Greek Isles Yacht Cruising

The Elysium is a truly boutique cruise ship featuring only 25 spacious and elegantly decorated cabins.  Ship Video here

Your time on board the Elysium will be nothing short of unique, nothing like you have ever experienced before on a cruise. A balanced fusion of relaxation, wellness, discovery and fun.

Visit pristine coves and beaches only accessible by small boat, discover ancient civilizations, learn a new craft, have a massage, meditate at sunset, enjoy a chilled drink, hike a volcano, fish with locals, snorkel, stargaze, read a book. You decide. The Elysium awaits to soothe your soul and excite your senses.

With large interior and exterior spaces, a spa suite, a mini gym, deliciously healthy Mediterranean cuisine, personalized service and an array of daily activities, the Elysium will pamper you, spoil you and captivate you forever.

I visited the Elysium in drydock for a winter overhaul in the Greek port of Perama last December.  I wanted to be certain the ship measured up to the hype and I was impressed. 

On the technical side, Elysium is just under 210 feet in length and 41 feet wide.  It has an indoor lounge and dining area, abundant open deck space and 25 cabins on two upper decks.  There is a swim/sports deck at the rear of the ship, a spa, and a small exercise room.

We’ve got seven days on the water and each day presents a different island and experience. 

Elysium Ship Accommodation

Deck location and cabin size are specified here:

Category A+ 182-215 sq. ft | Astra Deck

Category A 170-185 sq. ft | Astra Deck

Cagtegory B+ 170-185 sq. ft | Ammon Deck

Category B 150 sq. ft. | Ammos Deck

Category C – 135-150 sq. ft | Ammos Deck

Category C-Single 110 sq. ft | Ammos Deck

Categories A+ and A have picture windows. Other categories offer portholes.

Deck 4, the near-1,000 square-foot spa features an infrared sauna, a pool, hot tubs and a deck solarium. Deck 4 is also where you’ll find the well-equipped fitness studio.

In the evening, the lounges are a popular choice with guests looking for a pre-dinner cocktail, with the Atlas Lounge a great option thanks to its stunning decor and large picture windows. After dinner, the Don Henrique Auditorium hosts occasional guest entertainment performances. Likewise, The Dome Observation Lounge provides a laid-back atmosphere, perfect for a nightcap or to discuss the day’s adventures with fellow travelers.

What’s included:

• Seven nights aboard Elysium
• Breakfast each morning on-board
• A daily swim stop in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea
• Seven lunches or dinners on-board, based on daily schedule.
• Access to optional shore tours
• port charges

We’re in port on uniquely different island every day. Dress code is relaxed. If a meal is not served on board, you’ll have many options to find an excellent dinner or lunch ashore. Shore tours, including hiking, biking, wine, cuisine, and more are coming soon. You can do your own thing in each of these ports or participate in any of the shore tours that will be offered. 

Getting There

Flights: Airlines publish flight schedules 330 days in advance, so you’ll be able to start your flight booking in mid-May 2024. This may not necessarily be the best time to buy. Generally the end of summer/early autumn brings some lower pricing. Google Flights and Kayak.com have features that will notify you if fares are going up or down, trends, and will advise as to whether you should buy now. You need to create an account, which costs nothing, for this service. You’ll get an email when fares are trending up or down. It’s a nice feature which I use often. Based on previous tours there, I anticipate round trip fares to be in the $1400 ballpark from Seattle.

When you search for fares, you’ll want to select Athens (ATH) as your arrival city and Santorini (JTR) as your departure city to come home. Reverse these city pairs for the second week, which begins in Santorini and ends in Athens. Whether or not you participate in the pre-cruise or post cruise, I strongly suggest that you come in at least a day early so that you don’t run into a flight delay on the way over.

Itinerary for April 25-May 2 Elysium departure (Lavrion to Santorini)

We begin the week in Lavrion, a picturesque port located just 30 minutes from Athens International Airport. This itinerary is specific to Week 1, April 25-May 2nd from Lavrion (Athens) to Santorini. The itinerary for the return itinerary is posted later on this page.

