Cruise Ships For Greek Island Hopping: Best Options

The Greek islands are known for their stunning beaches, rich history, iconic landmarks, and delectable cuisine. With over 6,000 islands, a cruise is the best way to explore this magical, romantic destination. From luxury yachts to family-friendly ships, there's a cruise for every type of traveller.

For those seeking a smaller, more casual experience, Windstar Cruises offers a special Greek islands experience, visiting smaller ports such as Monemvasia and Gythion. Disney Cruise Line is ideal for families, with entertainment and character appearances that will keep the kids entertained. Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady offers a lively megaship party atmosphere without the presence of children.

For travellers seeking immersive itineraries, Silversea offers sleek, Italian-designed ships with all-inclusive dining, drinks, shore excursions, and accommodation. Azamara Cruises offers longer stays in port, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

With so many cruise lines and itineraries to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect Greek island cruise to suit your travel style and budget.

Best Greek cruises for families

Greece is a magical, romantic destination with stunning coastlines, ancient ruins, and delicious Mediterranean cuisine. The Greek Islands are a great choice for families, offering a mix of fascinating destinations, kid-friendly activities, and cultural experiences.

Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line is ideal for families, and the Disney Dream ship offers a well-rounded Greek cruise experience. The 2,500-passenger ship is easy to navigate, with plenty of entertainment and character appearances to keep kids entertained. The magical kids' clubs feature replicas of iconic movie scenes, like Andy's room from "Toy Story" and the Millennium Falcon's cockpit from "Star Wars."

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas

For families seeking a mix of fun and educational activities, the Voyager of the Seas is a great option. This ship offers waterslides, laser tag, and other entertainment options. It also provides the opportunity to explore ancient ruins and learn about Greek history and mythology.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas

The Brilliance of the Seas is perfect for those seeking a cultural trip to Greece. It offers longer stays in port, allowing you to delve deeper into the history, culture, and natural beauty of the Greek Islands. You can explore ancient ruins, enjoy stunning sunsets, and indulge in delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

NCL Viva

The NCL Viva is another great choice for families, offering plenty of amenities and activities for kids. It departs from Athens and makes stops in Alexandria, various Greek islands, and Turkey.

Celestyal Journey

For a more intimate experience, consider the Celestyal Journey, which holds about 1,200 passengers. This ship offers a mix of well-known Greek ports like Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos, as well as longer sailings to Turkey and Montenegro. With eight bars, seven restaurants, two pools, and a spa, there's something for everyone.

When planning a Greek cruise, it's recommended to arrive a few days early to explore Athens and adjust to any time differences. The best time to visit is between April and October, when temperatures are mild and pleasant.

Best adults-only cruises for party animals

If you're looking for a lively, adults-only cruise to the Greek islands, Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady is the perfect choice. With a casual vibe and a vibrant nightlife, this megaship offers the best of both worlds. Here's what makes it the top pick for party animals:

• A unique onboard experience: The Resilient Lady combines a laid-back atmosphere during the day with a vibrant party scene at night. You'll find passengers and crew dressed up in creative ways, adding to the fun.
• Immersive entertainment: The ship comes alive after dark with a variety of entertainment options. From lounge singers to impromptu atrium dance parties, secret visits to the "crew bar", and Scarlet Night—a pool deck rave where everyone wears red.
• Indulgent extras: An app allows you to order champagne anywhere on the ship, and there's even a tattoo parlour for those looking to make some spontaneous decisions.
• Flexible itineraries: The Resilient Lady offers cruises ranging from seven to eleven nights, departing from Athens and visiting the hottest spots in Greece, including Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos, as well as stops in Croatia, Turkey, and Montenegro.
• Affordable pricing: With rates starting at $145 per person, per night, for an inside cabin, the Resilient Lady offers a great value for your money.

In addition to Virgin Voyages, there are other cruise lines worth considering for adults-only party experiences:

• Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas: While this ship is one of the older vessels in the Royal Caribbean fleet, it still offers a range of fun activities like trivia, pool games, nightly theatre performances, and live music. The best part is the budget-friendly pricing, with sailings starting at just $85 per person, per night.
• Celestyal Cruises' Celestyal Journey: This line is based in Greece, offering a unique perspective on Greek island sailings. The recently refurbished Celestyal Journey accommodates about 1,200 passengers, providing a personalised experience with a wide range of amenities, including a spa, fitness centre, eight bars, and seven restaurants. Their itineraries offer great flexibility, ranging from four to 28 nights, departing from Athens or Thessaloniki, and visiting popular Greek destinations like Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos.
• Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity's contemporary ships are ideal for stylish design, classy dining, and buzzing nightlife. Their Greek island itineraries focus on popular ports like Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, and Katakolon, with cruises ranging from seven to twelve nights.

