ncl shore excursions athens

Shore Excursions in Athens

• 🚢 Shore excursions in Athens are designed for cruise passengers docking at the Port of Piraeus and combine historical sites with local experiences. Pick up and return to your ship is included.
• 🏛️ Half-day and full-day tours explore Athens’ landmarks, including tailored experiences.
• 🍇 Specialized tours offer insights into Greek culture, including olive oil and wine tasting.
• 🚶 Walking tours cover archaeological sites and historical landmarks across Athens.
• 🌍 Beyond Athens, tours extend to Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Delphi, Meteora and more, highlighting the diversity and richness of Greek culture and history.
• 📅 Operating since 1989, the company focuses on authentic Greek experiences.

Half-day Shore Excursions in Athens

A Fascinating 4-H Embark / Disembark Tour In Athens With Transfers

Accessible tour in Athens, 3 hours Athens Panorama

The Golden Age of Athens 6-hour private tour

Athens half-day tour | Enjoy the highlights of Athens in a private sightseeing tour

Poseidon’s Adventure-Cape Sounion and Athens Riviera 4½ H Private Tour

Athens 4-hour Afternoon city tour with Acropolis Museum

The Best Museums Of Athens In A 4-Hour Private Tour

Remarkable Marathon 4-hour private tour from Athens

The Acropolis and Plaka in 4 H self tour

Full-day shore excursions in athens.

The Best Of Athens 8-Hour Private Tour

Athens and Cape Sounion: 8-H Private Tour of Timeless Treasures

Mythical Athens And Olive Oil Tasting 9-Hour Tour

The exquisite footsteps of Athens Democracy 8-h private tour

Discover Athens & Ancient Corinth: 8-Hour Private Tour

A magical 10-h tour of Athens & the famous wineries in Nemea

Amazing Marathon and legendary Thermopylae 8-h private tour

The Thrilling Athens & Marathon 8-hour tour

Visit Athens & admire the phenomenon of Evia Island 8-hour tour

Athens Small Group Shared Semi-Private Shore Excursions 8-h

Don’t just visit greece… experience it.

Athens Cruise Shore Excursion Ideas: 5 Unusual Experiences

Are you planning a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea? Sailing along sparkling deep turquoise waters between paradisiac islands on a Mediterranean cruise is the kind of stuff travel dreams are made of.

A popular stop for whimsical Mediterranean cruise ships is Athens’ Piraeus Harbour . Although your cruise company will have excursions available for purchase, it’s sometimes more fun (and much cheaper) to plan your own day out in Athens.

If you choose to go it alone, you’ll need to find activities that not only provide a taste of the city’s abundant history and culture, but are also timely, affordable, flexible, and interesting. Here are 5 out-of-the-ordinary activities that can easily slot in to your DIY Athens cruise shore excursions.

How to get from Piraeus to Athens (and the Acropolis) - Get-On-Get-Off Bus

Gray Line by Athens Open Tour’s Get-On-Get-Off Bus stops right at the Piraeus cruise terminals providing a simple yet thorough way to explore Athens in 1 day. Tickets can be purchased online with flexibility to choose the Athens line, Piraeus line, Riviera and Beaches line, or any combination of the three for either 24-hours, 48-hours, or 72-hours.

Tickets include headphones and audio commentary about the roads driven on, buildings passed, and general facts about the city. Even if you don’t do much getting on and getting off, the bus is a fun, low-effort way to experience Athens and get a taste of its history.

I suggest taking the Piraeus line to the Acropolis & Parthenon stop then switching to the Athens line to explore parts of the city like Syntagma Square , Plaka , the National Gardens , and Monastiraki . We rode the Athens line to the New Acropolis Museum stop and took an hour or so to explore the museum , discovering 2,400 years’ worth of history behind the Acropolis. Museum tickets costs €5 in the winter and €10 in the summer.

Armed with newly found Acropolis knowledge, we walked about 3 minutes to the Acropolis & Slopes site and climbed the ancient Acropolis, passing the Theatre of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the way to the Parthenon . Acropolis & Slopes tickets cost costs €10 in the winter and €20 in the summer.

After taking a few selfies, take the exit closest to the Acropolis & Parthenon bus stop and catch the Piraeus line back to your cruise terminal.

Note: Bus timetables differ between winter and summer months. Check the latest online timetable before your trip.

1. Get a local volunteer to show you around Athens

This is My Athens is an innovative and fun program that connects tourists with local volunteers for a 2-hour, free-of-charge walking tour. Savvy travellers can book a tour online by selecting your preferred date and time of day and advising a few of your interests. The program assigns you to a local volunteer who will get in touch to finalise the details like meeting point.

We were shown around Athens by local volunteer, Nicole, who took us for a walk through nearby neighbourhoods pointing out her favourite restaurants, bars, and coffee shops along the way. We stopped at a lesser-known lookout point, Strefi Hill , some of Athens’ most impressive examples of street art, and an exquisitely decorated Orthodox Church before having a coffee at Superfly Café (one of Nicole’s favourites), decked out in 80’s pop culture and video game memorabilia.

Walking around with a local reveals a side of Athens tourists don’t usually get to see. For example, most tourists visit the front of the Panathenaic Stadium and pay a €5 entry fee, but Nicole took us around the back, where the locals go to jog or to simply sit and watch the sunset. Don’t tell the other tourists, but I think the views from the back of the stadium are even better than the ones inside!

Unlike many paid tours, a This is My Athens walking tour doesn’t aim to educate tourists in Athens’ history but simply present the city through the eyes of its locals. Some locals are history buffs, others are foodies, and others just genuinely love showing off their city, so your tour will be completely different depending on the guide you are assigned and your specific interests. That’s half the fun.

See more of Greece: Find out the cheapest ferry prices from Athens to Santorini , Mykonos and Milos .

2. Take a traditional Greek dancing lesson

Whether you’ve attended a Greek wedding or simply watched Zorba the Greek or My Big Fat Greek Wedding , you’ve probably seen traditional Greek dancers with huge smiles on their faces and wished you knew the steps to join in.

Greeking.Me’s Zorba Inside Me tour gives tourists the chance to learn a few traditional Greek dance moves before sharing a tasty meal at a nearby taverna.

Our group of 6 learnt 2 sets of basic dance steps which we practiced to traditional Greek music. Our instructor explained dance is very important in Greek culture with each island or region having its own dances or variations.

In Greece, dance is a very manly thing to do with the wealthiest and most noble men taking the lead. Our talented instructor showed off some very fancy kicks and jumps while the rest of us focused on not falling over or tripping each other up! 

All that dancing worked up quite an appetite so we hungrily walked to a nearby taverna, Cave of Acropolis for a traditional Greek meal. We enjoyed dolmades (wrapped vine leaves), tzatziki , moussaka , and Greek salad as meze, followed by a choice of chicken or pork souvlaki then honey-topped Greek yoghurt for desert.

A live band was playing traditional Greek music at the taverna but I resisted the urge to get up and show off my new dance moves. I’m not sure if I unleashed my inner Zorba, but I had a great time experiencing this iconic slice of Greek culture and trying something new.

3. See ancient inventions in action at Museum of Ancient Greek Technology

I discovered a hidden gem in Athens: the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology . Unlike most Athenian museums, this museum doesn’t showcase marble, bronze, and gold discoveries from archaeological excavations, but recreated inventions from the ancient Greek world. Exhibits include strategy games, construction equipment, weapons of war, and musical instruments that were constructed from scratch by Kostas Kotsanas after decades of researching ancient Greek contributions to technology and science. Origins of the reconstructed inventions range from 2,000 BC to the end of ancient Greek era.

I visited the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology on a tour through SpecialTy Tours Greece . We started with a short museum tour, seeing amazing inventions like a robot that mixes water with wine, an automatic alarm clock, a catapult, a mini cinema, encryption devices, long-distance communication tools, and automatically opening doors. If this museum is anything to go by, the ancient Greeks were quite obsessed with war and wine!

This is not a museum where you can look but not touch as many exhibits require interaction. We got to lift a limestone block with an ancient pulley system, activate the first security alarm, shoot an arrow from a catapult, and play the Enneas , an ancient (but much trickier) version of tic-tac-toe.

Next it’s time for a workshop to either play an ancient Greek strategy game or make an ancient Greek calculating mechanism , depending on your chosen tour. The strategy game workshop involves solving Archimedes’ “ ostomachion ”, an ancient puzzle with 14 geometric shapes that fit together to form a square in over 500 ways. It’s kind of like a jigsaw puzzle that requires creativity and a little mathematics. Don’t worry if you can’t solve all 500 combinations, you get to take an ostomachion home and keep practicing. 

The calculating mechanism workshop involves creating a mini- Antikythera mechanism from a flat-pack kit. The Antikythera mechanism was an ancient form of calendar used to predict astronomical positions, eclipses, astrological events, and four-year cyclic events like the Olympic games. The museum has full-sized and giant recreations of the Antikythera mechanism so you can see it in action before getting to work.

It’s then time for a change of scenery with a short walk to the National Gardens , a flourishing oasis in the often-chaotic city of Athens. I’d visited the National Gardens before but found this experience much more enjoyable with our guide, Konstantina, who knew her way around the 15.5 hectares of gardens.

Konstantina filled us in on the gardens’ history before showing us some hidden “surprises” within the gardens like a mosaic, once part of a Roman bath house, a popular lookout point, and various ancient column ruins scattered throughout the complex.

4. Design your own Greek food & wine tour

A visit to Athens is incomplete without attempting to eat your body weight in amazingly delicious Greek cuisine. One of my favourite ways to uncover Athens’ best food is on Greekality’s Food and Wine tour . This tour is completely customisable to the tastes, preferences, and dietary requirements of each private group. You can pretty much design your own tour itinerary, but your guide might sneak in a few surprises to awaken your tastebuds to flavours you might not expect to enjoy.

My tour focused on pairing Greek wines with fresh, local produce like salads and charcuterie boards, but other options can include visiting delis to try cheeses and meats or even a few traditional Greek dishes at a restaurant or two.

The tour lasts around 3 hours with a flexible start time, making it the perfect fit for your Athens cruise shore excursions.

5. Take a self-guided audio tour with Clio Muse

The final option for your Athens cruise shore excursions is a self-guided audio tour by Clio Muse . Tours range from free to €17.99 and run through a smartphone app meaning you can play it in your own time, as long as you’ve pre-downloaded the audio files. Each tour includes a series of audio files and map of stops at which to play them.

Armed with a set of wireless headphones, I tried the Birth of Democracy tour , which started at the Ancient Agora and told stories of historical characters significant in the foundation of the first democracy. Although the stories were interesting and educational, they didn’t explain the specific sites I was seeing while following the map. I thought the audio-tour could have easily been listened to at home on the couch and didn’t find it as relevant as I would have liked. However, I haven’t tried the other tours in Athens on Clio Muse. I really like the concept and see it has a lot of potential.

Tip: Some tour stops like the ancient agora require tickets which much be purchased online or at the door for an additional cost.

The Bottom Line

Athens is a popular stop for many Mediterranean cruise ships, but your time in Athens doesn’t have to be dependent on inflexible cruise line shore excursions. Take a look at a broader range of activities like get-on-get-off bus tours, walking tours, museum visits, food tours, and Greek dancing lessons which can be time-flexible and budget-friendly. And perhaps your dreams will come true in Athens.

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Greek isles: What to see, do and eat in Santorini, Corfu & Mykonos

Greek island cruises are on the bucket lists of many avid travelers thanks to the picturesque beauty, vibrant history and delicious cuisine of the region. So, what cruise shore excursions can you enjoy there?

Greek island cruises are a wonderful way to pack in the delights of Greece all in one trip without ever having to worry about getting from one hotspot to the next.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers 10 days brimming with culture and cuisine onboard cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway, stopping at nine ports along the way.

The NCL vessel boasts 25 dining experiences plus three dedicated seafood venues as well as dazzling stage performances. Other highlights include The Waterfront – a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade lined with restaurants, bars and fab views – and The Aqua Park & Sports Complex, complete with five multistory waterslides.

Norwegian Breakaway’s Greek islands cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) calls at Santorini, Corfu and Mykonos as well as a brilliant selection of Italian destinations , too.

We’ve taken a look at these three gorgeous Greek islands and what you can see, do and eat there on 2023 shore excursions with NCL (don’t read if you’re hungry!).

What to do in Santorini … for culture

The Greek island of Santorini is as picturesque as they come (just ask the influencers who flock there for the perfect sunset selfie) but its appeal isn’t just skin deep. As with the vast majority of vacation destinations in Greece , there’s rich culture and history to be found on Santorini.