Day 1           Lavrion to kea The island of Kea (aka Tzia) is a famous and charming Cycladic island with age-old traditions and interesting history. Its landscape will catch your attention with its green fields, high hills, vineyards, olive groves, ravines, coves and secluded beaches. Visit the largest oak forest in the Cyclades and keep an eye out for the rich bird fauna.  Explore its numerous caves (Trypospilies Cave at Kalamos, Agios Timotheos Cave, and Agios Panteleimonas Cave) and the mining area at Orkou. Follow the 81 km paths and discover four ancient city-states of the island (Ioulida – Karthaia – Korissia – Poieessa). The ship will depart from Lavrion at 4:00 PM.  Guests are welcome to board the ship as early as 1:00 PM.  Guests participating in the Athens pre-cruise tour will have transportation provided to the ship. 
 
Kea is a famous sailing destination mainly due to its proximity to Attica. Its waters are great for divers as a large number of shipwrecks reside on the sea bottom. We arrive in Kea at 5:30 and will stay until 11:00 that evening.

Day 2           Syros Island combines culture, entertainment and religion in the most harmonious way.  It used to be one of the most significant islands in cycladic civilisation. Nowadays, the island is world-renowned for its rich cultural tradition with events that take place in Ermoupolis, the island’s capital, such as the International Classical Music Festival of Cyclades, ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival, Ermoupoleia Cultural Festival etc that offer a range of options for every visitor to experience.

The island has a large number of sea activities, beaches you can enjoy as well as a rich and delicious cuisine. The famous halvadopita (nougat pie), the finger-licking loukoumia – small cubes made of a mixture of sugar, water and starch that are offered in a number of scents and flavours – the cold meats louza and maratholoukanika, as well as the PDO cheese San Michali will tempt the most demanding palate. We arrive at the island of Syros at 6:00 am and will remain until the following morning at 5:00.

Day 3           Mykonos Mykonos has been known as the island of the winds, and it’s located in the heart of the Cyclades group. Its fame has spread across the world, as a cosmopolitan and luxurious holiday destination.  Bathed in the bright sunlight of the Aegean by day, she dresses in charm and mystery by night, beckoning its visitors to dance and have fun in the beach bars and clubs, go for a shopping spree in luxury stores, visit its art venues, and -in short- have a truly memorable stay!

There are, however, two faces to this island that not many people know of. The first one is the obviously intense, shiny and cosmopolitan aspect of it, and the other one is particularly picturesque, with stone-paved alleys, whitewashed houses, country chapels and windmills, that ooze calm and peace. What makes this island special is that it can cover a variety of demands: you can visit it for its archaeological sites;  get to know the local traditions in its picture-perfect villages; and you can explore its amazing beaches, considered by many as the top ones in the Aegean Sea. Chora is quite an impressive and picturesque Cycladic town. You will find top hotels and resorts, designer clothes and goldsmiths boutiques, art galleries, and some of the most famous restaurants and bars in Greece. For a taste of culture and history, take a boat trip to nearby Delos Island; it’s a big and impressive archaeological site. We arrive at Delos at 8:00 am and will depart in the early afternoon at 1:00 PM.  Elysium will Arrive at Mykonos at 2:00 PM and will remain is port until 6:00 AM the following morning.

Day 4           Naxos Naxos is the biggest and most fertile island in the group, located right in the centre of it. It offers a host of choices to visitors about activities they can try, as well as other entertainment and relaxation options. The whitewashed Chora town welcomes travellers at its harbour. Portara, Naxos’ most popular landmark, lies on the neighbouring Palatia Islet; it is the marble gate of an unfinished ancient Greek temple dedicated to god Apollo.

