Small Ship GREECE CRUISES

Indulge your appetite for unique island cultures, breathtaking beaches, delectable cuisines and UNESCO wonders as only Windstar can show them to you. Case in point: a complimentary Evening in Ephesus dinner among the ruins exclusively for Windstar guests visiting Kusadasi.

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience during this exclusive event, dining under the stars surrounded by Roman ruins as a string trio serenades you. Enter Ephesus after hours when Windstar guests have the site all to themselves, and find tables set with fine linens and the sun setting right on cue. The ruins then light up as you dine on a 3-course meal of local cuisine accompanied by white glove service and a trio from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra.

Leave larger ships behind as you enter the narrow Corinth Canal, a passage reserved for small ships like ours. Even with our ships’ petite dimensions there are only a few feet to spare on either side, giving you a close-up view of limestone walls that rise at a near-vertical angle. Caesar and Nero were among those who dreamed of digging a canal across the isthmus the Romans once used to make portages. Today, their dream is your reality.

On a Windstar voyage to Greece and beyond you’ll visit ports reserved for small ships like Itea, near Delphi, the medieval castle town of Monemvasia, and Nafplio, its charming Old Town lined with gorgeous Venetian and Turkish buildings. You’ll also dock closer to key attractions than larger ships can in places like Trapani and Sarande (near Butrint ). And with 22 Greek itineraries visiting places like the Croatian Riviera, Holy Lands and more, you’ll find the perfect mix of small and large ports.

Make the most of your time in this region with a Cruise Tour that combines the best of the coast with attractions further inland. See where the Oracle of Delphi used her powers of prophecy to guide kings and emperors. Discover Meteora, its incredible sandstone towers topped by seemingly unreachable monasteries. Stand before the rose-pink Treasury gates of Petra, scaled for giants. Walk in the footsteps of history in the Holy Lands. Take your journey to the next level and let Windstar take care of all the details.

Windstar Cruises is one of the few yachts that call here as it's truly a hidden gem that doesn't have room for much larger cruise lines. This Gibraltar-like town tied to the mainland by a single thread of causeway holds treasures that are old even by Mediterranean standards, with town walls and several churches dating to the 12th century. Climb to the upper town for an up-close look at the castle and Agia Sophia, a Byzantine church. Wander the lanes of the lower town lined with Venetian mansions, many of which have been lovingly restored. Savor the sun on a smooth pebble beach.

Get ready to set sail on the exquisite Santorini during this scenic, relaxing ride around the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni and Thirassia. Board a Catamaran sailing vessel for a 3.5-hour tour. Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni represent the volcano’s most recent activity. Palea Kameni, or Old Burnt Island, is less than 2,000 years old, while Nea Kameni, or Young Burnt Island, began forming just 425 years ago. Drop anchor into the green sulfur waters where you will enjoy an opportunity to swim in the warm waters of the thermal spring. A delicious Greek lunch of chicken, pasta, Greek salad, fruit and beverages will be served on board while sailing.