DAY 1 / ATHENS / POROS 

Join the ship in the mid-afternoon, settle into your cabin, and enjoy a welcome drink as you meet the crew along with your fellow passengers. The ship sets sail for Poros, a small pair of islands southwest of Athens, in the Saronic Gulf. Here, you’ll have a few hours to explore before the ship leaves for Poliegos, with the night spent at sea.

DAY 2 / POLIEGOS / FOLEGANDROS 

In the morning, arrive in Poliegos, a small island that is renowned for its stunning beaches and azure waters. Spend the morning enjoying the idyllic Aegaen Sea—swim or simply relax in the sun. A barbeque lunch will be served on deck.
In the afternoon, the ship sails for Folegandros, a breathtakingly beautiful but lesser-known island in the Aegean Sea. Disembark here to explore the village on foot, and take in the incredible view. In the evening, experience local cuisine by dining at one of the traditional Greek tavernas.

DAY 3 / SANTORINI 

This morning you arrive at one of the Cyclades most well-known islands: Santorini. Here, whitewashed houses sit perched on rocky cliff sides, with the deep blue Aegean Sea extending out to the horizon. Today, embark on an optional excursion to the Akrotiti excavations and tour some of Santorini’s postcard-perfect villages, including the small but stunning village of Oia, which boasts a breathtaking view of Santorini’s caldera. The ship moors overnight here.

DAY 4 / ANTIPAROS / PAROS 

En route to Paros, you’ll stop mid-morning for a swim in the enchanting bay of Antiparos. Upon arriving in Paros around noon, leave the ship to visit Parikia, along with the quaint village of Naossa. Tonight, take the opportunity to show off your dancing skills during our famous Greek Night. The ship moors overnight in Paros.

DAY 5 / DELOS / MYKONOS 

After arriving in Delos, you have the option to disembark for a tour of the unique archaeological site of Delos. One of the most sacred islands of antiquity, Delos is believed to be the birthplace of Apollo. Later on in the day, the ship will stop at one of Mykonos’ beautiful bays, where swimming is in order before sailing onward to the port of Mykonos. This famous island, which attracts a jet-set crowd, is yours to explore while the night is young. The ship spends the night moored here.

DAY 6 / SYROS 

After a relaxing morning swim, arrive in Syros, the capital of the Cyclades. The rest of the day is yours to revel in the beauty of Syros’ sandy beaches or explore the village, including its unique architecture. Mooring overnight in Syros.

DAY 7 / KYTHNOS / CAPE SOUNION 

In the morning, arrive in Kythnos, where you will enjoy a swim in tranquil and picturesque Kolones Bay. Next, the ship sets sail for Athens, arriving in the late afternoon after a stop at Cape Sounion, which is home to the ruins of an ancient Greek Poseidon temple. Celebrate this exceptional journey on board tonight at the Captain’s farewell dinner. Mooring overnight in the Bay of Zea in Athens.

DAY 8 / ATHENS / DISEMBARKATION 

Your journey ends here. Take your memories of the Cyclades with you as you disembark and make your way to your next destination.

• Accommodation in double or twin cabins with private SH/WC & air conditioning.
• Half-board: Buffet breakfast and 1 meal daily, including a Welcome Cocktail, a Greek night Evening, fun BBQ, weather permitting) and Captain’s Dinner.
• Regular (filter) coffee, tea and drinking water free all day.
• Use of fishing and snorkelling equipment (subject to availability).
• English-Speaking Cruise Escort.

Travel Documents

Passport

Greece is a European Schengen area country. Canadian citizens should ensure that their passports are valid for 3 months after the last date of travel in the Schengen area.

Citizens of other countries should consult with their travel agent or our office.

Visa

Canadian citizens are allowed entry into Greece without tourist visas when visiting for less than 3 months (90 days).

Packing List

        A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

Insurance

We strongly recommend the purchase of appropriate travel insurance for any trip outside of Canada. Information on travel insurance options can be found here.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted indoors on the ship but there are designated areas on the outside decks where one can smoke. It’s also not permitted in Greece to smoke in hotel guestrooms.

Weather

Summer temperatures ranging from mid 20’s to mid 30’s.

April to June – Warm climate with temperatures in the low 20’s to low 30’s.

July-September- Warmer climate with temperatures in the high 20’s to mid 30’s.

August- Hottest month of the year. Temperatures in the 30’s and sometimes even in the 40’s so make sure you protect yourself from the sun. Average temperature of the sea is mid 20’s.

Arrival / Departure

The closest airport to Athens is the Athens International Airport, which is about a 50 minute drive away from the port of Piraeus where you will embark the ship.

Once you have booked your trip, we will provide detailed instructions on where in Athens, Greece to check-in for your cruise.

There are a lot of interesting tourist attractions and activities in Athens, we highly recommend a stay here before or after your voyage. Have a look at some of our Pre and Post Tours.

The ship will not be ready for check-in before midday (unless otherwise stipulated in the itinerary). If you have any luggage that you need to have booked in so you can enjoy some free time in port, the purser may be able to accommodate you provided we know in advance.

The cruise will finish in the morning on the final day. It is necessary to have settled your onboard account and to have disembarked by this time as instructed by the cruise director on the day before.

Money

The official currency in Greece is the Euro.

All major credit cards and debit cards are accepted by larger shops and restaurants in Greece. However, when possible, carry enough Euros for the day and charge what you can to your credit cards.

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in towns/cities.

Gratuities (Tipping)

The gratuity suggested by the cruise line is USD 13 – 16 per guest per day.

