Treasures of the Aegean - Northbound

14 days
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
From the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, see classical antiquities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey aboard Wind Star, featuring memorable hotel stays in Athens and Istanbul.

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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Guided tour of the Acropolis and visit to Acropolis Museum; exploring Mycenae
    • including Agamemnon's tomb
    • and Epidaurus; cruising the Greek Isles; visits to Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque; a boat ride in Istanbul on the Bosphorus; a carpet demonstration in a village near Kusadasi; and a special Greek dinner in ancient Rhodes

What's this trip about?

    From the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, see classical antiquities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey aboard Wind Star, featuring memorable hotel stays in Athens and Istanbul.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAthens, Greece
End CityIstanbul

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Greece
  • Turkey

Attractions

  • Athens
  • Ephesus
  • Istanbul
  • Piraeus
  • Rhodes
  • Santorini

Trip includes

    • All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers Traveling with Taucks private group and the same Tauck Director on land and at sea aboard the ship Private Tauck Shore Excursions $1,180 Value! 3 nights at the InterContinental Istanbul, in a room overlooking the Bosphorus and 3 nights at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in the heart of Athens Special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment and music include belly dancing and a folkloric performance on-board ship; a boat ride in Istanbul on the Bosphorus; a carpet demonstration in a village near Kusadasi; and a special Greek dinner in ancient Rhodes Aboard ship – daily cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 33 meals (13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners) on land and at sea; service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Athens

Tour begins 6:00 p.m., Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece. A transfer is included from Athens International Airport to Hotel Grande Bretagne. Meet fellow travelers at the welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Hotel Grande Bretagne

PORTOFCALL : Athens

Day 2 The Acropolis & the Acropolis Museum in Athens

In the quiet early morning, before the crowds, visit the Acropolis of Athens – the rock above the city on which four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art and architecture sit – the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Temple of Athena Nike....

Day 3 Amazing antiquities in Mycenae & Epidaurus

Take an excursion from Athens today to Mycenae, a fortified citadel first settled in 3,000 BC. Once the stronghold of the powerful Mycenaeans, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to a noted archaeological site where on a walking tour you'll see the impos...

Day 4 National Archaeological Museum and your Greek Island cruise begins

Begin your day with a guided tour through one of the world’s best collections of ancient Greek artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Founded at the end of the 19th century to house and protect antiquities from all over Greece, it is the largest ar...

Day 5 The islands of Mykonos & Delos

Your port-of-call today is the glamorous Greek island of Mykonos, weather permitting. Take a boat to the tiny island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This religious pilgrimage destination features sacred temples, sanctu...

Day 6 The spectacular island of Santorini

Rise early to observe the ship’s arrival at the island of Santorini. Travel ashore by motor launch for an island tour that takes you to Oia and up to Fira, Santorini’s capital city. Iconic images of Fira’s blue-domed buildings combine with stunning views of the port t...

Day 7 Discover the treasures of Rhodes

Tauck's Greek Island cruise arrives at the island of Rhodes this morning, which basks in sunshine for more than 300 days a year. Join us for a guided tour of Rhodes’ medieval Old Town – there are about 200 lanes in this Hellenistic city that lead to columned ruins, te...

Day 8 Turkish coast wonders in Bodrum

Chart a course to Bodrum, Turkey, where whitewashed stucco houses dressed in bougainvillea line the hillsides and twin harbors welcome seafaring travelers. Visit St. Peter’s Castle on an informative guided tour, including the reconstructed shipwrecks of its Museum of ...

Day 9 From Kusadasi, a day exploring Ephesus

Cast anchor in Kusadasi for an excursion to Ephesus, revealing important vestiges of an ancient Roman civilization; in its heyday, marble lined the streets, fountains flowed, and an eternal flame burned upon a sacred altar. Take a walking tour of the ancient city, see...

Day 10 A Full Day of Cruising

Today is a day of inspiration as your cruise continues with a full day's sail. During a relaxing day at sea, you are free to experience the amenities and activities aboard Wind Star. Perhaps you will challenge a shipmate to a board game on deck, take a refreshing swim...

Day 11 Topkapi Palace & the sights of Istanbul

Disembark in the ancient city of Istanbul, the center of Turkish history and culture, for a three-night stay. Begin the day with a visit to exotic Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years; during your tour, yo...

Day 12 Istanbul's Hagia Sophia & a Bosphorus cruise

Your guided sightseeing in amazing Istanbul continues with a visit to the vast underground Basilica Cistern and one of the world’s true architectural gems – beautiful Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine masterpiece; first constructed in 537 AD and destroyed, rebuilt and modifie...

Day 13 The Blue Mosque & Istanbul's Covered Bazaar

This morning in Istanbul you’ll visit the Blue Mosque, named for the thousands of blue tiles that adorn its interior, and the Hippodrome, in the center of the city when it was called Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine empire. Stroll through some of the 4,000 sho...

Day 14 Journey home

Tour ends in Istanbul. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Istanbul to Ataturk Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours before the departure of your flight.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Istanbul

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,790
Price per day$485
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.2/5  Great
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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
WIND STAR
WIND STAR Windstar Cruises’ slogan, “180° From Ordinary,” aptly describes the delights of a voyage aboard the intimate Wind Star and Wind Spirit. These totally modern, four-masted schooners are twin sisters designed to show guests the world from the perspective of a luxury motor-sail-yacht. All staterooms (188 square feet) feature ocean views, closed circuit color television, DVD and CD players, a mini-bar/refrigerator, international direct-dial telephones, a hairdryer and private baths with luxurious toiletries and plush robes. Public areas include a salt water swimming pool, a hot tub and the pool bar on deck 4, an intimate lounge and bar, a fitness center, and a library offering books, videos and CDs for use in staterooms. Of particular note is complimentary water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling and kayaking, weather permitting. “Casual elegance” defines life aboard these sleek vessels, with jackets and ties never being required. Dining in The Restaurant or in the more casual Veranda Restaurant is an epicurean delight. Over 90 crewmembers attend to the needs of just 148 guests, assuring attentive service.
WIND STAR Built: 1986 Renovated: 2007 Length: 440 ft. Draft: 14 ft. Beam: 52 ft. Tonnage: 5,350 gross registered tons Cruising Speed: 9 knots Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: No Number of Guests: 148 Crew Members: 90 Registry: Bahamas Crew Nationality: International Internet: Send / Receive / Surf
WIND STAR
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-GTN2016

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