Windstar Cruises

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Istanbul

   Depart 18:00

   Turkey

   

   For more than fifteen centuries, Istanbul has been the pivot upon which empires turned — Byzantium, Constantinople, the Ottoman capital — and nowhere else on earth compresses so much history into a single horizon. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace form an incomparable trinity of architectural genius along the Golden Horn; the Grand Bazaar's four thousand shops offer a sensory immersion unlike any other marketplace. Must-dos include a Bosphorus sunset cruise and a meal of mezze along the waterfront at Karaköy. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the most gracious climate for this inexhaustible city.

2. Day 2

   Myrina,Lemnos

   Arrive 11:30Depart 18:00

   Greece

   

   Myrina is the charming capital of Lemnos, a mythologically rich Greek island in the northeastern Aegean. Visitors should climb to the Venetian castle for sunset views, taste the celebrated Muscat wine and local melihano cheese bake, and explore the ancient ruins of Hephaistia and the Kabeiroi sanctuary. June through September offers the warmest and driest conditions for island exploration.

3. Day 3

   Mykonos

   Arrive 09:00Depart 21:00

   Greece

   

   Mykonos is the Aegean at its most seductive — a labyrinth of bougainvillea-draped whitewashed alleys designed to disorient pirates (and occasionally visitors) leading to Kástro, the medieval hilltop quarter overlooking Little Venice, where balconied houses hang directly above the sea. The island's famous windmills, perched on a ridge above the old harbour, are best photographed at golden hour as pelicans patrol the waterfront below. Visit the sacred archaeological island of Delos — a 30-minute boat crossing — for one of the most significant ancient sites in the Greek world. May, June, and September offer the perfect balance of warmth, light, and bearable crowds.

4. Day 4

   Kusadasi

   Arrive 08:00Depart 23:59

   Turkey

   

   Kuşadası owes its place on the world's cruise itineraries to one extraordinary proximity: the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the greatest metropolises of the Greco-Roman world, lies just seventeen kilometres from the port. Ephesus — with its two-kilometre marble colonnade, the Library of Celsus, and the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) — demands at least half a day of unhurried exploration. The House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site believed to be where Mary spent her final years, adds a profound spiritual dimension. Kuşadası itself is a lively Aegean resort; the season runs April through October, with May and September offering ideal temperatures and smaller crowds.

5. Day 5

   Bodrum

   Arrive 09:00Depart 19:00

   Turkey

   

   Bodrum is the site of ancient Halicarnassus and one of the Seven Wonders, now a whitewashed Aegean resort town where the Knights Hospitaller castle houses the world's finest underwater archaeology museum. Visit June or September via Explora Journeys or Virgin Voyages for peninsula village dining, Bronze Age shipwreck treasures, and Turkey's most seductive balance of ancient heritage and contemporary Mediterranean sophistication.

6. Day 6

   Santorini

   Arrive 08:00Depart 20:00

   Greece

   

   Santorini, the ancient volcanic caldera rising from the Aegean, is Greece's most theatrical landscape — a crescentic island of sheer white cliffs plunging into an indigo sea, its clifftop villages of Fira and Oia draped in bougainvillea and culminating in the world's most photographed sunset. The island's unique Assyrtiko wine, grown on ancient ungrafted vines in volcanic pumice, is one of the Mediterranean's greatest expressions of terroir. Byzantine frescoes of extraordinary beauty fill the Prehistoric Museum of Thera. The volcanic black and red sand beaches of Perissa and Perivolos are unlike any others in Greece. April through June and September through October offer the finest conditions.

7. Day 7

   At Sea

   

8. Day 8

   Delphi

   Arrive 08:00Depart 13:00

   Greece

   

   Delphi is the legendary sanctuary of the Oracle, set on a dramatic mountain terrace above the Gulf of Corinth and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors must walk the Sacred Way past the Temple of Apollo and ancient theatre, and see the bronze Charioteer in the superb archaeological museum. Spring and autumn offer the best light and most comfortable temperatures for exploring the site.

