While many of the world’s largest and most popular cruise lines offer sailings to the Greek Islands, some of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world feature Greek Island cruise ships that deliver more than just a sailing. Luxury liners offer over-the-top excursions, butler service, pampering beyond your wildest dreams, world-class cuisine, and more. Some of the top luxury small-ship cruise lines for Greek sailings include: Silversea, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Hebridean International, and Wind Star. Mid-sized luxury cruise lines such as Crystal Cruises, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas, also offer frequent Greek Island sailings.
Some of the most popular mainstream cruise lines to the Greek Islands include: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean. There are several popular cruise lines that specialize in Greek cruises. These include: Louis Hellenic Greek Cruises and MSC Cruises.
Greek Island cruise ships can take you on a Greek cruise that can last anywhere from three days up to 15 days or more. A typical seven day Louis Hellenic cruise will cover the Greek Isles and Turkey featuring ports of call such as Piraeus (Athens), Istanbul, Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, and Heraklion (Crete). Keep in mind that there are dozens of itineraries to choose from through the many cruise lines listed above.
The Greek Islands consist of some 1400 islands with more than 160 inhabited cays to explore. The Greek Islands are divided into seven main groups including: Argosaronic Gulf, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Sporades, Aegean, Ionian, and Crete – the largest of the Greek Islands. The Argosaronic Gulf includes: Aegina, Agistri, Hydra, and Spetses; Cyclades include: Andros, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Santorini; Dodecanese includes: Halki, Karpathos, Rhodes and Symi; Sporades includes: Alonissos, Skiathos and Skopelos; Aegean includes Thassos; Ionian features Ithaca, Kefalonia, Lefkas, and Zakynthos, and not far from the coast of North Africa is Crete which features one of the most picturesque cities in Europe – Rethymnon. The most popular Greek Islands are Santorini, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos, Paros, Skiathos, Los, Naxos, and Sifnos.
Depending on a variety of factors such as season, cruise line, length of cruise, itinerary, and accommodations, a Greek Island cruise can cost around $1,000 a week up to several thousand dollars or more. Whether you’re interested in spending your vacation aboard a small Greek Island cruise ship or a mega liner, there are many ways to enjoy discounts without sacrificing service, quality, and fun.
Cruise lines offer big rewards for advances booking. You may enjoy special incentives, credits, and cash back just for booking far in advance. If you’re one to procrastinate, you to may be rewarded. If a Greek cruise isn’t completely booked several weeks or so before the cruise is set to sail, prices are slashed. If you book at the very last minute, you may enjoy savings up to 75 percent. Cruise lines will do anything to fill up those last few cabins.
Other ways to enjoy Greek Island cruise deals include: booking with a group/family, taking advantage of package deals, booking online, and booking with popular cruise lines that sail to the Greek Islands. Another way to save would be to cruise off-season. The Greek Island cruise season runs from around the end of April through November. Some cruise lines operate Greek Island cruise ships in December, and even year-round. April, early May, and November and December are considered shoulder seasons, and lower fares are usually offered during these months. High season runs through the summer months.
Besides special rates for groups and families, just about every cruise line has special rates for seniors. A senior is typically defined as a person who is 55 or older. The only drawback is, to lock in the special rates you can’t book online. You must call a cruise travel specialist or book directly with the cruise line. Keep in mind that proof of age is required.
For more deals on Greek Island cruises, visit any of the following websites listed below or contact your local cruise travel specialist.
•Kayak.com
•Expedia.com
•Orbitz.com
•Travelocity.com
•VacationsToGo.com