Of course, gratuities are always at your discretion and the above recommendations are assuming you are thoroughly satisfied with services rendered. All gratuities will be equally divided amongst the entire crew.

Laundry

Laundry service is available for a small fee. Unfortunately, dry cleaning is not available.

Services & Activities On board

Aboard your yacht you will find an elegant dining room, spacious sun decks and comfortable lounges. No pools are on board as it is common for our guests to swim off our ships or for passengers to reach beaches by tender.  

There are fins, masks and snorkels available on board for use during the swim stops which are subject to availability. You can also find a small borrowing library as well as board games and playing cards for your amusement. Movies are often shown in the vessels’ Lounges, so please check in the Daily Program for show times.

Sports activities: Swimming off the ships is possible as well as snorkeling. At some stops it may also be possible to organize diving excursions.

Excursions

Shore excursions will be offered on board but are always subject to weather and docking conditions and a minimum number of participants. They can be purchased on board at an extra cost.

Excursions will usually involve a fair amount of walking on sandy beaches and up stairs. If you have difficulty walking any distances, please let us know in advance and we will advise you on the best way that we can accommodate you.

Please refer to our website or consult the purser on board for additional information.

Regrettably, most of our excursions are not suitable for guests in a wheelchair.

Activity Level / Strenuousness

Light to Moderate – At most, participation in the shore excursions requires the ability to walk reasonable distances.

Note that the high temperatures may make participation on this trip more strenuous than you may be accustomed to compared to the climate at home.

Food and Beverages

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your voyage. All drinks on board (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) are subject to extra charges.

You can’t have a Greek dish without olive oil. Olive oil is used liberally in cooking, salads, and drizzled over most dips and dishes. Olive oil is also said to be very healthy so don’t feel bad when indulging in some deliciously made Greek dishes.

Greek meals usually include classic dips such as tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and garlic), melitzanosalata (aubergine), and fava (creamy split pea purée). The delectable taramasalata (fish roe dip) is a must.  This mouth watering creamy blend of pink or white fish roe with either a potato or bread base is best with a drizzle of virgin olive oil or a squeeze of lemon.

If you have a sweet tooth you’ll enjoy this favourite Greek dish. Greeks love sweets, often based in olive oil and honey combinations, with flaky filo pastry.  The classic baklava is a start, layering honey, filo and ground nuts.

The Greek Ouzo is considered the national drink of Greece. Ouzo is either produced by partial distillation or the admixture of plain alcohol with aromatic herbs. Traditional Raki and Tsipouro.
 Apart from ouzo, Greece is known for these considerably stronger distilled local drinks that are homemade with the harvest of grapes from autumn.

Language

The language spoken on board is primarily English. In general, there is a multilingual environment and you will have a chance to mix with a variety of nationalities. Excursions and public announcements are always in English.

The official language of Greece is Greek. However, in most of the stops along the way, you will find that the local people speak at least some, if not fluent, English.

Medical Facilities

There are no medical personnel on board the ship. However, crew members are trained in first aid and the purser can contact onshore medical people for emergency and nonemergency situations and evacuation can be facilitated in the most urgent cases.

Cabin Amenities

All cabins have private, nicely appointed bathrooms fitted with showers. All cabins are air-conditioned and connected to a central music system. There is a telephone for intra ship communication. Our ship contains in lounge TV’s with satellite channels with at least a few English speaking programs. There are hairdryers in each cabin, flat-screen TV’s, public address system, safe boxes, mini-fridges and DVD players in the cabins.

The ship’s generator provides an electric voltage of 220V. Cabins are fitted with European type plugs so please remember to bring an adaptor if necessary.

For more details, please visit the Ships section on our website.

Phone & Internet

There is a phone in each cabin. Outgoing call rates are very high as a satellite connection is the only one possible.

WIFI is available in certain areas of the ship at a modest charge. As it is a satellite connection, internet speed will be very slow and we suggest it be used for urgent matters only.

If you would like to have regular data and phone connection while on land, we suggest either arranging an overseas roaming plan with your mobile operator, or pick up a local SIM card if you have an unlocked phone.

Children

Aboard the M/S Galileo there are no recreational facilities for children and reservations for those under the age of eleven are not advised. However, should you choose to bring children along please take into consideration that children onboard are their parents’/guardians sole responsibility.

Health / Vaccinations

There are no vaccinations required to travel to Greece. However, we suggest you consult your physician with any specific personal requirements for this program.

As always, we recommend being in good health prior to any long distance travel.

Safety & Security

Greece like any place in the world is generally but not completely safe. Greece has undergone significant governmental change in the last few years. Late night strolls alone are not advisable especially for women. Being tourists in a city, security measures should be taken. When going out it’s recommended that you not take any valuables or travel documents along to reduce the chances of having an unfortunate incident. Petty crime including pickpocketing and bag snatching may occur in Athens, Greece.  When in Athens, it’s advised that you not walk in the Monastiraki and Omonia districts or after dark as well as around the Larissa and Peloponissos railway/bus stations.

Jewelry, money, documents, etc., should be placed in your individual safe deposit boxes or given to the captain who will deposit items in the ship’s safe boxes free of charge.

To enhance public safety, police officers patrol subway stations, bus terminals and other public places. They are dedicated to improving the security of foreigners.

More information on this from the Canadian government can be obtained at:

www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/greece

Suggested Reading

Greek, A Language Map

Lonely Planet Greek Islands

Eyewitness Guide Greek Islands

Fodor’s Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands