Istanbul to Athens Adventure

Your memorable cruise begins in the timeless city of Istanbul, where you’ll be transferred to your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht.

Please book your flight to arrive into Istanbul prior to 05:00 PM.

Located along Turkey's stunning coast, this popular destination comes steeped in history and is famed for its culture and culinary traditions. In addition, Kepez offers numerous outdoor activities, including hiking and cycling in the surrounding parks and verdant forests, as well as lovely beaches.

On Turkey’s western Aegean coast, Kusadasi offers fascinating blend of history, beautiful beaches, and vibrant markets. This beach resort town’s history dates to ancient times and it has witnessed many rulers, including those from the Byzantine, Venetian, and Genoese eras. It lies near several ancient ruins, including the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that offers a glimpse into the grandeur of one of the ancient world's most important cities.

Patmos is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea steeped in religious history. The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, towers over the island's charming capital, Chora. Nearby, you'll find the Cave of the Apocalypse, where, according to local legend, Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation. While here, sample the delicious regional cuisine, a mix of traditional Greek dishes and freshly caught seafood.

A tiny and rocky island at the heart of the Cyclades archipelago, Delos is one of the most important mythological and archaeological sites in Greece, believed to be the birthplace of the Greek god Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis. In the afternoon, you’ll sail on to Mykonos. This world-famous island's allure lies in its blend of traditional Greek culture and cosmopolitan flair. Whitewashed houses adorned with vibrant blue doors edging the streets of atmospheric Mykonos Town further add to the charm, so too, the island’s historic windmills.

Although the fishing boats still go out in good weather, Mykonos largely makes its living from tourism these days. The summer crowds have turned one of the poorest islands in Greece into one of the richest. Old Mykonians complain that their young, who have inherited stores where their grandfathers once sold eggs or wine, get so much rent that they have lost ambition, and in summer sit around pool bars at night with their friends, and hang out in Athens in winter when island life is less scintillating. Put firmly on the map by Jackie O in the 1960s, Mykonos town—called Hora by the locals—remains the Saint-Tropez of the Greek islands. The scenery is memorable, with its whitewashed streets, Little Venice, the Kato Myli ridge of windmills, and Kastro, the town's medieval quarter. Its cubical two- or three-story houses and churches, with their red or blue doors and domes and wooden balconies, have been long celebrated as some of the best examples of classic Cycladic architecture. Luckily, the Greek Archaeological Service decided to preserve the town, even when the Mykonians would have preferred to rebuild, and so the Old Town has been impressively preserved. Pink oleander, scarlet hibiscus, and trailing green pepper trees form a contrast amid the dazzling whiteness, whose frequent renewal with whitewash is required by law. Any visitor who has the pleasure of getting lost in its narrow streets (made all the narrower by the many outdoor stone staircases, which maximize housing space in the crowded village) will appreciate how its confusing layout was designed to foil pirates—if it was designed at all. After Mykonos fell under Turkish rule in 1537, the Ottomans allowed the islanders to arm their vessels against pirates, which had a contradictory effect: many of them found that raiding other islands was more profitable than tilling arid land. At the height of Aegean piracy, Mykonos was the principal headquarters of the corsair fleets—the place where pirates met their fellows, found willing women, and filled out their crews. Eventually the illicit activity evolved into a legitimate and thriving trade network. Morning on Mykonos town's main quay is busy with deliveries, visitors for the Delos boats, lazy breakfasters, and street cleaners dealing with the previous night's mess. In late morning the cruise-boat people arrive, and the shops are all open. In early afternoon, shaded outdoor tavernas are full of diners eating salads (Mykonos's produce is mostly imported); music is absent or kept low. In mid- and late afternoon, the town feels sleepy, since so many people are at the beach, on excursions, or sleeping in their air-conditioned rooms; even some tourist shops close for siesta. By sunset, people have come back from the beach, having taken their showers and rested. At night, the atmosphere in Mykonos ramps up. The cruise-boat people are mostly gone, coughing three-wheelers make no deliveries in the narrow streets, and everyone is dressed sexy for summer and starting to shimmy with the scene. Many shops stay open past midnight, the restaurants fill up, and the bars and discos make ice cubes as fast as they can. Ready to dive in? Begin your tour of Mykonos town (Hora) by starting out at its heart: Mando Mavrogenous Square.

One of the most photogenic islands in the world, stunning Santorini is an eye-catching destination, iconic for its whitewashed buildings clustered atop soaring cliffs dramatically rising out of the ocean. This hugely popular island is renowned for the striking beauty of its gleaming white architecture and domed rooftops, as well as the volcanic-sand beaches and legendary sunsets.   

Milos is a Greek island known for its unique natural beauty, often referred to as the ‘Island of Colours’ due to its diverse soil shades, including yellow, orange, red, and dazzling white. This is made even more dramatic set against the backdrop of turquoise waters. Milos is also the original home of the iconic marble statue, Venus of Milo.

Your luxurious yacht cruise concludes in the ancient Greek capital, Athens, the birthplace of democracy and Western civilization. Here, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home or to continue your holiday. 

Please book your flight to depart out of Athens after 01:00 PM.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will operated unaltered from the itinerary states above.