9. Day 8

   Corinth Canal

   Arrive 17:00Depart 19:00

   Greece

   

   The Corinth Canal is a spectacular six-kilometer passage cut through solid limestone connecting the Aegean and Adriatic seas, realizing a dream that eluded engineers from antiquity to the nineteenth century. Transit the canal from April through October aboard small ships, combining the dramatic rock-walled passage with excursions to ancient Corinth, Mycenae, and the fortress of Acrocorinth.

10. Day 9

    Athens (Piraeus), Greece

    Arrive 12:01Depart 17:00

    Greece

    

    Piraeus, the bustling port city of Athens, is a vibrant blend of ancient history and modern charm, inviting travelers to explore its rich culture. Must-do experiences include savoring traditional Greek dishes at the Varvakeios Agora and embarking on day trips to nearby islands like Symi and Nydri. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowds are fewer.

11. Day 10

    Corinth Canal

    Arrive 08:00Depart 18:00

    Greece

    

    The Corinth Canal is a spectacular six-kilometer passage cut through solid limestone connecting the Aegean and Adriatic seas, realizing a dream that eluded engineers from antiquity to the nineteenth century. Transit the canal from April through October aboard small ships, combining the dramatic rock-walled passage with excursions to ancient Corinth, Mycenae, and the fortress of Acrocorinth.

12. Day 10

    Delphi

    Arrive 14:00Depart 21:00

    Greece

    

    Delphi is the legendary sanctuary of the Oracle, set on a dramatic mountain terrace above the Gulf of Corinth and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors must walk the Sacred Way past the Temple of Apollo and ancient theatre, and see the bronze Charioteer in the superb archaeological museum. Spring and autumn offer the best light and most comfortable temperatures for exploring the site.

13. Day 11

    Corfu

    Arrive 13:00Depart 21:00

    Greece

    

    Where Homer placed the island of the Phaeacians and four centuries of Venetian rule left their most enduring Mediterranean legacy, Corfu is a singular island of extraordinary historical depth and natural beauty. The UNESCO-listed Old Town — its narrow Kantounia alleyways, the elegant Liston arcade, and twin Venetian fortresses — is the finest preserved Venetian streetscape in Greece. Beyond the town, secret coves, olive groves of immense antiquity, and mountain villages offer weeks of unhurried discovery. May through June and September offer perfect conditions: warm sea temperatures, clear skies, and the island before or after its summer crescendo.

14. Day 12

    Argostoli

    Arrive 07:30Depart 14:00

    Greece

    

    Argostoli is the capital of Kefalonia, the largest Ionian Island, renowned for dramatic geological wonders, pristine beaches, and the literary fame of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Must-dos include visiting the subterranean Melissani Lake, admiring the cliffs of Myrtos Beach, and tasting Robola wine with fresh-grilled fish. May through October offers warm weather and calm seas, with June and September providing the best balance of conditions.

15. Day 13

    Messina

    Arrive 10:00Depart 17:00

    Italy

    

    Messina guards the storied strait that separates Sicily from the Italian mainland — the passage Homer mythologised as Scylla and Charybdis — and its Norman cathedral's astronomical clock, one of the world's largest mechanical clocks, puts on a captivating automated display each noon as gilded figures enact scenes of the Resurrection. The city was catastrophically rebuilt after the 1908 earthquake, but its markets and waterfront convey the fierce energy of a Sicilian port that has witnessed two and a half millennia of Mediterranean history. Messina is the perfect gateway to Taormina, a 40-minute drive into the hills above the Ionian coast, with views of Etna at their most dramatic. Spring and autumn are ideal.

16. Day 14

    Trapani (Sicily)

    Arrive 08:00Depart 17:00

    Italy

    

    Trapani is western Sicily's sickle-shaped port city where ancient salt flats, cloud-wrapped medieval Erice, and the crystal-clear Egadi Islands converge at the Mediterranean's cultural crossroads. Visit April through October via Seabourn or Windstar for cable-car ascents to Norman-era pastry shops, sunset salt-flat reflections, and the Arab-influenced seafood couscous that distinguishes this coast from anywhere else in Italy.

