itinerary & excursions

Enchanting Meteora, Greece, and Amalfi Coast Cruise Tour

Rome to Athens, Greece

Wed Apr 23, 2025 - Sun May 4, 2025,

11 days

on Wind Spirit

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OVERVIEW & ITINERARY

ITINERARY AND SHORE EXCURSIONS

The best on land brought to you by the best at sea. Get to the heart of local cultures with Windstar shore excursions. You don't want to just dip a toe in local culture, you want to dive into the deep end, and that's exactly what Windstar shore excursions are designed to do. All of our excursion are created to provide authentic local experience - the kind travelers like you are looking for. And with more than 2,500 excursions to choose from, you can experience your destination in whatever way is most meaningful to you. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie, a history buff, or someone who loves to get to know the faces behind the many places we travel.

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Date

Port

Arrive

Depart

Watersports
Platform

Shore
Excursions

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Wed Apr 23

Rome

Arrive:

Depart:5:00 PM

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In this enchanting city the past and present intersect in perfect harmony. Casually intermingled among ancient ruins and majestic cathedrals are the trappings of a modern metropolis: Skyscrapers,cafes, boutiques selling designer footwear. But of course what you seek first in the heart of Rome is its breathtaking history. A good place to begin is the Vatican, with its Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Works by Bernini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael are just a few of those on display, any one of which is worth hours of contemplation. Then the ancient ruins—Colosseum, Forum, Circus Maximus. And of course the Trevi Fountain for the obligatory coins promising your return to the Eternal City.

Thu Apr 24

Sorrento

Arrive:1:00 PM

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites abound in Sorrento. Optional tours will take you to the archaeological areas of Pompeii and Torre Annunziata, or the 4^th century B.C. city of Herculaneum. Perhaps your choice will be a boat ride to Positano, the legendary home of the Sirens. Perched on a terrace on the spectacular Amalfi Coast, Sorrento offers exceptional views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

Fri Apr 25

Sorrento

Arrive:

Depart:5:00 PM

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Sat Apr 26

Messina (Taormina)

Arrive:12:00 PM

Depart:6:30 PM

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The cobblestone streets of Messina, Sicily, are the perfect launching point for an optional visit to nearby Taormina. Stroll along flower-filled streets in search of a delightful lunch or an artist’s palette of colorful gelati. The ancient Greek Theater is an ideal place to sit back and admire shimmering waters below and Mount Etna, languidly smoking in the distance.

Sun Apr 27

AT SEA

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Mon Apr 28

Gythion

Arrive:1:00 PM

Depart:10:00 PM

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Cheerful pastel houses are littered among intriguing whitewashed lanes and staircases. Playful sculptures welcome you to the harbor’s cheerful shops, coffee houses, and waterfront cafés. This is a perfect place to enjoy a cup of rich coffee or a glass of ouzo while you watch the world go by. Or go exploring on an optional tour of Mystras, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tue Apr 29

Monemvasia

Arrive:8:00 AM

Depart:5:00 PM

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This Gibraltar-like town tied to the mainland by a single thread of causeway holds treasures that are old even by Mediterranean standards, with town walls and several churches dating to the 12th century. Climb to the upper town for an up-close look at the castle and Agia Sophia, a Byzantine church. Wander the lanes of the lower town lined with Venetian mansions, many of which have been lovingly restored. Savor the sun on a smooth pebble beach.

Wed Apr 30

Athens, Greece

Arrive:7:00 AM

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With 3,000 years of history, you can’t turn around in Athens without encountering the past. The Acropolis, a UNESCO site, the Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are must-sees. But leave time if you can to climb Pnyx Hill for photos of the Parthenon at sunset, to buy your own set of Greek komboloi (worry beads), and to explore the metro stations that serve as mini-museums for the relics that are constantly being unearthed.

Wed Apr 30

Acropolis and Piraeus

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Disembark your yacht and depart for the Acropolis tour. The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city. Climb the smooth marble steps as visitors have for centuries. History opens before you as you reach the Propylaea, one of the masterpieces of classical architecture, serving as the entrance to the complex of buildings. You’ll see the Temple of Athena Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erectheum, with its classical Porch of Maidens, the Caryatids. Stand in awe of the Parthenon, designed as a shrine to Athena and at one time housing a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess. In the museum see all the surviving treasures of the Acropolis together in one place. The collections on display are finds of the Acropolis, Post Parthenon, Roman Period and the excavation site when the new museum was built. The highlight of the Museum is the display of the Parthenon Frieze located on the top floor. Departing from the Acropolis, transfer to your awaiting hotel, St. George Lycabettous, in Athens.

Overnight at the hotel.

Thu May 1

Meteora

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Following breakfast you will head to Meteora, one of the largest and most important groups of monasteries in Greece. The rock monasteries have been characterized by UNESCO as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage and they form one of the most important stations of the cultural map of Greece. What created this rare geological phenomenon is one of the mysteries of nature. The area was originally settled by monks who lived in caves in the rocks during the 11th century. But as the times became more unsettled they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until they were living on the inaccessible peaks. There were no steps then, and the main access was by means of a net or retractable wooden ladders up to 131 feet (40m) long. This was how the monasteries were reached until the 1920s but now there are roads, pathways and steps to the top. You will see examples of these nets, used today for bringing up provisions. Of the original 24 monasteries only 6 are now inhabited, and you will visit 2 of them. Departing from Meteora the tour will proceed to Kalambaka where lunch will be served.

Return to Athens late in the afternoon to overnight at the St. George Lycabettous Hotel, passing the heroic monument of Leonidas at Thermopylae. The evening is at your leisure

Please note: Both ladies and gentlemen should be modestly dressed for these visits - ladies must wear skirts covering their knees, no trousers, and gentlemen should wear long trousers. Both must cover their shoulders.

Fri May 2

Delphi

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After your morning breakfast, depart for the Archaeological site of Delphi, considered by the ancients to be the physical and spiritual center of the earth. This shrine of Apollo, set nearly 2.000 feet up on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, exerts even today, a potent grip on visitors. Here was the most respected oracle of antiquity. See the Castalian Spring, in which worshippers first purified themselves; the Sacred Way, once lined with statues and treasures; the Grand Temple of Apollo, beneath which the Pythia sat; the theater with its excellent acoustics; and the well preserved stadium with the marble starting blocks in position. Then visit the Delphi Museum to see the Omphalos, which marked the center of the world, and the magnificent bronze Charioteer, one of the finest pieces surviving from the 5th century B.C. A traditional lunch of tzatziki, olives, dolmades, Greek salad, and other Greek treats will be served at the village of Delphi. After lunch board your coach for the drive to the picturesque town of Kalambaka that sits at the foot of Meteroa, to the Divani Meteora Hotel. After check-in, the evening will be at your leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Sat May 3

Return Home

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Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to the Athens International Airport for your flight home.