Chora’s built landscape is marked by numerous fortified palaces, which date to the island’s Venetian Period, as Naxos was the seat of the Duchy of the Aegean. Make sure you visit the Bazaios Tower, off Sagri village, the Glezos-Crispi Tower in Chora, the Belonia Tower in Galanado and the Della Rocca-Barozzi Tower in Chora.     Our arrival on Naxos is at 8:30 AM.  We depart the following morning at 6:00.

Day 5           Paros High on the list of top Greek holiday destinations, Paros Ιsland welcomes its visitors at the centre of the Cyclades group and invites them to explore its great beauty, the long beaches with crystal-clear waters and its impressive landscapes. There is a well-developed tourist infrastructure, too, to make your holidays truly memorable. We arrive at Paros at 8:00 AM and stay until the following morning at 5:00 AM.

Day 6           Sifnos–Milos Sifnos is an island of exquisite flavours, time-honoured customs and traditional villages. Its numerous chapels, windmills, lovely beaches, crystal clear waters and leisurely pace of life makes this destination ideal to explore. Located in the southwest part of the Cyclades island group, Sifnos is popular for its architecture, local delicacies, pottery and ceramic art as well as its nightlife during summer.

Throughout antiquity the island went through a period of prosperity as a result of its gold and silver mining, and its local quarries that extracted stones such as sandstone, granite and limestone. Our Arrival on Sifnos is at 8:00 AM.  We depart that afternoon at 3:00 PM.  We arrive in Milos at 6:00 PM and will stay until 6:00 AM the next morning.

Day 7           Folegandros One of the westerly Cyclades Islands, Folegandros is a place that will steal your heart away the moment you set foot on it. Stroll along the stone-paved streets of Chora and the alleys in the Castle, reach the top of Panagia Rock and enjoy the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea, go swimming in secluded or busy beaches, and admire the local traditional architecture of its villages: these are all part of a breathtaking setting – the ideal one for your holidays – that will place Folegandros on your must-visit list, more than once in your life.

During your walks in the neighbourhoods, you will be impressed by the contrast of the vivid-coloured doors and windows of houses against their bright white walls. The stone-paved streets will lead your footsteps to picturesque squares shaded by tall plane trees. There, under the thick canopy of leaves, you will find the perfect spot to sit and rest for a while. Our arrival in Folegandros is at 10:00 AM.  We’ll overnight there, departing at 6:00 AM. 

Day 8           Santorini, known since ancient times as Thira, is one of the most famous islands in the world. The fact that you can sit in front of the caldera, enjoy local dishes, a drink or a coffee while gazing at the remarkable beauty of an active volcano is priceless!

The island is actually a group of islands consisting of Thira, Thirassia, Aspronissi, Palea and Nea Kameni in the southernmost part of the Cyclades. We arrive in Santorini (New Port) at 9:00 AM.  Flights for Athens can be scheduled as early as noon.

Excursions-The Ship operator has presented me with a list of shore tours available to the group. I’m doing a bit of research now to see if I can improve on the selection and/or these tours. Here’s a LINK to the tours as they are currently offered.

Itinerary for May 2-May 9 Elysium departure (Santorini to Lavrion)

Your cruise week starts in Santorini.  Flights are numerous from Athens.   in Lavrion, a picturesque port located just 30 minutes from Athens International Airport. This itinerary is specific to Week 2, May 2^nd to May 9^th Santorini to Lavrion (Athens).  You can board as early as 1:00 PM.  The ship departs for Folegandros at 4:00 PM.

Day 1            Santorini, known since ancient times as Thira, is one of the most famous islands in the world. The fact that you can sit in front of the caldera, enjoy local dishes, a drink or a coffee while gazing at the remarkable beauty of an active volcano is priceless!

