I’ve started the massive chore of putting away all the holiday decorations and tableware. My least favorite thing to do all year! Right now, I’m taking a break to sail away (in my memories) —- back to a dream Greek island cruise in September.
Other than perhaps Hawaii, the trip to mainland Greece and cruise was the most romantic, relaxing, luxurious, and fun vacation of our lives.
We had a ball!
Not only were we celebrating our big-something birthdays and milestone wedding anniversary, but also ‘practicing’ for pending retirement. A big life change for my hardworking husband; several weeks after returning home from Greece. We feel extremely blessed being able to enjoy retirement sooner rather than later. I retired a year ago from my part-time consulting and started blogging. But, I was lonely at home without B around. Now we are on our next life adventure together.
Come onboard and sail on a Greek island cruise into the sunset with us.
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Setting Sail from Athens
We started our incredible vacation land-based, with a Visit to Amazing Ancient Athens, Greece. Four nights and five days allowed us to cover all the major sites, and take a day trip to Delphi.
During that period, we also acclimated to the seven-hour time change and jet lag. And, there was no worry about flights and missing our Greek island cruise departure. A nice leisurely morning, then we used the same Welcome car service to take us to the port. I had worried there might be difficulty locating our ship in the massive port, but our driver knew exactly where the Windstar was docked.
Travel Tip: Welcome is much more reasonable than booking ship transfers directly with Windstar.
Boarding Early
At the terminal, Windstar representatives quickly and efficiently took charge of our luggage. Next, we went through customs and were transported to the ship. I was one of the first to board, climbing up the gang plank to be greeted by the ship’s captain and officers. We then sipped on glasses of champagne while they processed our passports and gave us our room keys.
After meeting our steward and checking out our lovely and spacious stateroom, we headed up on deck for a delicious lunch and to explore the ship. At 5 PM we set sail with 135 companions for a seven-day Greek Island cruise aboard the yacht-like, masted Windstar.
Travel Tip: Board early if you can. That allows time to enjoy lunch on board, unpack and get acquainted with the ship before sailing. We boarded at 1 PM and set sail at 5.
I share more about the Treasures of the Greek Isles cruise and ship in, Santorini, Greece: Gem of the Aegean. Let me summarize by saying the ship, our cabin, the crew, service, food and itinerary exceeded our expectations. It was an exceptional experience.
First Stop: Must-See Nafplio
After sailing overnight, we woke the next morning while docking in Nafplio’s harbor. Nafplio is not a Greek island, but a small, cozy Peloponnese port town. It’s also a doable daytrip from Athens across mainland Greece.
In the background, you can see one of the three castles that guarded Nafplio’s harbor. Nestled under cliffs and situated on a large bay, Nafplio was constantly changing hands between the Ottomans and Venetians. In the early 1800’s, it became the first capital of newly independent Greece.
The perfect first stop on our Greek island cruise.
Imposing Hilltop Fortress
We elected to spend the day exploring the Palamidi Fortress and charming town, rather than taking excursions out to ancient sites Epidavros or Mycenae. Although the archaeology lover in me would have liked to see them both, hubby had no real historical point-of-reference for either place.
Besides, he had already indulged me with four days viewing ruins in Athens and a very long daytrip to Delphi. We were celebrating our milestone anniversary on this bucket list trip, and wanted a day to relax and have fun in a romantic setting.
Palamidi Fortress sits high above the Old Town. Here, it overlooks St. George Square and Nafplio’s cathedral.
We could have taken a Windstar excursion to the fortress, or made the arduous climb up 999 steps to the top. Instead, we took a short walk the edge of town and caught a bus.
Travel Tip: Our bus ticket included an English audio feed, and day-long hop-on, hop-off privileges. But, since we later walked down the steps and toured the city on foot, we should have just caught a cab up.
Palamidi was built by the Venetians around 1714, and is actually a collection of bastions within extensive walls. We enjoyed navigating the giant fortress using the handy pamphlet that accompanied our ticket. There’s also helpful signs.
Travel Tip: Visit Palamidi in the morning, especially if you decide to hike up. And, don’t forget to take water, sunscreen, a hat, and wear appropriate footwear.
Stunning Views
St. Andrew’s Bastion is the best-preserved, and offers fabulous views of the red-tile rooftops of Old Town. Sitting just offshore of Nafplio’s waterfront is the fortified island fortress Bourtzi.
You can also just make out our ship, docked far below. It’s to the far right; the larger of the two masted vessels. Isn’t she pretty, even with her sails down?
Taking the steps down into Nafplio offers wonderful views of the surrounding area and all three fortresses. Akronafplia caps a low hill on the way down, about a 10 minute hike from Old Town.
One of seven churches spread across Nafplio, Agios Spyridon sits further down, just beneath Akronafplia.
We didn’t tour the other fortresses, but headed back to the Windstar for a quick lunch and to change from hiking attire to more fashionable resort wear.
