Cruisehiker

sorry didn't use taxis.

Moat people seeking private tours seem to choose, and have good experience with, Spanos.

I have created a new thread with updated information on self transferring between the airport and Piraeus using bus and metro.

We booked guarantee and were given 1121 on Infinity. Worked OK but had issues. It was spacious and handy for the buffet and sun deck but was rather warm (despite air con) and had loud noise (sounded like air or smoke moving through a vent) sometimes when sailing. We use a wave machine for sleep so this compensated but don't think we'd have this cabin again. Also high up and near rear so could be uncomfortable in rough seas.

Visited on NCL Epic in Nov 23 and Celebrity Infinity in Feb 2024. We’ve been to Ephesus before and it was fabulous. The cheap way to get there is on a regular dolmus (minibus) from the bus station to the pleasant town of Selcuk that passes by the ruins. Selcuk itself has a great market if you have time to visit. There were also many taxis available on disembarkation, and boards advertised a fare of 60 euros - not sure if this included waiting time, or can be bargained over. There’s also a tour desk and fellow passengers took one from them to both Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary for 40 euros a head and were very impressed. tIt’s also easy to hire a guide at the entrance to Ephesus. Kusadasi itself is a pleasant if nondescript resort town that is perfectly safe to wander around the main areas. To the left as you leave the ship there’s a pleasant promenade with nice views of the ship, cafes across the street and shops at the Marina. To the right you go through some shops and again hit a pleasant promenade, often featuring fishermen. There’s a nice walk out on a peninsula to the Castle. This has nice gardens and again good views of the ship. If you by pass the peninsula it’s another half a mile or so (uphill and then down, and by a busy road) to the main town strand called Ladies Beach which has a nice pleasant promenade lined with cafes and restaurants. Many dolmuses run backwards and forwards from there to town (and past the cruise ship), usually with a fare of 10 lira. The centre of Kusadasi is small but has some nice cafes and shops.

Visited on NCL Epic in Nov 23 and Celebrity Infinity in Feb 2024. The ship berths about 3 miles outside Limassol centre, which has an interesting old town and a good shopping area. Bus 30 normally runs into town from near the berth (used to be EU 1.5 each way but likely more now), and there may also be a cruise shuttle to town (Celebrity and NCL provided these for us though we didn’t use so don’t know if a fee). The cruise terminal is not on the official HOHO route but a bus may well be waiting on disembarkation. We didn't go into Limassol centre but those who did reported that it had pleasant old and new sections, and a nice marina and promenade. Travelling west from the berth there are the impressive medieval ruins of Kastelli (5 miles), the ancient (pre-Greek) and scenically located ruins of Kourion, which we really enjoyed (about 15 miles), and the lively resort of Paphos (30 miles). Though rather tacky, it has a pleasant promenade (with a new coastal walk extension), and an archaeological park. The bus to Paphos is fairly frequent and takes about 1hr 15 min and I believe (haven’t taken it myself) stops about 15 minutes from the cruise berth (see link below). Getting to Kastelli or Kourion by bus is much harder but there are plentiful taxis and tour operators around on disembarkation. Inland from all this there are the snowy Troodos mountains, with the arty crafty village of Omodos (which has a nice Byzantine church) and the mountain resort of Platres. There’s a regular circuit of Kastelli, Kourion and Omodos that taxi drivers will be very familiar with. The nearest car rental to the terminal is Astra, which is a 15-20 minute walk. We’ve rented twice without problems and they drove us over to the terminal afterwards. Btw the Limassol area, and Cyprus generally, is very safe. Many Cypriots (Greek and, to a lesser degree, Turkish) have lived, or have relatives in, the UK and there is large British air force/military base nearby so English is widely spoken. https://intercity-buses.com/en/routes/limassol-paphos-paphos-limassol/

We have recently embarked twice, disembarked once and had a day stop at Terminal C. Started a new thread as info on bus or metro transfers to the cruise are a bit lost in the bigger thread above. Also not many people know that the blue line metro which runs from the airport to Piraeus now terminates at the impressive new station of Dimotiko Theatro (Municipal Theatre) that is in the commercial heart of Piraeus, and actually nearer to the cruise terminals than the station that is called Piraeus. It’s a much more pleasant location than around Piraeus station to linger, and to catch a bus or hail a taxi to the terminal when embarking. It's also great for disembarkation because it's only a short bus or taxi ride from the ship (and a doable walk, with stops) and as the train starts from there, there are empty carriages to position bags before the train fills up as it moves through Athens. The fare to and from the airport is generally 9 euros but only 4.5 if you are a senior. You can’t buy concession tickets from machine though but have to go to a ticket office. The airport express buses are a bit cheaper and allow you to see city scenery but take a bit longer. The X95 goes to and from downtown Athens and the X96 goes to and from Piraeus. The Piraeus terminus changes from the daytime/early evening one to another late at night. https://*****.com/3fzukmju. We based ourselves in Piraeus after the cruise and I can recommend spending some time there. It has a lively centre, cheaper hotels and cafes, is handy for ferry day trip to nearby islands such as Aegina and Hydra, has a pleasant coastal walk centred on Marina Zeas (which also many cafes, restaurants and shops on it or nearby), and has easy access to Athens centre via metro. When using taxis we used FreeNow, an alternative taxi app to Uber and bigger in Greece I believe. Have used it in several European countries and it was good. https://www.free-now.com/gr-en/cities/ Have also made separate posts on DIY activities in our cruise stops of Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Heraklion (single post in Greek Ports of Call), Kusadasi and Limassol (in Turkish and Cyprus ports threads respectively).

