Piraeus (Athens) - Istanbul

Piraeus, roughly translating to “the place over the passage”, is an important Greek port located within the Athens agglomeration, in the Attica Basin. It is 12 kilometers from the municipality of Athens, considered the fourth largest and is the third most populous amongst all the municipalities of Greece. Now a peninsula, Piraeus, originally a rocky island, was developed in early 5th Century B.C. when it was initially designated as Athens’ import and transit trade port. It is the largest marine-based shipping center of Greece, one of the largest ports in Europe, and considered the second largest passenger port in the world. Inhabited since the 26th Century, it wasn’t until the 6th Century B.C. that Piraeus began catching attention. The land of Piraeus was essentially impassable, flooded by the sea most of the year until centuries passed and the flooding ceased. By the 5th Century B.C. it became a navy base for the Athenian fleet for the natural harbors and the strategic potential they carried. Athenian general and politician Themistocles fortified Piraeus’ three harbors Kantharos, Zea and Munichia, created ship houses and completed his walls in 471 B.C., which led to the port becoming a great military and commercial harbor. There are many archaeological sites, points of interest and entertainment available in Piraeus. Most famous for its tavernas and cuisine, several popular events take place in Piraeus, such as the Ecocinema International Film Festival, the Maritime Festival, the Piraeus Rock Wave Festival and the Three Kings’ Way Festival. There are also many theaters, including the Municipal Theater, the open air Veakeio Theater, and the Menandreio Theater. Museums in Piraeus include the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, the Merchant Shipping History Institute Exhibition, the Panos Aravantinos Decor Museum, the Georgios Averof Museum Ship and the Museum of Electric Railways. Be sure to catch the panoramic views available from the hill of Kastella, overlooking Athens and the Saronic Gulf!

Tucked away in the western Aegean Sea, Skopelos is one of the lushest Greek islands of the Sporades island group, with pine forests that grow densely to the water’s edge and seemingly reach into the sea. Boasting dozens of picturesque, white-sand beaches and quintessential Greek villages, Skopelos sings with beauty. Most of the outdoor scenes in Mamma Mia were filmed on location at the island’s beaches and small towns. Weather permitting, we will sail by the headland with the wedding chapel shown in the movie.

A green island with 65 beaches. The beach scenes in "Mama Mia" were filmed here. We anchor off the attractive Skiathos Town.

Volos lies at the foot of Mt. Pelion with its forests and traditional villages. We dock on the bustling waterfront to offer our guests the opportunity to visit the incredible Monasteries of Meteora. You know the ones featured in the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only". This is a “must do” opportunity. Meteora is one of the most imposing sights in mainland Greece. Giant rocks in bizarre shapes, ranging in height from 100 to 150 meters with monasteries built on top of these interesting 14th century formations. Volos itself is one of the largest and most attractive cities in Greece as well as one of the country’s most prominent ports.

We sail by the southern tip of Mount Athos, which has been a Greek Orthodox spiritual center since 1054. Monasteries and chapels cling to the steep mountainsides.

In the northern Aegean Sea sits the Greek island of Thasos, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Macedonia. Named the “Emerald Island of Greece” for its lush forests, the little-known isle is heralded for its pristine, turquoise-watered beaches and estuaries, picturesque mountain villages, local wine, honey, and olive oil, and snow-white marble, which it exports around the world. Discover Ancient Agoura, including the ruins of lost temples and sanctuaries and remains of the ancient town. Explore the island’s Archaeological Museum, built near the Ancient Agora, displaying various findings from Thasos such as pottery, statues, and terracotta artworks that date from the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman eras. Explore the Ancient Theater, built as early as the fifth century BC inside a natural cavity on the hill overlooking the Old Harbor.

Kavala is a lovely hillside town in Greece’s Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thassos. It is defined by a mix of whitewashed buildings overlooked by an imposing Byzantine and Ottoman fortress. Winding through town, Kavala’s spectacularly preserved aqueduct boasts three tiers of arches, with houses charmingly tucked into some of the lower openings. The nearby archeological site of Philippi, a city founded in the fourth century BC by Philip II of Macedonia, derived its enormous wealth from the mining of gold. In this once-majestic walled metropolis, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, lie vestiges of a grand theater, a stately forum, opulent mansions, and an early basilica decorated with mosaics. Stroll along lively Megalou Alexandrou Street and pause at a café for a sampling of local meze such as grilled octopus and fresh clams paired with local wine or a glass of invigorating ouzo. Kavala’s white-sand beaches, nestled in the serene bay, have received “Blue Flag” status for their pristine waters, perfect for swimming and diving. Kavala is your gateway to the town of Xanthi, which entrances visitors with its elegant nineteenth-century architecture, a legacy of the prosperity brought by the tobacco trade. You can canoe or hike at the National Park of the Nestos River Delta, where an abundance of wetlands attracts bird species and other fauna, including flamingos and otters.

Kepez is a seaside town in the Canakkale Province in Turkey. From Kepez SeaDream offers a unique Land Adventure to the ruins of the ancient city of Troy (Unesco Heritage Site). The movie starring Brad Pit although filmed in Malta has the actual Trojan Horse in Canakkale. Another “don’t miss” option would be to visit perhaps the most moving site in all of Turkey: Anzac Cove and the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli. We recommend that you make time and visit this hauntingly beautiful area where for more than nine months (1915-16) Allied and Turkish troops faced one another in one of the world's most tragic battles to gain control of this most important waterway " the Dardanelles.

A transcontinental city straddling the Bosporus, one of the world's oldest waterways in northwestern Turkey, Istanbul has often been described as the destination where “East Meets West.” Its nickname comes from its most defining feature, the Bosporus Strait, which divides the European and Asian sides of the city, revealing a vibrant meld of cultures, architectural styles, and cuisine. Selected as a European Capital of Culture for 2010, Istanbul is home to some of the world’s most famous mosques, churches, and palaces, as well as being an important city during the Latin, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires.