Why Cruises Are the Best Way To Try Out Greek Islands

Exploring the Greek islands in style and speed.

When you picture your time in Greece, you picture yourself lying in the Mediterranean sun all day, turning yourself a golden brown. You’re next to the beautifully clear and salty waters of the Mediterranean Sea. You have not a care in the world except for trying not to get burned or dehydrated. I expected my stay in Greece to be filled with pure relaxation. And it was! But with a twist.

There are many wonderful things about cruises. Unlimited food. On-board activities. Room service. A lot of times they can seem crowded, and some people may not enjoy being on a boat for an extended period of time, but there is definitely a benefit to choosing a cruise ship as your Grecian transportation: you visit many islands in fewer days.

I traveled around the Greek islands with Louis cruise line, which if you’re looking for a good taste of all the major islands without completely breaking the bank, is a great cruising option to go with. This cruise brought me to five islands in a five day, four night cruise. It also allowed me to get a taste for the difference among the many Greek islands floating throughout the Mediterranean.

The cruise will allow you to walk throughout each little town, and reveals the wonderful white houses against the pristine turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Head into the little shops and get different trinkets and jewelry to take home. Best of all, you have enough time to try the delicious fresh food they have on the shore. This includes gyros, which are made with lamb or chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and other toppings on a hot pita. Every island has its own character, and having a day or even a half-day at each stop allows the island to reveal itself.

The best part about cruising around the islands is the excursions that the boat offers. Though they can seem pricey, the experience is “once-in-a-lifetime” and worth every Euro. The first excursion that I took advantage of was the tour of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, both on our stop in Turkey. This was an eye-opening historical experience that allowed me to really see the wonders of Turkey. It was amazing to be in two places with such historical significance. The House of the Virgin Mary was devastatingly small, so it was astounding that it housed a vital crux of the Christian religion. And Ephesus, which was made entirely out of marble, still contained streets and pathways that great kings and queens had paced upon on thousands of years ago. It was hard to believe that the buildings were still standing. So whether you like history or not, you will be thankful to have taken the time to visit these historical landmarks.

The other excursion that I took advantage of was the “Santorini Sailing and Volcano” package. Instead of exploring the island for the half day that we had on Santorini (which in and of itself was amazing,) I had the chance to sail from the shores of Santorini to the volcano off of its coast. The volcano still spewed sulfur from its crater! From the volcano, we sailed over to some nearby hot springs and played in the warm waters and red sand, coloring ourselves red and making our skin nice and soft. Arriving back on Santorini, I had just enough time to get one last gyro from my Greek island cruise.

The cruising experience is the way to go when traveling around Greece. You have the option to do whatever you want: stay on the boat and relax, walk around the town, or take an excursion to one of the incredible areas that the islands have to offer. No matter what you decide to do, the cruise allows you to experience and appreciate Greece’s beauty from every angle.

Check out Louis Cruises here.

Article written by Sarah Graham.