The Aegean week: out of Athens into the Greek islands and across to Ephesus on the Turkish coast, with a new harbor most mornings. It is the Mediterranean's most concentrated culture-and-beach itinerary.
The route at a glance
Roundtrip from Piraeus (Athens), seven nights. Typical calls: Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Kusadasi for Ephesus, plus Hydra or Crete depending on the line, usually with one sea day. Celebrity Infinity's "Best of Greece" runs Rhodes, Kusadasi, Santorini, Hydra and Mykonos; MSC Sinfonia's eastern Mediterranean week adds Ionian variants through Corfu and Katakolon. Santorini and Mykonos are tender ports, and August crowds there are real. Port guides: Athens (Piraeus), Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu.
Who this route suits
Best for first-time Med cruisers, island hoppers and travelers who want antiquity in the morning and a beach or taverna in the afternoon. Less ideal if tendering is a problem (limited mobility travelers should read our Santorini and Mykonos guides carefully) or if you dislike heat: July and August run hot and crowded, while May, June and October are the sweet spots.
What it costs
Celebrity Infinity's seven-night Best of Greece tracked from $882 per person ($126 a night) and MSC Sinfonia's week from $1,148 ($164 a night) - recent tracked examples, with 2027 Piraeus roundtrips bookable on both lines now. Shoulder season saves real money; excursions (Ephesus, Akrotiri) run $60-150 per port. Full budget breakdown: what a Greek islands cruise costs.
The five-minute version
- Seven nights, roundtrip Athens.
- Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Ephesus, plus Hydra or Crete.
- Tender ports at Santorini and Mykonos; August is peak crowd.
- Recently tracked from about $880-1,150; 2027 sailings bookable now.
- The densest culture-per-day route in the Med.
- Santorini is a tender port: the official cable car (santorinicablecar.gr) is the fast link up to Fira - budget queue time on two-ship days.