The island is actually a group of islands consisting of Thira, Thirassia, Aspronissi, Palea and Nea Kameni in the southernmost part of the Cyclades.  Santorini to Folegandros, sailing from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 

Folegrandos   One of the westerly Cyclades Islands, Folegandros is a place that will steal your heart away the moment you set foot on it. Stroll along the stone-paved streets of Chora and the alleys in the Castle, reach the top of Panagia Rock and enjoy the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea, go swimming in secluded or busy beaches, and admire the local traditional architecture of its villages: these are all part of a breathtaking setting – the ideal one for your holidays – that will place Folegandros on your must-visit list, more than once in your life.

During your walks in the neighborhoods, you will be impressed by the contrast of the vivid-colored doors and windows of houses against their bright white walls. The stone-paved streets will lead your footsteps to picturesque squares shaded by tall plane trees. There, under the thick canopy of leaves, you will find the perfect spot to sit and rest for a while.  The ship arrives in Folegandros at 7:00 PM and will remain overnight until midnight.

Day 2      Folegandros to Milos and Sifnos    MS Elysium departs for the island of Milos a little after midnight.   Found in the southwest part of the Cyclades, this island has a handful of singular natural landscapes contributed by volcanic activity; mysterious rock formations, curious soil colors and numerous jaw-dropping beaches. Besides having countless unique sights to see around the island, it also is the homeland of the renowned marble statue of Venus of Milo seen today in the Louvre Museum.

Milos’ volcanic past is reflected on the large number of hot springs, caves and geological formations found around the island such as Kanavas, Alykis, Provatas, Pikropigis springs, Papafragas and Sikia Caves, and Kleftiko Cove. The island also has numerous significant archaeological sites such as the early christian catacombs, the Bronze Age settlement of Phylakopi, and interesting museums namely the Mining Museum showcasing Milos’ 11.000 years old mineral history.  The ship arrives in Milos at 5:00 AM and will remain there until 3:00 PM when it departs for Sifnos. 

Sifnos is an island of exquisite flavors, time-honored customs and traditional villages. Its numerous chapels, windmills, lovely beaches, crystal clear waters and leisurely pace of life makes this destination ideal to explore. Located in the southwest part of the Cyclades island group, Sifnos is popular for its architecture, local delicacies, pottery and ceramic art as well as its nightlife during summer.

Throughout antiquity the island went through a period of prosperity as a result of its gold and silver mining, and its local quarries that extracted stones such as sandstone, granite and limestone.  We arrive in Sifnos at 6:00 PM and will overnight there until 5:00 AM the following morning. 

Day 3          Paros   High on the list of top Greek holiday destinations, Paros Ιsland welcomes its visitors at the center of the Cyclades group and invites them to explore its great beauty, the long beaches with crystal-clear waters and its impressive landscapes. There is a well-developed tourist infrastructure, too, to make your holidays truly memorable.  We arrive in the morning at 8:30 and will remain until the following morning at 6:00 AM.

Day 4                 Naxos is the biggest and most fertile island in the group, located right in the centre of it. It offers a host of choices to visitors about activities they can try, as well as other entertainment and relaxation options. The whitewashed Chora town welcomes travellers at its harbor. Portara, Naxos’ most popular landmark, lies on the neighboring Palatia Islet; it is the marble gate of an unfinished ancient Greek temple dedicated to God Apollo.

Chora’s built landscape is marked by numerous fortified palaces, which date to the island’s Venetian Period, as Naxos was the seat of the Duchy of the Aegean. Make sure you visit the Bazaios Tower, off Sagri village, the Glezos-Crispi Tower in Chora, the Belonia Tower in Galanado and the Della Rocca-Barozzi Tower in Chora.    We arrive in Naxos at 8:00 AM and stay until the following morning at 6:00.

Day 5                    Mykonos Mykonos has been known as the island of the winds, and it’s located in the heart of the Cyclades group. Its fame has spread across the world, as a cosmopolitan and luxurious holiday destination.  Bathed in the bright sunlight of the Aegean by day, she dresses in charm and mystery by night, beckoning its visitors to dance and have fun in the beach bars and clubs, go for a shopping spree in luxury stores, visit its art venues, and -in short- have a truly memorable stay!

