Treasures of the Aegean: Greek Island Cruise, Athens & Istanbul (2012)

This is a wonderful trip. Archeological eye candy every where you look. Each island is a gem. The ship is comfortable, food good ,and staff considerate and acommodating.

Our program director, Eleni, did a fantastic job and is truly a wonderful guide and "guardian of her flock".

The people in towns and villages are friendly, glad to see tourists. The crisis doesn't directly impact visitors.Though not the bargain Greece once was prices are , for the most part, reasonable.

This is an active trip, not in the sense of white water rafting and ziplining, but you'll walk and walk and walk some more...much of it over STEPS. There are steps everyone and a walking stick is a wonderful companion. You'll come home tired, but it will have been worth it.

A good reason to go now is that this trip is being converted to GCT, which means more people in each group. Instead of two groups of 25 on the ship, there may be 4 groups of up to 45 each.

If you've ever wanted to see Greece and get a taste of Turkey, this is the tour for you.

Traveler: T M P from Manchester, TN traveled on March 31, 2012

A perfect trip! I agree with all rave reviews!

With early arrival, from the US, on the first day we had free time and chose to see the Acropolis Museum because it was close and we were tired. We wish we had gone to the National Archeological Museum as we would have had time for the Acropolis Museum when we returned to Athens to start the main trip.

Trip info states “3 miles a day” and that is a manageable pace. There are often steps and some are steep (high rise). A walking stick or cane can ease the strain on hips or knees and also assist over uneven terrain. I think a good test of your endurance to handle most of this trip would be your ability to walk up a stairway to at least a third floor (2 flights). In some of the more strenuous situations, such as 300 steps up to the monastery and the hike, you have an option.

We took the pre-trip extension to Olympia, Nafplion and Athens which included stops at Epidaurus and Mycenae, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. These were all opportunities that created a sense of awe and wonder, stimulating our imaginations of ancient civilizations. Stops at the icon workshop and pottery shop were very informative, giving you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with a quality product.

Maria Charalampidou is a classic Athenian beauty with outstanding knowledge of history, archaeology and mythology. She is qualified to guide you through areas that would otherwise require an onsite guide. This is significant as her diction is superb and she has a lovely, pleasing voice that is clear and easy to understand. Highly organized, creative and professional, she takes advantage of any opportunity to detour around crowds and to locate her group to a more shady or comfortable area. She constantly, and impartially, evaluates the wellbeing and interest of all.
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Traveler: Delora Cain from Dallas, TX traveled on April 23, 2012

This was one of the best OAT trips we have taken. Our guide, Elisabeth Kontidou, was fantastic: very knowledgeable and also very caring. We had cruised with the same ship and the same captain in the Red Sea. This time we had a room on the lower deck -- no balcony, but the room itself was bigger. A good trade off.
One suggestion: although it is not mentioned in the handbook, do bring a bathing suit if you like to swim. Several of the hotels had pools (even though the weather was too cool for beach swimming), and I was sorry I was not prepared.
Also (for women): for the monasteries, you can simply bring a pareu or wrap-around skirt that you can put over your pants.
Enjoy the trip! We did!!

Traveler: Rebecca Valette from Newton, MA traveled on March 27, 2012

This trip was our seventh with OATGCT and all of them were terrific in their own ways. Turkey and Greece have very interesting histories and are currently on the world stage with very different political and economic issues facing them. Although these were discussed to some degree, most of the focus of learning was an historical perspective going back thousands of years. Our trip leader, Maria M was extremely knowledgeable and was able to provide many details of Greek history and culture. Her greatest challenge occurred when we had gale force winds on the cruise portion of the trip resulting in our staying an extra night at two islands, Patmos and Naxos. She and her fellow trip leader made adjustments that were not only interesting, but took us “off the beaten path” to places most visitors do not get a chance to visit. This added to the “adventure” of the trip. Though we missed a few scheduled islands, we did make a stop at Paros, not on the itinerary and had the option to take a large ferry from Syros to Mykonos or Delos.

Seeing the sites of Istanbul was fascinating and wish we had more time there. You could spend a week in Istanbul, but most of us don’t have time for that. The trip to Ephesus was the Turkey “highlight” for us. It is such an extensive site with so much history associated with it.

The ship was excellent and on par with our previous trip on the sister ship. We had the same hotel manager is a delight and does his business efficiently and with a great sense of humor akin to a “stand-up comedian”. The entire crew was friendly and made us feel like part of their family. The food on board was terrific. We had gale force winds with sunny clear skies on day and drizzle on the other and stayed in two ports an extra day. From what we heard itinerary changes are a pretty common experience. For us, as noted above, this turned into an additional adventure.

The Greek Isles are each jewels with different personalities. Santorini does stand out for picturesqueness and jet set prices. We had unforgettable experiences, cultural, historical, shopping, eating and hanging out with locals on each island we visited, Patmos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros and Syros.

Meteora and Delphi are two very interesting and unique sites and the bus rides through the countryside gave us an opportunity to see some of inland Greece. The towns of Itea and Arachova are charming places to spend some time.

We were fortunate to have a wonderful trip leader, a great group of fellow travelers and fine weather, sunny and mild 90% of the time” If you take this trip be prepared to “go with the flow” and enjoy the adventures that come your way.

Traveler: Elaine & Stephen Smith from Cape Elizabeth, ME traveled on April 10, 2012

This was our first trip with OAT and it was outstanding. Maria C., our tour director, is so knowledgeable that she made everything come alive for us. We traveled in mid-March to April 1 and the weather was perfect -- sunny with temps in the 60's. Starting in Athens was a good choice since we got to see the monasteries, have a wonderful home visit, and visit Delphi. After that it was the wonderful ship, Arethusa. Lots of relaxing with the crew taking care of every need. Food was excellent and everone very hospitable.

No one need to fear going to Greece. We felt safe at all times. OAT's motor coaches are first rate and the drive through the countryside very enjoyable.

Seeing the Greek islands and Ephesus is an unbelievable experience along with the tour of St. John's church and the carpet factory.

Even though we were in Istanbul a short time we got to see and experience so much. The OAT hosted dinner the evening before our departure was a lot of fun and by this time everyone was hating to leave this wonderful trip and the new friends we had made.

We loved our OAT trip and our tour director and would never hesitate to take an OAT trip in the future.

Traveler: Kenneth Davidson from Blaine, WA traveled on March 17, 2012

Even though this was the first trip of the season, the weather was perfect and we didn't have to fight the crowds at any of the sights we visited.
We really enjoyed the home visits. They gave us great insight into life in Greece in these difficult times.
You should not be concerned about visiting Greece. Everyone we met was friendly and welcoming. We never felt any concern for our safety.
The small ship portion of the trip was outstanding. We were able to dock at every island except one, which made it possible to explore the city on your own.
Our guide Laura Giannola was exceptional. She has a broad knowledge of her country, its history, mythology and its people. She is a very warm and caring person that showed in how she related to the members of our group.
One recommendation is that you spend a couple of extra days in Istanbul. The trip itinerary does not give you enough time to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Traveler: Ward Denaway from Saint Paul, MN traveled on March 17, 2012

We just returned from this glorious trip which was the first departure of the season. We were able to secure a "last minute deal" which made the trip all the more fun because of the spontaneity!

This trip has been well reviewed by previous posters, so I'll just add a few comments...

*Do not be afraid to go to Greece. We felt totally safe at all times and saw no evidence of unrest that might endanger us. The people of Greece were very welcoming and thankful to travelers willing to visit their country.

*March was an excellent time to visit Greece. We recognized that we might run into inclement weather, but this was not the case. The wildflowers were in bloom and the air was clear and smelled so sweet. Every day was gorgeous and best of all, there were very few tourists. On the more touristic islands, such as Mykonos, Santorini, and Patmos, many of the shops were still closed for the season. However, for us the benefit of fewer tourists outweighed the inconvenience of closed gift shops.

*The cuisine on the ship was excellent, fresh, and creative. The menu offered something for everybody, carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten intolerant alike!

* A highlight for us was visiting the islands of Delos, Syros, Naxos, and Amorgos. These islands are not visited by the large cruise ships so you get a feeling of the "real' Greece. If you enjoy hiking, ask your trip leader to break away and hike to the top of a Kynthos, a small mountain on the island of Delos. The view from the top is spectacular!

*If you have the luxury of time, I would recommend adding a day or two to visit Istanbul on your own. On this itinerary the time in Istanbul is just one full day. Although we've been to Istanbul on the OAT Turkey itinerary, I still didn't get enough of this enchanting city and wish that we'd added some days.

*Maria Charalampidou...you will be blessed if you get her as a trip leader! Her knowledge is limitless and you will come to know her as a friend.

Sometimes what some people consider a bad time to visit a country can actually be the best time. This was our experience visiting this wondrous part of the world!

Traveler: Allison Lockwood from Pismo Beach, CA traveled on March 17, 2012

I will add on a bit to what the previous reviewer said as we clearly enjoyed the trip as well. Most of our comments would be about the same. So here is what is different that we might add:

We did the pre-trip to Crete and loved it. Lena was our guide and helped us move around to accommodate a couple of bad weather days. She made sure that we got to Chania while the sky was blue and the clouds billowy white. She knew just right right small paths to take for some absolutely amazing pictures. At her recommendation we had delicious grilled octopus near the port. As we left, the storm moved in. But we were going in the opposite direction and missed it also in Rhythmnon. Absolutely gorgeous.

The two main stops in Crete were the Palace of Konnosos an absolutely amazing archaeological dig and the small wonderful museum in Heraklion. Lena was able to expertly guide us in both places.

The hotel was just on the main Syntagma square with several nice places to sit, sip wine and savor the day.

We also took the post trip in Turkey. We were so glad we did. The area around Cappadocia is like nothing we have seen before. We hadn't planned on taking the hot air balloon ride over the area, but it was one of our favorite events on the trip. But then again we absolutely were thrilled with the churches in the Goreme Outdoor Museum. Unbelievable!!!

Also in Cappadocia, we visited a lovely school, went to the small town of Urgup which was charming. Our guide Atilla was an amazing history resource who explained everything so clearly and whose eyes absolutely sparkled when doing so. It made us clearly enjoy the post trip ever so much more.

However, the post trip drive from Cappadocia to Ankara was grueling. Much too long and generally through uninteresting areas. We did stop at Yazilikaya to visit the Hittite archaeological site and a lovely lunch, but overall that was our least favorite day of the entire trip.

Some friends of ours had taken the Treasures of the Aegean trip and their only criticism was not having enough time in Istanbul. So when the post trip was finished, we went back to Istanbul for another week and were soooo glad we did. We returned to the Topkapi Palace at a different time of day and had no problems with the cruise ship crowds. We were able to visit several other amazing sites (such as St. Savior in Chora) that were not included on the OAT tour.

All in all we loved the trip. The small ship section of it was fabulous and friends we know who have taken larger cruises didn't experience all that we were able to thanks to the small ship being able to visit islands other than Mykonos and Santorini. It also was most advantageous that when we did arrive in Mykonos and Santorini, we were able to dock at portside and were in town before the big cruise ships had even begun to tender their folks in. And they pretty much left the area about 4:00, leaving us the very empty tourist areas which had been so jam packed between about 11:00 and 4:00.

This was our first OAT trip and we really enjoyed it. We have already booked the Dalmatian Coast trip for September!

Traveler: Stephen Anderson from Hacienda Hts, CA traveled on October 07, 2011

Although slow in posting this review, our trip still lingers as an incredible experience. Next, I need to sort through the more than 3,000 photos.

It was our first trip abroad and first OAT trip. From the beginning, we felt reassured. Maria, our trip leader, was outstanding to say the least. She sent preliminary emails outlining details, and leaving information on how to contact her if questions. She welcomed us on our arrival and we had a very well organized packet of information.

We did not participate in any post or pre-trip, but started our adventure in Athens and ended in Turkey. There was limited time in Athens, but Maria arranged for us to return to Athens in enough time (prior to boarding boat) to visit the Acropolis and the outstanding Acropolis Museum.

The Greek land tours were wonderful. The Monastaries in Meteora were a site that felt supernatural. Had a great home hosted dinner with a lovely family while visiting Meteora. Also enjoyed Delphi and all of the surrounding historical sites. Made simple stops along the way that were memorable, such as an ancient olive grove. Maria's knowledge of the biblical and archeological sites made the trip a "real learning experience". We even had a lesson on "ancient Greek language" where she attempted to teach us the alphabet and pronunciation. Did I mention the cooking demonstration? We participated and then ate our creations...delightful.

Our group was delightful to travel with, and we felt very bonded...looking out for each other along the way.

