Cruising the Greek Islands

Island hopping in Greece is easier than it’s ever been, thanks to the number of cruise ships in the Aegean this summer. The scenery is breathtaking, the season long (right up to November), the architecture and history unrivalled and the variety from island to island surprising.

The islands

Each island has its own character. Santorini is famous for its dazzling whitewashed architecture clinging to the side of sheer, black cliffs. The shopping is superb if you’re interested in gold – a whole street in the tiny capital, Fira, is dedicated to it. If you don’t feel like sightseeing, just take a seat in one of the clifftop bars, look out over the deepest blue sea imaginable, sip a cocktail and chill out to music.

Mykonos is another favourite cruise destination, for its laid-back beauty and the proximity of neighbouring Delos, a living museum and a must on any Greek islands cruise. Check out fashionable Panormos Beach, with its hip beach taverna, or if you don’t like the idea of an actual nudist cruise but do fancy baring all for a day, Paradise Beach. The port town is exquisitely pretty, with narrow alleys, geranium-filled balconies, chichi shops and the inevitable jewellers; reproduction Byzantine jewellery here is unusual and stylish.

Rhodes is a very popular cruise port, just across the sparkling water from the Turkish resort of Bodrum. Lose yourself in the cobbled streets of walled Rhodes Town and think back to the glorious days of the Knights of St John, who built much of the city.

Cruises from Venice usually make Corfu their first Greek port of call, a lush, green island in the northernmost part of the Ionian Sea, with beautiful little beaches and coves and a fascinating past. Corfu is completely different from Mykonos and Santorini, which are in the Cyclades group of islands. Rather than the stark whitewash, you’ll find elegant, colourful Venetian architecture and in Corfu town, even a cricket pitch, an indication of the island’s historic links to Britain.

Crete, the largest Greek island, is rich in history, the Palace of Knossos being the most popular shore excursion, followed closely by the gorgeous Venetian harbour town of Chania, the palm-fringed beaches on the eastern tip and the jagged spine of mountains that runs along the centre.

The Greek mainland

Cruise lines make very few calls to the Greek mainland, apart from the obvious one of Athens, which is served by the bustling port of Piraeus. Athens is a magnificent city, if a hot one in the middle of summer. The Acropolis is situated on top of a hill in the middle of a huge archaeological park, so take plenty of water. After a visit, it’s only a short walk to the vine-shaded streets of Plaka for a cold beer, Greek salad, souvlaki and chips!

Katakolon is another important call for many cruise lines. This unassuming town on the Peloponnese peninsula, jutting into the Ionian Sea, is 30 miles from Olympia and the Sanctuary of Zeus. It was here that the first Olympic Games were held, in 776 BC.

Here are some of the best Greek cruises for 2007.

Ocean Village is basing a ship in Crete for the whole summer, operating two itineraries to Greek and Turkish ports and a stay-and-cruise programme.

Princess Cruises will operate Greek Islands cruises out of Rome from April until September on the brand new Emerald Princess. Greek ports of call on this voyage include Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, Katakolon and Corfu.

Costa Cruises will operate regular seven-night Aegean Highlights cruises, also from Rome, calling at Patmos, Mykonos and Santorini, among other places.

MSC’s ship Armonia, meanwhile, makes weekly departures from Venice this summer on an eight-day cruise that includes Santorini, Mykonos, Athens and Corfu – with the significant bonus of a stay in Mykonos until 1am, so you can check out the fantastic nightlife.

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