Eastern Mediterranean/Adriatic Sea Cruise (April 29-May 16, 2026)

We decided to cruise through the eastern Mediterranean/Adriatic Sea (Holland America - Oosterdam). This map shows our scheduled cruise itinerary, with some time added for sightseeing in Athens at the start of the trip and in Trieste at the end.

All of these locations are new destinations for both of us!

Days 1-2: Leave home and fly to Athens, Greece 
Days 3-4: Visit Athens 
Day 5: Go to Piraeus and begin cruise 
Day 6: Kusadasi, Turkiye 
Day 7: At Sea - Cruising the Dardanelles 
Days 8-9: Istanbul, Turkiye 
Day 10: Mykonos, Greece 
Day 11: Souda (Crete), Greece 
Day 12: Katakolo (Olympia), Greece 
Day 13: Sarande, Albania 
Day 14: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 15: At Sea
Days16-17: Disembark in Trieste, Italy and spend 2 nights
Day 18: Fly home from Trieste, Italy

Days 1-2 (April 29-30): Travel to Athens

We had a few setbacks with our flight today. The plane for our first leg to Chicago was delayed by longer than our layover, so we needed to reschedule all connecting flights. We were switched from a United flight to Munich to a later Lufthansa flight.

The agent assisting us confirmed that we had premium economy seats (which is what we had booked on United) but was unable to print boarding passes for that flight.

When we arrived in Chicago, we discovered that Lufthansa didn't recognize United's code for premium economy, and we were assigned standard economy seats not next to each other. Mine was in the last row of a section, directly in front of the bathrooms, and had limited recline. So uncomfortable.

For our final leg, we were both assigned middle seats, not the aisle and window we paid to select, since we needed a later flight. To top it off, we had to sit on the plane an additional 45 minutes before takeoff.

We landed in Athens a little after 7 pm (instead of 3 pm), then headed to our hotel (Acro Urban Suites) to shower and change before having dinner and going to bed the evening.

This is the great view of the Parthenon from our hotel's roof top patio.

Days 3-5: Athens

Day 3 (May 1):  

Since today is a national holiday (Labor Day) there are public transportation strikes and key attractions, like the Parthenon, are closed. So we used this cold and somewhat rainy day to just wander around and get over jet lag.

After having a late breakfast at a nearby bakery, we walked around the neighborhood.

We then headed to see some attractions from the outside, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

We wanted to visit the Phallatorium, but it was closed, so we walked to the Arch of Hadrion

and then to the temple of Olympia Zeus.

We then walked to Zappeion Hall, and looked at the courtyard

and the decorated dome.

From there, we walked through the National Gardens to Syntagma Square to watch changing of the guard.

On the way back to the hotel, we walked through the Plaka neighborhood. We planned to have a late lunch there, but it was really busy and getting colder, windy, and starting to rain.

Church of Panagia Kapnikarea

One of the few calm streets in Plaka.

We were really tired, so we had an earlyish (7:30 pm) dinner at a nearby bistro.

Day 4 (May 2):  

After breakfast today, we took a break from the crowds and walked on trails on Philopappos Hill.

Near the base of the hill, we viewed the "prison of Socrates"

and then walked to the Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris.

We were a bit sore from travel and all the walking, so we got massages then had a late lunch near the south entrance to the Acropolis. After lunch, we got in line for our 6 pm ticket time.

Propylaea (on the Acropolis)

Parthenon 

Erechtheion (on the Acropolis)

Greek flag at top of Acropolis 

Odeon of Herodes Atticus (view from the Acropolis). The green hill in the right side of the background is Philopappos Hill.

Greek salad at dinner

Feta in crispy phyllo dough, with honey

Giaourtlou kebab (with part eaten)

Day 5 (May 3):  

Today we slept in and had a relaxing morning at our hotel before taking a taxi to Piraeus, where we boarded our cruise.

Day 10: Mykonos, Greece

Day 10 (May 8): Mykonos, Greece 

Today we hired a private driver to give us a tour of Mykonos. 

We visited the Armenistis Lighthouse

and the Panagia Tourliani Monastery 

We also went to scenic beaches like Kalafatis (still early in the season).

And saw several churches

We also saw panoramic views of Mykonos Town and its iconic windmills

We ended the tour with a tasting from Mykonos Brewing Company

Before heading back to the ship

Day 11: Crete, Greece

Day 11 (May 9): Souda (Crete), Greece 

Today we took a ship excursion

that was a self-driving 4x4 safari in Crete. The cars (Suzuki Jimny) were a tight fit for two but felt like a clown car when they filled then with four adults.

One of the first stops after leaving port was at Therisso Gorge.

We then stopped for coffee and a stretch break in the small village of Therissos.

From there we drove on gravel roads through Drakona and some other small villages.

Hiliomoudou was the main stop on our tour, where we had a longer break and lunch.

While listening to information about the area, one passenger in our car passed out and fell. She and her husband were taken back to the ship and did not continue with the tour. This allowed us to only have two people in the Jimny for the rest of the tour. We appreciated the extra space, but not the injury of the other passenger.

From there, we had another gravel "off road" section to drive. 

We the briefly stopped at a lake

Before returning to the Souda Port.