The best cruises for exploring the Greek islands in 2026
From temples and taramasalata to sandy beaches and scenery, the Greek islands have plenty to offer holidaymakers – and you can fit even more in with a cruise
JaneWalter
There are hundreds of Greek islands to choose from and a cruise can make it easier to tick as many as possible off your bucket list.
With so many options, even the most experienced travellers can feel overwhelmed. Luckily, travelling around the region on a cruise ship makes it easy to island hop, meaning you don’t have to settle for just one.
You could explore the Acropolis in Athens one day, before relaxing in scenic Santorini, or exploring the nightlife of Mykonos, the next.
Smaller ships can take passengers to remote islands that larger vessels can’t reach such as Amorgos and Delos, letting you access more historical sites and unique landscapes.
Many vessels depart from Piraeus, just 30 minutes from the capital, offering round trips. You could even include the islands as part of a longer Mediterranean cruise.
Santorini, in particular, is keen to welcome cruise passengers back after a string of devastating earthquakes rattled the island last year.
Something to be aware of, however: the more popular islands have introduced tourist taxes that apply between June and September in an effort to curb overtourism.
The tax is €20 (£17.18) per passenger and will automatically be added to fares.
Phil Evans, founder of travel agent Cruise Nation, told The Independent: “Booking a holiday to Greece is a classic choice for Brits heading on holiday during the summer period, and a personal favourite of mine.
“Many of our customers opt to start their holiday with a pre-cruise stay in Athens, and it’s easy to see why, with its rich heritage and gourmet food scene. Plus, it’s easily accessible from the UK with direct flights daily, making it one of my preferred choices for starting a cruise holiday.”
Here are some of the best itineraries coming up to help you go Greek.
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The best Greek island cruises
Star Clippers: Northern Cyclades
Athens, Greece – Sifnos, Greece – Mykonos, Greece – Amorgos, Greece – Patmos, Greece – Kusadasi, Turkey – Athens, Greece
Star Clippers offers a small-ship experience aboard the 166-passenger capacity Star Flyer. It uses its size to reach smaller and more intimate destinations in the Northern Cyclades region.
Departing from Athens, port stops include Amorgos, with its rock-hewn monastery, and the clearwater beaches of Sifnos.
Onboard activities during this seven-night cruise include yoga as well as kayaking and swimming off the ship’s stern.
Departs 12 September 2026. From £2,080pp
Celebrity: Greek Isles and Malta
Barcelona, Spain – Valletta, Malta – Rhodes, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Mykonos, Greece – Athens, Greece
Gaze on the blue domes of Santorini during this seven-night cruise aboard Celebrity Xcel, the newest ship in the Celebrity Cruises’ fleet.
Departing from Barcelona, the itinerary includes long port calls: staying in Santorini until 10pm and in Mykonos and Rhodes until 10pm.
On board, guests can enjoy high-end bars, food inspired by the region and pool parties on the expansive outer decks. You can even raise a glass to the views in the Magic Carpet bar that hangs over the side of the ship.
Departs 2 August 2026. From £539pp
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Celestyal: Idyllic Aegean
Athens, Greece – Thessaloniki, Greece – Kusadasi, Turkey – Heraklion, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Mykonos, Greece – Milos, Greece – Athens, Greece
Celestyal Cruises has its headquarters in Athens and focuses on sailings around the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean.
Its seven-night Idyllic Aegean sailing departs from the capital and takes in the popular islands with overnight stops in Santorini and Mykonos. You can visit the volcanic landscape of Milos as well as the Palace of Knossos on Crete.
The taste of Greece continues on board Celestyal Journey, where you can enjoy Greek dancing as well as dishes and pastries inspired by the country all day in The Taverna. Suite guests can also access Mediterranean dishes in the dedicated Smoked Olive restaurant.
Departs 6 June 2026. From £609pp
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Variety: Wines of Greece
Athens, Greece – Nafplion, Greece – Monemvasia, Greece – Serifos, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Samos, Greece – Tinos, Greece – Athens, Greece
Variety Cruises offers a small-ship experience, catering for just 49 guests aboard Panorama. Its seven-night Wine Cruises of Greece sailing will let you raise a glass as you enjoy a more intimate journey through the region guided by wine expert Tim Clarke.
