Thursday, October 3: Depart USA to Athens, Greece

Friday, October 4: Athens, Greece/Piraeus

(Embark Star Legend 1:00 – 4:00 PM)

Saturday, October. 5: Corinth Canal & Delphi/Itea, Greece

Morning – Cruising Corinth Canal

Afternoon – Choice of Excursion

October 5 Excursion Options

Itea, Monastery of Ossios Loukas Tour

4 Hours – Moderate – Strenuous

Departing from the quayside, your motor coach will proceed along a picturesque and twisting road on a 45-minute drive where you can enjoy the relaxing views of the typical Greek countryside. Standing impressively on the brow of a peaked hill facing south, the majestic Monastery of Ossios Loukas commands a spectacular view of the adjacent valley. In some ways surpassing the famous Byzantine Church at Daphne, the monastery forms one of the most impressive memorials to the artistic vitality of the empire, during the revival of prosperity under the Macedonian Dynasty (865 – 1059).

The monastery bears the name of a local hermit, the Blessed Loukas (Ossios Loukas) of Stiri, who was famed for his austerity, the dignity of his life, his prophecies and the miraculous cures he performed. Departing the monastery your tour will return to the port via the town of Arachova, famous for its handmade woolen carpets. Here you will have some free time to browse the picturesque streets and shops.

Itea, Mythology of Delphi Tour

4 Hours – Moderate

In antiquity Delphi was one of the world’s most important religious centers. The Sanctuary of Apollo attracted a host of pilgrims who came to consult the oracle. Even now an aura of mystery surrounds the ruins of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, exposed on a rocky slope. For sheer grandeur of natural beauty combined with ancient ruins, there is probably no other spot-on earth that rivals Delphi.

Visit the ancient Sanctuary of Apollo, where the celebrated oracle Pythia dwelt. Her ambiguous prophecies were known and respected all over the ancient world. Visit the Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Way, the amphitheater, the best-preserved stadium of Greece, and the Castalian Spring, where in ancient days the pilgrims had to wash before they were allowed to consult the oracle. In the Delphi Museum, see such treasures as the Omphalos, which marked the center of the world, and the magnificent bronze Charioteer, one of the finest pieces surviving from the 5th century BC.

Sunday, October 6: Day at Sea

Onboard Activities & Entertainment:

• Lounge
• Cooking Demonstrations
• Deck Activities
• Fitness Center/Classes
• Library
• Live Music

Monday, October 7: Santorini, Greece

October 7 Excursion Options:

Santorini Island Tour (Private Sunpro tour)

4 Hours – Moderate – Strenuous

Explore Santorini, the most spectacular of the isles in the Cyclades, with a 4-hour morning tour of the island with an experienced English-speaking driver. With its brilliant, flooded caldera, high cliffs, and charming villages, it is the Greek Isle of everyone’s dreams. The tour will take you to Santorini’s highest peaks, crowned by the Mount Profitis Ilias Monastery. At 883 feet, Mt. Profitis Ilias rugged landscape is largely composed of volcanic rocks as a result of hundreds of eruptions during the last two million years. Here, in this remote spot, you’ll have an ideal photo opportunity to capture the beauty of this ancient island.

You’ll also discover the village of Pyrgos, which was the capital of Santorini until 1800, where you’ll be able to admire the beautiful old houses and the Venetian Fortress crowned by several churches. After our visit, we’ll drive through the countryside to visit Oia. This traditional Greek village of whitewashed cubes is perched impossibly high on cliffs at the northwest tip of the island. Here, take in the stunning views of the island from one of the charming cafés or stroll above the rooftops of the homes carved into the cliffs and gaze into the deep blue waters of the caldera far below.

