How to Plan a Cruise in Greece
Greece, the birthplace of Western Civilization and culture, is a popular destination for Mediterranean cruises. In addition to the mainland Balkan Peninsula, Greece is also made up of many islands in the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Crete, the Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. These islands, in addition to popular mainland coastal cities, offer an array of cruise destination ports of call. A cruise in Greece offers activities for a wide variety of interests including beaches, diving, archaeological and historical explorations, culinary adventures, and nightlife.
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Things You'll Need
- Passport
- Cruise tickets
- Airline tickets
- Camera
- Comfortable clothing
- Walking shoes
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Euros
Instructions
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Initial Planning
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1
Apply for a passport as passports are necessary for international travel to and from Greece and any other countries visited during a trip.
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2
Research the various Mediterranean and Greek cruise voyage options and decide on a preference. Many cruise ship companies, ranging from small-scale to large-scale operations, offer a variety of itineraries, ports of call, amenities, destinations, activities, themes, times of year and season, and cruise lengths, which range from as little as one to four days to as many as several weeks.
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Reserve space on a chosen Greek cruise voyage and reserve round-trip airline tickets to and from the starting and ending points of the cruise with an arrival date of at least one day before the cruise ship's departure and a return date of at least one day after the end of the cruise.
Packing
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4
Pack swimwear and outdoor recreation clothing as many cruise ships offer a variety of swimming venues and outdoor recreational opportunities. Also, many Greek islands have popular beaches that may be of interest during a stopover at a port.
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Pack comfortable clothing for on-shore occasions when tours of the local area are available. Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses will be useful for these tours. While in port, cruise ship passengers may choose to tour and explore the many picturesque towns, cities, ancient archaeological ruins, historical sites, and cultural venues that Greece has to offer.
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Pack appropriate evening wear for dinner and evening activities on board the ship. Although some cruise lines and ships are less formal, dressing formally for dinner may still be the norm on some cruise ships.
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Tips & Warnings
Among the most popular ports of call in Greece are Athens, Piraeus, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Crete.
Each Greek island has its own distinct culture and character, so take time to explore each during a port of call.
Many Mediterranean cruise itineraries include ports of call in more than one country. For example, an eastern Mediterranean cruise may include stops in several ports in Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
Converting a modest amount of currency into Euros prior to the trip saves time and provides convenience when traveling ashore during the cruise, as some vendors may only accept cash.
Be sure to bring and wear plenty of sunscreen at all times when outdoors during the cruise, and wear a hat and sunglasses when necessary, particularly when touring the archaeological sites and ruins.