On the NCL shore excursion ‘Go Local – Santorini’s Musical Heritage’ of this Greek islands cruise you’ll meet local craftsmen making traditional Greek musical instruments and visit the island’s former capital (and the largest preserved village on Santorini) Pyrgos, known for its 13th-century Venetian castle.

For further history, there’s the ‘Ancient Akrotiri & Wine Tasting’ outing. Bronze Age settlement Akrotiri was one of the most pivotal Minoan urban centres and ports in the Aegean, connecting to mainland Greece and as far as Egypt and Syria.

The town met its untimely devastation following a catastrophic volcanic eruption on Santorini in the 17th century BC which destroyed the island’s Minoan civilisation and left Akrotiri covered in ash. Today it is the most important prehistoric settlement in the Aegean and boasts fascinating excavations.

What to do in Santorini … for adventure

Santorini is a volcanic island – indeed, the caldera here is one of the biggest active underwater volcanoes in the world.

To sate your thirst for adventure on Greek islands cruises, NCL offers a ‘Volcano Hiking’ excursion – take a boat ride to an active volcano and hike its gravel terrain on a steep and fast-paced 30-minute, 3/4 mile walk to the crater.

What to do in Santorini … for food & drink

Fava – a yellow split-pea purée usually served warm with olive oil and lemon – is probably the most famous dish in Santorini, but do also try the small, sweet Santorini tomatoes, apochti – seasoned and cured Pork loin often used to accompany fine wine, chlorotyri – a local goat’s milk cheese, as well as capers and white aubergine.

A number of Norwegian Cruise Line shore excursions include food and drink but to really immerse yourself in local cuisine opt for the ‘Greek Style Celebration – Opa!’ trip to the picturesque, clifftop village of Oia (above) on which you’ll enjoy the food, wine and dances of Greece at a lively Greek celebration. ‘Charming Oia & Winery’ is another alternative – visit a quality winery and taste some of the best wines in Santorini.

What to do in Santorini … for relaxation

If you’d rather soak up the sun and do very little on your Greek island cruise vacation – easy! NCL’s ‘Perivolos Beach Transfer’ will whisk you off to the longest black beach in Santorini and the crystal-clear water of the Aegean Sea on the island’s southeast coast.

What to do in Mykonos … for culture

From Mykonos you simply must visit the neighboring island of Delos (above), it’s the mythical birthplace of the Greek gods Artemis and Apollo and was one of the most sacred places of ancient Greece, attracting thousands of pilgrims from the 8th century BC onwards.

Interesting fact: the Athenians who dominated the island on and off for almost five hundred years initiated two “purifications” of Delos, the second of which, in 426/5 BC, forbade births and deaths on the island (seems tricky to control if you ask us). Unfortunately, Delos never recovered from Romans razing the island in 88 BC – the population dwindled, ancient ruins were plundered and, during Ottoman occupation, it became a pirate stronghold.

Excavations of the archaeological site of Delos began in 1873 thanks to The French School of Archaeology and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Look out for statues of the lions dedicated to the Sanctuary of Apollo (above right), The House of Dionysus and The House of the Trident with their impressive mosaics, and the ancient theatre of Delos to name a few highlights. Join NCL shore excursion ‘Delos: Birthplace of Artemis & Apollo’ on Greek islands cruises to learn all about the famous site.

What to do in Mykonos … for food & drink

Mykonos’ rustic sausages are renowned here. They’re seasoned with a Greek savoury spice known as ‘throubi’, typically have a higher lean meat content than fat and are often paired with local wine or traditional ouzo.

For cheese, there’s tyrovolia (a fresh soft cheese used in various recipes), kopanisti (soft, fermented, spiced and often spread on bread) and ksinotiro (a sour-tasting option often used for pasta).

Mosta is a common meze dish in Mykonos consisting of barley rusks, kopanisti, tomato, olive oil, oregano and salt while Melopita (a sweet tart made with fresh tyrovolia cheese, honey and cinnamon) is one of the most popular pies on the island.

The ‘Mykonos On Foot’ shore excursion with NCL takes you through the streets of the island so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to pop into shops and stock up, plus a snack is provided.

What to do in Mykonos … for relaxation

For a chilled beach day, sign up for ‘Mykonos Beach Transfer’. Just a short drive from your ship are golden sandy beaches, transparent waters and a whole lot of you-time. The perfect opportunity to get stuck into that airport thriller you picked up.

What to do in Corfu … for culture

Norwegian Cruise Line has a wealth of Corfu shore excursions that will ensure vacationers get their fix of culture – you’re spoiled for choice!

On the ‘Old Fortress & Gourmet’ outing, guests will explore The Old Fortress of Corfu (above), one of the most impressive fortifications in Europe. It was built by the Venetians in the 15th century on the site of a former Byzantine castle and later added to by the British in the 18th century. The Public Library of Corfu, once the barracks, is located here and hosts rare manuscripts and editions. The fortress overlooks Corfu’s Old Town and offers stunning views.

Alternatively, join the ‘Mons Repos Palace & Corfu Town’ shore excursion. Mons Repos – a neoclassical mansion built in 1831 – was famously the birthplace of Prince Philip. Nowadays it is a museum and visitors can explore the 258-acre park bursting with exotic plants.

On this trip you’ll drive along the coastal road of Perama and stop for snaps of pretty Mouse Island (or Pontikonisi) – so-called due to its diminutive size (although according to mythology, Pontikonisi was the ship of Greek hero Odysseus before the God Poseidon turned it to rock); you can’t miss the 13th-century Byzantine church of Pantokrator which dominates the islet. Travelers can then stroll through Corfu’s Old Town to see the historical sites.

What to do in Corfu … for adventure

If you think four legs are better than two, try the ‘Horseback Riding & Beach’ excursion to soak up the scenery of Corfu’s northern coast or, if you’d prefer wheels to hooves, there’s the ‘Mountain Bike Expedition’ on which you can explore the beautiful and picturesque villages of Corfu by bike accompanied by a guide.

Alternatively, put your name down for the ‘4×4 Adventure’ to admire the countryside, olive groves and the glistening Ionian Sea from the comfort of a vehicle.

What to do in Corfu … for food & drink

Sofrito (veal cooked in wine sauce, garlic and white pepper) is famous on Corfu and fresh fish is excellent – try some fried with Greek spicy sauce savoro! Tsigareli is a common veggie option – boiled leafy greens cooked with chopped onion, garlic, red hot pepper and salt – and Kataifi and Baklavà are among the popular cakes to taste if you fancy something sweet.