Sophisticated, Charming Old Town
Nafplio is described as one of the most beautiful of all Greek mainland towns. There are numerous Venetian and Turkish buildings, twisting labyrinthine streets and it has sophisticated atmosphere.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Old Town. It was impossible to get lost. Beautiful flowers were everywhere; spilling from countless balconies and overflowing onto the narrow streets.
Because it was a Sunday, the waterfront and it’s eateries and cafes were crowded with Greek couples and families enjoying the weather and day off work.
Back on the Ship
It was gorgeous day as the Windstar sailed out; past Nafplio’s busy waterfront.
Time for sail-away festivities — raising the sails, music, drinks, sunset viewing, and a gourmet dinner onboard. Boy, we sure could get use to this lifestyle!
Travel Tip: Make sure you are on deck to enjoy sail-away festivities, views and sunset. It’s also a nice time to socialize with other passengers. There’s plenty of time for dinner afterwards. Windstar does not have assigned dining times or tables.
Fashionable Mykonos
Unlike docking at Nafplio, the Windstar anchored in the bay when we arrived at Mykonos. Passengers were transported by tender to the quaint fishing harbor.
It’s also where excursions left for the neighboring island of Delos. Delos is said to be the birthplace of immortals — Apollo and his twin sister Artemis.
But an excursion to Delos would have left little time to explore Mykonos town with it’s Little Venice and famed windmills. Instead, we elected to spend our actual wedding anniversary enjoying the beach and swimming in a romantic, luxurious setting.
Romantic Resort
Anax Resort & Spa is located on one of Mykonos’ most celebrated, beautiful beaches. Plus, it’s far removed from the tourist crowds in town. Windstar offered a limited number of resort day passes as an excursion option; including a van shuttle to and from town.
Infinity, terraced pools stepped down to a small, private beach area. It felt so serene and secluded. A little romantic paradise. I could definitely see spending three to five days here. A great honeymoon spot for sure — even for old honeymooners like us LOL!
Early afternoon, we went back to the ship to drop off our swim stuff and change clothes for exploring Old Town.
Lunch in Little Venice
Rather than eating onboard, we jumped another tender and headed for Mykonos’ famous Little Venice. The crescent-shaped area is packed with places to eat and drink overlooking the bay.
See the tip of a large cruise ship parked in deeper waters?
The town gets packed with tourists, shopping, eating, drinking and enjoying the fabulous setting — including a view of the Windstar anchored in the bay.
We were fortunate to find this small semi-private balcony perched over the water. Why eat without a view? Lunch was a delicious, fresh seafood salad.
Walking Through a Maze
It’s easy to get lost (temporarily at least) in Mykonos’ maze of winding streets. In late September, there were still plenty of tourists squeezing through the narrow, twisting lanes.
Nearly all the buildings are bright whitewashed stucco in the Greek island Cycladic style; with beautiful blue doors, shutters and trim. Inviting shops, restaurants and homes are shoulder to shoulder in Old Town.
How fun is this blue door?
Travel Tip: I wouldn’t want visit Mykonos (or anywhere in Greece) during the crowded, hot summer season — particularly August which is when all the Europeans and Greeks head to the islands on holiday.
See Spectacular Spain in September for another great destination to visit after Labor Day. Don’t miss Remarkable Ronda Gorge or how Seductive Seville.
Now’s also a good time of year to consider and plan a 10 Day Iceland Vacation for a cool trip in July and August.
Finding Our Way
Some streets (more like paths) open to quaint squares. There are also an estimated 90 small churches that dot Old Town!
In the Old Venetian Quarter is the Church of Panagia Paraportiani. It’s actually five small chapels draped together in thick white washed stucco. There’s the masts of the Windstar sneaking into my camera shot again!
Chasing Windmills
Mykonos is famous for being very windy. As on many a Greek island, old-fashioned windmills were used to grind grain.
On a ridge above town sit five intact windmills with great views of town and bay. See Little Venice in the picture above?
Travel Tip: It’s an easy walk from the harbor and tender drop-off to Little Venice and the windmills. Leave plenty of time to wander the town, explore, shop and eat.
And, there’s the Windstar again! Being able to spot the ship in the bay helped us to keep our bearings. We were fortunate the Windstar was anchored so close to the fishing harbor — making it fast and easy to tender back and forth.
Here’s a fabulous view of the windmills as we sailed on to our next destination — Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. Continue on the Aegean Cruise to Ancient Ephesus and Patmos, Greece.
I’ve gotta get back to putting away Christmas decorations, and figuring out how to use all the new electronic devices and gadgets Santa and sons brought.
Enjoyed the cruise so far? Ever been to Nafplio or Mykonos yourself? Sailed on a Greek island cruise? Travel tips you’d like to share with other readers?
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This looks like a dream trip!! My husband and I would love to do something like this. Saving for future dreaming. :)
Hi Stacey! It really was a dream. We’ve been planning and saving for it for a couple of years. Sure hope you get to go! There’s nothing like sharing it with the love of your life.
Sounds lovely. I was there in the summer and the crowds were not too bad and the temperature not too hot and there were flowers everywhere…very picturesque.
