11-Night Round-Trip from Rome to Greece and Istanbul Itinerary

[stickey_mouse]

Made a provisional booking for this itinerary on board the Reflection in May 2016. Has anybody experienced this cruise before? If so, what are your thoughts? I was originally concerned about the size of the Reflection given some of the more intimate island stops, but another thread has helped to ease those concerns.

[villageneighbor]

We did the 11night eastern med cruise on Reflection last summer with stops in Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Athens, Naples.

 

Great cruise, fun ports and never felt crowded on Reflections (had previously been on Constellation). Also pace of days at sea to port days was good balance.

Reflection ship was great and staff was wonderful.

 

Santorini was picturesque and fun to explore. You just need to get an early tender ticket ( or do Celebrity excursion to get off first). It was easy to get around if you are apt to DYI. We took the gondola to top, public bus to Oiya.

 

Mykonos we got the advice to just get lost there.

 

Istanbul was one of our favorites and enjoyed the overnight. We saw the big things(topkapi Palace, blue mosque, Sophia Hague, spice market, grand bazaar).

We enjoyed getting turkish bath in a Hamman. Friends had great things to say about an evening food tour.

 

Kusadasi we had a private tour of Ephesis with cruise critic people from our roll call.

Athens we saw the Acropolis, National museum.

Naples another roll call arranged private tour of Amalfi.

 

Highly recommend.

[nekzaadvakil]

We've done the similar itinerary thrice in the last 4 years and we've loved it each time. The S class ships are just the right size and they are gorgeous! I am certain you will have a really good cruise.

[Mr. Click]

We did it on the Equinox a few years ago and it is an outstanding itinerary. One bit of advice, if you are stopping in Santorini give serious thought to a ship's tour. It is a tender port for everyone and on our trip those on ship's tours were tendered off first well ahead of those without ship's tours. It got us off the ship and up the hill and around the island much quicker than those who did not book. Our tour was a bus ride around the island with stops in Oai, a winery and we ended back in Fria and were given tickets for the cable car to go back down. We had a few hours in the town before the ship sailed.

[Wiltonian]

We did it on the Equinox a few years ago and it is an outstanding itinerary. One bit of advice, if you are stopping in Santorini give serious thought to a ship's tour. It is a tender port for everyone and on our trip those on ship's tours were tendered off first well ahead of those without ship's tours. It got us off the ship and up the hill and around the island much quicker than those who did not book. Our tour was a bus ride around the island with stops in Oai, a winery and we ended back in Fria and were given tickets for the cable car to go back down. We had a few hours in the town before the ship sailed.

 

Or just get any tender, on landing walk past the queues for the gondola or donkeys, and take a boat to Oia (sp?), which is 25 euros including a later bus back to Fira. You get to Oia first!

 

On Equinox in October, staff tried to scare people with stories of queues if yiu don't take a Celebrity tour. Load of hogwash.

 

Stuart

Edited January 5, 2015 by Wiltonian
Typo

[welshfamily]

We did this cruise in 2013. Beautiful. We would highly recommend it.

Re Santorini.

We have been to Santorini three times.

The first time we queued and went up the cable car. This took about an hour once we had tendered. It was hot and very crowded ...but we had nowhere else to be and it was a holiday experience. Members of our group walked up.... Let's just say they have never repeated the experience.

The second time we waited until the crowds had left and we could see there was no queue at the cable car. Unfortunately the tender developed a problem and it took us 30 minutes to dock, everyone was seasick and we just had a drink at the top of the cable car and returned to the boat.

We used the ships tour on the third occasion. Quick, slick yet the worse tour we have ever done.

Next time we are having a private yacht day and staying on the ship.

The views are amazing.

[4774Papa]

Don't miss the New Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis in Athens. Take the METRO.

 

Don't miss the Terrace Houses in Ephesus.

 

Don't miss Delos from Mykonos. You will still have time to wander through Mykonos after Delos.

 

Take an excursion to Santorini, so you are off the boat early. We enjoyed our tour of the island that included a winery.

 

Istanbul, you can see Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Bascila Cistern and Topkapi palace in one day.

[richsea]

We did this itinerary on Equinox in 2012, & out of about 30 cruises, it was our favorite itinerary. Do yourself a favor & book it!

 

i agree with others to take a Celebrity excursion, the one to Oia is most popular, & we enjoyed it. Also, try not to miss the Terrace Houses in Ephesus, but I think you have to take a private tour to Ephesus to include them. I'm pretty sure the ships does not offer a tour that includes them. The site is amazing.

 

Have a great time!

[TxnAquarian]

We have done this same itinerary on the Equinox and love the ports. Only thing to consider is how many of your ports are tender ports. We have found that we only book Celebrity if the ship docks at most ports. If most ports on an itinerary require a tender, we go with Azamara. The tender process on Celebrity is a mess - and we don't do ship excursions, so we don't have priority departure. Also, consider how much time you want at each port. We are in our 30s and love the Solstice Class ships. They are the most beautiful ships at sea. But Azamara is our second favorite for more intimate ports and long stays. Regardless of what ship / cruise line you're on, I'll think you'll find the Greek Isles and Turkey unforgettable. Fantastic trip!

 

Michael

[stickey_mouse]

out of about 30 cruises, it was our favorite itinerary. Do yourself a favor & book it!

 

Wow, so glad to hear that! Thanks to you and everyone else for the feedback.

[softail]

Made a provisional booking for this itinerary on board the Reflection in May 2016. Has anybody experienced this cruise before? If so, what are your thoughts? I was originally concerned about the size of the Reflection given some of the more intimate island stops, but another thread has helped to ease those concerns.

 

Did the exact cruise on the Reflection in Oct 2013. Book it you wont regret it. Had to be in the top five of all the cruises ive done. Larry

[mickey89]

That's a great itinerary, we did the same Reflection cruise early October 2013. Looking at your schedule you will be the same arrival/departure in Santorini as we were - 2pm-9pm. Since you are early in the year the sunset is much later (8.20pm) so you can enjoy the sunset from the ship, we had the advantage of watching the sunset from Oia as it was about 7pm, nevertheless it is a fabulous sight renown the world over.

 

Check out http://www.cruisetimetables.com for all your ports of call, great port info and also advice on how many other ships are in port the same time, which is crucial to know when visiting Santorini. If a high ship load you would be best advised to take the cheapest ship tour to avoid the hassle of the crowds.

 

Istanbul, very easy for DIY - ship docks so close to the city, you can walk/or take the cheap trams to all the tourists sites (see http://www.wittistanbul.com/magazine)

 

Athens - again very easy for DIY - take the HoHo bus from the cruise terminal - cheap day-out (from memory about 18euro/pp)

 

Kusadasi - you must see Ephesus - best to go with a private group from your Roll call - fabulous not to be missed especially the Terraced Houses.

 

Naples - The Amalfi coast is too die for, don't miss it - especially taking Lunch overlooking Positano - a dream!

Edited January 7, 2015 by mickey89