To enjoy traditional food on the island, the ‘Best of Corfu’ tour is a great shout. Not only will you tour the island but you’ll also tuck into a traditional lunch with live entertainment at a local taverna.

Meanwhile, ‘Scenic Island & Flavors’ ensures you sample local favourites and visit a traditional Koum Kouat distillery. The fruit was imported in 1850 by the British and is today used to produce the island’s famous liqueur.

What to do in Corfu … for relaxation

Yes, there’s a beach excursion put on by NCL but why not embrace the regal vibe of the island and join the ‘Catamaran Tour in Corfu’? You’ll sail between Corfu and the mainland, stop for swimming opportunities and tuck into an onboard feast all to the backdrop of the region’s beautiful scenery.

Right, we’re off to buy some feta from Sainsbury’s and watch Mamma Mia.

10-Day Greek Isles & Italy: Santorini, Mykonos & Florence from Rome with NCL

Duration: 9 nights

Where: Rome  (Civitavecchia), Italy | Santorini, Greece | Athens (Piraeus), Greece | Mykonos, Greece | Corfu, Greece | Valletta, Malta | Messina (Sicily), Italy | Naples, Italy | Florence/Pisa(Livorno), Italy | Rome, Italy

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

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Hop-on Hop-off Athens Highlights Tour (Athens and Piraeus)

• Blend ancient history and modernity on a hop-on hop-off Athens Highlights Tour
• Explore the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Explore the Parthenon.
• Spend time shopping and indulging in Greek cuisine
• Discover Marina Zea Harbor, Microlimano Harbor, and the Ancient Agora

The hop-on hop-off Athens sightseeing bus tour will take you past ancient sites such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, and world-famous museums. In Athens, you will experience the contrast between the ancient history clashing with modern architecture and culture.

Don't miss the stop at the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens that contains the remains of many ancient structures. The most famous of the structures is the Parthenon. The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. This spectacular structure is regarded as the symbol of democracy and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments.

On this hop-on hop-off Athens tour, enjoy all that central Athens has to offer. Get off the bus to shop, eat, and indulge in Greek culture. The Athens Hop-On Hop-Off tour provides easy access to the city's best sights and the flexibility to exit and enter the tour bus whenever you choose.

Travel past the Marina Zea Harbor with its myriad of tall mast ships, schooners and cruisers and Microlimano Harbor, a pretty fishing port where once Themistocles' victorious Triremes were berthed before the epic, history-changing sea battle of nearby Salamis. The archaeological and nautical museums located here are well worth visiting. You can also view the Hill of Mars or the ancient court of Athens, the area which is around the Ancient Agora. Travel down through the Plaka and around the Roman Agora, which includes the famous Tower of the Winds. You'll see it all on this hop-on hop-off Athens tour.

Please Note: There are 2 bus routes with varying schedules and tour durations. The Athens Route runs every 30 minutes from 8:30am - 8:30pm, and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete the route without getting off. The last departure is at 7pm. The Piraeus Route runs hourly from 12:15pm - 6:15pm, and it takes approximately 80 minutes to complete the route without getting off. The tours are narrated in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, Chinese, Russian, Greek, Dutch, Hebrew, Japanese and Turkish. First and last tour times vary by route and will be detailed in your electronic ticket.

The Athens Route includes the following stops:

• Syntagma Square
• Melina Merkouri Statue / Plaka
• Acropolis Museum
• The Acropolis and Parthenon
• Temple of Zeus
• Parliament / National Gardens
• The Four Museums
• National Gallery
• Ancient Olympic Stadium
• National Library
• National Archaeological Museum
• Omonia Square
• Karaiskaki Square
• Monastiraki Square
• Kotzia Square

The Piraeus Route includes the following stops:

• Pantion University
• Niarchos Foundation
• Municipal Theater
• Cruise Terminals A & B
• Archaeological Musuem of Piraeus
• Votsalakia Beach
• Mikrolimano Harbor
• Planetarium
• Grand Hyatt & Intercontinental
• Acropolis & Parthenon

To see a map of the stops that are included in this tour, please CLICK HERE .

Shore Excursions from Athens (Piraeus) Cruise Port

Athens shore excursions from piraeus cruise port of call, come on an exciting journey of exploration and entertainment with the best guides from athensshoreexcursion.com..

“Athens Shore Excursion”; Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty and rich culture of Greece with our Athens shore excursion. Our carefully crafted tour offers you an intimate and authentic experience, showcasing the stunning natural landscapes of the country and giving you a taste of the local customs and heritage. With numerous destinations to explore, including the picturesque Greek islands and charming ports of call, our excursion is the perfect way to fully experience this beautiful and diverse country.

“Athens Shore Excursion”; Experience the wonders of Athens with “Athens Shore Excursion” – the premier provider of customizable private tours for cruise ship passengers docking at Piraeus cruise port (also known as Athens Cruise Port). No matter your group size or personal interests, we have curated a diverse range of excursions throughout Greece to cater to your every fancy.

Here at our company, our sole focus is on providing exceptional shore excursions. We take pride in offering private shore excursions in Athens that are held to the highest standard of quality, safety, convenience and value. What sets us apart is that we are the tour operator ourselves, resulting in significantly better prices compared to those offered by the cruise companies or on board. We believe in providing the best experience possible without relying on third party providers.

Popular Shore Excursions in Athens from Piraeus Port

Positive Unforgettable Athens 8-hour private shore excursion

Athens Riviera and breathtaking Sounion 4-hour shore excursion

Christian 8 hours inspiring private shore excursion St Paul in Athens

Athens Acropolis and Nemea wine tour 8-hours

Panorama of culture 8-hour epic Athens, Corinth private tour

Triumphantly Delphi in 8-H Brilliant Private Shore Excursion

Explosive wine tour of Nemea & Nafplion 8-h shore excursion

Gigantic Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion 8-H Private Shore Trip

Why book a shore excursion with athens shore excursions.

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Browse all shore excursions from Piraeus Port

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Athens 8-hour private shore excursion

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Testimonials.

