Mykonos Cruise Holidays
The Greek holiday island of Mykonos maybe best known for its beach resorts and as a party island, but it is also one of the leading cruise ports of call in the Aegean Sea.
Cruise ships dock in the heart of the island’s main town, also known as Mykonos, and that makes it easy to stroll off your ship and head for a day of exploring on your own or you can of course simply head to the nearest beach to unwind and enjoy the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea.
There are several must-see sights on the island including its iconic windmills and the idyllic rows of fishing houses that make up the area known as ‘Little Venice’.
No matter why you would like to visit Mykonos of a cruise holiday, this guide brings you all you need to know.
Cruises To Mykonos
Mykonos Cruise Guide
This Mykonos cruise guide is for people who are in the research stage of a holiday, who are trying to decide if a stop at Mykonos is right for them or not.
It is also for those who have already booked a cruise holiday to Mykonos and who are wanting to make the most of their time on shore.
Type of Cruises Available
There are lots of options for those wanting to visit the island on a cruise including No Fly itineraries, fly cruises and the opportunity to enjoy a cruise and stay getaway.
For those wanting to simply fly to a nearby port and enjoy more time cruising the Greek Isles, the port of Piraeus on the outskirts of Athens in the port for you and offers the widest range of cruises heading to the island.
Other ports such as Ravenna, Corfu, Trieste and Valletta also offer itineraries from numerous lines heading there on round trips.
If you would like to add on a few days stay in your departure port, there are lots of great options around the Med including Civitavecchia (Rome), Barcelona and Istanbul.
It is also possible to call into the port on a repositioning cruise that offers not only the chance to see more of the region, but you can also add a stay in both your departure and departure port for a truly memorable eastern Mediterranean getaway.
Mykonos Cruise Port Location
The main only cruise pier on the island is found in north of Mykonos Town in the northwest of the island.
The pier is close to the Agios Stefanos beach and around 1 mile from the town centre and whist there are often shuttle buses available, it is a flat and enjoyable seafront walk of around 30 minutes into town, which takes you past the main ferry port.
The port can only handle small to medium sized cruise ships and so if you are visiting there onboard a larger ship, you will have to tender to shore and of course you may have to tender no matter the size of your ship if there is more than one ship in port that day.
On the plus side, tender boats drop you of close to the cafes, restaurants, shops and attractions of the old town.
Mykonos Attractions
There is lots to enjoy whilst docked in Mykonos, with a day on a beach amongst the most popular and is simple to do on your own as the nearest beach is just a short stroll away.
In the town of Mykonos itself, there is lots to see and do including visiting the narrow streets of the old town. Complete with small bars, cafes, restaurants and shops, streets such as Matoyianni Street send you back in time.
The Kato Milli (windmills) are found just to the south of the old port, which is a great place to take in the views and enjoy some local food and drink.
The island also offers the chance to take in some local culture in a number of small museums, enjoy the aura of a number of historic churches and salivate over mouth-watering local cuisine including Baklava, Lazarakia and Omletta.
Mykonos Shorex
For those wanting to explore further afield, the rest of the island also has lots on offer including the iconic whitewashed villas found at Little Venice.
The 18th century building cling to the cliffside and make for the perfect holiday photo, as does the famous Church of Paraportiani found nearby.
There are several island tours offered by the main cruise lines, as are transfers to further afield beach for those looking for a more peaceful day sunbathing, snorkelling and relaxing.
There are numerous tour boats that leave both the old port and the new port at Tourlos and take visitors to see dolphins and whales and to nearby beaches.
Best Time To Visit Mykonos
With the both the weather been incredibly hot during July and August and the island full of holidaymakers from across the globe, it is best to visit in either May or June to make the most of the warm weather, the blue skies and the lack of crowds.
Transport
Mykonos has an international airport and a ferry port offering regular services to both the mainland and to other Greek islands but the majority of cruise visitors will rely on either taxis or local buses for transportation around the island.
For those wanting to visit the old port from the cruise terminal in the new port, there is a Seabus that takes you from your cruise ship to the old town in around 10 minutes.
Mykonos Cruises From UK
There are a limited number of cruises that sail from the UK to the Greek Islands and call into Mykonos but with around 3 weeks needed for the journey and only single figure itineraries offered, you will need to have lots of time and be flexible to take advantage.
Mykonos Cruises From Southampton
If you do find one such itinerary, it will more than likely be from the UK’s leading cruise port in Southampton.
