Northern Cyclades

Long ago, these islands were the landing places of an endless tide of invaders from far off lands. From ancient Phoenicia, Persia, the Peloponnesus, Imperial Rome and Constantinople they came. Followed by waves of European Crusader knights, Genoan mariners, Venetian merchants and turbanned Turkish troops of the Ottoman Empire. They stormed ashore to conquer – only to be vanquished by time and absorbed into the dry volcanic earth. All that remains are their stone ruins, ghostly shapes wrapped in myth and mystery.

Today the Cyclades are an inviting playground for pleasure seekers aboard these majestic sailing ships. Where white-washed churches point tilted Greek crosses heavenward in skies of brilliant blue, while sun worshippers bask on the beaches under Helios’ golden gaze. Twisting cobblestone alleyways lead to tavernas where octopus salad and ouzo are in order. Ancient Minoan palaces and medieval fortresses whisper tales of pagan rites and knightly rituals.

In hidden coves, you'll find harbors where pristine sands and warm crystalline waters beckon you to explore underwater grottos while beachgoers laze away under sun-blessed skies, yet another dream-like day in the mythic, magical Cyclades.

Itinerary

DAY 1 — Athens, Greece
Walking in the shadow of the Acropolis in the Agora, you can almost hear the voices of Plato, Socrates and Aristotle arguing about who was the greatest philosopher. In the soaring, subtly curved Doric columns of the Parthenon you see the masterful hand of Pericles, Athens' greatest general and builder. And in the ethereally graceful bodies of the Karyatids supporting the porch of the Erectheum, you behold the beauty of the immortals. Ancient Athens, the birthplace of democracy and epicenter of western civilization, is a city for all eternity.

DAY 2 — At Sea

DAY 3 — Beach (am) & Kusadasi (pm), Turkey
Kusadasi is a popular Turkish port of call for cruise ships, as not only is it a bustling resort town full of shops, bars and restaurants, but it is also the main access point for the famous archeological site at Ephesus, where extensive excavations have revealed an ancient city through which visitors can now wander and observe the wonders of a bygone civilization.

DAY 4 — Pythagoria, Samos
The Island of Samos is only 2,500 meters from the coast of Turkey; in fact it was once part of Asia before the last ice age ripped it from the arms of the continent. Pythagoria was supposedly the birthplace of Hera, wife of Zeus. Other notable island progeny include the mathematician Pythagoras, Epicurus, Polykrates and the great taleteller Aesop.

DAY 5 — Patmos, Greece
One of the most cosmopolitan of all the Greek Islands and quite justifiably attracting visitors from all over the world, Mykonos is a contrast of rocky hills and beautiful beaches. Hora, the capital, spreads around a colorful harbor in which fishing boats nestle side by side with luxury yachts. The brilliant white cubic houses with white-washed balconies built close together with little shops and tiny churches, make up the backstreets of the town. The harbor is overlooked by a variety of tavernas, and is a popular meeting place as the sun goes down, turning the brilliant whites to beautiful shades of pinks and reds.

DAY 6 — Delos (am) & Mykonos (pm), Greece
You cannot escape the feeling on Delos that the Greek gods are hovering just out of sight, or that Apollo might step out of some ruin at any moment, casting his radiance once again over ancient Delos. Uninhabited today as always, Delos is the hub of the "wheel" for which the Cyclades are named. The Sacred Way, bordered by temples, altars and shrines dedicated to Greek, Roman and Egyptian deities, attests to the religious importance in ancient times.

One of the most cosmopolitan of all the Greek Islands and quite justifiably attracting visitors from all over the world, Mykonos is a contrast of rocky hills and beautiful beaches. Hora, the capital, spreads around a colorful harbor in which fishing boats nestle side by side with luxury yachts. The brilliant white cubic houses with white-washed balconies built close together with little shops and tiny churches, make up the backstreets of the town. The harbor is overlooked by a variety of tavernas, and is a popular meeting place as the sun goes down, turning the brilliant whites to beautiful shades of pinks and reds.

DAY 7 — Sifnos, Greece
Gold gave birth to Sifnos. Every year, the islanders would offer a solid gold tribute to Apollo. When they tried to substitute a fake, Apollo decreed that their rich mines would sink into the ground. Now the abandoned mines are the only reminder of Sifnos golden age. Apollonia, the little capital named after Sifnos' wrathful patron god, is now a center for folk arts, where delicate laces and distinctive island pottery are sold in the markets. Visit Panayia Chrysopyi, a 17th-century monastery precariously perched on a rocky islet jutting into the sea.

DAY 8 — Athens, Greece
Disembark the ship for your transit home.

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