Considering a Greek island cruise? If you’re like me, you’re visualizing whitewashed villages, turquoise waters and lazy beach days. It’s what we picture based on the images we’ve seen in movies, television shows and social media. But, does the fantasy match reality? And, what happens if you decide to bring the kids? Let’s compare Greek cruise expectations with what really happens aboard the ship and while exploring the islands.
Exploring the Greek Islands on a Cruise
The Greek islands are grouped into different families, including the Sporades, Dodecanese and Cyclades. Visitors can island-hop using the country’s extensive ferry system. But who wants to check timetables, book several hotels and schlep luggage on holiday? Not this gal. Booking a Greek cruise resolved those pesky logistics issues so I could sample a variety of different islands in a Goldilocks-like attempt to find an island that would fit me just right.
The only problem?
I’m not a big fan of cruising.
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Expectation #1: All Cruise Ships are Massive, Glitzy, 24-Hour Food Factories
I’d only taken two cruises before, on large Royal Caribbean and Princess ships. So I expected the same on-board experience. Although those ships were huge, they felt crowded to me, especially the buffet restaurants and pool deck. The big ships I experienced featured Broadway-like shows in huge theaters, noisy casinos and daily entertainment schedules that kept the cruisers very busy. Too busy, in my opinion. I felt like I was in Vegas, with a view. I resigned myself to enduring a lot of hubbub on my Greek island cruise for the convenience a cruise ship offered.
Reality #1: A Mid-Size Cruise Ship Feels Like Home
Rather than booking a big ship with a major cruise operator, I traveled aboard Celestyal Cruises, a Greek-based company. Celestyal has a fleet of mid-sized ships (approximately 1200 passengers) and offers 3-, 4- and 7-day Greek island cruise itineraries.
The difference was immediate.
- I didn’t need to leave bread crumbs to find my way back to my cabin.
- It only took a few hours to make the acquaintance of the friendly bartenders and servers.
- The evening shows on board featured a troupe of talented Cuban performers and the performance venue was an intimate lounge with banquette seating.
My primary fear was that I’d feel claustrophobic in my cabin since it didn’t have a balcony like I’d had in the past on larger cruise ships. But it wasn’t an issue, thankfully. My cabin had an enormous window and a practical layout with two twin beds, a couch and plenty of storage.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you enjoy the go, go, go style of big ship cruising, you might be wondering how to deal with the laidback atmosphere on a smaller ship. My advice? Embrace it! If you’re traveling with kids and you’re worried about them getting bored, come prepared. Bring a deck of cards or a travel-sized version of a board game like Scrabble and stake a spot on the lido deck. Keep score over the week and crown a family champ at the end of the cruise!
Expectation #2: The Greek Islands are for Lovers
The Greek islands are an ideal destination for couples, routinely appearing on “Best Places to Honeymoon” lists. The scenery is gorgeous, the beach season is long (June-September) and the sunsets can’t be beat. Hubby and I spent quality time together exploring the ancient Greek ruins. Then we’d return to our comfy cabin, freshen up and retreat to the aft deck bar, settle into seats and watch the sun paint each harbor while sipping ouzo, the Greek national drink. Perfect? Yes. I’d say so.
Reality #2: A Greek Island Cruise is Fun for Families
Our Celestyal cruise ship had a surprisingly large number of children on board, ranging from elementary school age to high schoolers. And there were smiles all around, particularly from the American teens on the pool deck, mingling with their international counterparts. Apparently, you don’t need to be bilingual to flirt!
I talked to several parents, wondering what brought them to the islands. One mom and her daughter decided to leave dad at home to handle a home renovation. Another mom and her two sons were traveling with a large family reunion group. They offered the following advice, based on their experience.
Greek Cruise with Kids: Survival Tips
- Bring Lanyards. Cruise guests are given an ID card when boarding. If you don’t want to spend your entire cruise looking for misplaced cards, bring lanyards for the kids (and grown-ups!) to wear.
- Don’t Fret the Food. Cruises work well for picky eaters because there is almost always something in the buffet restaurants that they will eat.
- Take Advantage of Onboard Activities. Our Celestyal cruise offered karaoke, bingo, trivia and Wii competitions. All were wildly popular with the kids. And check out the kids’ club, if there’s one onboard.
- Book Excursions that Include Beach Time. The Greek islands have many important archaeological sites to explore. It’s fun for kids…to a point. Balance the sightseeing with plenty of beach time for the kiddos.
SheBuysTravel Tip: I expected wide, soft sandy beaches like the Caribbean, but they’re not. They’re pebbly, so water shoes are a really good idea.
