The Cruise Lines & Their Ships

Large and Midsize Ships

In this section, we describe the ships offering cruises with predominantly Greek islands itineraries; that is, itineraries where at least half of the port calls are in Greece and Turkey. We've broken the offerings up into two categories, based on ship size: Mega and midsize ships (more than 400 passengers), and small and yacht-like vessels (anywhere from 40 passengers to 400).

Rates are starting 2008 introductory or early-booking brochure prices per person, based on two people sharing a cabin, unless otherwise noted. With a few exceptions, most of these rates were quoted in U.S. dollars, and were converted to euros using July 2007 exchange rates.

The itineraries we list are also for the 2008 season. Both prices and itineraries are subject to change.

We've listed the sizes of ships in two ways: passenger capacity and gross registered tons (GRTs). Rather than describing actual weight, the latter is a measure of interior space used to produce revenue on a vessel. One GRT = 100 cubic feet of enclosed, revenue-generating space.

Note that we've listed Athens as a port of call for many cruises, but in most cases you'll actually be calling in Piraeus, the port city for Athens. Other popular embarkation ports include Istanbul, Turkey; Venice, Italy; and Civitavecchia, Italy, about an hour's drive from Rome.

Celebrity Cruises

1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132. tel. 800/327-6700. www.celebrity.com.

Celebrity is a decently priced yet upscale U.S. operator that offers eastern Mediterranean itineraries that, for the most part, operate on Galaxy (built in 1996; 1,870 passengers; 77,713 GRTs). The line's ships are big but not mega-size; they're sophisticated, not staid or super flashy. Galaxy, for example, is outfitted in muted woods, golds, and silvers. The ship has plenty of spots in which to relax, including Michael's cigar bar or the Oasis pool, with its retractable roof. If you're splurging, book a Sky Suite on Deck 12 for their extra-large, 179-square-foot balconies.

Service and cuisine are keys with Celebrity. Little luxuries on its cruises include chilled towels when you return from a long day of port exploration and sorbets at poolside. The line, long known for its culinary focus, has signed a new contract with Las Vegas-based dining company Blau & Associates, which has worked with restaurants in the Bellagio and MGM Grand.

Itineraries & Rates -- Galaxy -- Eleven-day Civitavecchia round-trip calls at Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Istanbul (Turkey), Kusadasi (Turkey), Athens, and Naples (Italy). May 19, June 9 and 30, July 21, August 11, September 1 and 22, October 13, and November 3 and 24. Rates: From 796€ ($1,099). Ten-day round-trip from Civitavecchia (Italy) calls at Messina (Italy), Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Rhodes, Santorini, and Naples (Italy). June 20, July 11, August 1 and 22, September 12, October 3 and 24, and November 14. Rates: From 723€ ($999).

Costa Cruise Lines

Venture Corporate Center II, 200 S. Park Road, Hollywood, FL 33021. tel. 877/88-COSTA. www.costacruises.com.

This Italian line traces its origins back to 1860 and the Italian olive-oil business. Today, Carnival Corporation, parent of Carnival Cruise Lines, is the owner. Costa is a very modern cruise brand; its megaships beat several companies' ships in size, and the fact that the man who handles the interior design of Costa's new ships is the same interior designer who designs Carnival's "fun ships" has led some folks to compare the two. However, they differ when it comes to the onboard product. Italy shows through in nearly everything Costa offers, from the food to the Italian-speaking crew (although they are not all from Italy), to the mostly Italian entertainers.

The line's ships represent one of the newer fleets in the industry, sporting blue-and-yellow smokestacks emblazoned with a huge letter C. And the fleet is growing fast: Costa has added six new ships in 7 years, with another on the way in 2008. The product is popular in the U.S./Caribbean market but is not designed strictly for a North American audience, and therein lies the charm. In Europe, the ships attract a good share of Italian and French passengers, so don't be surprised if your tablemates speak limited English.

Entertainment includes Italian cooking and language classes. The line also offers an activities program for kids and teens.

Costa Classica (built in 1991; 1,308 passengers; 54,000 GRTs) offers spacious public rooms done in contemporary Italian design, with Italian marble and original artwork. The ship's 446 cabins average almost 19 sq. m (200 sq. ft.) each (that's big by industry standards). CostaRomantica (built in 1991; 1,344 passengers; 53,000 GRTs) is a sister ship to the Classica. Both ships have a circular observatory-by-day-discoteca-by-night located above the pool deck.

CostaFortuna (built in 2004; 2,720 passengers; 105,000 GRTs) is a new, glitzy, modern cruise vessel that counts among its attributes cabins with balconies; multiple bars, lounges, and eateries; swimming pools; a large kids' play area; and a themed decor -- in this case, the great Italian ocean liners of yore. Public rooms are named after legendary Italian ships, such as the Rex Theater and the Restaurant Michelangelo. Check out the miniature fleet of Costa ships affixed to the ceiling of the bar in Fortuna's atrium.

Itineraries & Rates -- Costa Romantica -- Seven-day round-trip Civitavecchia cruise visits Catania (Italy), Patmos, Mykonos, Izmir (Turkey), and Santorini. May 5, 12, and 26; June 2, 16, and 23; July 7, 14, and 28; August 4, 18, and 25; September 8, 15, and 29; and October 6, 20, and 27. Rates: From 651€ ($899).

Costa Classica -- Seven-day round-trip from Trieste (Italy) cruise calls at Ancona (Italy), Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, Corfu, and Dubrovnik (Croatia). Sundays, June 15 through September 21. Rates: From 651€ ($899).

Costa Fortuna -- Seven-day round-trip from Venice (Italy) visits Bari (Italy), Katakolon, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Dubrovnik (Croatia). Mondays, May 5 through November 3. Rates: From 651€ ($899).

Crystal Cruises

2049 Century Park E., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90067. tel. 310/785-9300. www.crystalcruises.com.

Crystal's ships offer a cultured, elegant atmosphere and unobtrusive service. Its parent company, NYK, is a Japanese firm, the cruise line itself is based in Los Angeles, and you can see a kind of upscale, tranquil, and elegant California-influenced design to these ships, especially in the feng shui-designed spas, the Japanese cuisine (chef Nobu Matsuhisa of Nobu restaurant fame designed the menus in the ship's sushi restaurants) and some of its more modern interior looks, especially on the Crystal Serenity (built in 2003; 1,080 passengers, 68,000 GRTs).

This operator offers luxury, but on a slightly larger and less-inclusive scale than lines like Silversea and Seabourn -- alcohol, for example, is an a la carte purchase, but sodas are complimentary. It still preserves a traditional, two-seating dining pattern in its main restaurant and does formal nights. Crystal has invested heavily in education and enrichment. During the daytimes, passengers can take a financial planning class or pick up a new recipe or two. Cabins are spacious; the ship's upper-level penthouse suites (especially the top-of-the-line Crystal Penthouses) are top-notch.

Itinerary & Rates -- Crystal Serenity -- Seven-day Venice-to-Athens cruise overnights in Venice and calls at Katakolon, Santorini, Kusadasi (Turkey), and Mykonos. May 30. Rates: From 2,491€ ($3,440). Twelve-day Venice-to-Athens cruise overnights in Venice and calls at Katakolon, Santorini, Samos, Kusadasi (Turkey), and overnights in Istanbul (Turkey) and Athens. July 7. Rates: From 4,157€ ($5,740). Twelve-day Athens-to-Civitavecchia (Italy) cruise calls at Kusadasi (Turkey), Santorini, Rhodes, Aghios Nikolaos, Corfu, Taormina (Italy), and overnights in Sorrento (Italy). August 24. Rates: From 4,157€ ($5,740). Port charges are not included in these rates.

Golden Star Cruises

85 Akti Miaouli, Piraeus, Greece. tel. 210/429-0650. www.goldenstarcruises.com.

Golden Star offers short cruises of 3 and 4 days around the Greek Isles. The line's ship, the Aegean Two (built in 1957; 496 passengers; 12,609 GRTs) isn't brand-new, but it was fully refurbished in 2006. The line touts a friendly Greek staff, hospitality, and activities, such as Greek language and dancing lessons. Other onboard activities include bingo and board games, wine-tasting, the casino and catching rays on the pool deck. Like other Greece-based and Greece-focused lines, the emphasis is on the destination, with as many as five calls in a 3-day cruise; most passengers will likely be on and off the ship throughout the day, as the Aegean Two typically is in port daily from 7am until noon, and then makes a second stop at a second island from 4 to 9pm. Food choices include Greek specialties alongside international cuisine.