It sounds like we had a similar experience Carolyn. Glad to hear it wasn’t too crowded or hot for you. Were you on a cruise too?
This sounds like an amazing trip. In addition to the allure of visiting Greece I have wanted to sail with Windstar ever since I saw one of their ships anchored off of St. Maarten. It was dark and the passengers were dining outside and it just looked magical. Combining these two would be a dream come true.
Hi ya Iris, happy New Year! When I researched cruises, I found most were more general Mediterranean and stopped at places we’ve already been (Barcelona, Venice, etc.). And most were 2,000 or more passengers. The smaller, more intimate Windstar ships are able to reach more shallow bays etc. in the Aegean. Sailaway is an awesome time on deck, the sails go up, music plays, drinks are served and the sun is setting. Windstar has an outdoor dinner option called, Candles. Everyone gets at least one dinner there during the week long cruise. We ate there on our actual anniversary (after the day in Mykonos). It was wonderful! Afterwards, we visited the bridge and learned a lot more about the ship and captain.
The blue skies of Greece match the blue doors and window shutters. Wonder who thought of that? I’ve never been there, yet I’m married to a Greek and most of my close girlfriends are Greek. One day, oh, one day.
Traveling with you always bring the blue skies and sunshine to my heart. I needed to go to Greece tonight. Looking at those amazing photos again tells of your good eye with a camera. I pick the photo of the terra cotta flower pots spilling over the balcony railing my number one. I could smell the basil and dill. The other photos, all of them, came in a close second. To be on a sailing vessel….pure magic. As much as you travel I’m sure this will forever be your dream come true. Not to say all your other adventures lag far behind, but a schooner? As a seaman daughter I can only imagine. Thanks Debbee for a wonderful trip.
PS… No need for you ever to buy postcards
Kem, you really should blog — you are so eloquent! Didn’t know your hubby was Greek or dad was a seaman. One of our dear friends always introduces herself being from the Greek side of our family, and/or as our sons’ Greek mother LOL! Thank you for your compliments on my photography, but I think all anyone has to do in paradise is point and click for a similar result. Boys did buy me some new photography toys/tools to use with my iPhone, now I just have to figure out how to use them now that ‘tech support’ went home…
Greece is still on my list of places to go, things to do so I enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.
Hi Linda! It took me a lifetime to get there, but boy was it worth the wait! Don’t miss the upcoming post on Santorini and Patmos.
What a great post Debbee. I lived in Greece for over 20 years before recently moving back to the states. You certainly had a great time and it was very smart not to go in August. I hope you have a chance to revisit Greece and all it has to offer another time in the future.
Hi Mary, thanks for stopping by! Wow, 20 years in Greece — it’s such a beautiful, fascinating place. I’d love to return, especially to visit Crete. Working on part 2 of the cruise which included Patmos and fabulous Santorini.
You just made me put Greece on the top of my bucket list. Your photos were amazing!!
Catherine, so nice of you to visit! I know how much you and your husband like to travel. There’s so much to see and do (and eat!) in Greece. What until you see part 2 of the cruise, which includes spectacular Santorini. Our itinerary didn’t include Crete so I’ve added it to my ever-lengthening bucket list. The irony is, the more we travel the more we want to see!
Oh Debbee, this really takes me back! Our first trip to Europe ever was a trip my husband “earned” to Greece. We were on the Radisson Diamond, an incredible catamaran small ship. I am sure you have amazing memories from this trip!
Chloe sounds like a fabulous trip you took — what a wonderful first trip to Europe! I loved the intimacy and experience of being on a small ship. We are planning on a Galapagos Island cruise on a 14-passenger catamaran next.
When will you be reporting on the rest of the trip? Anxious to hear if you took any of the Windstar’s excursions. We will be sailing the same trip next September celebrating our 50th and taking our two daughters and son-in-laws with us. You certainly made the first two stops sound great.
Thanks
Welcome onboard (sorry for the pun!) Bill — how did you come across the post? Wow, how neat and special to celebrate your 50th with your family; early congratulations! Offhand, I think we did 3 Windstar excursions. The one was to the 5 star resort I talked about in the post. I’ll probably do 2 more posts to cover the entire cruise, devoting one just to Turkey. OMG, wait until you experience the included evening dinner in the Roman ruins of Ephesus! I do about one travel post every 3-4 weeks and I just did Iceland. Next post on the cruise will be in March. If you are doing time in Athens pre or post cruise, check out Visit Amazing Ancient Athens
Oh wow! That looks like another really wonderful vacation. Pinned.
A dream trip! Now that I’ve had a taste, I’d love to explore more islands like Crete.
Hi – where can I access the rest of the posts to this trip? I am considering the same itinerary on Windstar and would love to read about the rest of your travels.
Pam, thanks for your interest. I’ve been trying for a year to get back to more posts on the amazing trip. Highly recommend it! Right now, I’m pretty much in the midst of seasonal, holiday post topics. Likely will return to the cruise in January. In the meantime, you might also find the three posts series starting with Visit Amazing Ancient Athens, Greece of interest too.