Highlights

• A cruise to discover some of Greece’s most beautiful ancient sites in early autumn, while also enjoying the sandy beaches.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments and the Vergina site in Thessaloniki; the Acropolis in Athens; the Meteora monasteries from Volos; the Philippi site from Kavala, Mount Athos.
• Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts.
• A unique sailing experience, with commentary by our guides, along the monasteries of Mount Athos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although visible to the naked eye, these are even better viewed with binoculars.

*Pre-bookings open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests are processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.

November 1, 2025 – Athens
Embarkation 11/1/2025 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Departure 11/1/2025 at 6:00 PM
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.

November 2, 2025 – Skiathos
Arrival 11/2/2025 midday
Departure 11/2/2025 evening
The small island of Skiathos is one of the treasures of the Aegean Sea, particularly appreciated for its magnificent beaches with turquoise waters, and also famous as one of the sites where the film Mamma Mia! was shot You will immediately fall under the charm of the main town, Skiathos, with its white houses, narrow streets and typical restaurants. You will have the possibility of discovering the former house of the famous novelist and poet Alexandros Papadiamantis, now a museum, as well as the Monastery of the Annunciation, commonly known as the Evangelistria Monastery, a post-Byzantine jewel with magnificent wall paintings. The many hiking trails will take you from coves to shady forests in an idyllic Mediterranean setting.

November 3, 2025 – Volos
Arrival 11/3/2025 early morning
Departure 11/3/2025 late afternoon
Volos, one of the biggest port cities in Greece, is located at the foot of Mount Pelion. According to mythology, Mount Pelion was a place of celebration for gods and heroes, and the home of the centaurs. The beauty of the place and the magical atmosphere that reigns here can indeed only have been inspired by the gods: the clear water that flows from a multitude of sources bathes the plane trees, apple trees, oaks, beech trees, gardenias, camellias, and hydrangeas that thrive in the fertile soil of Thessaly. Do not miss your chance to visit picturesque village of Milies in the hills, and to discover its traditional architecture.

November 4, 2025 – Thessaloniki
Arrival 11/4/2025 early morning
Departure 11/4/2025 late afternoon
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city after Athens, is in the Macedonia region, on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Visiting its historic centre means exploring the entire history of ancient civilisations and peoples: Roman, Greek, Ottoman, Jewish, Byzantine, and so on. Cultures have come together and left their mark on many monuments in the city and in its architecture. No fewer than 15 monuments are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, such as the magnificent Byzantine church, the Hagia Sophia, with its splendid 8th-12-century mosaics. Thessaloniki is also a modern and lively city, animated during the day as well as night, with its many seafront bars and its markets.

November 5, 2025 – Sailing along Mount Athos
Arrival 11/5/2025
Departure 11/5/2025
Mount Athos, a peninsula measuring 50 km (31 miles) long and 12 km (7 miles) wide and which rises to an altitude of 2,030 metres (6,660 feet), is also called “Holy Mountain” because of the twenty or so orthodox monasteries and the 2,000 monks that it shelters. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988 thanks to its long religious history, the well-maintained agrarian architecture of the monasteries and the preservation of the flora and fauna around the mountain. Sailing around the peninsula, you will admire the majestic monasteries clinging to the rock face and overlooking the Aegean Sea

November 5, 2025 – Kavala
Arrival 11/5/2025 midday
Departure 11/5/2025 late afternoon
Lying in north-east Greece, between East and West, Kavala has many treasures to offer, starting with a majestic fortress overlooking the Aegean Sea, while historical and architectural wonders lie hidden everywhere in the old town. You will have a chance to explore the archaeological site of Philippi, a fortified city founded in the 4th century BC, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site A real journey back in time, where Greeks, Romans and early Christians have all left visible marks. Known as the “Blue City”, Chania is also one of Macedonia’s most important ports, with delicious seafood restaurants all along its marina.

November 6, 2025 – Limnos Island
Arrival 11/6/2025 early morning
Departure 11/6/2025 late afternoon
A volcanic island located near the Dardanelles Strait, Limnos was venerated during Antiquity. Legend has it that Hephaestus, the god of fire, had his forge here. Now one of Greece’s major seaside resorts, Lemnos offers its visitors many superb sandy beaches. It is also home to several archaeological sites, such as the towers of Kastro, an ancient acropolis fortified by the Venetians, or the neolithic site of Poliochni and the city of Hephaestia. Renowned for its olives, fruits, wheat and honey, and for the authenticity of its inhabitants, Lemnos is also known for the quality of its restaurants, ideal for tasting typical Greek dishes.

November 7, 2025 – Hydra
Arrival 11/7/2025 mid morning
Departure 11/7/2025 early evening
This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïques along the quays. Further along the shore, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.

November 8, 2025 – Athens
Arrival 11/8/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 11/8/2025 at 8:00 AM
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.

Why choose PONANT?

An attentive crew, expertise, fine dining and more. Within a fully 5 star setting, we take you to discover exceptional destinations while offering you a travel experience that is both authentic and high end.

• Travelling the French way
  PONANT is an exponent for the French way of life across every sea on the globe. On board, this is translated through exceptional services, a multilingual crew and bringing French know-how to the fore.
• Exceptional destinations
  From secluded ports to secret seas, from forgotten beaches to remote lands, our experts choose itineraries that take you away from major tourist routes so you can enjoy unique cruises and shorelines that few have seen before.
• Ships on a human scale
  Thanks to our small capacity ships, we can dock in private ports and offer stopovers in preserved locations. On board, the limited number of passengers means that everybody can enjoy special moments and feel as though they are on a private yacht.
• Our commitments
  PONANT aims at becoming a world reference in the field of sustainable development in the cruising industry. The environment and ethics are among our main concerns, both in the regions we visit and in our relationships within the company and with our partners.