EasyCruise: Tour the Greek Islands
Cruise around Greece on a Budget on an EasyCruise Ship
Dec 29, 2007
EasyJet's latest spin-off, the easyCruise, is the cheapest, easiest and arguably one of the most fun ways of touring the Greek Islands.
What is EasyCruise?
Thankfully, an
in Greece is nothing like an easyJet flight, nor a conventional cruise, nor a package holiday.
It's actually a floating budget hotel that takes you from one place to another without the bother of working out how or why to get there yourself. It's for lazy travellers – which so many of us are. Nothing wrong with that.
The EasyCruise Ship
The ship is small and functional – safe and mostly but rather tatty and with that awful orange stripe and logo on the side. Around 200 rooms, a restaurant, bar, 'wellness area' containing some stiff deck chairs and a couple of aerobics machines and a hot tub, sauna and spa. A nod towards an internet connection with a couple of computers that never work. A small, functional crew to match – friendly enough, but don't expect silver service or correctly spelled information sheets and posters.
The rooms are small and functional – standard rooms are small container boxes with a couple of mattresses, a small orange bathroom and, for a few extra euros, a window. It's worth paying the extra for a suite with a double mattress, balcony and sofa.
Eating and Drinking Onboard an EasyCruise Ship
The 'Fusion 4' restaurant is also small and functional – canteen food throughout the day, average drinks and prices, poor house wine and the odd embarrassing attempt at organised entertainment. The 'sun & moon' bar is small and functional – happy hour and a hot tub take care of most guests. The sauna is small and functional, and so is the Chinese masseuse in the under-used beauty centre.
The itineraries are also – you've guessed it – small and functional. Places chosen for their ease of docking and for their proximity to nearby sites of interest. Guided coach trips are on offer to most of the attractions in each area, cheaper than an equivalent English-language trip booked on the spot and nicer as you're with a group of people you already know. If you book in advance of your trip you'll get a big discount. Be aware, though, that trips require a minimum number and in low season are often cancelled if that isn't met.
EasyCruise Itinerary
The Classical Greece itinerary, for example, visits Athens for the Acropolis and the temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion; Corinth for Mycaenae (think the Iliad, Helen and Troy) and the slashing canal (hold your breath as you drive through that); Patras for Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games; Ithaki for Odysseus' supposed birthplace and some nice fresh fish; Itea for Delphi, the ancient seat of Greece's most famous and respected oracle; and the island of Aegina for fun, japes and yet more seaside fish.
There are several Greek itineraries this summer, one heading to Albania and Turkey as well as Greece. The two ships' other itineraries around the French and Italian riviera and the Caribbean have now stopped.
Is EasyCruise Really a Cruise?
What really doesn't fit about an easyCruise is the name. An easyJet flight is at least a flight. But don't be fooled into thinking that an easyCruise is a cruise. Think of it as a budget hotel and an easy if inflexible transport service, adjust your expectations and demands to match, and you'll be happy.
So put on your sunglasses and put down your prejudice: the easyCruise concept is the bright, shining future of lazy budget travel.