There are, however, two faces to this island that not many people know of. The first one is the obviously intense, shiny and cosmopolitan aspect of it, and the other one is particularly picturesque, with stone-paved alleys, whitewashed houses, country chapels and windmills, that ooze calm and peace. What makes this island special is that it can cover a variety of demands: you can visit it for its archaeological sites;  get to know the local traditions in its picture-perfect villages; and you can explore its amazing beaches, considered by many as the top ones in the Aegean Sea. Chora is quite an impressive and picturesque Cycladic town. You will find top hotels and resorts, designer clothes and goldsmiths boutiques, art galleries, and some of the most famous restaurants and bars in Greece. For a taste of culture and history, take a boat trip to nearby Delos Island; it’s a big and impressive archaeological site.  We arrive at 9:00 AM and remain in place until the following morning at 7:00.

Day 6      Delos and Syros   The entire island of Delos is designated as an archaeological site, to be precise, a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s an ark of history, floating lazily on the waters of the Aegean Sea, just a few miles away from cosmopolitan Mykonos. It’s a chance to walk around the revival of the glory of the Greek civilisation. It’s the head priest of the Cyclades, the birthplace of the immortals. It’s Delos.  We spend the morning on Delos from 8:00 AM to noon.

Syros  Island combines culture, entertainment and religion in the most harmonious way.  It used to be one of the most significant islands in cycladic civilisation. Nowadays, the island is world-renowned for its rich cultural tradition with events that take place in Ermoupolis, the island’s capital, such as the International Classical Music Festival of Cyclades, ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival, Ermoupoleia Cultural Festival etc that offer a range of options for every visitor to experience.

The island has a large number of sea activities, beaches you can enjoy as well as a rich and delicious cuisine. The famous halvadopita (nougat pie), the finger-licking loukoumia – small cubes made of a mixture of sugar, water and starch that are offered in a number of scents and flavours – the cold meats louza and maratholoukanika, as well as the PDO cheese San Michali will tempt the most demanding palate.   We arrive at Syros at 3:00 PM and remain until the following afternoon at 3:00. 

Day 7      Syros and Kea     We spend a good portion of the day on Syros, departing at 3:00 PM for the island of Kea.  The island of Kea (aka Tzia) is a famous and charming Cycladic island with age-old traditions and interesting history. Its landscape will catch your attention with its green fields, high hills, vineyards, olive groves, ravines, coves and secluded beaches. Visit the largest oak forest in the Cyclades and keep an eye out for the rich bird fauna.  Explore its numerous caves (Trypospilies Cave at Kalamos, Agios Timotheos Cave, and Agios Panteleimonas Cave) and the mining area at Orkou. Follow the 81 km paths and discover four ancient city-states of the island (Ioulida – Karthaia – Korissia – Poieessa).

Kea is a famous sailing destination mainly due to its proximity to Attica. Its waters are great for divers as a large number of shipwrecks reside on the sea bottom.  We arrive at Kea at 7:00 PM, departing at midnight for the port of Lavrion. 

Day 8 
Arrival in Lavrion is at 2:00 AM.  This will be time for anyone taking early flights onward.  If you are not departing on an early flight, you’re asked to depart from the ship by 9:00 AM.  Guests taking part in the Athens post-cruise tour will be provided with transportation. 

Excursions-The Ship operator has presented me with a list of shore tours available to the group. I’m doing a bit of research now to see if I can improve on the selection and/or these tours. Here’s a LINK to the tours as they are currently offered.

FAQ for this tour

Weather
Highs typically average 70 with low averages about 61. April/May is a great time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds and the heat. March is a little too chilly and June is when the crowds start to come.

Travel Insurance
Tour and cruise payments are generally non-refundable. If you need to cancel, and I am able to fill the vacancy from a waitlist, I’ll be able to process a refund to you. If I’m unable to resell a canceled reservation, payments are non-refundable. For a no-obligation quote, visit the Generali Insurance site.

