Day 1. Thursday. USA / Athens / Rhodes / Costa Classica Cruise Ship.
Today make your own way to the airport in USA to catch your flight to Athens. Once arrived to Athens and  cleared immigration proceed to take your connecting flight to Rhodes. In Rhodes proceed to the exit where our representative is waiting and will escort you to the waiting cruise line – Costa Classica.
Overnight: Costa Classica – Deluxe Cabin (BLD)

Day 2. Friday. Arrival Heraklion Crete / Tour of Crete.
Today your cruise ship will stop at Crete for the day. Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour guide to embark on a tour of the city at 9:30am.
Your first visit will be to the Heraklion Archeaological Museum. Built in 1883 as a simple collection of antiques, it is now one of the greatest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan Art. It contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts from the Minoan civilization of Crete.
Your first visit of the day will be of Knossos Palace. Knossos Palace is located in the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. It was built by a civilization called the Minoans and it covers about 150,000 square feet of space and surrounded by a town in antiquity. Following your tour of Knossos Palace, you will have a nice walk and lunch (paid direct) at Archanes Village. After lunch, you will visit Archanes Village Museum and historical center to learn about the village’s history and experience its culture. In the afternoon, you will have time at leisure to enjoy sightseeing at your own pace and shopping. Your driver will then return you to your ship at 6.00pm.
Overnight: Costa Classica Deluxe Cabin (BLD).

Day 3. Saturday. Arrival to Mykonos / Tour of Mykonos.
Today your cruise ship will stop at Mykonos for the day. Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour guide to embark on a tour of the city at 10:30am.
During this full day private tour, you will see and visit the most interesting places of the island and also learn and taste Mykonian traditional cuisine. You will get to know Mykonos town and shop from the world famous fashion designers that reside in Mykonos. Upon departure from the cruise port, your first destination will be the beach of Saint Ioannis with the picturesque little church. Here, you will get an idea of what a “Greek Church” really is like.
Following your tour of Saint Ioannis beach, you will continue with your tour to the most distant beaches on the island, such as Kalafatis and Santa Anna. After your tour of the beaches, you will then be escorted to the village of Ano Mera, well known for the monastery Panagia Tourliani.
After visiting the monastery, you will continue with your tour to visit Mykonian Spiti, where you will be able to enjoy a nice walk through the vegetable garden to learn about local organic farming and a traditional welcome drink. After visiting the farm, you will take part in a small cooking class and enjoy your lunch with an unlimited amount of local wines and “raki”, which is a traditional strong alcoholic spirit made in eastern Europe and the Middle East.
On your way back to town, you will stop to take unique pictures with the panoramic view of Mykonos town and the Aegean Sea. After your brief stop for pictures, you will stop at Mykonos town where the walking tour will begin. After your walking tour, you will have a moment of moment of free time to explore the town at your own pace. You will have the opportunity to shop from designer labels, leather goods, jewelerry, and handmade accessories from the famous market of Mykonos. The tour ends with your embarkation to the bus and return to your cruise ship.
Overnight: Costa Classica Deluxe Cabin (BLD).

Day 4. Sunday. Arrival Sontorini / Tour of Santorini.
Today your cruise ship will stop at Santorini for the day. Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour guide to embark on a tour of the city at 9:30am – 3:30pm.
You will be transferred to the cable car station in Fira to start your private tour. Our professional and well experienced guide will welcome you on the bus. You will drive to the heart of the island through the traditional village of Megalohori and through the village of Akrotiri. You will arrive to the prehistoric site of the Akrotori excavations.
You will be able to live the culture of a civilization of 1650 BC, walk through the narrow streets of a city that existed for 4000 years, a visit you will never forget. You will have time to stop for breathtaking views and photos of the Caldera and the Volcano Islands at the Caldera of Akrotori.
You will continue your tour, heading to the picturesque village of Oia where you will stop for a late lunch (paid direct). After lunch, you will return back to the cable car to board your ship.
Overnight: Costa Classica – Deluxe Cabin (BLD)

Day 5. Monday. Arrival Izmir / Tour of Ephesus and Ismir.
This morning after breakfast, you will be met at 9:00am and escorted on a full day tour of the area, including the ruins of Ephesus.
We begin our tour of Ephesus at the Antique City, including the agora, theatres, fountains, odeon, baths, shops, and libraries. Ephesus was built in the 10th century BC by attic and Ionian Greek colonist. The city was famed for the temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was also one of the seven churches of Asia that is cited in the book of Revelation and it is also believed that the Gospel of John may have been written here. Emperor Constantine rebuilt much of the city and erected new public baths and there is also the site of a large gladiators graveyard.
Upon arrival in Ephesus, you will enter through the Mangesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route will take you past the Odeum, the Celsus Library, The Temple of Hadrian, The fountain of Trojan, and the Great Theather. After the morning tour, a convenient place will be suggested by the guide for your lunch (paid direct).
The Ephesus Museum is usually in this tour, but it is now currently closed and under major renovations until August 2014.
Continuing after lunch, visit the Basilica of St. John: a basilica which was built after the death of St. John the Evangelist. His disciples built a small square chapel over his tomb and it remains to this day a center of Christian pilgrimage.
The temple site of Artemis called The Artemision: Visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, the goddess of fertility. You will see a lot of column pieces scattered around, where once stood the temple: one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Move on to the Ephesus Museum, which holds many relics and artifacts from the area, including pieces from the nearby Temple of Artemis (now destroyed).
Finally, we end the day at the House of the Virgin Mary, where according to local record, the mother of Jesus Christ returned to in the last years of her life before her Assumption into Heaven.
After your tour of Ephesus, you will be transferred back to your ship at 3:30pm reaching by 5:00pm in time for the 6:00pm departure.
Overnight: Costa Classica Deluxe Cabin (BLD)

