Starry Nights in Greece & Croatia: Virgin Voyages Cruise Report

Don’t stress with a scheduled airport transfer to and from your selected hotel in your port city.

• Essentials to bring: I recommend an outlet converter for your port city hotel, reef-safe sunscreen, swimsuit, reusable water bottle, travel umbrella for excursions, compact backpack or purse for excursions and non-drowsy anti-motion sickness medications.

• The ship: This ship includes more than 20 eateries including spots inspired by Michelin star chefs and late-night pizza and snacks. There are no buffets; all food is made to order. There's also a spa, a pool, hot tubs, a gym, a casino, shops, a nightclub, entertainment shows, karaoke, live music and so much more.

• Entertainment & activities: The ship boasts multiple shows including singing, dancing, acrobatics, plays, comedy, magic show and bingo. It's all entertaining, and sometimes a bit spicy! You will be laughing and having fun at every turn!

Port calls:

• Athens: Get a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum and Partheon. You will be in awe of these magnificent, historical sites. You’ll also want to check out the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium where you can actually walk on the Olympic track and enter the same tunnels the athletes used centuries ago. See the Temple of Zeus, and walk the old marbled streets through winding markets and shops. Stop at a wine cafe for a drink. Enjoy eating at a local cafe and indulge in the traditional tzatziki dip with pita bread, moussaka and gyros, of course! Tip: Take a hop-on/hop-off bus for the easiest way to get to all the big sights around the city!

• Santorini, Greece: Your first port is the volcanic island of Santorini. Take the cable car up the side of the island, or ride a donkey if you are brave enough! Walk through the winding streets of white-washed buildings and blue domes, sprinkled with shops, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. I rented an ATV and drove around the island, getting amazing views of the ocean. We stopped at the Kamari and Perissa Black Sand Beaches and even took the daring hike from Fira to Oia. Tip: This hike is not for the weak and does take about three hours one way, so make sure you have enough time so the ship doesn’t leave without you. Although strenuous, the views are breathtaking and just might be worth it!

• Bodrum, Turkey: We chose to take in the beautiful ocean views in this port by going on a catamaran cruise! We stopped in multiple bays and got to swim in the bluest and clearest waters around the world! If you want to stay on land, check out the Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus ruins, or explore the local markets and bazaars.

• Mykonos, Greece: We opted to take a ferry ride to the sacred island of Delos to see the ruins and learn about the history. After, we went back to Mykonos and walked around the beautiful island. We enjoyed dinner and drinks in Little Venice, overlooking the ancient windmills atop the ocean. No better view than this!

• Chania, Crete, Greece: Check out the beautiful Pink Sand Beach Elafonisi or explore the Venetian Harbor in Old Town. We opted to head to the Cabana Mare Beach Club for the day where they treat you like royalty! Enjoy beach side service of the most amazing food and drinks you could imagine while taking in breathtaking sites of the ocean and mountains.

• Dubrovnik, Croatia: One of the most beautiful sites to see is the ocean waves crashing against the large rocks of Dubrovnik, Croatia while overlooking the terracotta roofs of the houses inside the city walls. Fun fact: Many scenes from the hit show Game of Thrones were filmed in Dubrovnik. We took a guided tour of the city while being shown comparison photos from the series.

• Kotor, Montenegro: One of our favorites, this city sits at the base of a beautiful mountain range right on the ocean. The sites are truly breathtaking. See the city from a distance as you take a speedboat tour, exploring war-time submarine tunnels and the unique blue grotto cave. Stop at Our Lady of the Rocks church and marvel at the views. Back on land, go into the Old Town city walls and explore the beauty of this area. Head to the Old Winery Wine Bar for some wine flights and charcuterie boards or have a drink at the Old Town Pub!

• Corfu, Greece: We opted to take a bus tour of the city. This included some walking through the city center but mainly focused on the outside of the city. We stopped for a kumquat liqueur tasting, then rode the bus up the side of the mountain to the very top where we enjoyed some meats, cheeses, wine and desserts!

• You also get two days at sea, which is just enough time to explore the ship and all it has to offer!

• Additional costs: All tours are extra cost, some you can book directly through the cruise or I can help you find alternate tours that the cruise line does not offer. Ask me for the best deals and promotions as sometimes the cruise line will offer an alcoholic drink package promotion! All food and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the cost of the cruise package.

The best times to travel are during the "shoulder seasons," from April to May or September to October, when tourism is down, islands are less crowded and the weather is top-notch!

This once in a lifetime trip will not disappoint! The Virgin Voyages ships have the best technology, staff, styles, food and entertainment. Contact me now to book a cruise and sail away into fun!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Greece. In need of further inspiration? Check out Amber Schreiber’s guide, Paris in Spring? Oui!