The cruise portion was equally delightful. The rooms felt spacious and well-thought out. The staff were all very attentive and made sure we were well-taken care of. Food was plentiful and yummy. It was a bit windy a few of the days on the boat and weather was a bit cool. But we felt fortunate to not have rain....sky was blue and beautiful.

We enjoyed all of the islands that we visited. Each seemed to have its' highlights. We had tours on each island...with many "discoveries" as Maria would call them. We tasted many wonderful "Greek" products along the way. You must take this trip to experience them all...to give you specific details would take the fun away. One in particular that just happened...and wasn't planned...was a stop at an Olive Oil Pressing facility. They were just starting to produce the olive oil, and we were able to witness the process. The Greek men were very anxious for us to taste the olive oil and would cut off huge chunks of bread and pass it around. Delightful!!

The Turkey portion of this trip was also very interesting. Ephesus was huge, and I would have enjoyed even more time there. We visited a Turkish rug factory along the way. And while the production part was interesting, we found the high-pressure sales techniques after the presentation to be very annoying. I think OAT should evaluate whether this is ok or not, or give travelers a choice to attend or not.

The second day in Turkey was very full...visited a Mosque, Church and also a Temple. If anything, I felt more time in Turkey would be useful to really appreciate the sites and the culture. Maria accompanied us to Turkey and once again gave us coordination, direction and suggestions. We had a Turkish Guide while visiting the historical sites, and while she was good...we were very happy that Maria was also with us.

The attention to detail that OAT and our guide Maria provided is what really made this trip for us. We learned so much along the way and so enjoyed this part of the world. We hope to travel again soon on our 2nd OAT trip.

Traveler: Doris Gorin from Garden Valley, CA traveled on October 26, 2011

Treasures of the Aegean was a great trip, particularly, the cruise portion to the Greek Islands. We did the pre-trip to Turkey and overall enjoyed it more than the Greek portion. Our guide in Turkey, Mamet, was excellent. The main issues with our Greek guide, Dina, were that she overemphasized details, particularly, in the monastery churches that we visited and she commonly spoke too rapidly to allow understanding given her heavy accent.

The highlight for us on the Turkey portion was Cappadocia with it’s varied living quarters in the volcanic tuff formations. The optional hot air balloon trip was outstanding, although, by luck of the draw, we were in the overcrowded 24 person basket versus the roomier 10 person baskets used by some of the balloons. The balloon trip was on the chilly side so we were glad we had gloves and warm head gear. The accommodations and food in Turkey were very good, generally better than on the mainland in Greece.

The small ship portion of the trip in Greece was outstanding, on a par with a couple of luxury cruises that we had done in the past. The food was excellent and the crew members were without fault, being very friendly and efficient. The cabin that we had was very nice and seemed roomier than it’s square footage. We deviated from the schedule because of bad weather, ending up in Nafplion on the Peloponnese region of the mainland shore for two days. The only dinner we had off of the ship was there and it was included but it was dreadful compared to the ship’s fare. The only really bad part of the trip for me was that the evening that we left Santorini, I became violently ill from, presumably, something I had ingested on Santorini (? ice water). I was laid low for three days.

On the way to Meteora, Dina, made time available for those of us not able to make the post trip to visit the Acropolis in Athens, which was a real plus.

Meteora was a real delight with it’s prominent rock formations and the monasteries perched on them. We had free time in the adjacent town Kalambaka on Oct 19th ,the day of a nationwide strike, so we were impacted by closed shops and eateries. It took some doing to find an open eatery to get lunch in the form of a beer and a Gyro. The home dinner that we had in Meteora was a real highlight. Our host and hostess were fluent in English, which facilitated interaction and she provided the best food, by far, that we had on mainland Greece. Excellent!

We trained for a month walking as fast as we could go (avg 3 MPH) on a hilly 4-mile mountain bike trail before the trip and we were glad that we did. Twenty percent or so of our group used walking sticks. We hadn’t taken ours but I took advantage of one left, accidentally, by someone on the previous Turkey trip. I was glad to have it on some of the steeper more uneven ground. I would highly recommend getting into reasonable shape for this trip as there is a lot of walking. Some of the folks in our group didn’t and they probably wished that they had.

For the most part, we thoroughly enjoyed this trip and highly recommend it. Don’t miss the Turkey pre or post trip.

Traveler: Ted Schroeder from La Grande, OR traveled on October 03, 2011

The Treasures of the Aegean was a wonderful trip overall. Time in Turkey is extremely limited. I’d suggest that if you haven’t been to Turkey before, and are not planning to return, that you take the pre-trip.
The trip through the Greek Isles was wonderful. The Arethusa is the perfect ship for the cruise, allowing the boat to anchor right at the piers, rather than having to be boated in from the larger cruise ships. The Arethusa’s crew on these cruises is close to perfect, as are the meals. Plus the cabins are spacious and comfortable.
The land portion through Greece is also wonderful. All the sites visited were interesting and awesome. We were fortunate that we had a perfect guide named Dina, who went out of her way to make the trip enjoyable.
My biggest surprise was Meteora—a place that few tour books mention in detail. The home-hosted dinner in Meteora was what I consider the perfect home-hosted meal. We spent time around the table with the host and hostess, plus 2 of their children. English was spoken or at least understood by all. The conversation was broad and stimulating.
In my opinion, the post trip to Crete is not a good value. We spent a lot of time driving to some minor historic sites, and the home hosted dinner was forgettable. It is a beautiful island though…
I’d suggest that if you’re not planning on joining the post trip to Crete & Athens that you ask OAT for a breakaway in Athens and stay a few extra days. If you don’t take the post trip you will not see the Parthenon and the museums. These can be done on your own and quite a bit less expensively than through OAT.
Also, when you’re in the Greek Isles, there is little planning by OAT for additional activities on the islands other than the ruins, museums and shopping. There are no opportunities for snorkeling, diving, renting ATVs, trips on glass bottom boats, etc. though OAT. We discovered some of these on our own, but it would have been nice to have these activities pointed out on the tour.
Overall, a great trip, a wonderful guide and a beautiful ship. With a little work on your own, and being adventuresome, it will be a trip of a lifetime.