Best budget-friendly cruises

If you're looking for a budget-friendly cruise to Greece, there are a few options to consider. Here are some of the best choices:

• Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas: While this ship is one of the oldest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, debuting in 2000, it still offers plenty of fun activities such as trivia, pool games, nightly theatre performances, game shows, dancing, and live music. The best part for budget-conscious travellers is the price, with sailings of six to eight nights starting at just $85 per person, per night, for an inside cabin. These cruises typically sail between Rome and Athens, Barcelona and Athens, or round-trip from Ravenna, Italy, and include stops in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Cyprus, and Turkey.
• Celestyal Cruises: This Athens-based cruise line operates two comfortable, mid-sized ships around the Greek islands and the eastern Mediterranean, ranging as far as Egypt and Israel. They are known for their short-break cruises, offering three and four-night voyages that whisk you to Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, and Santorini in a long weekend. Celestyal Cruises provides complimentary dining and excursion discounts, making their cruises exceptional value. With many Greek specialties featured on the menu, they also offer a truly authentic taste of Greece.
• Disney Dream: If you're travelling with children, the Disney Dream cruise ship offers a great balance of entertainment for both kids and adults. While it's not Disney's newest ship, it still offers plenty of activities for the whole family. The small size of the 2,500-passenger ship makes it easy to navigate, and it's typically more affordable than Disney's newest vessels. The Disney Dream sails five-, seven-, and nine-night voyages from $322 per person, per night, for a windowless inside cabin. Some itineraries sail round-trip from Rome, while others cruise one-way between Rome and Barcelona, with stops in Athens, Mykonos, and other ports in Greece.
• Variety Cruises: This family-owned, Athens-based cruise line offers a wide choice of small ship cruises with a focus on off-the-beaten-path itineraries. While you'll visit popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, you'll also explore less touristy locations such as the ancient fortified town of Monemvasia, the arty island of Hydra, and the sleepy island of Kythira. Variety Cruises' itineraries include stops in the Cyclades, the Peloponnese, and classical sights like Delphi, Epidaurus, and the Corinth Canal. Life on board is relaxed, with regular stops for swimming, and most days are half-board so you can try local restaurants ashore.

Best small-ship luxury cruises

The Greek islands are a popular cruise destination, known for their whitewashed villages, beautiful beaches, and ancient ruins. Small ship cruises are a great way to visit the smaller, quieter islands that larger ships can't reach, offering a more intimate experience. Here are some of the best small-ship luxury cruises for the Greek islands:

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises' namesake, Wind Star, is a 148-passenger sailing yacht that offers a unique Greek islands experience. Due to its small size, it can access smaller ports that larger ships cannot, such as Monemvasia and Gythion. Wind Star provides an upscale experience with elevated dining and service, and all cabins offer at least one window. Their cruises typically depart from Athens and visit islands such as Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.

SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream Yacht Club operates intimate yachts that carry only 112 guests, creating a laid-back and al fresco style perfect for exploring the Greek islands. Their itineraries include popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, as well as smaller islands such as Naxos and Patmos.

Ponant

Ponant is a French cruise line that has expanded significantly in recent years, offering cruises on both their chic Explorer Class yachts and their beautiful Sister Ships. Their Greek islands cruises depart from Athens and visit well-known islands like Mykonos and Santorini, as well as less touristy destinations such as Symi, Hydra, and Limnos.

Sea Cloud Cruises

Sea Cloud Cruises offers a romantic sailing experience on magnificent three- and four-masted ships. These ships are a sight to behold as they sail through the Mediterranean, showcasing the fascinating process of hoisting sails by hand. With a maximum of 136 guests, they can access smaller ports that larger ships cannot, such as Paxos, Spetses, Patmos, and Milos.

Silversea

Silversea is known for their all-inclusive luxury cruises and personal service. Their Greek island cruises tend to visit the more popular islands, including Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos, on round-trips from Athens or voyages culminating in Venice. Their ships range in size, accommodating between 296 and 608 guests.

Seabourn

Seabourn offers modern small ships with pampered accommodations. They are a great choice for longer Greek island cruises, with 14-night voyages that include Skopelos, Naxos, Santorini, and Kos, as well as stops in Malta and Sicily. They also offer itineraries combining Greece with Croatia and Slovenia, and occasionally longer cruises to Dubai and beyond.

Best cruises for short breaks

Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises is a Greek-based cruise line that offers an authentic Greek vacation experience. With its headquarters in Athens, the company focuses on sailings around the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean. Their ships, the Celestyal Journey and the Celestyal Crystal, are comfortable mid-sized vessels that can accommodate around 1,200 passengers.

Celestyal offers a range of short-break cruises, including three and four-night voyages from Athens to Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, and Santorini. These cruises are ideal for those who want to explore the Greek islands without committing to a longer trip. Onboard activities include Greek dance lessons and craft classes, and the cruise line offers complimentary dining and excursion discounts, making it exceptional value for money.

Variety Cruises

Variety Cruises is another option for those seeking a small-ship experience. Their yachts carry fewer than 50 passengers, allowing them to access ports that larger ships cannot reach. Variety offers a seven-night "Wines of Greece" cruise, which includes wine tastings at local vineyards in hotspots such as Nemea, Santorini, and Tinos. This cruise is perfect for wine enthusiasts who want to combine their love of wine with a short break at sea.

Royal Caribbean

For a short break on a larger ship, Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas offers a seven-night Greek Isles itinerary. This cruise sails round-trip from Rome, with stops in popular destinations such as Santorini, Ephesus, Mykonos, and Naples. With a variety of onboard activities, including a surf simulator, laser tag, and a skydiving simulator, this cruise is perfect for those who want a high-energy short break.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises offers intimate small-ship experiences on their 148-passenger vessels. Their "Treasures of the Greek Isles" cruise is a seven-night sailing that starts in Athens and takes you to ports that larger ships cannot access, such as Monemvasia and Nafplio. This cruise includes a unique opportunity to dine among the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey. Windstar is perfect for those seeking a mix of popular and secluded ports during their short break.

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