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July 16, 2024

Since last winter, Windstar Cruises has been offering unique cruise itineraries and well-designed excursions in a spectacular part of the world, the Mediterranean, surrounded by authentic wonders, local experiences, history, interesting places, and culinary adventures.

Aboard elegant ships equipped with all comforts, Windstar Cruises allows you to immerse yourself in the most beautiful places in Greece, Turkey, and Croatia, among myths, history, and natural wonders where Greek temples, rugged coastlines, mountain ranges, and picturesque villages are the highlights, as well as the splendor of Sicily with its legendary cities and volcanoes.

The scheduled itineraries are extensive and varied in both duration and destination, and they feature unique experiences such as culinary adventures and original excursions that allow you to fully experience the destination through genuine experiences rather than simple tours. Notable itineraries include the “Wine Cruise: Sicilian Splendors,” which takes guests to discover the wonders of Sicily, Malta, and the Amalfi Coast, combined with a wine tasting for enthusiasts, featuring events curated by Maze Row Wine Merchant, an American company specializing in importing and exporting fine wines from world-class artisanal producers. This itinerary includes stops at Lipari, a beautiful village inaccessible to large ships; Catania, located at the foot of Mount Etna from where you can visit Taormina with its beautiful antiquities, the necropolis of Pantalica, and Syracuse; Malta, recognizable by its bastions; Porto Empedocle and the legendary Valley of the Temples in Agrigento; Trapani, Italy’s sailing city and land of contrasts; Sorrento, offering an exceptional view of the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius; and finally, Amalfi, surrounded by spectacular cliffs and coastal landscapes, famous for its large lemons used to produce the delicious limoncello liqueur.

For those wishing to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Greek islands, Windstar offers the opportunity to discover the treasures of these islands in a unique way, lingering in magical places, swimming in breathtaking beaches and depths, exploring local cuisine, and meeting the inhabitants. Docking on legendary and undiscovered islands where large ships cannot moor, you can stroll among white and blue houses and marble alleys, enjoy the grandeur of ancient UNESCO World Heritage temples and sacred and mythological sites, savor local flavors, and the timeless beauty of Greece. There are numerous excursions to choose from for outdoor enthusiasts, gourmets, history buffs, or simply those who love getting to know the people and places they visit. In Greece, you can visit the most famous and coveted islands and cities, including Athens, the Greek capital with 3,000 years of history that promises a journey through time. The Acropolis, a UNESCO site, Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are highlights of this city, but if time permits, a walk to Pnyx Hill to take photos of the Parthenon at sunset is not to be missed. Mykonos, with its hundreds of whitewashed churches and straw-roofed windmills. Patmos, an ideal place for nature lovers, with its cliffs and volcanic soil. Santorini, where you can venture on a catamaran tour of the volcanic islands Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, and Thirassia. Katakolon, the gateway to Olympia, the original site of the Olympic Games and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Corfu, one of the most beautiful and popular islands in the Ionian Sea with wonderful beaches and small villages. Ephesus, where you can find legendary sites and be incredibly surprised by the beauty of its wild and mythical nature, like the Terrace Houses nestled on the slopes of Mount Bulbul.

But also undiscovered islands like Monemvasia, which appears as a medieval city connected to the mainland by a single road thread, preserving ancient treasures, including city walls and several churches dating back to the 12th century, and Nafplio, one of the most charming seaside towns in the Peloponnese, and one of the most romantic in Greece with its medieval old town and narrow cobblestone streets.

Among the wonders of these islands, Windstar offers some of the most complete and immersive experiences, both onboard and ashore, particularly in the culinary sector. Tasting the local cuisine is certainly one of the many things to do during a trip, especially on a cruise, particularly for food lovers but also for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the destination. Sailing between the Greek islands, you can see firsthand how the ingredients used to prepare dishes are local and fresh, featuring herbs, vegetables, and wines of various varieties such as Agiorgitiko, a lush red, and Assyrtiko, a dry white with a hint of citrus. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar Cruises collaborates with world-renowned chefs to create menus that impress all guests during Greek adventures, discovering numerous dishes that vary from mainland to island. Completing the culinary adventure in Greece is the Destination Discovery Event, which includes a complimentary five-course dinner in Ephesus, where sunset lights, white-glove service, and live music from an Aegean Chamber Orchestra trio make the atmosphere even more magical.

Windstar Cruises has scheduled four itineraries for the summer 2024 season to offer this exclusive evening event: “Treasures of the Greek Islands” aboard the luxurious Wind Star and Wind Spirit from May to October 2024 on a one-week itinerary, arriving and departing from Athens where the exclusive evening event will take place among the fascinating ruins of Ephesus; “Delphi & Meteora: Grecian Treasure Cruise Tour” on a ten-day inland Greece itinerary during which a Turkish moonlight dinner and a romantic sunset concert will be offered to guests during the stop in Ephesus, in the evocative setting of ancient columns and weathered walls; “Star Collector: Echoes of the Italian and Greek Isles through the Corinth Canal,” on an unforgettable 15-day journey aboard the Star Legend, from Barcelona to Athens, where you can stroll through the ruins of the ancient port of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and then dine with Turkish cuisine paired with fresh local fruit near Kusadasi for the exclusive “Evening in Ephesus,” where Windstar guests will experience the unique opportunity to admire the famous façade of the Celsus Library in Ephesus, and the “Myths & Wonders of the Aegean,” where the seductive islands and historic wonders of Greece and Turkey are the highlights.

These destinations and experiences will be available throughout the summer 2024 season, while Windstar, taking advantage of the growing trend of year-round travel in Europe, has already unveiled new winter itineraries in the Mediterranean for 2025/2026, establishing itself as one of the few cruise lines to sail the Mediterranean during winter. Indeed, since last winter, Windstar has been sailing the Mediterranean, offering its guests the chance to discover the charm of European cities during the magical holiday season or the winter months when the cities are less crowded. While the Mediterranean in summer is very attractive for some, the allure of the winter months offers an exclusive perspective on these destinations and attracts many guests who prefer to visit cities when they are less crowded for easier access to museums, cultural events, and historical sites.

Windstar’s winter itineraries, departing from Athens, Barcelona, Malaga, Rome, and Venice from November 2025 to March 2026, include stops in ports such as Valencia in Spain; Crotone in Italy, and Catania in Sicily. A new feature for the 2025/2026 season will be the stop in Genoa, Italy, where guests can visit the most important maritime museum in the Mediterranean, the largest aquarium in Europe, or stroll through the Palazzi dei Rolli, a group of splendid palaces from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The winter itineraries will also include overnight stays in Dubrovnik, Venice, Nice, Barcelona, Malaga, and Livorno (Florence), allowing for long days of exploration, aperitifs, and dinners while in port, as well as unique shore excursions to offer different experiences to both new guests and those who already know these cities.

Windstar continues to offer its guests quality services both onboard and on land. Their range of shore excursions is truly extensive and meticulously planned, the itineraries are carefully designed, as are the accommodations, and the small-sized ships with fewer than 350 guests guarantee an intimate guest-to-staff ratio and personalized service.

Don’t miss out on news, updates, and reviews of Windstar Cruises on Cruising Journal with photos, videos, and cruise deals.

Giorgia Lombardo

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