Featured PTO DestinationOur 8 dedicated Preferred Tour Operators (PTOs) strive to bring you the most exciting trips for you to offer your club members. At the annual Peer Group Conference, each PTO showcases one of their destinations for the year, but that is simply to whet your appetite for travel. Each month we will feature a new destination regularly from one of our PTOs. Make sure to check back to see where YOU might be heading next! |
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Greece and the Greek Islands ~ "A Magical Cruise-tour Odyssey"
Islands in the Sun Cruises & Tours - Susan and Russ Rosenberry
Ever dream of a destination full of ancient wonders, incredible scenery, historical monuments, memorable entertainment, religious sites, friendly locals, abundant sunshine and delicious food and beverage? And what about pricing that is not sky high, and where English is widely spoken and understood? And let’s not forget about a safe environment and unique shopping opportunities. Well, let us make that dream come true for you and your club by transporting you to the magical and timeless Greece and the Greek Islands with an amazing cruise-tour.
Exploring by land and sea captures the warmth and spirit of this area at its fullest. It is perfect for a cruise-tour on a small, well-appointed and intimate ship. Oceania Cruises and Azamara Cruises are well-suited for this with interesting itineraries either starting or ending in Athens, Greece (actually its port of Piraeus). Depending on time and budget constraints, several days exploring mainland Greece or the Peloponnese can be customized and round out the experience either pre- or post-cruise.
Americans’ enthusiasm for travel to the Greek Islands is at an all time high. This has been fueled in part by the successful and highly publicized summer Olympic Games in 2004 which highlighted the beauty and history of Greece. There have been incredible improvements to the tourism infrastructure - particularly in Athens – including a new state-of-the-art modern airport and efficient subway system. In fact, some of the underground subway stations are tourist destinations in themselves. While excavation was taking place for the subway tunnels, new archaeological sites and relics were found. Construction was slowed down a bit at this stage as steps were taken to preserve and catalog the finds, and ‘mini-museums’ showcasing the treasures are now located in some of the stations. The just released movie extravaganza – ‘Mamma Mia’ - which takes place in the Greek Isles can only heighten the interest. So, as they say, let the games begin!
The Greeks have been hosting travellers for thousands of years, and have truly mastered the art of hospitality. Travelling in the shoulder seasons of April, May, September, October and November avoids the summer crowds and heat, and allows your senses to awaken as you see, feel, hear and taste Greece. A great place to start is the ancient capital city of Athens. You’ll explore the Parthenon temple at the Acropolis – the symbol of the ‘birthplace of democracy’ for millennia. Other highlights of Athens will include the Temple of Zeus, the marble Olympic Stadium, Constitution Square and the Presidential Palace where you can view the Greek ‘Evzones’ standing guard. History buffs will be delighted by the ancient treasures of the Athens Museum and you’ll see a 2,000 year old amphitheatre that is still in use! Dining in tavernas, sampling the Ouzo and shopping or people watching in the ancient ‘Plaka’ neighborhood in the shadow of the Acropolis allow you to soak up the special essence of this city that you will never forget.
Using Athens as a base, you can enjoy a full day tour to Delphi, believed to be the center of the ancient world – known as the ‘Omphalos’ (Navel) of the Earth – where the famous Oracle of Delphi made numerous prophecies. Take time to sit on the hillside and overlook the ruins of this ancient city that exudes a feeling of peace and timelessness. The ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo and the archeological museum will hold your attention. Enroute you will experience incredible scenery such as the slopes of Mount Parnassus, groves upon groves of olive trees and enjoy a delicious luncheon featuring Greek country cuisine.
Another side trip out of Athens is a visit to Meteora in central Greece near the Pindos Mountains where Greek monks began building monasteries in the 14th century. Only six of these monasteries remain and what is most remarkable are their locations at the tops of sandstone rock pinnacles, once only reachable by rope ladders. It is now a UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site and the monasteries serve basically as museums for visiting tourists.
Ancient Corinth and the famed Corinth Canal are about 50 miles southwest of Athens and offer a nice half day excursion. Corinth was one of the Greek city-states and at one time rivaled Athens in wealth. ‘Corinthian’ columns originated here and the ruins of the Temple of Apollo are an impressive sight. To the southeast of Athens a short trip to Cape Sounion will reward you with the well known Temple of Poseidon – positioned on a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. This temple built to honor the Greek God of the Sea has weathered time for almost 2,500 years. The area is now a Greek National Park, so development near the temple is thankfully not permitted. It is also an incredible sight from the sea.