Sailing the Caldera

4 Hours – Moderate

Get ready to set sail on the exquisite Santorini during this scenic, relaxing ride around the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni and Thirassia. You will board a Catamaran sailing vessel for a 3.5-hour tour. Palea Kameni, or Old Burnt Island, is less than 2,000 years old, while Nea Kameni, or Young Burnt Island, began forming just 425 years ago. Your boat will drop anchor into the green sulfur waters where you will enjoy an opportunity to sim in the warm waters of the thermal spring. A delicious Greek lunch of chicken, pasta, Greek salad, fruit and beverages will be served on board while sailing. Duration is 4 hours.

The Ancient City of Akrotiri & Oia

4 Hours – Moderate

You will be transferred from the ship by local tender boat to Athinios port, where you will join the waiting motor coach. From here you will proceed toward the southern part of the island where you will make a quick photo stop at the ruins of an old windmill that has a panoramic view. You’ll re-board the coach and continue on your short, narrated journey to the Akrotiri Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the covered excavations of this advanced Bronze Age civilization. You will be taken back in time as these amazing ruins leave you to imagine what life was like before the village was destroyed around 1650 B.C., by the eruption of the volcano. It remains a question why there were no people left in the village at the time of the eruption, as it was abandoned for reasons unknown. It is often said in a whimsical way that perhaps Akrotiri is really the lost city of Atlantis.

Next, visit the Prehistoric Museum located in the town of Fira. In this remarkable museum, you will see an exhibition of artifacts and frescoes which were excavated from the archaeological site of Akrotiri, including the gold lbix, one of the most famous recent discoveries of antiquities at Akrotiri. When you leave the museum, your tour will end and then after a 5-minute walk you will be at the cable car. From there you may decide whether to stay in the town and do a bit of shopping or to make your way back to the ship directly by taking the cable car to the pier below.

Tuesday, October 8: Bodrum, Turkey

October 8 Excursion Options:

Discover the Symbols of Bodrum

Half Day Private Sunpro Tour – Moderate

Visit Bodrum Castle; The most prominent feature of Bodrum – is the Castle of St. Peter. Bodrum Castle (Turkish: Bodrum Kalesi) is a historical fortification located in southwest Turkey in the port city of Bodrum, built from 1402 onwards, by the Knights of St John as the Castle of St. Peter or Petronium. A transnational effort, it has four towers known as the English, French, German, and Italian towers, bearing the names of the nations responsible for their construction. The castle was completed in the late 15th century, only to be taken over by the Islamic Ottoman Empire in 1523. The chapel was converted to a mosque, and a minaret was added. The castle remained under the empire for almost 400 years. After remaining empty following World War I, in the early 1960s, the castle became the home for the award-winning Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology (see below). In 2016 it was inscribed in the Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey.

Exclusive Bodrum Culinary Experience (Turkish market & class with local chef)

6 Hours 30 Minutes (9:15 AM – 3:45 PM) – Easy to Moderate

This exclusive culinary tour for a maximum of 10 guests starts with a visit to a Turkish public market where you will shop together with a local chef for the ingredients you will use when cooking. Enjoy the vast array of fresh produce, olives, homemade jams, vegetables and fruits – a beautiful display of vivid colors. Mix with the locals as they do their daily shopping and experience the sights and sounds of a Turkish Market. Then onward to Erenler Sofrasi where you will learn the art of Turkish Cuisine. In addition to being the refined product of centuries of experience, Turkish Cuisine has a very pure quality. The variety and simplicity of the recipes and the quality of the ingredients are guarantees of delicious meals. Lunch will be served at the restaurant including the recipes you have cooked with your own hands, complimented by a glass of Turkish wine or beer. After lunch you will return to the port with wonderful memories of your day with the locals.

A day at the Beach Kempinski Barbaros Bay Hotel (Private Beach)

6 Hours 30 Minutes (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM) – Easy

Your private vehicle will pick you up at the port and bring you to the new luxurious Kempinski Barbaros Bay Hotel. This wonderful 5-star hotel has amazing services for a relaxing day in luxury. Its location on a private bay with an exclusive beach and the most fabulous view of the Aegean Sea is perfect for a day to remember. Upon entering the hotel, you will be greeted and receive your complimentary welcome drink. Choose the perfect location within the hotel complex to locate your lounge chair/umbrella/towel and bottle of water. A wonderful lunch will be served in the Beach Restaurant Bar area.