Itineraries & Rates -- Aegean Two: Three-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Crete, and Santorini. Fridays between March 28 and November 7. Rates: from 388€ ($530). Four-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini. Mondays between March 31 and November 3. Rates: From 608€ ($830).

Holland America Line

300 Elliott Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119. tel. 877/SAIL-HAL. www.hollandamerica.com.

Holland America is a premium-level line that offers a more traditional cruise flavor onboard new, modern cruise ships. The line takes pride in its Dutch heritage -- the tradition of naming its ships with a "dam" suffix goes back to 1883 -- and in offering good service in a refined setting: Teak deck chairs around the promenade deck, classical music in the Explorers Lounge after dinner, formal nights, and a collection of art and artifacts from around the world. A few changes are in the mix, including a new dinner plan -- guests can choose whether they'd like the traditional, two-seating dinner experience or eat at any time during restaurant hours. A few years ago, Holland America embarked on a plan to enhance its onboard experience, and the well-publicized "Signature of Excellence" program resulted in new Culinary Arts centers where passengers can go for cooking classes, bars with mixology classes, bigger-than-ever children's facilities, a specialty Pinnacle Grill restaurant on every ship, and big, comfortable lounges that encompass the library, game room, and specialty coffee shop.

The Zuiderdam (built in 2002; 1,848 passengers; 82,000 GRTs) was the first of a larger class of ships for Holland America, and it's a roomy ship with a fun, bright design scheme and a lot of cabins with balconies.

Itineraries & Rates -- Zuiderdam -- Twelve-day round-trip Venice cruises call in Split (Croatia), Athens, Istanbul (Turkey), Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Santorini, and Katakolon. April 26, June 1, July 7, August 12, and September 17. Rates: 1,375€ ($1,899).

Louis Cruise Lines

8 Antoniou Ambatielou St., Piraeus, Greece. www.louiscruises.com.

The Louis Group has been in the passenger shipping business for 70 years, but this Cyprus-based company got into cruising in earnest in 1986 when it purchased Princesa Marissa and set up Louis Cruise Lines. In late 2004, Louis started another cruise division called Louis Hellenic Cruises; in 2008 it's dedicating 4 of its 13-plus ships to the Greek islands.

The Perla (built in 1968; 780 passengers; 16,710 GRTs), the Aquamarine (built in 1971; 1,268 passengers, 23,149 GRTs), and the recently acquired Cristal (built in 1992; 1,278 passengers; 25,661 GRTs) are the line's main ships in Greece, with the Orient Queen (built in 1968; 912 passengers; 15,781 GRTs) offering longer cruises that embark from either Athens, Marseille (France), or Genoa (Italy).

The bulk of Louis's fleet consists of older, more classic-style vessels that have been rebuilt and refurbished. It charters several of them to European cruise lines and then operates the rest out of Cyprus, Athens, Genoa, and Marseille. The ships aren't as flashy or as new as the ones used by the major U.S.-based cruise lines, so you won't find state-of-the art amenities, or rows of balconies, though the Cristal is a newer, more modern vessel. However, these are cruises that concentrate on the destination: The itineraries are extremely port intensive, and the ships will sometimes visit more than one island in a day. Embarkations are somewhat flexible, as Louis permits cruisers to pick up the ships in Mykonos, or disembark early in order to stay a few days on Santorini or Crete. Its ships fly the Greek flag, and its officers are Greek, but Louis also is increasingly designing its ships, cuisine and entertainment to appeal to an American market: 60% to 65% of its clientele is North American.

Tragedy struck in 2007 when Louis ship the Sea Diamond sank after scraping its side on a volcanic reef in Santorini; all passengers were evacuated except for two, who were reported missing. The company, however, has continued its commitment to the Greece market, spending $49 million to acquire the Cristal as a replacement to the Sea Diamond and maintaining a four-ship deployment to the region in 2008.

Louis's strategy in the U.S. is to sell through tour operators, who will typically package a Louis cruise with a land tour. It currently does not deal directly with individual passengers or with travel agents -- although agents can work through tour operators. Rates for land-cruise packages are set by individual tour operators. The rates below vary depending on the season.

Itinerary & Rates -- Cristal -- Seven-day round-trip Athens cruises overnight in Istanbul (Turkey) and call in Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Rhodes, Iraklion, and Santorini. Fridays, from April 11 through October 24. Rates: Start at 1,090€ to 1,266€ ($1,485-$1,725). Seven-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Istanbul, Kusadasi (Turkey), Rhodes, overnights in Alexandria (Egypt) and Santorini. October 31; and November 7, 14, and 21. Rates: Start at 1,090€ to 1,266€ ($1,485-$1,725).

Perla -- Three-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Iraklion, and Santorini. Fridays from May 23 through October 17. Rates: Start at 400€ to 481€ ($545-$655). Four-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Rhodes, Iraklion, and Santorini. Mondays from May 19 through October 20. Rates: Start at 605€ to 723€ ($825-$985).

Aquamarine -- Three-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos, and Kusadasi (Turkey). Fridays from March 7 through November 14. Rates: Start at 400€ to 481€ ($545-$655). Four-day round-trip Athens cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Iraklion, and Santorini. Mondays from March 10 through November 10. Rates: Start at 605€ to 723€ ($825-$985).

Orient Queen -- Ten-day round-trip Athens cruise calls in Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Mykonos, Santorini, Katakolon, Messina (Italy), Marseilles (France), Genoa (France), and Naples (Italy). May 11, 21, and 31; June 10, 20, and 30; July 10, 20, and 30; August 9, 19, and 29; September 8, 18, and 28; and October 8 and 18. Embarkations also permitted for round-trip cruises from Marseille and Genoa. Rates: Start at 1,255€ to 1,313€ ($1,710-$1,790).

Monarch Classic Cruises

645 Fifth Ave., Suite 902A, New York, NY 10022. tel. 800/881-2377. www.mccruises.gr.

Monarch Classic Cruises is another Greece-based cruise line that plies the Aegean on older, classic-style vessels that have been updated for cruise-ship service. The company began service in 2006, so they're the new kids on the block, relatively speaking. All three of the company's ships were refurbished in 2007. The Blue Monarch (built in 1966; 452 passengers; 11,429 GRTs) offers seven port calls on its 7-day service, and the Ocean Countess (built in 1976; 800 passengers; 17,593 GRTs) and Ocean Monarch (built in 1955; 518 passengers; 15,800 GRTs) both offer 3- and 4-day cruises that pack five and six calls into the itinerary, respectively. In sum: These cruises are for visitors who want to see as much of the Greek Isles as they can in a relatively short time frame. According to the line, it draws an international crowd (about half of the passengers are American), from students to seniors.

Onboard, the line says, visitors can expect the environment to be comfortable and clean, with all the standard cruise-ship amenities (beauty salon, pool, and so on). The ships offer one open-seating dinner service a night in order to accommodate passengers who are arriving back from various shore activities -- the ships are typically in port until 8pm or 9pm. A Greek Night is held once on each voyage.

Itineraries & Rates -- Blue Monarch -- Seven-day Athens round-trip cruise calls in Santorini, Iraklion, Rhodes, Patmos, Kusadasi (Turkey), overnights in Istanbul (Turkey) and calls at Mykonos. April 4 and 18; May 2, 16, and 30; June 13 and 27; July 11 and 25; August 8 and 22; September 5 and 19; and October 3, 17, and 31. Rates: From 829€ ($1,131) to 955€ ($1,303), depending on the season.

Ocean Countess -- Three-day Athens round-trip cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Iraklion, and Santorini. Fridays from May 2 through October 17. Rates: Start at 334€ ($455) to 404€ ($551), depending on the season. Four-day Athens round-trip cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Rhodes, Iraklion, and Santorini. Mondays between April 28 and October 13. Rates: Start at 510€ ($695) to 620€ ($846), depending on the season.

Ocean Monarch -- Three-day Athens round-trip cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Iraklion, and Santorini. April 25, October 24, October 31, and November 7. Rates: Start at 334€ ($455) to 404€ ($551), depending on the season. Four-day Athens round-trip cruise calls at Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Rhodes, Iraklion, and Santorini. April 21, October 20 and 27, and November 3. Rates: Start at 510€ ($695) to 620€ ($846), depending on the season.