We all would highly recommend this company. I just heard back from a friend who followed our advise and did the same tour in September this year. They were thrilled with every aspect as well. Barbara Ulloa

Our tour guide, Yanni, met us as planned, and we proceeded to have the best tour of our trip. His English was perfect, and his knowledge of history and religion was awesome. Russel Duplay

We booked our private tour with athensshoreexcursion.com based on the reviews posted on this site. The reviews were excellent, but wrong!! Chris our tour driver was even better! Rodolfo Hoffman

Everything was better than expected, the trip was very enjoyable and the history of the place was out of this world. We would certainly consider this company if we ever toured Athens again! Paula Bashley

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Mediterranean ship excursions review

By littlelulu01 , January 21, 2020 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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littlelulu01

We did a two week med sailing in October/November of 2019 on the Jade.  Had a great time and met some wonderful new friends.  We usually book our shore excursions independently however this sailing had some extra perks and obc which made booking excursions through the cruise line too inexpensive to pass up.  We had done versions of this sailing a few times before so I’ll comment/compare independent excursions we have taken in the past to the NCL shore excursions.  Some were a bust but most had at least something worthwhile and some of NCL’s excursions were down right excellent.     

Here’s the itinerary:  Rome(Civitavecchia), Italy; Santorini, Greece; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy; Venice, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Messina (Sicily), Italy; Naples, Italy; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.     All things equal, I would say independent excursions are generally a much better deal financially and they are often smaller groups, less waiting and just more pleasurable.  A side effect I noted on this sailing – there were a few sick passengers onboard at the beginning of the sailing.  Towards the end of the sailing the tour busses were chock full of coughing, ill passengers.  DIY would avoid this extra layer of exposure.  We got our flu shots a couple weeks prior to sailing and somehow avoided getting sick.  We used the stairs whenever possible to avoid sharing elevators with sick passengers.  We also never visited the buffet. We had great weather starting out the vacation.  Up till the last couple days the weather held out.      When  we booked this sailing almost two years in advance it had some really good perks.  At the time they were offering the “distinctive voyage perk” which is extra shore excursion credits on top of the free at sea perks, ship to shore phone call package and additional internet packages along with a discount on airfare and hotel.  We were gone almost a month and are not retired so husband took full advantage of the ship to shore phone call package to get some work done.  We also upgraded for not much to the unlimited internet.  Husband was able to get some work done in the evenings while at sea.  We passed on the air and hotel credits.  We opted to stay closer to the action in Rome.  NCL also offered us a good chunk of extra obc for booking a suite so I justified a Haven suite on this sailing by using the shore excursions with the ship.  Most excursions were truly free or near free after factoring the lattitude discount and double excursion credits. We had a lot ports on the sailing so it was a great savings using NCL’s excursions.  We also had the luxury of the concierge getting us to the busses.. so we didn’t need to wait in the theater prior to excursions.  Omission of this layer of herding might have made the ship excursions a little more palatable?     For airfare I booked almost a year in advance to get the British Airways Avios (Mileage) flights from Seattle to Heathrow and then Heathrow to Rome.  I was able to snag what appear to be two of only two first class mileage seats for our flights.  We took a stopover on the return in London.  British Airways charges a hefty fee on their award flights through LHR but the first class security, concord room, massage before flight… is pretty slick at Heathrow. if only I could afford this type of travel regularly!   We also used miles for our hotel stay.  We ended up at the Argentina Residence near the Pantheon.  It was a fantastic stay.  Pretty much walking distance to everything.  Clean, a nice quiet room, comfortable bed, great staff and really good breakfast.  The hotel set up pickup at the airport and also a ride to the ship on embarkation day.  50 euro for someone waiting at the airport with a sign was money well spent.  On embarkation day they pulled into the courtyard at the hotel and took us right to the ship for 130 euro.  After the cruise we set up a transfer from port to airport with Romecabs and split the fee with a couple on our roll call.  I think it was 75 euro per couple for door to door service.

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There was a grocery store right around the corner from our hotel with yummy stuff and great restaurants everywhere.  I’m crazy about Italian food.  I also love how nice the romans are to tourists.  We had a fantastic time there with each meal better than the last. 

We did a lot of typical touristy Rome things while in Rome.  Top of the list was the Scavi Tour of the Vatican.  I highly recommend this tour underneath St Peter’s Basilica.  I booked this about a year out.  The other couple I had booked this tour with had to cancel at the last min but we picked up a last min replacement couple on our cc roll call to take the extra tickets.  We otherwise spent our days pre cruise adjusting to the time difference, trying some fantastic foods in the Trastevere area of Rome and also near our hotel and just having fun.  I felt very safe and comfortable walking around at night and early morning.  We also rented bikes at Bobli gardens one day and enjoyed the park and neighborhood around the gardens.  Future visits I would be equally happy staying at a hotel in Trastevere or Ludovisi Rome neighborhoods.  Both neighborhoods had a welcoming fun vibe. 

By the time we embarked on the ship the jet lag was gone and we were able to take full advantage of the ship and tighter schedule of touring.  I know many would prefer not to spend the extra $ on a Haven for these port intensive sailings but husband and I really enjoy the quiet and typically empty area of the Haven to return to after long days.  For the prices ncl charges we could do just about any land or sea vacation.  I think ncl knows they are pushing the limits on what they charge for their Haven on some of these Europe sailings so in return they try to deliver a product worth the cost.  I enjoy the specialty venues over the inclusive venues so I purchased an additional specialty package to supplement the FAS  perk and latitudes free diners. We had two meals outside specialty.  One was in Jasmine which was pretty bad and one was in the MDR which was pretty good.  We had one bad specialty meal in La Cucina.  We returned a subsequent night and it was probably the best meal and service we have had at sea to date so go figure.  Our meals in the other specialty venues varied from outstanding to good enough to stay in business as a standalone land based venue. All in all we found food and dining service to be better than years past.  Very appreciative for the return of lobster and jumbo shrimp along with higher quality cuts of meats to the menu.  

I am reliving our cruise with your review!!

Just now, TSUmom said: I am reliving our cruise with your review!!

Wasn’t this just a fantastic vacation! It was so much fun planning the vacation and meeting you guys. Was the best roll call.  Figures the one time ship excursions made sense was the one time with the independent planners extraordinaire.    

A few more pictures of the Haven area.  We really did enjoy coming back to this after long days.  There was rarely anyone around.  The courtyard butler Renaldo was awesome.  He was happy to serve breakfast or drinks... did a great set up for snacks and grab and go breakfast items.  He also set up the upper deck every day even though it did not seem to get much use. Tepenaki was fun but it’s probably a little too loud for me.  It’s hard for me to enjoy casual conversation with table mates with all the noise. Moderno has an incredible salad bar this time around.  Wasn’t crazy with the sides and the meats but the salad bar was fantastic. 

