up by mule, a fee must be paid to the local muleteer. After the guided tour of the Acropolis, enjoy some free time on your own in Lindos village before meeting up with your motor coach. Return to Rhodes city and enjoy a panoramic drive through the new part of the city before continuing to Mount Smith to see the ruins of ancient Rhodes, the Temple of Apollo and Diagoras Stadium. Afterwards your motor coach will drop you off at Porte d’Amboise, the start of the walking tour through the medieval city of Rhodes. Follow your guide through the northern part where once lived the knights and their attendants. View the Palace of the Knights, continue your walk down Chevaliers Road to the Marine Gate and return back to the ship. This day tour is not included in the price and can be paid at arrival.

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7-nt).

Santorini is made up of three close-knit islands, the most southerly of the Cyclades group. The islands have dramatic scenery created by a now inactive volcano situated in the centre of the main island Thira. On the west, white houses perch on cliffs that plunge dramatically to the sea; on the east there are long, beautiful beaches of black volcanic sand.

Agios Nicholaos, the capital of Lassithi, is a picturesque town in the eastern part of the island built on the northwest side of the peaceful bay of Mirabello. It is named after the charming 7th century Byzantine chapel of St.Nikolas, erected on the spot called "Nissi" during the 7th AD century, with its bell tower, drum and dome. Enjoy a shared tour with other people offered by the cruise line or request a quote for a private tour.

Enjoy an optional shared tour with other people offered by the cruise line and enjoy a cruise around the active crater of Nea Kameni islet. Sail along the strange formations of its volcanic shores, where black lava rocks and white pumice are combined beautifully with the red colour of lava. Take a walk to the top of the volcanic island where sulphur is spewed into the air by one of the craters. Enjoy this surreal landscape as your guide explains the creation and history of the volcano and the last eruption which lead to the destruction of the island of Santorini. The tidal wave created by the eruption was of such an immense magnitude, it destroyed the thriving city of Knossos on the island of Crete. As your caique enters the narrows of the two lava islets, Palea and Nea Kameni, the colour of the water changes from dark blue to sulphur green. In the distance, admire the breathtaking sight of Thira Town with its white washed houses clinging precariously on the rim of the Caldera. Take time to swim in the warm waters heated by Hot Springs on the sea floor. Continue your tour to the town of Thira. A short cable car ride will then take you down to the pier to rejoin the ship. REMARKS It is recommended to bring your swimsuit and a towel. This tour is not included in the tour price but can be paid for directly on the ship.

M/S Louis Cristal is a 9-deck cruise ship with a host of amenities designed to make the passengers' voyage a comfortable one. The 480 well appointed staterooms are equipped with shower, WC, wash basin, hairdryer, air conditioning with individual thermostat control, safety boxes, telephone with direct dial , radio and TV. Ship facilities include: 3 lounges & disco, 1 restaurant, 2 dining rooms, bar, terrace bar, pool bar, Casino, Internet corner, duty free & travel value shops, photo gallery, shorex office, reception-cruise office, beauty salon, wellness center, swimming pool, whirlpool bath, telephone, satellite telephone, doctor on board.

Overnight at Louis Cristal (4*) (7 nt).

Enjoy a private port transfer in Athens with private vehicle and driver.

Enjoy a half day private tour to Sounion. Drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza) to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th century B.C Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day you can see at least seven islands). This tour takes around 4 hours. Entrance fee to Cape Sounion is included.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Enjoy your private airport transfer today.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard).