6 nights, Piraeus (Athens) to Istanbul
Explora's name for it: A Journey Through Mythical Isles & Captivating Shores
Six nights, seven Aegean calls, Athens to Istanbul one way, no repeats. The arc runs from the Acropolis down into the Peloponnese at Nafplio, out across the Cyclades to Paros, north through the Sporades at Skiathos and into the Thessalian mainland at Volos, then east to Ephesus and a finish on the Bosphorus. The pace is brisk: a port every day with no sea days, and most stops are tenders, so budget the ride. Real hooks: in Paros you climb the Kastro and stand inside walls the Venetians built from a recycled marble temple, classical columns laid sideways into a medieval rampart. In Volos the ship ties up in the heart of town, and lunch is a tsipouradiko, no menu, each round of tsipouro arriving with a seafood meze the kitchen picks. Ephesus rewards the upper-gate entry, walking downhill past the monuments to the Library and theater.
This itinerary rewards travelers who want range over depth: classical sites, small whitewashed harbor towns, and two great cities bookending the week. If you want to slow down and sink into one island, skip it. The transfers add up, Ephesus sits 19 km inland from Kusadasi, and Athens and Istanbul each earn a full day on their own.
Explora II is all-suite and all-oceanfront.
The itinerary, port by port
7 calls over 6 nights, Piraeus (Athens) to Istanbul. Open any port for my full day-ashore guide, what to see, when to go, and how the day actually runs.
Getting there: Flights to Piraeus (Athens) (ATH) are already bookable for these dates. I watch the fare for booked clients so you book at the right moment. When to book your flights →
- Embark
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- Disembark
Other departures of this itinerary
Same ports, different dates. Fares move between departures, so it's worth comparing.
- September 6, 2027 · from $5,240
- October 4, 2027 · from $4,920
Fares on this departure, decoded
Reading the fare fine print is the job. Here's what this sailing currently carries:
- Invitation to Discover More
- Explora's discovery fare, available across most of the calendar. Onboard credit where the offer applies.
The ship and your suite
This sailing is aboard EXPLORA II, all-suite, every suite with a private ocean-front terrace. Suites run from the entry Ocean Terrace to the Owner's Residence; the right tier depends on how you travel. Compare suites → · What's included →