Would Appreciate Any Hints / Tips for Istanbul to Athens Itinerary on Windstar

[PelicanLvr]

My wife and I are planning to "top off" a land trip to Israel and Turkey with the 7 night cruise from Istanbul to Athens on the ship Windstar next June. Any tips or recommendations about this cruise would be appreciated. We are obviously new to Windstar and excited to be giving it a try....but we're not really sure exactly what to expect.

 

We are in our early 50s, active and fit, pretty good travelers. We’ve really enjoyed about 10 prior cruises on “Main Stream” cruise lines like Celebrity. On our "major line" cruises we like to chat with fellow passengers on deck, on excursions etc. but:

 

1. Never go to the shows, bingo, art-auctions, casino, "large crowd scenes" etc.

2. Avoid the noisy pool scene and seek a more restful deck spot

3. Always have dinner at a table for 2 (we enjoy catching up on vacation)

4. Gravitate to the more-intimate restaurants, lounges and bars

 

Windstar’s small ship experience is very appealing and we think we will really enjoy it. Any advice or recommendations as to how to best enjoy this Windstar cruise would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks to all!

[Snow cat]

I can't specifically to that itinerary; I am sure other posters will. But it does sound like you will enjoy Windstar cruises immensely.

 

Just a note of caution, my DH and I usually prefer tables for 2 as well, but on Windstar where there is an overall atmosphere of camaderie and its almost impossible not to get to know some of your fellow cruisers, we quite often eat dinner with new friends. Its just that type of ship if you are at all open to it (no requirement to do so of course!).

[Capt. Mike]

We have done 4 cruises on the Windspirit, one of them Istanbul to Athens, and are booked on a Barbados to Barbados this Feb 11. We flip back and forth between the big ships, this will be our 24th cruise and I love the Windspirit. Our first Windspirit cruise it was just the two of us and the first night we dined alone but by the next night our table grew and grew until we had a table for eight. All these fellow cruises from around the world became fast friends and the next three cruise and the next one, we have all been together. You meet the greast bunch of folks and our crowd is 40-70 in age now. When we started it was 30-60 age group. You will know most of the passengers and all the crew by the end of the cruise. We booked the February cruise because one of our favorite crewmembers was returning to the Windspirit from a couple years on the Windsurf. You know the crew is great when you book a cruise just to see them again and he his a lowly deckboy. That is the type of cruise it is.

The Istanbul to Athens is wonderful, we booked a few private guided tours ouselves before we left and they were wonderful. All the stops you wish you could spend extra days so you just make the most of the time you have. We spent several days in Istanbul before the cruise and stayed at the Ritz and did the same in Athens and I think we stayed at the Shearton. Istanbul is the most interesting place I have ever been and would go back in a hearbeat. We walked everywhere and felt safe. The Grand Bazar is not to be missed. I think if you cruise once you will be hooked on Windstar.

[firststeps]

we are sailing on the wund spirit from Athens to Istanbul Oct 2012. Would love to get recommendations on private tour guides.... thanks

[Capt. Mike]

Go to: ephesusbysea.com good folks.

[firststeps]

thanks, will check them out...