Explore Greece & Turkey with private tours and a wonderful cruise. Add more days in Athens and discover the ancient sights of Greece. Set sail on a classic Aegean voyage through the islands of Greece and Turkey on this luxurious cruise- a 148 passenger vessel- with 94 crew on board! Discover the legends, history, culture and wonders of this ancient region during shore excursions accompanied by private guide and driver. Spend a couple days in Athens, an enchanting metropolis which is a fusion of past and present, where modern life takes place amongst ruins of old. Visit the Acropolis, one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments. Pay homage to the ancient gods of Greece at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon. Cruise to Mykonos and explore this stunning island’s colourful shops, vibrant nightlife and serene sandy beaches. Explore the volcanic islands of Santorini.

Visit the awe inspiring site of Thira, the ancient Minoan city preserved by a massive volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. Voyage to Rhodes, once famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Accompanied by private guide you’ll tour the Filerimos Monastery and the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a self-guided city tour of Turkey’s Bodrum, a charming seaside resort city that is quickly gaining a reputation as the Monte Carlo of the Aegean. Travel to the vibrant Turkish resort town of Kusadasi and the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Finish your adventure with a couple days in Turkey’s capital, Istanbul. Rich with history, culture and architecture, there is something for everyone. See the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Church, Topkapi Palace and much more led by your experienced private guide and driver.

Available Cruise Departure Dates (2012):
Athens-Istanbul: May 5, 19, 26, Jun 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Jul 14, 28, Aug 11, 18, 25, Sep 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 20
Istanbul – Athens: May 19, 26, Jun 2, 9, 16,23,30, Jul 7, 21, Aug 4, 18, 25, Sep 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 27

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.

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 (4*).

In ancient times, the Aegean Sea was the birthplace of two ancient civilizations – the Minoans of Crete and the Mycenean civilization of the Peloponnese. Later arose the city-states of Athens and Sparta among many others that constituted the Athenian Empire and Hellenic civilization, followed by Persian and Roman invasions leading to inhabitations by the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuq Turks, and the Ottoman Empire. Enjoy a relaxing cruise through the waters that the earliest civilizations of the Eastern Mediterranean sailed, and make landfall to explore historic port cities along the way.

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 your Windstar cruise! After boarding, take time to explore the vessel and unpack in your cabin - your home for the next number of nights!

All meals are included during your onboard experience, including room service 24 hours. Lunch is served daily between 12:30pm and 2:00pm in the Veranda Café. Afternoon snacks are served between 4:00pm and 5:00pm in Compass Rose. Appetizers are served from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Lounge. Dinner is at 7:30 to 9:30pm – open seating. Breakfast is served 8:00am to 10:00am in the Verandah / Continental breakfast is served 6:00am to 11:00am in Compass rose.

Port charges for your multi-day cruise are included.

The Wind Spirit is a sleek, four-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,350, the Wind Spirit feels like your own private yacht. Wind Spirit features wide open, teak decks—quite unusual for small ships. With over 10,000 square feet of open deck space, guests will find hidden nooks for private moments giving them a feeling of being on their own private verandah. Onboard amenities include WindSpa, casino and entertainment lounge, water-sports platform, library, pool and hot tub.

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

The crew of the Windstar Star/Spirit cruise is made up of 94 international staff. The Captain and nautical staff are European. Hotel senior staff are American and European. Stewards and service personnel are Filipino and Indonesian. The folllowing activities and equipment are offered on a complimentary basis; water-skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, ski-tubing and snorkel gear. Scuba diving is available for a fee.

After lunch, take time to do some exploring yourself. The vessel will not leave port until after dinner this evening at approximately 10pm.

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

An optional tour that you may be interested in doing is going to Thira and Oia villages. Driving along the road you will have the unique opportunity to admire the panoramic views of the Aegean sea and the neighbouring islands. Enjoy the unique layers of lava can be seen on the face of the rock, each layer is another phase in the life of this active volcano. Built on the Caldera rim, Oia Village is an excellent example of Cycladic architecture. Accompanied by your guide, explore the village, walk along the cobble-stoned streets adorned by white washed houses and blue shutters. The tour will then proceed to the town of Thira, an attractive town perched on the Caldera rim. Here, you will have time to stroll along the lanes of the little town or relax over a coffee as you gaze down upon Kamenes, the two black volcanic islets in the Caldera bay. A short cable car ride will take you down to the pier to rejoin the ship. Please let your Sales Advisor know if you would like to add this tour to your itinerary.

Embark your cruise ship for a mid afternoon departure from Santorini and take in the beautiful coastline as we journey south to Messina in Sicily.

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

Depart from the port with a private vehicle and guide. Start your tour with Mandraki Harbor and admire the Italian buildings in the centre of Rhodes town. Continue your tour with the aquarium and Monte Smith Hill, where you will take in a view of the ancient stadium of Diagoras (Acropolis of Rhodes with the Temple of Apollo). Continue to Filerimos, a hill-top monastery. You can visit the ruins and foundations of the Temple of Zeus, Polieus (4th century BC) , temple of Athena (3rd century BC), and a Doric fountain of the 4th century BC. Return to port.

After a few hours ashore this morning, you will re-embark before your vessel makes its way towards Bodrum in Turkey.

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

After spending the full day in Bodrum, your vessel will depart this evening around 7pm.

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

Depart the Kusadasi port with your private driver and guide, passing through lush countryside en route to the site thought to have been host to the Virgin Mary in her final years of life, the House of Virgin Mary. From there, a short drive will bring you to Ephesus, the most important ancient ruins in Turkey. Upon arrival, enter the Open Air Archaeological Museum where you will see the Odean, Fountain of Trajan, the temple of Hadrian, and the steam baths of Scholastika. The impressive Library of Celsius, adorned with columns and statues is yet another key remnant of the Greek, and later Roman, past that can be seen. One of the largest theatres of the ancient world, the Grand Theatre, remains at the site of Ephesus, with a capacity of 24,000 seats. Explore these ancient marvels, an invaluable link to antiquity. Follow your tour with a brief carpet presentation before returning to the ship.

After spending the day in Kusadasi, the vessel will pull out of port late afternoon (approx. 4pm).

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

Enjoy a full day at sea today, as you cruise onward toward your city of disembarkation: Istanbul. Make use of the ship's onboard facilities, or relax as you sail the open waters. The day is yours.

Overnight at Windstar Wind Spirit (7N).

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.

In Istanbul, enjoy a port transfer with a private vehicle and driver.

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).

Also, visit the Underground cistern, the largest of the underground water reservoirs from the Byzantine era. The pillars were brought from antique cities of Asia minor. The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that still lie  near the south-west of Hagia Sophia, which was founded by Justinianus I, a Byzantine Empire (527-565) This cathedral-sized cistern is an underground chamber of 143 by 65 metres, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres of water.

Enjoy an exclusive Turkish lunch. (included in the tour cost)

Boasting a wonderful location, the Sultanhan Hotel (4*) is a warm guesthouse reflecting Turkish hospitality, authentic decor and oriental east culture. Located on one of the most popular streets of Istanbul, Sultanhan Hotel is close to the tram stop and all the major attractions in the city. The hotel is within walking distance of St Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Golden Horn, Archaeology Museum, Obelisks, Suleymaniye, underground cistern and the covered Bazaar.

Overnight at Sultanhan (4*).

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

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

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) .

Overnight at Sultanhan (4*).

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).