Obviously late autumn weather is variable but we have had many lovely days at this time on a number of trips so personally I would take a chance on a few extra days if I wasn't sure when I might be back. All the suggestions made are good but here's a couple more. To be ambitious, you could open jaw into Thessaloniki (then train or fly to Athens, or hire a car and drive via Meteora) or Heraklion on Crete (then fly or ferry to Athens). Both were highlights of our recent cruise - see my recent posting in Greek Ports of Call (also posted on DIY Athens embarkation/disembarkation in same thread). Alternatively, you could by pass Athens on arrival and a) go to the island of Evora or further afield via the ferry port of Rafina which is near the airport and/or b) hire a car and drive down to the stunning Temple of Poseidon on scenic Cape Sounion. (We've found driving in Greece to be very straightforward beyond big city centres). Would also consider basing yourself in Piraeus before or after the cruise. It has a lively centre, is handy for island ferries, has a pleasant coastal walk centred on Marina Zeas (which also many cafes, restaurants and shops on it or nearby) and easy access to Athens and airport via the blue line metro. The latter now terminates at the impressive new station of Dimotiko Theatro (Municipal Theatre) in the commercial heart of Piraeus, and actually nearer to the cruise terminals than the station that is called Piraeus. It's particularly handy for disembarkation because it's a short bus or taxi ride from the ship, and then there are empty carriages to position bags before the train fills up as it moves through Athens).

Experience for three great stops with Celebrity Infinity Feb 24 (and also Norwegian Epic for Rhodes). We are two seniors on a budget (so seldom take excursions) who like walking and cultural activities. See also separate posts on Athens embark/disembark and Kusadasi and Limassol in relevant ports of call sections. Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city but seems much less urban than Athens because its central streets are greener and wider (partly due to rebuilding after a terrible 1917 fire) and it has a great waterfront promenade that runs for miles. It is very historic, including being the second city of the Byzantine Empire and the largest Jewish community in Europe for many centuries. It is also a great city for walking, both along the waterfront and up the hill to the Chain Tower and the old wall, and the Vlatadon Monastery, both of which have great views. The ship berths in the docks but you can walk for about 10-15 minutes to the edge off the main city, and bus stops for services running along the waterfront and up the hill. You can buy tickets for cash on the bus but cheaper to buy in advance. We had an overnight here giving us time to explore the wonderful Byzantine churches (especially St Demetrius), the very moving Jewish Museum and the Modern Art/Photographic Museum complex that is near the ship; to listen to the street musicians playing on the promenade after the White Tower; and to have evening drinks in the lively nightlife area of Ladadika that is near the berth (there are others too - Thessaloniki is a popular travel destination for much of the Balkans as well as northern Greece). Rhodes city is very walkable and easy to self-navigate. The cafes and old buildings of the historic centre start within a short, harbourside, walk from the berth. Most people carry on walking in this direction before turning left to walk directly uphill to the impressive medieval fortifications of the Knights of St John, and going up or down the Street of the Knights. Very scenic but lots of people injured the mornings so go as late as you can if you ant good photos. You can also do a less trodden route to the same destination by turning left soon after disembarking, walking uphill and tracking the old walls around to the fortifications. The western part of the city also has good shops (including the British store Marks and Spencer!), and a nice beach with a waterside pathway down to Kritika. The modern art museum is out this way and we found it very interesting, especially ion local painters. Finally, there is a regular bus service to Lindos, an archetypal white village with nice beaches and an amazing hillside Acropolis. Heaving in summer but quiet out of season. The bus departs the central KTEL station in Rhodes, which is about 20 minutes brisk walk from the berth, and takes about 70 minutes on an interesting route that is partly through hill villages. Heraklion is the fourth largest Greek city so bigger than Limassol or Rhodes, and with a life beyond tourism so sophisticated shops etc. The ship docks on its eastern side. The city has an interesting and walkable waterside which includes a long quay that runs out to the Rocca Mare Fortress and lighthouse (great views of the ship and mountains behind) and further westwards a very pleasant promenade, with several museums. We went into the Natural History one last time and it was surprisingly good. Two roughly pedestrianised streets - 25 Avgostou and Idomeneos - run for. mile or so uphill from the waterside to the main centre with shops and the excellent Archaeological Museum (very useful for putting a Knossos visit into context). It's not possible to walk off the ship independently - Celebrity had a free shuttle to the centre near the Archaeological Museum but I believe other lines drop at the port entrance, which is a 10-15 minute walk westwards to the base of the pedestrianised streets. Knossos has a nice location and is worth visiting on a nice day but has no large scale original structures so more work is needed in picturing how it was so advance research recommended. The No 2 or 20 buses to Knossos depart near where you exit the port from Te Amaini bus station and pass near to the Archaeological Museum. . Fares were 2.5 euro each way when purchased (for cash) on the bus, less from a ticket booth or on the city transit app. It takes about 15-20 minutes on an interesting journey through Heraklion’s outer city and suburbs.