Greece Cruise Ports
For many cruisers, the idea of island hopping throughout Greece is not just the idea of the perfect holiday but it atop of their bucket list and it is no surprise why.
The mix of incredible destinations that each offer something difference, idyllic blue waters of the Aegean and year round sunny skies all come together with the fascinating history, the in-depth culture and the mouth-watering food and drink of the country to give a cruise holiday that will live long in the memory.
Perhaps best of all, from our point of view, is the fact that the best way to see the country of Greece is via the sea due to the 100’s of islands that make up Greece and what better way to spend time at sea than on a cruise ship?
From huge cities of must see historical sites to photogenic villages and from beautiful beaches to areas of stunning natural beauty, Greece is a country that has lots to offer holidaymakers and with a choice of itineraries leaving from UK ports or a number of great embarkation and disembarkation ports to choose from, there is a great option for all preferences and budgets.
Cruises To Greece
Cruise Holidays To Greece
When many think about a holiday to Greece it is either exploring the capital city of Athens and its many historic sites going back to Ancient Greece or it is relaxing on the many stunning beaches found throughout the country and whilst many have to choose to do one or the other, if you visit Greece on a cruise holiday you can do both of these and more.
Whilst it is possible to visit the country and explore its islands on a No-Fly cruise from the UK, the more popular choice for many is to fly to a port in the Eastern Mediterranean and to maximise the time they have sailing around the country and stopping off at as many Greek ports of call as possible.
Popular embarkation ports for starting a cruise holiday in Greece include the country’s leading cruise port at Piraeus, just outside of Athens or at Italian ports such as Venice or Civitavecchia or at the nearby ports of Dubrovnik and Valletta in Malta.
No matter where you chose to start you holiday or how long you spend cruising around Greece and its Islands, you can be assured of a great day ashore no matter where you visit but here are a list of the most popular cruise ports to visit in Greece.
These ports are offered by a wide range of cruise lines so you can really choose the perfect ship and experience for you and you family and it also means that there is a cruise holiday to Greece to suit all budgets.
Greece Cruise Guide
Popular Ports In Greece
Piraeus is located just outside of the Greek capital city of Athens and is the country’s leading cruise port for those starting and ending their holidays in the country. Of course, it also makes for a popular port of call on any cruise to region especially for those who love the history and culture of Greece.
Whilst perhaps best known as a seaside holiday resort, the Old Town of Corfu is well worth exploring to see that there is so much more to this beautiful town.
The port of Heraklion is your entry to the island of Crete, the largest of all of Greece’s islands, which is home to beautiful sandy beaches, large mountains and idyllic countryside just waiting to be explored.
Ketakolon is a town in Pyrgos, in western Elis region of Greece that is known as the ‘Gateway to Olympia’ which the iconic initial home of the Olympic Games found nearby and must visit for any visitor.
The island of Patmos is a famous pilgrimage site for Christians due to its Cave of the Apocalypse, where John of Patmos (St. John the Theologian) is thought to have wrote the Book of Revelations.
The island of Rhodes is a popular holiday destination due to its many beautiful beaches, its historic town centre that still retains a medieval feel and for ancients ruins all of which can be enjoy on a day ashore.
No matter if you know it as Santorini or Thira, the small island is easily recognisable and a popular stopping off point due to the iconic whitewashed and cubifrom houses that are found in the islands 2 main towns of Fira and Oia, which seemingly cling to cliffs above a beautiful underwater caldera (crater).
Argostolion is the capital of the island of Kefalonia and it is here that cruise ships dock for guests to enjoy the rugged terrain and beautiful sandy beach of this popular holiday island.
The Volcanic Island of Milos, in the Aegean Sea, offers a Greek island experience with a difference but whilst the landscape maybe different, the history and culture remains the same.
Thessaloniki is the 2nd largest city in Greece and is one full of wide avenues, beautiful squares and numerous sites of historic interest that makes for a fantastic day on shire simply walking around and taking it all in.
Zakynthos, perhaps better known simply as Zante, is a popular holiday destination for those wanting to enjoy the sun, sea and sand of the Ionian Sea resort but there is a lot more to this beautiful island that sunbathing and swimming.
Popular Cruise Lines Offering Cruises Holidays To Greece
Due to the popularity of cruising in and around the Greek Islands and the with the country within easy reach of other popular cruise destinations such as the med and the Adriatic, it is no surprise that there is aa wide range of cruise lines that operate in the country.
Amongst the most popular include Marella Cruises, P&O Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), MSC Cruises, local favourite Celestyal Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.
Greece
Full Name: Hellenic Republic
Location: Southeast Europe
Capital City: Athens
Currency: Euro
Language: Greek
Demonym(s): Greek
Top Ports: Piraeus, Corfu Town, Thira, Mykonos Town, Rhodes, Heraklion
Greece is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations and is one of the most famous countries in the world thanks to its past as the cradle of western civilisation when the Ancient Greeks put in place many of the founding aspects of modern democracy.
The incredible influence on philosophy, literature, political science, science, match, drama, sport and more every aspects of modern day life can be enjoyed by everybody and it is the birthplace of so much of our lives that many holidaymakers look forward to seeing and enjoying whilst on holiday in Greece.
Of course there is much more to the country that its ancient past including it incredible modern era culture, the beautiful food and drink that can be enjoyed in bars and cafes throughout the country.
Greece has a unique position in the world at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa and it is that blend of cultures that has created many unique subcultures that make many towns and villages completely different to their neighbouring town.
It is no surprise therefore that so many holidaymakers find there favourite destination in the country and find that they only like that one or have no interest in visiting another part of the country but for those of us who love the experience of waking up in a different location, a cruise holiday in Greece allows you to do just that whilst remaining in the same country.
Best Time To Visit Greece
Due to warm all year around warm climate, Greece is a destination you can visit all year around although you may wish to avoid the main summer months of July to September to avoid the crowds in what are mostly small ports of call.
Cruises From UK
If you would like to visit Greece without the need for flying, it is possible as there are a range of itineraries that set sail from the UK and head to either the Greek islands or to the mainland on a round-trip journey.
Due to the distances involved, you will need plenty of time and a decent budget to be able to do a round trip from these shores as most itineraries will be of about 19-24 nights and take in ports in both the Western and Easter Mediterranean along the way.
If you just want to see more of those regions and want a cheaper option that needs less time, there are also several repositioning itineraries either starting or ending in the UK and starting or ending in Greek cruise ports, with the majority using the Greek capital city of Athens and its cruise port of Piraeus.
Cruises From Southampton
For the widest range of itineraries heading to Greece from the UK, cruisers will likely have to set sail from the port of Southampton on England southern coast.
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
