Cruising the Greek Islands

One of the best ways to see a wide array of Greek islands is to hop on a cruise ship. Most are too small to have their own airports, and cruising is cheaper — and requires far less planning — than chartering a small sailboat. This way, you can relax as you travel, enjoying good food and an array of entertainment options.

Cruises vary in size, trip length and ports visited, with most being between five days and two weeks. Among the top places visited are the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Crete, Rhodes, Paros and Milos. The islands span the Aegean and Ionian seas, and most cruises leave out of Athens’ port, Piraeus. Most cruise ships are too large to dock at the islands’ ports, so tender boats are a typical experience for reaching the islands.

Among the cruise lines operating such trips are Celestyal, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Carnival, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and more. There are also plenty of smaller boat alternatives, from chartering a private sailboat to hopping aboard a yacht with a limited capacity of 30 or so people. Companies like Wind Star Cruises and Seafarer Cruises operate such trips.