Traveler: Clifford Shisler from Melbourne, KY traveled on October 08, 2011

It's impossible to outline all the fabulous aspects of this trip. We are early 70's and some, but very little was beyond our capabilities.We climbed and walked and could not have been more pleased to do so.
I notice that others have raved about their Guide...Our 's, Evegenia Alexiou, took this trip from the Very, Very Good to the "above outstanding."
She had five years of archaeological training, having been actually on almost all the digs that we visited, then three years of Greek History and guide school. Her knowledge of Mythology as it actually played out in fact, coupled with a Very close connection with all the Monastaries and cultural features of the trip, made her an imperative caveat to our recommendation.
The trip is set up with the maximum exposure, both the short time in Turkey where our 'step-on' Guide Arkon, was fantastic, to the social and cultural as well as historical aspects of Greece.
We have traveled quite extensively in Europe and other parts of the Med. and I think I can honestly say this was the BEST trip we have ever done.
It was our first OAT, and we found it a giant leap better than 'regular' GC.
The OAT ship ( seven days) was spectacular. Outstanding crew, down to the last man. Very comfortable ( we've done a lot of them) and every aspect, food,lounge time,(we usually bought wine ashore and pd a 5$ corkage fee which worked VERY well. (house wine, free, was ok but we're spoiled...or fussy)
It truly was our BEST and we're considering a Dalmatian Coast trip next year.
Don't pass up this trip...it well worth it and one you will remember forever...even if you're one of those who have done dozens...we had a couple on ours and they were as pleased as we plebes.

Traveler: Jean & Tersh Norton from Lake Anna, VA traveled on October 08, 2011

I have traveled a lot and this was my second GCTOAT trip. Our trip leader, Laura Giannola, made this trip exceptional! I cannot imagine a more perfect guide. She was not only pleasant, but glowing all the time, inspiring excitement and interest. She is so mature for such a young woman, sensitive to the feelings of others and taking no glory for her own. She was kind, generous, and considerate with an impeccable sense of timing for presenting information so that it made everyone feel good, had the most impact, or kept the group happy. We had a very good group, but largely due to Laura's influence. She also was amazingly knowledgeable about everything.
Our cruise part of the trip required major modification due to bad weather. We managed to see probably more than we would have otherwise. The Aegean cruise definitely requies flexibility. The boat's crew and Laura were able to work out a schedule so that we saw most islands at high speed and sailed in rough seas only at night. We ended up spending 3 days of the cruise in Nafplion. Nafplion was an excellent choice. So many sites were available to us from there. Judging by the turbulence of seas the last night of sailing, it was good to be in a safe port.
Laura's incredible knowledge of everything, in enormous detail, and constant availabliity, increased the value of the trip enormously. Too bad it has been so long since I studied Greek mythology and literature, I could have absorbed more. Nevertheless, it was fascinating.
In addition, I had a medical issue, for which Laura obtained medical attention, without neglecting the needs of the group. It was quite amazing, all the things she could do. I cannot imagine a more perfect trip leader, or human being. She certainly is an extraordinary ambassador for Greece.

Traveler: Bonita Grossen from Hillsboro, OR traveled on October 31, 2011

We had all the ingredients of a wonderful travel experience - itinerary, leader(Sophia), and fellow travelers. The weather cooperated also.

Our trip began on 12 October - some might say not the best time to be traveling in Greece. Actually it may have been the best time because we were able to witness and take part in their recent National Strike Day(October 19).

October 19 brought us to the island of Syros, where we found that all the shops and restuarants were closed and that there was going to be a Protest Parade midday. We proceeded on our walking tour and upon arriving at the Town Hall, found people beginning to congregate. Sophia(leader) went inside the building and about 5 minutes later returned and invited the group inside - then up stairs to the Council Chambers where a gentleman fron Syros explained to us what was going on and followed on with a little history. Truly learning and discovery - something previous OAT Groups had not experienced. Thanks to Sophia.

We watched the Demonstration and talked with many citizens after it was over. They were glad we were there and expressed to us the heartfelt concerns about their economy.

October 20 was another surprise - we visited the island of Delos - a ruin to top all ruins for those who enjoy this type of activity. Ruins that allowed you to understand what was really there BCE, very little restoration and areas where exploration was either in process or was planned in the future. If anything our time here was too short.

We've said enough - wonderful trip offering much to see and learn. I would be remiss if I didn't say, that at no time during the trip did we encounter any indications of bad feeling or ugliness. We were never threatened and always felt safe and comfortable.

I hope this review will be helpful.

Neil & Janet Murray -- Frequent Travellers

Traveler: Neil Murray from West Yarmouth, MA traveled on October 12, 2011

We were very disappointed with our Guide, Maria, in Greece. Her time management skills were poor and she was unable to "think out of the box" when changes to the trip arose. She lacked energy and was wordy in her descriptions. Her favorite words were "slow, slow". We arrived in Athens a day early as there was no time to see the city unless you signed up for the pre-trip. We would not have seen Athens if we had not done this. This problem is something that OAT should work on. However, we were fortunate to take the post-trip as our guide, Arkan, was fantastic and all that our guide in Greece was not. Our trip changed immediately upon his arrival in Ephesus. This is the second time in one year that we had an excellent guide in the post trip and one marginal guide in the advertised trip. We have spoken to OAT about our concerns.

Traveler: Joseph Parsons from Vero Beach, FL traveled on September 17, 2011

Having traveled with OAT on three previous occasions, our expectations were already high as we embarked for our trip to Turkey and Greece. We were not disappointed! We are left with wonderful memories (and over a thousand digital images) that will last a lifetime.

We began in Istanbul. Do not spend the extra money to obtain your Turkey visa in advance. It took us all of two minutes to wait in line just before entering passport control, hand over US$20 and receive a stamp. Despite the credit card decals on the windows, they only except cash.

Our group (you'll join up with another on the ship and for the farewell dinner) was fortunate to stay at the Marmara Pera Hotel in Istanbul. It's located only a short block from Istiklal Avenue, an elegant pedestrian only street that runs for about two miles and is lined with fine shops, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, ice cream stands, roasted chestnuts carts and street entertainers. We visited it both days we were there and felt completely safe among the happy throngs of strollers, even after dark. The hotel had a roof top deck from which we enjoyed a dramatic view of Old Istanbul flood-lit at night.

The other group stayed at at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Old City which was near the Grand Bazaar but didn't offer anything close to the same opportunities to explore on your own.

The Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia were about what you might expect—spectacular! Our local guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The one hour allotted to shop in the Grand Bazaar (think upscale, indoor, crowded flea market) could have been skipped, particularly since were told that there wasn't time left for the optional sightseeing cruise on the Bosporus—something most of us would have chosen.