The hotel has one of the best spas in Turkey – The Sanitas Spa & Wellness. If you’d like to indulge in a spa treatment, it will be at an additional cost. A 10% discount is available for Windstar guests.

After your relaxing day together with friends, your private vehicle will take you back to the port to embark the ship.

Certified One Tank Dive in Bodrum’s Reefs (explore marine life of Bodrum)

3 Hours (9:45am – 12:45) – Moderate – PADI Certification Required

Depart from the ship by boat with your PADl-qualified local dive instructor for an introduction to the wonderful marine life of Bodrum. Whether you are newly certified or an advanced diver, the area has all the diving opportunities you could want. The Big Reef displays varieties of multicolored fish, pieces of wreckage and more. The depth starts at 25 feet and goes down to 100 feet. Also in this area is the Small Reef which also offers a wonderful array of marine life. The depth ranges from 15 feet down to 50 feet and is just 15 minutes from the harbor. Your dive instructor will choose the area for the dive depending on the weather conditions. After your diving experience you will be taken back to the ship by boat. This tour is available for both one- or two-tank dives. Those booked for the one-tank dive will wait on the boat while the second-tank dive is done.

Wednesday, October 9: Kusadasi, Turkey

October 9 Excursion Options:

Ephesus Full Day Tour (Exclusive Sunpro Tour)

Moderate

Ephesus & Terrace Houses; Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeon, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, and the Great Theater. The theater had seating for 25,000, which was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians and is used today for a local spring festival. The Terrace Houses complex in Ephesus consists of luxurious residential villas, located on the northern slope of Bülbüldağı Hill, next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian. So far, two housing complexes – Eastern and Western – have been excavated. They were built according to the Hippodamian plan where the roads transect each other at right angles. The excavation work of the Terrace Houses started in 1960. The restoration of the houses is an ongoing process and every year there is something new to admire there.

**There will be a Windstar exclusive dinner in Ephesus in the evening. Signing up for this event will be done on the cruise ship.** 

Thursday, October 10: Mykonos, Greece

October 10 Excursion Options:

City & Island Tour (Private Sunpro Tour)

4 Hour AM Tour – Moderate

Mykonos – A pearl in the Aegean Sea – blue sky, beautiful snow- white houses, lovely beaches everywhere… Starting the cultural tour by walking the small and narrow streets, you have the possibility to take nice photographs in the early morning, as the city is quiet at that time. You’ll be oriented in the labyrinth of the old town, as well as get impressions of the small port and the churches in town. You’ll also have the chance to see the famous windmills and find Petros “The Pelican”, the mascot of Mykonos.

After the city, you’ll explore the island with a bus, by visiting some of the most famous beaches and the inner landscape. You will be seeing fishermen and kaikis (small fishing boats), small private chapels and houses built in typical cycladic style. In the second main village of Mykonos, Ano Mera, an idyllic place 6km from town, you’ll have enough free time for a stroll around the traditional square and can visit the monk monastery Panagia Tourliani built in the 16th century. Next stop is Kalafatis beach where you will have time to relax a little, before going back to town, we reach a place with a fantastic view all over the town and neighbor islands. Lunch will then be at Chora town.

Mykonos Cooking Class

3 Hours – Easy

 ‘Spiti’ means home – and the “Mykonian Spiti” is the home that you are welcome at, during this cooking experience. Although this activity highlights the traditional factor of the Mykonian lifestyle, on the other hand a “traditional” description of its “programme” hardly does it justice. During these 3 hours (approximately) you will experience the traditional Greek way of life, the culture, the Greek art of cooking. It is not what you will do, it is mostly how you will do it. During this time, you will learn tips and cooking methods that have made Mykonian Spiti, Mykonos and Greece, loved by its friends and visitors, but most importantly you will experience the hospitality and the everyday lifestyle of a traditional Mykonian family.