We did pretty much zero ship shows.  In fact I can’t even tell u who the cruise director was.  I’d usually run into friends when walking past a bar and ended up dining with a few couples we met onboard or with the roll call but with one sea day at the start of the cruise, going to a theater show wasn’t in the cards for us.  Shore excursion staff were really good.  They had been on all excursions and were great at suggesting or getting us on a waiting list... 

I am not a fan of the new “just water.” The taste was really off to me.  I REALLY wish they’d come out with a premium plus non alcoholic beverage package for those who don’t drink alcohol. 

So onto the ports – Santorini.  We booked Ancient Akrotiri and wine tasting.  We tendered to the alternative port where the ncl sponsored tour busses load.  Our tour guide was outstanding.  Filled us with fun and educational facts along the way to the winery.  We don’t drink alcohol but appreciated the venue for the peaceful setting and beautiful views.  Then onto Akrotiri for the tour which our guide made come alive.  He then dropped us off in the center of Thira.  Having been a few times before we wandered around a little and then made our way back down to the ship with the provided cable car tickets.  This day had an easy factor of super easy.  No thinking about what when and where.  Just enjoyed being taken around and educated.  In years past we have done Oia diy and via the ship and also booked Alex boat tours full day excursion on our own.  Of all these “Alex boat tour” was more fun but the Akrotiri tour was more educational.  I wouldn’t hesitate to book Alex boat tours again but it was a lot more $ than the ship excursion.  Being one of the last sailings of the season, Santorini had great weather and much lower crowds than in the past.  For a shoulder season visit to Santorini I would also venture a DIY to Oia but not when multiple ships in port and major crowding. 

Some finds from the archeological site like this goat are in Thira.  Other good stuff like the boxer mural we saw later in the archeological museum in Athens.   

Athens – We booked the Amazing Athens HOHO bus through the ship.   We had been to Athens a few times before but had yet to visit the Archeological museum. I actually enjoyed the at our own pace touring and taking in the sights and neighborhoods of the city.  The HOHO busses loaded right in port and we were off pretty quickly.   The Archeological museum is probably one of the best museums I have seen to date.  Lots of murals and finds from Akrotiri  and subsequent sights seen on this sailing are housed here.  If you visit don’t forget to hunt down and see the Antikythera mechanism housed here. It’s a computer that dates from the first century B.C.  I had done quite a bit of reading prior to our visit so we skipped a tour guide.  I could have spent days inside this museum.  Had this option cost us $, I would have opted just to take a taxi to sights but since it was no cost with all our credits it was not a bad way to spend the day. 

Mykonos – We booked Delos.  I warmed up to our tour guide as the tour progressed.  The ferry ride over was a little rough but not too bad.  I found it simply amazing that their cisterns from 3rd century BCE still hold water.  Also found it fascinating how they kept peace and control for so long.  From an educational standpoint a 5 star day.  Upon return to Mykonos the town was celebrating Oxi day and getting ready for their parade. I found it strange that we were walking along paths with pottery just sticking out of the ground. 

Argostoli.  Well the good luck with excursions kind of took a turn here.  I didn’t see anything really jump out at me. In hindsight I should have booked the tour to the caves but we did the Robola winery and St Andres Monastery.  The Monastery was pretty and we purchased some good Kefalonian honey at the winery.  We did not partake in the wine tasting but those that did said it was not the best wine.  In addition we stopped in a little town where a dog came out to greet us and some lady had ducks squawking.  It was a pretty comical stop.  Our guide showed us a restaurant that used to be open but the owner got sick so it closed a couple years ago.  I would think this was a stop to at least offer a bathroom break or chance to purchase some souvenirs but no such luck.  To top it off we somehow lost a passenger at this stop.  It was a pretty island and very lush.  I would not mind returning someday but would probably avoid the St. Andres Monastery and Robla Winery shore excursion.   For free I can’t complain.  

Dubrovnik – we had also visited here a few times in the past.  Diy is very easy.  I only booked a tour because it was free. We booked the GOT tour.  Got a little spin on the filming of GOT and some actual history thrown in.  We really enjoyed this tour but having walked the walls on our own in the past and also visited the town without a tour, I would say this tour was fun but definitely not necessary.  We somehow got separated from our tour guide at some point in the tour.  We found him sometime later and gave him our headsets.  Purchased some good chocolate and took the bus back to the ship.  Basically if you have a sticker on your shirt just hop on a bus going back to the ship. Just don’t hop on the wrong ship shuttle.  The walls have a lot of stairs.  I would not say I am in the best of shape but also not the worst of shape.  I was able to do the stair climb but in the heat of summer it would be a little challenging.

Venice – we overnighted here on Halloween.  NCL had candy set out, pumpkins carved and it was cute to see groups of passengers dressing up a little here and there.  We booked the Venice hoho with Leonardo Da Vinci Museum.  Not recommended even for free.  We did not have a terrible time but there are  much better ways to see Venice.  I had read reviews of this excursion prior to sailing so my expectations were tempered.  We took the boat to Murano, got off, walked around the island and had lunch and then took the boat back to the port.  I had planned to get off at St. Marks Square on the return but it started raining pretty hard so we went back to the ship.  It served a purpose for free so I couldn’t complain.  Had I actually spent $49 pp on this it would have been a waste of $49 pp.  We have also spent time in Venice in the past so had no burning desire to see all there was to see here.  The next day we took the people mover and then got lost wandering around Venice, the Jewish ghetto, did some shopping, had a great lunch somewhere and then found our way back to the ship.  The sail away was fantastic that evening.  It was a national holiday in Italy on November 1stand they had lots of celebrating going on. 

More of Venice and Halloween on the ship.    

Kotor – The sail in is as fantastic as they say.  Our first visit.  We did the Tuk Tuk tour.  Highly recommended!  Our guide was a local and was great.  We had fun exploring the island and after the tour  he volunteered to take us to the walled city.  Extremely charming city and all around great tour guide.  Our first visit but I hope not our last.  Long tender ride here.  The princess ship we were tagging along with was anchored much closer to town.  It was a much smaller ship so that may have been why they got such a close in anchor spot. I did hear a little rumbling about wait for tenders.  We had zero wait each way.  Likely because we were on an excursion and also stayed in Kotor till well after dark. 