Working up an appetite? Food in Greece is tasty and plentiful. (Aren’t some of the best restaurants in the U.S. owned and operated by Greeks?). Many of the offerings are similar to Italian cuisine in some ways, but a few of the Greek specialties you must be sure to sample are Moussaka, Souvlaki and the heavenly sweet dessert named Baklava. Lamb and chicken dishes are very popular as are many casseroles and the healthy Greek salads full of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, peppers and feta cheese. And with an abundance and variety of seafood there is truly something to please everyone’s palate.
Beyond Athens, the cruise will feature such magical islands as Santorini, the volcanic crater island that some believe could have been the fabled site of ‘Atlantis’. This island is also sometimes called Thira. After your ship anchors, ride a donkey or take the funicular to the top of the island where most of the towns and activities are located. The rich soil nurtures vineyards, and the charming white-washed villages of Fira and Oia cling to the island’s cliffs tempting you with both incredible views of the caldera, and festive jewelry and souvenir shops. Black sand beaches and the archeological sites round out some of your options. The archeological site of Akrotiri has been under excavation for the last twenty years. This site has yielded many treasures and discoveries that the ancient city had running water, multi-level housing and that they traded with other nation states all over the Mediterranean.
The ‘jet set’ island of Mykonos with its picturesque windmills and maze of alleyways will capture your imagination. This is an ideal island to go to the beach or go shopping on. The cubic architecture of many of the houses and buildings here is the typical ‘Cycladic’ white washed square buildings with blue shutters and accents. (Greece was under Turkish rule for many of the last few centuries and the people were forbidden to fly the blue and white Greek flag – so they painted their dwellings this way as a kind of protest.) Brush up on your Greek Mythology as a short boat ride will whisk you over to the ‘sacred island of Delos’ which was believed to be the birthplace of Zeus and many other Greek gods. This small island is currently uninhabited except for a few French archaeologists. A few hours walking tour of the island will yield incredible sights of an ancient city all built to honor their gods.
Although not a Greek Island, a visit to the Turkish coastal port of Kusadasi is often included on our itineraries. It is your gateway to the Ancient city of Ephesus. Fascinating ruins of this Greek and Roman city come alive with a good tour guide as you walk the marble boulevards and marvel at the famed library, amphitheatre and more. Additional excursions to the tomb of St. John Basilica and the house of the Virgin Mary Shrine are meaningful, as well as the chance to bargain for Turkish carpets or other handicrafts.
Yet another port of call featured on many itineraries is a visit to the coastal village of Katakolon in the Peloponnese. It is a quaint fishing village with some shops and cafes, but the real reason for a stop here is to journey to the ancient site of Olympia – birthplace of the Olympic games. It is only a 45 minute drive from Katakolon to the ruins of the ancient playing 
fields, stadiums and buildings. An informative guide brings this site to life and is well worth the trip.
The modern town of Olympia offers sidewalk cafes and shops selling ancient Olympic memorabilia.
Depending on your itinerary, some of the other major Greek islands that are often included are Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and many more. From spectacular beaches to splendid olive groves to bustling market towns to quaint fishing villages, to cosmopolitan shopping venues, to Crusader castles – the sights and activities available for your club are unending.
As mentioned earlier, the small and intimate vessels of Oceania Cruises and Azamara Cruises are ideal for cruising the Greek Islands. Some of the larger vessels of Celebrity Cruises such as their new Solstice ship which will sail Greek Islands itineraries round trip from Rome can also be a good choice. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line ships are also definite options for certain itineraries. As a bonus, some of these itineraries also feature a start or ending in Venice or Istanbul, two fascinating cities that are great to explore.
We do emphasize as always, that ‘one ship does not fit all’, and since we know and sail the ships we can find the right option for your club. For example, there is a European cruise line which sails out of Italy, but always has ‘kids sail free’ offers and is not conducive to an American clientele in many other ways as well. And another European cruise line which sails frequently out of Greece with older and inferior ships with a very poor safety record (one ship sank and another had a cracked hull within the past year) should also be avoided for your clubs which cater to your best clients.
So, be prepared for a Greek Isles cruise-tour of mythical proportions – guided by your cruise-tour experts at Islands in the Sun Cruises & Tours.
Susan & Russ Rosenberry, owners of Islands in the Sun Cruises & Tours, have more than 20 years experience with Greece and the Greek Islands and are eager to bring this magical part of the Mediterranean alive for you and your club!
Islands in the Sun Cruises & Tours
Susan & Russ Rosenberry
Stevensville, MD
(800) 278-7786
crus.sun@gmail.comwww.crus-sun.com