Once you reach Mykonian Spiti, Teta will wholeheartedly invite you into her beautiful Mykonian home and create a charming and intimate day that will turn this visit to the “Island of the Winds” into a highlight of your trip. She will teach you about Mykonian culture and history, share stories about her family’s life and make you feel just as if you are visiting close relatives or friends. She will share stories about Mykonian true lifestyle and chat with you while you taste and enjoy some Mykonian meze snacks. You will wander through her vegetable garden, learn about local organic farming and enjoy a wonderful time. Teta will guide you through the whole procedure, giving the opportunity for everyone to master their cooking skills. Lunch will be held at the premises.

Hike (Private Sunpro Tour)

3 – 4 Hours – Strenuous

Savor the island’s many highlights by lacing up your hiking shoes and hitting the trails. Leave the crowds behind and experience some of Mykonos best views from higher elevation. You’ll be presented a completely different view of the island and invited to discover Mykonos’ isolated beaches and its rural and traditional parts. A health release will need to be filled out upon activity selection.  

Delos Discovery Exploration

4 Hours (9:15 AM – 1:15 PM) – Strenuous

Explore the tiny uninhabited island of Delos, one of the most important archaeological sites in all Greece. Start your journey with a 45-minute ferry ride to this richly historic site. Delos was the major center of the ancient Greek world and the mythical birthplace of the god Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. Your 2½-hour guided stroll includes such attractions as the Sanctuary of Apollo with its three temples dating from the 6^th and 5th centuries B.C. To the west of this sanctuary lies the Sacred Lake, where Apollo was reputedly born. Standing guard over the Sacred Lake are nine replicas of the famous marble lions, which were a gift from the people of Naxos in the 7th century B.C.

Other attractions include the amphitheater and the nearby theater quarter where wealthy owners built opulent houses with gran colonnaded courtyards. The island’s checkered history finally led to its destruction in 88 B.C. by Mithridates, the King of Pontus. Large-scale restoration work has continued for many years and in 1990 the island was declared a World’s Cultural Heritage Site, protected by UNESCO. Your guided walk concludes back at the ferry, for direct return to Mykonos. On arrival there, you are free to return to the yacht at your leisure.

Friday, October 11: Limnos, Turkey

October 11 Excursion Options:

Landscapes of Limnos

4 Hour 30 Minute – Moderate – Strenuous

Come get the lay of the land visiting archaeological sites where the island’s most important site of Kavirio lies, Chloi Cape, the city of Mudros, Allied cemetery, and sites along the seafront. Many victims of the 1^st World war were buried at the Allied cemetery in clusters depending upon their nationality. Take in the stunning views and sites no matter where you turn while being acquainted with its rich history.  

Secrets of Limnos

4 Hour – Strenuous

Experience off the beaten path and explore the untouched areas of Limnos. Head off from the port along the scenic beach roads and climb up to the Church of Aghios Thanassis, a thousand feet above sea level.  Take in the stunning views of Myrina, the castle and port in the distance and learn about the history of the island and its culture. You’ll be immersed in the hidden gems of Limnos. 

Saturday, October 12: Istanbul, Turkey

Arrival 7:00 am to disembark, half-day Private Sunpro Tour and overnight stay in Grand Hyatt Istanbul.

During the tour, you will see the following places: Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque & Ayasofya Mosque, from outside without entrance to the sites. You will have free time to explore the sites you are interested in. You’ll meet back at the Grand Bazaar beginning at 2:00 PM for shuttle to Grand Hyatt Istanbul.

Sunday, October 13: Early Departure to USA.

Approximately 3:00 AM you will depart Grand Hyatt Istanbul and be shuttled to the Istanbul airport.