Exploring the Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini and More
Take a minute and imagine Greece. Freeze the image in your head. If you see whitewashed buildings, cobblestone streets, impossibly blue seas and billowing fuchsia bougainvillea, you’re picturing Mykonos and Santorini.
Expectation #3: Mykonos and Santorini are the Perfect Greek Islands
For years I’ve wanted to book a villa on either of the rock stars of the Greek islands – Santorini and Mykonos – and spend a week soaking up the sun and exploring the tavernas, beaches and sights. In pictures, it always seems so perfect and lovely – the charming windmills in Little Venice and Santorini’s blue domed churches. I’d take leisurely walks, snap a million pics and enjoy romantic sunset dinners.
Reality #3: The Popular Islands are Crowded. Really, Really Crowded.
During the summer, thousands of tourists flood Mykonos and Santorini, straining resources and testing patience. The Greek government limits the number of cruise ships permitted to dock each day, but it is still very crowded. Take a deep breath before wading into the stream of people wandering through Oia, Thera or Little Venice and be prepared to wait in line to snap your photos.
You can escape the crowds. Look for excursions on Santorini that include stops outside of Oia and Thera. We enjoyed a lovely visit to the Venetsanos Winery. It’s got a breathtaking view of the famous caldera and we had the place to ourselves. And, in Oia, after I dragged my husband into a few boutiques, we slipped off the main street and sat at a delightfully shady restaurant table with a great view and cold beer.
If you overnight in Mykonos like our Celestyal Cruises ship did, go into town late. Mykonos at night is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen. The narrow cobbled walkways of Little Venice sparkle with light reflecting off the white-washed walls. Go down to the bars along the harbor and get a table next to the water. You can enjoy people-watching from a distance!
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you end your day in Santorini in Thera and need to ride the funicular down to the port to catch a tender back to your ship, don’t wait until the last minute. The lines get really long and you don’t want to lose your happy island vibe worrying about getting stranded.
You Want Me to Eat WHAT??
As a kid, I had a fairly limited number of foods I would eat. I existed primarily on Fluffernutters and spaghetti with butter. Fortunately, I grew out of it and now will eat most anything that lands on my plate. But my experience with Greek cuisine is very limited. As for my husband? He’s not very adventurous when it comes to food.
Expectation #4: We Won’t Like Real Greek Food
I’ll admit I was concerned about Greek cuisine. My experience is limited to American interpretations of Greek dishes. I’m a fan of NYC street versions of gyros and Greek chips and dip (deep-fried zucchini slices and tzatziki). What if I didn’t like the food and had to beg local restaurant owners for hamburgers? I never want to be that American overseas.
Reality #4: Greek Food is Simply Delicious
My husband and I ate many of our lunches off the ship at local tavernas and beach clubs. The flow of the meals was similar; a series of mezzes (family-sized platters) were presented, followed by a main dish with a sweet treat to close the meal. That sweet treat was often slices of locally grown watermelon. Did you know they grow watermelon in Greece? Me neither.
The mezzes always included a traditional Greek salad featuring feta and tomatoes. You’ve never truly tasted a tomato until you’ve had one in Greece. When I came home, I looked at my backyard garden and sighed, knowing my produce would never taste the same.
You might be wondering…what about the fish? I know it was a question on my husband’s mind. And, when the first platter of octopus was passed to him, I could feel his discomfort. Fortunately, it only lasted until the first bite. Prepared by experts, freshly caught octopus is a sublime taste sensation. We enjoyed it served in slices, rings and matchstick-style. It has a very mild taste, enhanced by lemon, salt and pepper.
Exploring Paradise on a Greek Island Cruise
Visiting the Greek islands is a bucket list adventure and touring the islands on a cruise is a convenient way to sample several islands over a week. Here’s a summary of what I loved:
- I liked having a comfortable place to return to at the end of each day without having to pack and unpack.
- Each of the islands we visited had a unique charm. Instead of falling in love with one, as I expected to, my Greek cruise made me want to return to taste more of them.
- Speaking of appetites, I was thrilled to discover how much I like Greek food and the way it’s served, mezzes-style.
If you’re planning a Greek island-hopping cruise, you’ll have great expectations. If you’re lucky, the reality will be even better than anything you imagined!
Read More:
- Best Tips for Greek Island-Hopping
- Lessons learned from a Mother/Daughter Trip to Greece
- Why Choose Celestyal Cruises for Your Greek Island Adventure
- 2 Days in Athens, Greece: How to See the Highlights
The post What’s a Greek Island Hopping Cruise REALLY Like? Expectation vs. Reality appeared first on She Buys Travel.