The ruins of St. John's Basilica and Ephesus were awesome. We enjoyed a delicious lunch al fresco at a nearby handwoven carpet cooperative, but were then subjected to an entertaining but lengthy high pressure sales pitch. The carpets were beautiful, but almost no one in our group was interested in spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on an impulse purchase which may or may not “work” when you got it home but couldn't be easily returned if it didn't. The extra hour or so was not time well spent.

We boarded the MS Artemis at the port of Kudasi and joined the second group. I can't say enough in praise of the ship, the food and especially the helpful and friendly English speaking crew. We had been cautioned that the itinerary was subject to change due to weather conditions and didn't have to wait long to experience the first modification as we had to skip scheduled stops at Patmos and Amorgus and sailed all night directly to Santorini.

Despite being discouraged from doing so by the leader of the second group, most of us opted for donkeys rather than riding a cable car to the village of Fira on top of the steep bluff. It was great fun! Absolutely no experience required and, even if you were an old hand at riding, these stubborn critters wouldn't have cared. Be sure to take the brief bus ride across the island to the beautiful village of Oia. That's where you'll see the white washed chapels with blue domes clinging to the hillside above the azure Aegean. Here's where you'll get your “calendar shots.”

The Artemis also took us to the islands of Naxos, Syros, Delos, Tinos and Paros. The wind was again too strong for the scheduled stop in Mykonos (The Artemis would have been fine; the passengers not so much) so our leaders arranged for us to travel back and forth for the day on one of the big inter-island ferries. Each island is different in geography, history, culture, architecture, cuisine, etc. and well worth exploring in the limited time available.

Maria had a very special unexpected experience on Paros. While walking around the town she passed a school and heard an English language class in progress. A retired teacher, she walked in and introduced herself to a secretary. She was greeted warmly and ushered into the classroom where the teacher invited her to take over the class. They were in the midst of a computer lesson so she pulled up the Michigan tourism sit and showed them “pictures from home.” The students were impressed by the Great Lakes and, being island children, wanted to know “if there were any fish in the lakes.”

We disembarked at Piraeus and drove to Delphi. Our route took us through central Athens the day after one of the big street demonstrations in front of the parliament building. Other than a few broken shop windows and lots of sprayed graffiti, all appeared back to normal except for piles of garbage which had accumulated over the last couple of weeks.

We arrived at Delphi in time to visit the archaeological museum. This was an informative introduction to our walking tour of the site itself the following day. We missed the Oracle (must have been on strike also) but did fill our bottles from the Sacred Spring! Our hotel overlooked the Delphi valley with its millions of olive trees.

Our next destination was Kalambaka to visit the monasteries of Meteora. The weather was overcast but the mist shrouding the ancient monasteries clinging to the pillars of rock and added to the mystery of the view. Women must wear skirts in the monasteries but most in our group opted for the wraparounds distributed free at the entrance. There really are 300 steps to climb to one of the monasteries so strengthen those quads before you come!

The last travel day in Greece was a long bus ride to Athens. We were anxious to get there in time to visit the Acropolis but were delayed by a stop at an icon-painting workshop which most of us would have preferred to skip. Interesting, but . . . We arrived at our hotel about 4:00 p.m. and just had time to quickly walk a few blocks to the Acropolis and explore a little before the 5:30 closing. Actually it might be the best time to visit since the late afternoon light illuminates the entire city visible from the heights. There isn't as much to see as one might think since the Parthenon is surrounded by cranes and scaffolding and you can only walk around the structure. The smaller temple there is actually more complete.

Overall, we were a little disappointed because we seemed to have more “time to explore on your own” than on our previous OAT adventures. Unfortunately, most of the time was in the afternoons when most of the shops and cafes are closed from about 2-5. We wandered around a lot of mostly empty streets.

This trip featured two home hosted dinners and, as usual, these events were among everyone's highlights. In Kalambaka the evening turned into an impromptu birthday party for a friend of the host who dropped in after dinner—complete with music and traditional Greek dancing. Opa!

Finally, I must sing the praises of our trip leader, Costas. Despite many years leading tour groups he was always fresh in his explanations about the history, culture, people and places in the country he
loves. He avoided overloading us with information as many guides tend to do, but patiently answered all our questions with as much detail as we wanted. He was quite candid about the current economic and political situation in Greece and left us all much better informed.

Traveler: Robert Lohrman from Kalamazoo, MI traveled on October 11, 2011

OAT provides the best possible travel experience because they realize the importance of their guides. Sophia our Greek guide was fantastic, knowledgeable, articulate, and just plain fun to be with. I felt like we got a art history lesson as well as geologic and biblical history all rolled into one trip. The sites were great, we were fortunate enough to have great weather and meant some wonderful travelers who we will be friends with forever. The itinerary could have spent at least 1 more day in Istanbul (but would not sacrifice anything to do this ) why not add a day to the adventure? The pre trip to Capadocia and the balloon ride is a must!

Traveler: Donald Marrs from Bellevue, WA traveled on September 22, 2011

Our travel guide, Maria, was absolutely the best part of this trip! Due to unfortunate circumstances, (I needed emergency hip replacement surgery) we were only with the tour four days. Maria's wealth of knowledge and love for her country were evident from the start. Her compassion for my misfortune was well above the call of duty. She surely made life a little easier. I am really sorry we missed the rest of the trip particularly because of Maria's expertise.

Traveler: Kathleen Walsh from Evans, GA traveled on August 17, 2011

Loved it. Hope you get Vivian as your tour guide. She was fabulous. We are considering adopting her!

Traveler: David Maupin from Solon, IA traveled on August 26, 2011

How can I describe "the most memorable moment" of the trip when there were no negative experiences? Our guide Maria was so supportive; she spent extra time with us (detailed guidance in Athens); the crew on the ship were great (everyone knew us by name and remembered what we liked); when the weather turned threatening, our cruise was rerouted and we went to Mycenae which was amazing. We stayed in wonderful hotels with amazing views. Did I mention the home visits? Such wonderful people everywhere we went. I traveled to Greece before, but this trip was far superior. I have recommende it to everyone I know.

The only negative: we had to go home! I feel like Elizabeth Barrett Browning: how did I love the trip? Let me count the ways. The combination of a small group, an interesting guide, great food land accommodations, great pacing (not to busy) and great traveling companions made for a totally satisfying experience.

I've traveled with other companies and was satisfied, but I am hooked on OAT. In fact, I have already booked my trip for next summer.


