Cruise · 11 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Exploring the Greek Islands
An eleven-night cruise on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral from Heraklion that visits lesser-known Greek islands and Cypriot Limassol, with scenic sailing past Mount Athos and calls including Ermoupoli and Thessaloniki.
- Duration
- 11 nights
- Departs
- 29 Oct 2026
- Sails from
- Heraklion
- Returns to the same port
- Ship
- Balmoral
- From
- £1,599
- per person, sharing
Highlights
What makes this one worth it
Cruising past Mount Athos’s monastic peninsula
Calling at ErmoupoliWith its neoclassical architecture
Two days in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city
Visits to Kos and Rhodes in the Dodecanese
A stop in Limassol, Cyprus’s southern harbour city
About the trip
Setting sail from Heraklion on Crete, Balmoral makes for Ermoupoli on Syros, a town where neoclassical architecture meets winding streets and a busy harbour. The ship then passes Mount Athos, whose monastic community is visible from the water, before cruising the Sithonia coastline, where pine-covered hills reach the Aegean Sea.
Next are Thessaloniki, with its Roman relics and lively waterfront, and Mytilene on Lesbos, offering quiet seaside streets and a gentle pace. Stops in Kos and Rhodes provide a deeper look at the Dodecanese, while the visit to Limassol introduces a distinctly Cypriot flavour with its mix of archaeology and marina life.
The journey closes as it began, in Heraklion, allowing time to reflect on the slow rhythms of island life and the change in landscape from bustling Crete to the shores of Cyprus. Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral is a ship modest in size enough to handle tighter harbours but with the facilities expected for a cruise of this length.
- 1 Heraklion
- 2 Ermoupoli
- 3 Thessaloniki
- 4 Mytilene
- 5 Kos
- 6 Rhodes
- 7 Limassol
Itinerary
The route, day by day
Day 1
Heraklion, Greece
Day 2
Ermoupoli, Greece
Day 3
Pass Mount Athos, Greece
Day 4
Sithonia coastline, Greece
Scenic cruising
Day 5
Thessaloniki, Greece
Day 6
Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece
When to go
Departures and prices
Lowest price each month, per person.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
Before you book
- Price based on
- Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
- Travelling alone
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Flights
- Not needed if you join at Heraklion
- What’s included
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Accessibility
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Cabin
- Interior Room
For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site
Questions people ask
- How long is Exploring the Greek Islands?
- Exploring the Greek Islands is a 11 nights cruise holiday.
- Where does Exploring the Greek Islands depart from?
- Exploring the Greek Islands departs from Heraklion.
- Who operates Exploring the Greek Islands?
- Exploring the Greek Islands is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines aboard Balmoral.
- How much does Exploring the Greek Islands cost?
- Prices for Exploring the Greek Islands start from £1,599, subject to availability.
The operator
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Smaller-ship cruises, many from UK ports
A Norwegian family name in shipping since the nineteenth century, known for smaller ships that can reach the narrower fjords and harbours.
You book with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.
New to Greece? Our Greece guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.
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