Day 6. Tuesday. Cruising / Samos / Tour of Samos.
Today your cruise ship will stop at Samos for the day. Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour guide to embark on a tour of the city at 10:00am.
You will start your day with a short drive to visit the Wine Museum of Samos. The museum is a living exhibit, with huge wooden casks from the early 20th century still in mint condition. You win be able to experience traditional wine making, its tools, its vats and tubs, chemistry equipment, and even the art of fashioning a barrel followed by wine tasting.
Following the Wine Museum tour, you will drive south to Pythagorion and visit the Pythagorion Archaeological Museum. This museum houses about 3,000 items that were found in excavations in the ancient town of Samos and in other excavations around the island.
These exhibits show the historical course of the island from the 5th millennium B.C. till the 7th Century A.D. and depict the political importance of Samos in ancient times. After your tour of the museum, you will have a moment of free time to explore the surrounding areas on your own pace.
After your visit to the Pythagorion Archaeological Museum, your guide and driver will transfer you to Ireon for a tour of Hera’s Temple. This temple was made for the Queen of the Gods, Hera. Her role in Greek mythology was as the goddess of women and marriage. This temple was made in her honor.
Continuing with your tour, you will next visit the south coast with short stops in villages until you reach Karlovasi in the north. Karlovasi is a town with a rich history in culture and in commerce, being a flourishing tannery and tobacco manufacturing center in the early 1900’s. Many magnificent neoclassical mansions can be seen from that period as well as the remains of the large stone built factories at the Ormos seaside.
Your final tour of the day will be of Kokkari. After visiting Karlovasi, your guide and driver will transfer you to Kokkari where you will have a tour of the village and have some free time to enjoy a nice cup of Greek coffee. Kokkari is a fishing harbor of Samos which has now developed into a tourist center. It still preserve its old traditional face, with small houses and lanes full of flowers. Hiking paths lead all around the island, which will allow you to discover many hidden pebble beaches like Tsamadou, Tsambou, and Lemonakia.
After your tours, you will be transferred back to your ship.
Overnight: Costa Classica – Deluxe Cabin (BLD)

Day 7. Wednesday. Cruising / Kos / Tour of Kos.
Today your cruise ship will stop at Kos for the day. Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour guide to embark on a tour of the city at 8:30am.
On today’s tour, you will receive an introduction to the ancient history, mythology and culture, of the island. The first tour you will experience today will be a unique visit and guided tour to the world famous archeological site “Asklepion” healing temple of the father of medicine, Hippocrates.
You will discover the island’s beauties by bus with an experienced local guide. You will visit the picturesque villages such as Zia and Kefalos. An old windmill and traditional house will be there for your visit at the village of Antimachia. Between villages “Pyli and Kardamena” a mountain road will be driven by the bus, for you to take panoramic photos. All the hidden charms of the island will be there for you, to discover by bus with our Local guide, for a memorable visit.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your ship where you will have the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Costa Classica – Deluxe Cabin (BLD)

Day 8. Thursday. Rhodes.
Today, you will arrive at Rhodes pier and begin at 8:00am a ¾ day tour of Rhodes. The excursion tour bus will leave from the port of Rhodes at approximately 8:00am for a visit to Lindos village which is situated 35 miles down the eastern coastline passing orchards, vineyards and picturesque villages. Half way to Lindos, there will be a short stop at one of the local ceramic workshop where you will be able to see a demonstration by the local craftsmen and have the chance to purchase the well known Lindos pottery.
Upon arrival at the exquisite little village of lindos at about 09:00 you may either walk to the acropolis (15 minutes) or hire a donkey for part of the way up to the entrance gate of the acropolis. Our local guide will take you through the remains of many civilizations which include the 4th century b.c. doric temple of Athena Lindia, a double-winged portico (stoa), Roman ruins, a Byzantine church and medieval fortifications of the knights of St. John. From the top of the acropolis you will have a spectacular view of St. Paul s bay, where it is said the apostole first set foot on the island in the year 51 a.d.
After your visit to the Acropolis, you will embark on a return drive of 35 miles back to Rhodes reaching around 5:00pm. Upon completion of your tours, you will be transferred to your hotel to check in. In the evening, you will be at leisure for a moment of relaxation and exploration of the town at your own pace.
Overnight: Hotel Mediterranean Rhodes. (B)

Day 9. Friday. Rhodes / Athens.
This afternoon transfer to the airport for your short flight to Athens. On arrival, at Athens, take your luggage carts and walk across the terminal street to the hotel for check in.
At 4:30pm – you will be met by your guide in the lobby and escorted to the Acropolis of Athens.
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.
Following the tour of the Acropolis, you will go on brief visit to the new Acropolis Museum, and then parliament for a quick glimpse of the changing of the guard. You will be transferred back to the hotel by 7:00pm. Upon arrival, you will have the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Overnight: The Sofitel Athens airport hotel (B)

Day 10. Saturday. Athens / USA.
This morning walk back across the street into the terminal for your flight to
Overnight: En Route to USA.