17. Day 15

    Cagliari

    Arrive 08:00

    Italy

    

    Cagliari, Sardinia's sun-drenched capital overlooking the Gulf of Angels, has absorbed three thousand years of Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Pisan, and Spanish ambitions into a layered and deeply compelling Mediterranean city — where the flamingo-fringed salt lagoons stretching to the city's western edge create one of Europe's most surreal urban vistas. The Castello quarter's medieval ramparts enclose a cathedral, Pisan towers, and panoramic terraces that survey the entire city and coastline, while the Marina district below offers some of the finest bottarga pasta and fresh tuna in Italy. Visit May through September for beach perfection; the prehistoric Nuraghe Su Nuraxi at Barumini, a UNESCO Wonder, is an hour's drive north.

18. Day 16

    At Sea

    

19. Day 17

    Barcelona

    Arrive 08:00

    Spain

    

    Barcelona is the city where Roman history, Gothic grandeur, and Gaudí's delirious Modernisme collide in a Mediterranean coastal capital of astonishing energy and beauty. The Sagrada Família — still under construction after 140 years — continues its audacious ascent toward completion, while the Gothic Quarter's Roman-era foundations and the Passeig de Gràcia's extraordinary concentration of Modernisme masterpieces reward days of exploration. For a complete sensory experience, lose an afternoon in the covered labyrinth of La Boqueria market before descending to the waterfront for Catalan seafood at its finest. May through June and September through October offer the most pleasant weather; the city connects directly to Paris by overnight train.

Cabin Categories

Balcony Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2BS

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVSafe+6

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Balcony Suite 1

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2BS1

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerToiletries ProvidedRoom Service AvailableTVSafe+6

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Star Balcony Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SBS

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an open living area for a more welcoming entrance. Drift off to sleep by the window in your queen bed as you watch the same stars that sailors used to navigate the seas hundreds of years ago.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Star Balcony Suite 1

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SBS1

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an open living area for a more welcoming entrance. Drift off to sleep by the window in your queen bed as you watch the same stars that sailors used to navigate the seas hundreds of years ago.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Ocean View Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerToiletries ProvidedTVWi-Fi (Additional Cost)+5

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Ocean View Suite 1

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S1

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Ocean View Suite 2

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S2

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVHair DryerTelephone+6

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Ocean View Suite 3

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2S3

Stylish comfort and ocean views welcome you in 277 square feet. Your queen bed (which can be separated as twins if you prefer) features luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. Enjoy a luxurious soak in your full-size tub or an invigorating shower, then wrap up in your waffle-weave robe and slippers, savor a treat from the fresh fruit bowl, or simply stretch out and enjoy the fresh flowers.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVHair DryerTelephone+7

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Star Ocean View Suite 1

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SS1

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an open living area for a more welcoming entrance. Drift off to sleep by the window in your queen bed as you watch the same stars that sailors used to navigate the seas hundreds of years ago.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+7

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Star Porthole Suite

Suite

277 sq ftMax 2SP

These rooms represent a nod to the sailing tradition of porthole windows. And while sailors might have had cramped quarters, your 277 square foot stateroom is wonderfully spacious and furnished with all the modern amenities and comforts of home.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+6

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Broadmoor Suite/Sea Island Suite

Suite

400–530 sq ftMax 2CS

Relax in 400 to 530 spacious square feet. Your living area offers beautiful views from the forward-facing window and French doors onto your private veranda. Two spacious closets give you plenty of room to unpack.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerBathToiletries ProvidedTV+6

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Deluxe Suite

Suite

468 sq ftMax 2DS

Brand new Deluxe Suites welcome you with 468 square feet of casually elegant living space and an ocean viewing French balcony. All these suites feature 3rd berths, and a sleep-inducing queen bed easily converted to twins.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationShowerRoom Service AvailableTVSafeHair Dryer+6

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Owner's Suite

Suite

575 sq ftMax 2OW

With 575 square feet, your Owner’s Suite offers separate living room and dining areas. A veranda, two flat-screen TVs and DVD players, and a full master bath and separate powder room indulge you in spacious comfort.

Queen or Twin ConfigurationLounge AreaShowerBathTVWi-Fi (Additional Cost)+7

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