Corfu – Best of Corfu.  I would not recommend this tour.  Didn’t help that it was pouring rain this day but Cici’s palace has likely not had a dime of investment since the filming of the James Bond movie in the 80’s.  To top it off, this crumbling palace is jam packed with tour busses.  The lunch was in a cute town and the food was good.  After the lunch we got dropped off in Corfu town for a little while and then taken back to the ship.  Fun seeing the pretty island but would definitely pass on Cici’s palace in the future.  One can easily diy here.   

Messina – We did the Godfather tour.  HIGHLY  recommend this tour and was happy we booked through the ship.  It was a great day.  Saw some beautiful mountain towns and also some newer seaside towns.  The winding hills and hairpin turns are a bit unnerving - it’s  a showdown coming down the mountain on a large bus with other busses trying to go up the mountains.  If you’re ok with your bus driver backing up the hills around hairpin turns with about an inch clearance then I’d say definitely go for this tour.  The jaw dropping beauty and that classic feel of Italy here.  Of course anything we ate this day was the best ever. 

Naples – Herculaneum through the ship.  Again a fantastic day, fantastic tour guide.  Could not have asked for better with our tour guide.  He was engaging, and educated. He was a fantastic story teller and could not have done any better bringing the city to life.   After this tour ended we walked to a restaurant our Concierge recommended for Pizza.  I had read much about Gritty Naples but I did not concur with what I had read.  It felt safer and nicer there than many cities here in the USA.  We visited Naples on a Tuesday so the museum was closed. Some of the stuff here was in the Archeological museum in Athens. Our guide was on GMA and Samantha Brown.  

And some pictures of Naples.   So much to see here!  I have to return. 

Livorno.  I had booked the jeep marble quarry tour.  Shore excursions said they had not actually had this excursion fill enough to run all season but as luck would have we actually had enough to fill the excursion for the first time.  But then the rain hit and we got canceled at the last minute.  Having spent quite a bit of time in Florence and Pisa in the past, and that it was pouring rain, we took the bus into Livorno, got some supplies, and went back to the ship.  Transfer to the city from the ship was a few euro.  I’ve read complaints on this charge but in all reality the bus ride to the city of Livorno is quite a distance so the charge to me seems justified.

For debarkation we had booked a 7 am 1 hour transfer to the airport. The concierge walked us off the ship and found our driver.  Our friends that we shared the transfer with were flying Luftunsa who was on strike.  They were dropped off at the wrong terminal due to the chaos of the strike but did make their 10:45 am flight.  We were flying British Airways to London.  We had plenty of time to spare.  British Airways has a nice lounge at the Rome airport where we had a nice breakfast and relaxed prior to our flight to London.  We enjoyed ending our trip with a stay in London and our flight home was uneventful.  We have flown business before but this was my first time in first on British Airways out of London.  The security for their first class, massage prior to flight, a nice relaxing meal in the Concord room is pretty dang nice.  Had business been available I would have gone with Business over first class to save on miles but the first class treatment was a real treat and made the end of vacation a breeze … all of which came to a jarring end with a most unpleasant welcome home from Seattle customs and immigration. I have never been in prison but I suspect prison guards might have better manners than Seattle Customs and Immigration staff/agents.     Anyways, I am happy to answer any questions.  We enjoyed our cruise.  Not all was perfect with this vacation - nothing ever is but the positives far outweighed the negatives and we really had a great time. 

northernrose

Very informative report

Also wanted to mention we did this trip with carryon only luggage.  No checked bags.  It was difficult packing for warm and cold weather but I managed.  Had to ditch dress up clothing.  It’s pretty freeing to vacation without big luggage. Ncl gave us free laundry for lattitude perk and we took full advantage.  Didn’t need the bag special days.  I think those were around  $20/bag.  Our Latitude Free laundry bags came back day after we turned in both times.  I can’t say it came back with a tide fresh scent or anything but it is the job and I can’t complain. 

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Set Sail to Europe for the Holiday of a Lifetime with Norwegian Cruise Line

Sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line

There’s so much to see and do in Europe that even seasoned travellers can find the choices overwhelming – and we all want to make the most of our precious holiday time. Barcelona, Cannes or Rome? Santorini or Istanbul? Copenhagen or Reykjavik?

You don’t have to pick and choose! One of the joys of cruising in Europe is experiencing an amazing variety of places in a week, 10 days or a fortnight – and there’s no driving, hotel accommodation or packing and re-packing to do at every destination.

Norwegian Cruise Line Has a Ship For Every Type of Cruiser

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been cruising in Europe for many years and knows every sought-after port, city and island around the Mediterranean, Greek Isles and Northern Europe. In 2024 and 2025, NCL will have more than half its 19-strong fleet in the region – 14 ultra-modern, experience-packed ships designed to appeal to couples, solo travellers, friends and multi-gen groups – in other words, just about every type of cruiser.

NCL’s two newest ships, 2022’s Norwegian Prima ( pictured above ) and 2023’s Norwegian Viva renowned for the spectacular go-kart speedways over three levels, in addition to their wide open spaces and, like their 12 sister ships in Europe ( Norwegian Breakaway , Norwegian Dawn , Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape , Norwegian Getaway , Norwegian Jade , Norwegian Pearl , Norwegian Sky , Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star ), they have a terrific line-up of itineraries for the next two European summers.

No matter which NCL ship you’re sailing on, you can be sure there’s plenty to do onboard in between exploring ashore. A multitude of diverse complimentary and specialty restaurants offer fine-dining and casual options to suit all tastes and every night, bars, lounges, theatres and nightclubs offer entertainment galore. Live music, stand-up comedy, eye-popping dance shows and Broadway productions such as Beetlejuice on Norwegian Viva and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Norwegian Prima will keep you partying into the early hours of the morning. During the day, sports courts, rock-climbing walls, ropes courses, waterslides, pools and aquaparks provide hours of fun fitness activities.

The Haven is a Suites-Only, Private Access Ship-Within-a-Ship Luxury Complex

If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury experience at sea while having access to all the activities and attractions of a contemporary ship, check out The Haven by Norwegian®. This private-access complex has gorgeous staterooms and suites, its own pool, restaurant and lounges, and guests enjoy 24/7 butler service and a raft of other priority perks.