What time does the ship depart?  Elysium will depart from Lavrio on April 25^th at 4:00 PM.  On May 2^nd, the ship will depart from the new port of Santorini at 4:00 PM.  In both cases, the ship is available to board anytime after 1:00 PM.
Is Alcohol available on board?  Yes!  There is a bar on board serving cocktails.  Estimated costs for these are €5 for beer or wine by the glass, on up to €8-10 for cocktails.  Wine is also available by the bottle starting at €19, running to €155.  Corkage for your own bottle is €20.

What about motion issues on the ship?  While the Aegean is a relatively calm compared to other sailing destinations.  The islands are close and the Meltemi Winds, which can cause rough seas, don’t start until later in the season.  I will have a supply of Travel Gum (active ingredient dimenhydrinate) with me to provide as a starter to anyone who needs it.  You can find this in every gas station in Europe.  If you have a motion cure, you should bring it as a precaution.

Flights to/from Santorini.  If you’re sailing on the April 25^th departure, your cruise ends in Santorini.  You’ll need to take a ferry or flight back to Athens to connect with international flights.  I suggest taking one of the 20 flights a day back to Athens Airport to start your journey home.  Given that most flight schedules from Greece back to the west coast depart early, you may have to overnight at the Athens Airport.  It’s suggested that you allow 2-3 hours minimum to make your connection through Athens. 

If you’re joining the ship in Santorini on May 2^nd, you’ll fly the opposite direction.  Most of the polar flights get you to Athens in the early evening, possibly too late to continue to Santorini.  (Lufthansa has a connection via Munich that gets you to Santorini about 6PM.  Remember that connections in Athens should include 2-3 hours connection time.    

Fares vary greatly with carriers from Santorini (JTR) to Athens (ATH).  Ryan Air offers a lowball fare with no frills that equals the other carriers once you add in seat and baggage charges.  Sky Express is another carrier with 3-tier pricing.  Their most expensive is $109 one way with an included checked bag, cabin bag, seat assignment.  I would lean toward this carrier over Ryan Air, mainly because they operate a more complete schedule.  Volotea is another carrier I’ve had success with, though they only publish their schedules 6 months out.

Athens Airport Hotels.  Sofitel right at the terminal with estimated nightly rate of $280.  Stone Palace Hotel nearby at €170 a night and a free shuttle on request.  Dolce by Wyndham, with rates of $240, is 3.2 miles from the airport on the water (no free shuttle).  There are hundreds of inexpensive guest rooms and Airbnb operations nearby as well. 

Dress Code?  Yes, and its casual.  We’ll be swimming, exploring, and it might be hot.  We’ll be casual.  Dinners are a bit dressier in that we’d like collared shirts, pants, sundresses.  The rest of the time, it’s short and sandals. 

I’ve just started mapping out tour options for guests before and after this cruise. Here are a few

Three-night Athens pre-cruise tour/April 22-25
What’s included

• Welcome Cocktail Gathering
• Three nights hotel near Syntagma Square with breakfast and all taxes and fees
• 48-hour hop on/off bus ticket for Athens
• Walking tour of the Plaka district
• Acropolis and Parthenon Guided walking tour
• Greek Wine Tasting
• Market tour
• Transfer from hotel to ship*
• Other tour options to consider on your own
  • Greek Food tour of Athens
  • Saint Paul Corinth Tour
  • Acropolis Museum
  • Meteora Monasteries Tour (full day)

Price is $2295 per person, based on double occupancy.  Single supplement is $400  Deposit is $500 per person.  Balance is due with the cruise payment in November.  This is the price assuming payment by visa/mastercard.  If this option is paid by check, there is a $50 discount per person deducted from the final payment. 

* Transfer from the hotel to the ship on the 25^th is included.  The ship departs at 4:00 PM from Lavrio Port.  We will depart from the hotel at noon for the ship, which is a little over 1 hour away by coach.