Passengers will meet winemakers and visit vineyards in hotspots such as Nemea, Santorini and Tinos to learn everything about Greek grapes. Back on the ship, you can also enjoy paired wines with dinner.
Departs 28 August 2026. From £3,332pp
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Windstar: Treasures of the Greek Isles
Athens, Greece – Mykonos, Greece – Kusadasi, Turkey – Patmos, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Monemvasia, Greece – Nafplio, Greece – Athens, Greece
At 148 passengers, Windstar offers another intimate small-ship experience that takes you to ports and views that other large vessels can’t reach.
This seven-night sailing on the Wind Star yacht starts in Athens but uses its small size to take you to more secluded ports such as Monemvasia, a pedestrian-only village built into a cliffside, and Nafplio, where you can explore Venetian fortresses. There is also a chance to have dinner among the ruins during a visit to Ephesus in Turkey.
Departs 22 August 2026. From £3,252pp
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Virgin Voyages: Greek Island Glow
Athens, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Rhodes, Greece – Bodrum, Turkey – Mykonos, Greece – Athens, Greece
Adult-only brand Virgin Voyages is renowned for its onboard parties, and you can expect the same on its seven-night Greek Island Glow sailing from Athens on the flagship Scarlet Lady.
The partying can continue on land though, with an overnight stop in Mykonos, letting you hang out late into the night without worrying about missing embarkation. Other highlights on the route include Rhodes, as well as a visit to Bodrum in Turkey.
Departs 20 September 2026. From £1,820pp
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Azamara: Greece Cruise
Athens, Greece – Syros, Greece – Patmos, Greece – Rhodes, Greece – Marmaris, Greece – Agios Nikolaos, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Monemvasia, Greece – Athens, Greece
If you like more time to explore destinations, Azamara may be the cruise line for you. This eight-night sailing on Azamara Onward takes in the main Greek Islands and is well-known for longer stays in port. It docks in Rhodes and Santorini until 10pm and has an overnight stay in Athens, giving you plenty of time to explore.
As Azamara Onward is a medium-sized ship, catering for 684 passengers, it can use its relatively smaller size to visit quieter islands, such as Syros and Patmos.
Departs 25 July 2026. From £1,429pp
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Princess Cruises: Best of the Mediterranean
Athens, Greece – Santorini, Greece – Bar, Montenegro – Corfu, Greece – Sicily, Italy – Barcelona, Spain – Ibiza, Spain – Corsica, France – Marseille, France – Genoa, Italy – La Spezia, Italy – Civitavecchia, Rome – Italy – Naples, Italy – Crete, Greece – Kusadasi, Turkey – Mykonos, Greece – Athens, Greece
You can get the best of what the Greek Islands have to offer while also visiting other Med must-see destinations.
This 21-day round-trip from Athens aboard one of Princess Cruises’ newest ships Sun Princess takes in the scenery of Santorini, the beaches of Mykonos and the history of Crete, plus you can also see the sights of Pompeii during a visit to Naples and tour Las Ramblas in Barcelona.
Departs 13 September 2026. From £2,699pp
This piece is kept revised and updated with the latest information
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel around the Greek islands?
Cruise lines visit the Greek islands almost all-year round so there is plenty of choice but it will depend how much heat you can handle.
The summer months of July to August can offer guaranteed sunshine but it can get very hot.
The shoulder seasons of May to June and September to October can be cooler with fewer crowds.
You may get some winter cruise sailings between November to March but fewer brands offer these.
What islands will I visit?
There are thousands of Greek islands so you will have lots of choice ranging from larger well-known destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini to smaller ports including Paxos and Syros.
The destinations will depend on the ship as smaller vessels can visit more remote areas.
How can I get the best deal?
Cruise brands such as Celestyal and Variety Cruises specialise in Greek island sailings but there are also deals with big brands such as Royal Caribbean or smaller ships including Windstar.
It is worth signing up for newsletters with cruise lines you are interested in to stay informed about deals and compare by searching their websites or using SeaScanner or My Kind of Cruise.
Where do Greek island cruises start and end?
Many Greek islands start and end in Athens as it is the nearest destination to get quick access to the region.
Some may operate to and from Ephesus or Crete.
Read more: The best cruise deals for summer 2026
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