(only negative—please to not post: I had trouble after my last summer trip to Egypt and Jordan with my credit card. Someone tried to use my number after I used my card to pay for optional trips. The credit card company had to cancel my card and replace it. This summer after OAT processed my card for the optional trips, I had a more serious problem. Someone used my card to purchase $300+. Fortunately, my credit card company didn't force me to pay the charges, but it was inconvenient to have the card cancelled, wait for a new card, fill out forms, make calls. I do not believe for a minute that anyone associated with OAT stole my card number. However, there needs to be more security. These have been the only times that I have ever had trouble with a credit card in 40 years. I would not mention this, but I want to continue to travel with OAT and don't want to have to get a new card every year.)

Traveler: Anne Hopper from Wichita, KS traveled on June 13, 2011

Overall, our impression of the trip was good. We saw some awesome things and traveled with some very nice people.

We loved the pre-trip in Turkey. Our Turkish tour guide Volkan was exceptional. He went above and beyond what was required to make this a wonderful experience. He was knowledgeable and made each stop fun and enriching while always keeping in tune with the needs and wishes of the travelers. I can't say enough good about him.

Once we joined the full group for the Greece segment, things changed a bit. The Greek leader was knowledgeable as well, but he didn't do anything that wasn't required of him. I'd rate his knowledge as "excellent" but his touring skills as "fair". Regardless of this, we enjoyed everything that we saw on the trip. Everything was awe-inspiring and definitely worth seeing.

The seas were quite rough which we were told was caused by winds that occur in August. If bothered by seasickness, maybe August isn't the best time to be there.

One thing that people need to be aware of is that time in Athens is very limited on the basic trip. Most people wanted to go to the Acropolis, and that is not included in the basic trip. There was an afternoon when this could be done on your own, but no tour was included. Most people seemed very unhappy with the way this was handled.

Overall the trip was a good experience, and we'd recommend it to most people. Physical stamina is required for this trip.

Traveler: Andersen Tarpley from Kingsport, TN traveled on July 25, 2011

Of our many trips this was by far the best we have ever taken. Our tour director Alex was outstanding. He had a wonderful sense of humor, was very knowledgeable and accomodating in every way. We would be very happy to join him on another trip. The included meals were great. As much as we ate we were able to walk off the additional calories. The scenery was breath-taking. The one thing I might recommend is not to take along any formal wear fot the Captains dinner as it took up valuable space and nobody dressed up for the event. The ships crew was wonderful and the rooms were very nice. We also traveled with a wonderful group of people.

Traveler: Henry Anderson from Bondurant, IA traveled on June 22, 2011

People came from Washington, Nevada, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and New York to join together on our wonderful tour. We started in Istanbul and went onto the Artemis, our floating home for six days. Our international ship crew's hospitality was outstanding.
Patmos was our first stop in Greece with the site of the Monastery of St. John and the Holy Cave of the Apocalpse.
We left Patmos and climbed the monastery stairs in Amorgos. Wine served at the top helped ease the pain of the climb.
We had a storm hit on the first night of sailing but soon spellbound by the beauty of Santoriniit was soon forgotten. The rest of the cruise was smooth sailing.
We landed in Naxos and had a home visit in Melanes. We enjoyed the home cooking, and thought it was one of the best of Greek cuisines we had tasted. After dinner we were back on shipboard and folk dancing. Some of us got up and learned the folk dancing and it was fun.
Onto Delos and on to Mykonos. We found Mykonos too commercial and crowded. We had to visit where our beloved Jackie Onassis had lived but was disappointed.
Syros is a beehive of activity on their waterfront. This is where the original El Greco icon was visited in the Church of the Assumption. What a treat.
With sadness and farewells we left the Artemis and kalimera mainland Greece. Rain fell on the road to Dellphi and tears showed our sadness in leaving the wonderful crew and Captain George.
We had hail in Arachova and tasted ouzo and fruits as some of us helped cook during a cooking demostration. I was happy to be recruited, and since it was my birthday, the tour group cheered me on.
We were astounded with the Oracle and grew inspiration from Athena and Appolo.
We could almost hear the battle of 300 Spartans and soldiers on the plains of Thermopolye.
The Monasteries of Meteora was positively breath taking. I could not imagine we would see such a sight as these monasteries rose up from the high rocks where they were perched. Later we were hosted by the Kastraki family with a delicious meal. They are lucky to live below these monasteries and see their beauty everyday. It seemed we could almost touch the heavens as we gazed across the land and sky.
Rouli, our guide, was a wonderful teacher and guide. She mothered us and kept us safe. Some of us got the flu and sneezed and coughed throughout the tour. At the end Rouli, herself, caught the flu but she was ever so vigilant and finished her tour with pride.
We enjoyed meeting new friends, taking photos, and we shall remember our trip with found memories.
All the hotels were classy and clean. All in all, we enjoyed the Greek foods and their warm hospitality.

Traveler: Joan Seko from Bellevue, WA traveled on May 23, 2011

We enjoyed our time aboard our ship, the Arethusa. Our stateroom was quite comfortable, the meals were generally good, and the small size of the ship enabled us to dock (as opposed to anchor and use shuttle boats) in all ports but one,

Both of our guides were very knowlegable and well versed in the history and culture of the region.

That being said, we were dissapointed in the lack of "adventure" provided by Overseas ADVENTURE Travel. Prior to our trip, we were informed that we would be taking "strenuous hikes", This was never the case, and our pace was never more than a liesurely stroll.

We were also dissapointed with the lack of free time and alternate activities. We are used to traveling on our own and selecting what to see and do each day. With this tour, you are presented with a walking tour each day, but activities like snorkling, scuba diving, sailing, hiking, etc. are not an option. There were only two brief windows of time when we could actually go to a beach.

It appeared to us that this tour is more geared for an elderly, non-active crowd. We believe that including the word "adventure" in the name of the tour is quite misleading.

All in all, we liked the trip for all the places we were able to visit, but we will probably never take a totally "guided tour" again.

Traveler: Joan Bartolacci from Coopersburg, PA traveled on June 04, 2011

We recently completed our 5th OAT trip, Treasures of the Aegean. We have very high expectations and this trip met or exceeded them.

There were several experiences that became the high points of the trip for us. The first was the pre-trip to Crete. Our Tour Leader, Lina, made sure that we saw as much of Crete as possible in 5 days. Either the initial description in the brochure was very incomplete or OAT wanted us to be surprised, but we went to Chania and Rethimno and saw the mountains and quiet bays of the coast. As always, the home-hosted meal was a highlight.