In 2024 and 2025, NCL’s Europe-based ships will cruise to more than 170 different destinations, offering more than 250 port-immersive itineraries. Departure ports include Civitavecchia (for Rome), Trieste (for Venice), Le Havre (for Paris), Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, Southampton (for London) and Istanbul. NCL also provides an impressive collection of shore excursions – more than 1400 across the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, and Northern Europe – that offer in-depth experiences that appeal to everyone from thrill-seekers to history buffs, foodies and nature-lovers.

Find out more about NCL’s Europe sailings .

The Magic of the Med

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to cruising the Med with NCL. Sailings range from four to 14 days between April and November (2024 and 2025), with 10-day itineraries hitting that sweet spot in between. Take the line’s newest ship Norwegian Viva’s 10-day cruises from Rome to Trieste , for example.

Departing in May and August 2024, this exciting new ship – which boasts outstanding dining, entertainment and of course top-deck go karting – calls at an amazing 11 ports in five countries: Italy’s classic cities of Florence, Naples, Messina and Catania; Valetta, Malta’s historic capital and one of the world’s most beautiful harbours; dreamy Corfu in Greece; atmospheric Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia, of Game of Thrones fame; and delightfully under-touristed Koper in Slovenia.

If you can afford the time, it’s well worth spending at least a night and day in Rome before or after Mediterranean cruises that begin and end there. You’ll encounter a wealth of historic architecture, art and culture in every European village, town or city you visit, but the Eternal City has more must-see monuments than most.

NCL Offers a Wide Choice of Shore Excursions in Each European Port

NCL offers a vast array of shore excursions while in port on your cruise and, of course, you’re free to explore independently – or skip a port and stay on the ship while everyone else is ashore and make the most of the onboard facilities. However, why would you miss the chance to, say, visit Pompeii and sample the best wines, olives and food in Sorrento all in one brilliantly organised day trip from Naples That sort of tour would be tricky to put together on your own.

Norwegian Dawn offers a 10-day cruise to Italy, France and Spain in 2024 which calls in at a number of iconic ports including Rome, Barcelona ( pictured above ), Palma and St Tropez, as well as smaller ports including Cannes and Ibiza. From Genoa you can visit Cinque Terre, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful stretches of coastline in Italy; or explore Portofino and Santa Margherita. In Cannes you can visit a perfume factory in Grasse and learn about one of the world's oldest distillation processes or take a drive along the stunning coastline of the French Riviera.

And when the ship calls in at Livorno, you can choose from two stunning Italian cities – Pisa for the iconic Leaning Tower or Florence for the stunning architecture.

NCL Will Sail 50 Greek Isles Cruises in 2024 & 2025

Cruising around the Greek Isles is right up there on many travellers’ wish lists – and those much-photographed scenes of clear, turquoise water, whitewashed houses, sunny beaches, ancient ruins and picturesque villages are even more inviting in real life. NCL will sail some 50 Greek Isles cruises between April and November in 2024 and 2025, with an amazing selection of itineraries departing from Athens (Piraeus), Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona and Venice (Trieste).

Most cruises are nine days or longer, although Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Viva are sailing seven-day round trips from Athens in July and August 2024 and 2025 that include calls to Kusadasi and Istanbul in Turkey. Some itineraries offer an enticing mix of Mediterranean and Greek ports –check out the 10-day round-trip from Rome on the sophisticated new Norwegian Prima in October 2024.

The stunning volcanic island of Santorini is the first port of call, then there’s a full day in Athens. Europe’s oldest city and surrounding coastline is crammed with must-see archaeological sites and if it’s your first visit, an expert-led, small-group tour is highly recommended.

Instantly recognisable for its windmills and blue-domed churches, Mykonos is known as a party island, but there’s lots more to explore than cool bars – think beautiful beaches, upmarket boutiques and 365 churches – one for every day of the year. For a change of pace, a 4WD trip into Corfu’s lush, mountainous countryside takes you through charming villages and shady olive groves; you’ll stop at a distillery to sample Corfu’s local drink, kumquat liqueur.

Norwegian Prima sails back to Rome via Valetta, Messina, Naples and Livorno. Some other NCL cruises visit more Greek Isles ports and fewer Mediterranean ports; for example, Norwegian Getaway’s 10-day cruises from June to September 2024 also call at Paros, Crete and Rhodes. Deciding which Greek Isles cruise is best for you is the only tough call you’ll have to make!

Northern Europe Treasures – From Britain to Iceland

Which countries are in Northern Europe? Definitions vary considerably, but generally we’re talking the British Isles, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Latvia. And for cruising, add in northern Germany, northern France, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands. Ultimately, it’s an incredibly diverse region – one day you’re sailing along Amsterdam’s historic canals; another day you’re soaking in a bubbling geothermal pool in Iceland.

In 2024 and 2025, six NCL ships – Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Prima – will offer a smorgasbord of nine- to 13-day Northern Europe cruises, mostly between April and October. Whatever cruise you choose, you’ll discover rugged castles, ornate palaces, hip and happening cities, dramatic land and seascapes, and a kaleidoscope of cultures.

Iceland has become a highly desirable destination and Norwegian Prima’s 11-day cruises from England to Iceland from May to July include an overnight stay in the super-cool capital, Reykjavik, plus calls to two more unforgettable Icelandic ports, Akureyri and Isafjordur. Another option is Prima’s 13-day cruise tours in July and August 2024. You fly to Reykjavik and spend four days exploring a variety of awe-inspiring natural wonders before boarding the ship for the cruise to London via Bergen, Amsterdam and Brussels.

There’s nothing quite like seeing Norway and Iceland’s magnificent mountains, fjords and colourful villages in the light of the midnight sun. Over 11 glorious days in June 2024 and 2025, Norwegian Star sails from Tromsø to Reykjavik , a remarkable itinerary that includes overnight stays in Honningsvåg and Longyearbyen. Honningsvåg is close to North Cape, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Arctic Ocean; Longyearbyen, on the Svalbard archipelago, is the world’s northernmost city (one to tick off the bucket list). History buffs will enjoy the excellent North Pole Expedition Museum; fans of boutique beers can sample the local brew made from 2000-year-old glacier water.

Whether you choose to explore Northern Europe, the Greek Isles or the Mediterranean by sea next summer – or have a combination itinerary designed for you – NCL has every cruise option covered.

Ready to cruise? Norwegian Cruise Line is currently offering up to 50 per cent off sailings plus a free beverage package with premium spirits included*.

To book your cruise visit ncl.com , call 1300 255 200 or contact your local travel agent.

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