To reach the hotel when you arrive at Athens Airport, I suggest you use the Uber App.  It’s ties you into an Uber Taxi fleet, and payment is made via the app and not directly to the driver.  Athens taxi drivers are notorious for running up fares.  Using Uber gets around that. 

Three-night Athens post-cruise tour/May 9^th to 12th
What’s included

• Welcome Cocktail Gathering
• Three nights hotel near Syntagma Square with breakfast and all taxes and fees
• 48-hour hop on/off bus ticket for Athens
• Walking tour of the Plaka district
• Acropolis and Parthenon Guided walking tour
• Greek Wine Tasting
• Market tour
• Transfer from ship to the hotel*
• Other tour options to consider on your own
  • Greek Food tour of Athens
  • Saint Paul Corinth Tour
  • Acropolis Museum
  • Meteora Monasteries Tour (full day)

Price is $2295 per person, based on double occupancy.  Single supplement is $400  Deposit is $500 per person.  Balance is due with the cruise payment in November.  This is the price assuming payment by visa/mastercard.  If this option is paid by check, there is a $50 discount per person deducted from the final payment. 

* Transfer from the ship to the hotel on the 9^th is included.  The ship arrives in Lavrio Port in the early AM. Many guests with early flights will be departing for Athens Airport. We will depart from the ship at 10:00 AM for the hotel, which is a little over 1 hour away by coach.  We’ll arrive before rooms are ready, so I suggest you park your bags with the hotel, and find lunch nearby.  Rooms are generally ready to occupy by 3:00 PM. 

To reach the airport upon departure from your three night stay in Athens, I suggest you use the Uber App.  It’s ties you into an Uber Taxi fleet, and payment is made via the app and not directly to the driver.  Athens taxi drivers are notorious for running up fares.  Using Uber gets around that. 

Pre or Post-cruise Santorini Stay

Given the intimate size of many of the hotels, there is no organized packaged program offered for Santorini.

A list of suggested hotels is published below.

It’s a great idea to stay over in Santorini at the prior to of after your cruise.  The views and sunset on the caldera are fabulous, some of the best beaches in the world dot the coastline, and the Akrotiri archaeological site is fascinating.  I’m not actually offering a tour extension of the island, but have listed a number of hotels that I think would be a good option for anyone wishing to spend more time there. 

Stay in Fira with views of the Caldera and the island of Thirasia.  Close to multiple bars, restaurants, and shopping.  Here’s a list of suggested hotels, based on location, comfort, price, and amenities:

Katikies Garden Hotel
Volcano View Hotel
Splendour Resort Santorini (best value)

Stay on the shore near one of Santorini’s many beach sites.  Red Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perissa Beach are the 3 top rated of the 15+ beaches on the island. 
Kastelli Resort  (Kamari Beach)
Radisson Blu Zaffron (Kamari Beach)
Aqua Blue Hotel (Perissa Beach)           

Uber is a great way to get around.  Price estimates are €36 from Santorini Airport to Red Beach, town of Fira or to Akrotiri Archaeological site.  This seems to be a fixed price as the estimate never varied with pick up or drop points. 

Pricing for this cruise event

Pricing is based on double occupancy
Pricing by category for the MAY 2nd departure from Santorini. There is a deduction of $150 per person for the April 25th departure from the Athens Port. Price differential will be reflected on your statement.
Category A+                  $5545 Per person
Category A (5)               $4945 per person
Category B+ (5)             $4045 per person (Currently sold out for week 2)
Category B (4)               $3445 per person (Currently sold out for week 2)
Category C (1)               $3095 per person
Category C-Single (3)   $4095

These prices include port taxes.  Prices posted are for credit card (visa/mastercard) payment.  Guests paying by check can deduct $125 per person from the final payment. 

Initial deposit of $1500 per person. The balance of your tour is due by November 15th, 2024.

Questions? Comments? Contact me, preferably by email at brad@nwtravel.com, or by phone at 425 375 2676.