The second highlight was the cruise through the Greek Islands on the MV Arethusa. The ship is spectacular with roomy cabins, congenial public spaces, great food, and outstanding service. On the first night, the wait staff had us introduce ourselves. By breakfast the next morning, they called us by name. The Captain and Tour Leaders revised the itinerary so we could avoid the mega cruise ships, especially at Santorini and even added an island, Kalymnos, which turned out to be our personal favorite. Every crew member was friendly, helpful, and genuinely interested in making sure we had a wonderful on board experience.

The third highlight was the post trip to Cappadocia. If you go to Turkey, you must visit Cappadocia. It is a fascinating and very friendly area. We were traveling through a very small village and our bus driver stopped to talk with a gentleman walking down the road. He wanted to know who we were. He then invited us to the village community center for tea. We spent a fascinating half hour chatting with him about the village, local and national politics, and the changes in Turkey over the years. It is these kinds of experiences that keep us returning to OAT.

As always, OAT hires the best Tour Leaders. Lina in Crete, Dina in Greece, and Nourdan in Turkey were more than just knowledgeable and efficient. They wanted us to get to know their countries, interact with the people, and enjoy the unexpected and spontaneous experiences that make OAT travel so special. We really enjoyed their company and learned a great deal from them.

Finally, we truly enjoy meeting our fellow travelers. OAT attracts experienced and sophisticated people who bring an extra dimension to the trip. We have fun, learn from each other, and enjoy both the big and little adventures that happen along the way.

Traveler: William Wheeler from Des Moines, WA traveled on May 20, 2011

This was our first trip with OAT and we were extremely satisfied. If anything, it exceeded our expectations. the tour leader was wonderful, the accomodations ashore and aboard were first class, the food was very good and the itinerary was grand. We look forward to additional adventures with OAT.

Traveler: Emile Rainold from Littleton, CO traveled on July 02, 2011

The time in Istanbul was wonderful but too short, needed at least one day more, our guides were excellent. I especially appreciated the new sound system so the leader didn't have to shout and all of us wearing hearing devices could understand easily. Having been on other tours, I thought the schedule of information, learning, etc and free time for exploring excellent. The small ship, captain, crew, chef superb, and because it was a small ship we could dock close and hot have to be shuttled to the shore like the big ships. I enjoyed the cooking class and learning a bit about Greek cooking. The meal with a Greek family was good, but someone should have told us not to over eat. I thought the appetizers was the meal, and when they then bought out a huge plate of food, I could not eat it all and hating to waste food felt badly to send some back to the kitchen. Our guide gave us a few perks, he introduced us to a bay side restaurant, and gave us a tour of the Parthenon and Acropolis. It was a tour to remember. Our party of 21 was very congenial, and on returning home have shared pictures. I like the small OAT format.

Traveler: Kathleen Kaplan from San Mateo, CA traveled on May 23, 2011

"Maria is a true “Treasure of the Aegean Sea”. . Her pride in her country, and the people was contagious, we left Greece loving the country and the people. Not only was Maria extremely knowledgeable in Greek history, and current affairs, she was also an excellent speaker. She had the ability to project her voice so she could clearly be heard on the bus, or in groups along the tour. She provided excellent background information about the places we visited. Maria kept a perfect pace for the trip to accommodate all.. Along the way on the land tour she would have the driver stop whenever there was what she referred to as a “Kodak moment”. We would disembark the bus for a few minutes to take our pictures, as a result I have numerous beautiful pictures that I normally would have taken out of a moving bus window. Her first concern was that of the traveler, she went far beyond her duties to ensure the welfare of each one of us. An example of this was as simple as one passenger wanting a new hairstyle while in Athens, she referred her to a beautician, and the traveler came back to America with a very stylish haircut. Then on a more serious note a fellow passenger had a fall in Athens the day prior to the trip starting. Maria physically took her to the hospital and a broken nose was fixed and the traveler was able to enjoy the remainder of a wonderful vacation. I also want to mention that Maria’s pride in working for OAT has convinced us there is no other tour company to travel with. . I only hope that the future trips we have scheduled with OAT, that we will be fortunate enough to have a tour leader like Maria. Thanks for giving us Maria for 16 days.

Traveler: Susan Debevec from Aurora, CO traveled on June 08, 2011

The review posted on June 11 was pretty much right on. I would add that you only need to bring walking sticks if you would need them to hike at home. Most of our group brought them but only used them once and put them away. The restuarants mostly want cash. They don't take charge cards so have lots of money in your account to use your atm machine. The boats want American dollars in tips, so bring enough dollars to do so, you will find you will want to give the maximum they were terrific.
My wife was upset that she brought so many cloths. She says she would cut in half what she brought. Bring some underware you can hand wash and hang to dry overnight, same for shirts etc. There are laundry services along the way, however the ship laundry was expensive, they had a sale need the end of the trip at sea.
This trip does involve alot of walking so come prepared. We extended in Athens as well as several others and did it on our own, you don't get to see it all with the group tour. I would do it at the end of the trip so you can take advantage of the advice of your trip leader. Also if you end up in Athens tickets to the Parthenon include other sites that are good for 4 days this is included in the trip. We also stopped in Munich to break up the trip back, saved having to get up at 2 am to catch the flight back to the west coast.
We were in Athens during the demonstrations and never felt intimidated, even walked among the demonstrators, just use common sense, if the few agitators show up leave. For sure it is isolated to one small area that is easy to avoid. Everyone is used to American tourists asking questions and they all were friendly and happy to help. Nearly everyone speaks english it's required in thier schools from the 3rd grade on. Also use the people in your hotel for advice on where to go and how to get there.
If you like history and ruins you will love this place, it has a culture of it's own. Do bring a gift for the home meals, they look forward to it. Think about your local beer or local bottle of wine.

