Windstar
Under Windstar’s open bridge policy, passengers can visit ship bridges and chat with officers while the ship is sailing, which was a bonus. During tricky manoeuvers we were restricted, but there was always a good viewpoint elsewhere on the ship to watch the tugs working. As we left port each day and conditions allowed, the sails were unfurled to the Vangelis track 'Conquest of Paradise' and most passengers were out on deck having sundowners which gives a great atmosphere to start your evening . Despite being a small ship, there was still a small shop and a decent spa, but another bonus is the watersports platform. From there you could go stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkel, sail, swim or windsurf. They also put out the sea trampoline and would take you snorkelling out on the zodiaks in certain ports.
As with any cruise line, there were a selection of excursions available in every port. Being fans of the Jason Bourne films, we decided to do our own thing in Mykonos in search of the iconic windmills. Everyone wants to take their pictures at sunset and the larger ships had all left port by then, but we were the last away, got our photos and got back on board in plenty of time for dinner and the evening entertainment. This was also the island made famous by the original Shirley Valentine film.
We visited Syros, capital of the Cyclades with the main town split across two hills. We made it to the top of the first one, Ermoupoli, but the Agios Georgios Cathedral was closed and there wasn’t a bar to drink at to admire the view, and we hadn't packed a picnic, so we returned to the ship for lunch, wine tasting and an afternoon by the pool. This isn't a walk for the feint hearted though - apart from the distance, we climbed almost 1000 steps each way!
Kusadasi was the only non-Greek port we visited. The waterfront has had a lot of work done since we were there last and the marina has space for 600 boats. It’s great for a wander along the seafront admiring the sculptures and you enter the town via the market. If you manage to resist the temptation to buy on the way out, you also go back to the ship the same way. The goods are good quality at a fair price (also negotiable) so most people were buying ‘genuine fake rolex’ or ‘designer’ bags to take home. They also had a lovely selection of kilim and flatweave rugs and carpets which can be shipped home. The colours are stunning in the shaded shop windows and the ship has got a list of certified suppliers if you decide that you want to buy one. Our reason for stopping here in the middle of a Greek itinerary was to have dinner under the stars after hours in Ephesus. It was a complimentary event with all passengers dining together with live music and was absolutely wonderful. Many people took excursions to Ephesus during the day and it was a treat to have it to ourselves with the lighting showing it off in the evening.
Patmos, known as the sacred island and another UNESCO World Heritage site where St John wrote the Book of Revelation. Such a small island boasts a monastery dating back to 1088, 17th century battlements and 16th century houses as well as sleepy villages and a Northern coastline of sheer cliffs. Patmos is one of the northernmost Dodecanese islands and the last time anyone counted, had a population of just 2998. The island is a little over 13 square miles in size and if you do decide to visit the monastery, both knees and shoulders should be covered, so strictly no shorts allowed, ladies or gents. There are approximately 20 beaches to discover, some sand, some pebble and some only accessible by boat.
One of my favourite ports was Rhodes Town. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still has amazing Medieval buildings and the wonderful Street of the Knights. It’s hard to believe that the area hasn’t been used as a major film set. The Old City is surrounded by 4km of strong walls with 7 gates and is one of the biggest and best-preserved Medieval settlements of Europe. Inside Rhodes Old Town walls you’ll find over 200 cobbled streets with bars and restaurants as well as souvenir shops and shops selling local produce. It's also largely pedestrianised so you can wander around exploring all the side streets without worrying about traffic when you're trying to get your perfect pictures. It's definitely worth getting a guide here as there are so many stories to bring the place alive as more than just the town as you see it.
Aghios Nikolaos in Crete is surrounded by water on three sides. According to Greek mythology, the Voulismeni Lake is said to be where Athena & Artemis used to bathe. The lake is surrounded by bars and restaurants and is peaceful by day but more lively by night. New additions to the town are the 'Horn of Almathia' & 'Abduction of Europa' sculptures.
The beautiful island of Santorini is on many peoples wish list to see and is often used as an iconic image of Greece. We were anchored close to shore and this is the one port where local tenders came out to the ships. It’s volcanic and some say the ruins of Atlantis remain hidden somewhere under the ocean here. This is the island of steep cliffs, blue domed churches, wineries and villages with narrow cobbled streets to get lost in. If you find a queue in Fira it’s probably the one leading to the cable car taking you back to the pier for the tenders!
Our cruise began and ended in Piraeus and we arranged our taxi through the ship. I have to say, it’s the first time we’ve ever been directed to a trolley already loaded with our luggage and labelled with our name & our driver standing next to it – excellent service from start to finish!