Traveler: Dennis Marguet from Cascade, ID traveled on June 04, 2011

I find that reading the reveiws is helpful in making my decision to take a trip. We had this trip on our list for many years. It is as beautiful as imagined and more.
Our compatable goup of 25 agreed that Maria C., our program director,was a major component of our successful trip. She is knowledgeable, unflappable, attentive, and fun. Perfect. Listen to her ideas of where to eat,shop etc.
We took the trip starting in Istanbul. As the US dollar has a better exchange there than the euro, many of us shopped and bargained for scarves etc in Turkey. The Turkish merchants are more tenacious in pursuing you to buy than are the Greek merchants. A soft polite "Is this your best price?" worked well.
In Turkey we stopped for a wonderful out door lunch at a carpet cooperative. As the owner also produces olive oil, I'd like to suggest that people be given the option to either learn about carpet making or olive oil production. If you've been to China or Turkey, you've seen this demo on carpts before.
For descriptions of the trip,read the itinery. It is amazing and beautiful. We were fortunate that the weather cooperated and we were able to visit all the islands. Our favorite places were the quieter islands of Amorgos (the monastery is breathtaking at 300 m above the sea!) Syros and Delos. OAT had scheduled us to be early at various touristy spots so we were often the only ones there. That is a real plus.
We found in major islands that many people spoke English. It would be more helpful to have the Greek lesson at the beginning of the Greece tour. Maybe it could be given on the cruise over two evenings after dinner. We like to learn a few simple phrases. "F. Harry Stowe" was a tour book's suggestion to remember how to say "thank you or efharisto." It worked!
Get in shape before the trip. The opportunity to do lots of walking is available and walking shoes or sandals and hiking sticks are helpful. Do take the walk to the iconic door at Naxos.
OAT provides informative handouts during the trip. Read them. And I wish I'd read more beforehand. "Unlocking the mysteries of the Parthenon" is in the Feb. 2008 issue of the "Smithsonian Magazine." which I brought with me.
On the non-stop flight from Athens toJFK Carol (from VA) finished reading "Traveling with Pommegranites" by Susan Monk Kidd and her daughter . She generously gave me her copy. Many of the places we visited are in the book. It was very enjoyable to read.
Food: Delicious and healthy. Beautiful on the cruise.....the lunch pasta station and a Greek salad made it for me. I should add that the cruise staff were excellent! They were friendly and 1st class!
Don't worry about eating ice cream every day on the ship, you'll walk it off.
Maria showed us a restaurant near Kalambaka where you walk into the kitchen presided over by the grandmotherly chef who ladles out your requests from 8 or more pots bubbling on the stoves! Now that's marketing skill! The fragrant aromas were the best!
Don't worry about the home hosted meal. Our group went to three different homes in Kalambaka. Charming Betty had our group of 8 and she fed us a wonderful Greek meal. The first course is just that! :) There's more to come! They were such a joyous family.
I worried what to take as my gift. Bags of craisins and dried blueberries were well received as they are not Greek fruits. Another woman brought a jar of her homemade jam.
ATM's seemed to be the most convenient way to get euros and the rate was ok.
There is plenty of free time to explore on your own. Do it! Get lost wandering down narrow streets in any of the island or mainland towns. With Brenda and Bob from GA, we explored the food stores of the town near the Hotel Anemolia . We bought cheese in one shop, wine and desserts in another.(They had a huge photo of The Beatles with their grandfather above the shelves) It took longer to find a shop for a loaf of bread, but that's part of the discovery. We decided to walk back to the hotel instead of using the bus and were glad we did. People are so friendly!
The cooking lesson at the hotel was fun and informative. Our group readily participated.
I made a list of all the wildflowers I could identify.....20. And there were MANY more. Greece was abloom!
At the Athens farewell dinner, our gregarious group rushed the dance floor and rocked like we were kids. Last tip: wear flat shoes!

Traveler: Nancy Secker from Ajo, AZ traveled on May 21, 2011

Just returned from this outstanding trip. We began in Istanbul, which was so full of activity that we were able to "visit though" the jetlag, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Having lived in Turkey 40 years ago, I was eager to see how the country had changed, and it has, mostly positively. There were many more tourists, and more traffic snarls in the Istanbul inner city. However, Istanbul is fully modern yet ancient at the same time, and it still is the only Muslim democracy. People were friendly and helpful, and the city sights are still so impressive.

As usual OAT provided top notch tour guides, most especially Costas P., who was one of the best we have had. He was often funny, always informative, and helpful when needed. OAT should keep him as long as they can! With Costas and our Turkish guide, we spent a long but pleasant day in Ephesus after two days in Istanbul.

Then we boarded the Arethusa for our week-long cruise, and we were just delighted with everything from the first moment until the last. The ship is new, shining clean, and staffed with a crew that works hard to make every moment extra fun. Even though I had carefully reviewed the ship prior to our trip on the web site, pictures and video do not do it justice. It is a small gem, indeed. Our room was compact but spacious, and very well designed. The food was excellent and every day and every land excursion worked well.

Luckily, we had great weather so we could visit all of the islands as planned, and that was a treat. I will say this: there are some stiff climbs, so our trekking poles were used and appreciated very much, both on the islands and on the mainland.

While it was sad to leave the ship, the two sites we visited on mainland Greece were great fun. Of the two, we liked Delphi the most, simply because the scenery is magnificent.

This was our first small ship cruise, and it was a delight. Overall, this was an excellent trip, with just a very few minor glitches. However, they are too small to mention here in the context of the entire trip, which was one of our best.

EJCMSC

Traveler: Edwin Conklin from Tallahassee, FL traveled on May 03, 2010

The trip’s content itself was beyond our expectations, but most importantly we were held in Athens a few days due to the volcano ask air delays. During that very confusing time, OATGCT staff and tour director went way beyond the call of duty to make sure we were housed and fed and finally rescheduled to return home. Perhaps this is the real test of an organization to respond in such a manor for its clients.

Additionally we had a serious fall injury happen to a passenger which the ships' and OAT staff responded to very efficiently and returned the client to Boston for surgery.

Traveler: Lowell Bowie from Cincinnati, OH traveled on April 05, 2010

What a trip! This was everything and more! Our guide, Maria, was exceptional. Her friendlieness and knowledge were superior. We were able to see everything planned, and more! The weather turned extremely windy, and we made a change in our itinerary of the islands, but we managed to get everything in, including our home hosted dinner on Naxos. Though we were all at the same home, the host and hostess where extremely outgoing and talked with all of us throughout the evening. The food was fantastic, and all home cooked.

I was glad I packed my walking sticks, as the terrain is largely UP hill.

Greece was everything I imagined... white buildings, blue domed churches, lots of antiquities.

We packed more into our two days in Turkey than I could possibly imagine We even managed to stop at the Cisterns in Istanbul on our way to lunch. Fantastic.

The ship is extremely comfortable, and being a smaller vessel, we were able to dock at even the smaller islands. Swimming beaches were close by at Patmos and Amergos, and we were able to swim in the Aegean, even in October!

Traveler: Alice from Traverse City, MI traveled on October 05, 2009