Encircling the Cyclades

In contrast to larger and more impersonal cruise vessels, the MS Galileo creates a more intimate atmosphere and allows for easy access to shore expeditions without need for tender. Furthermore, the accent away from organised on board entertainment is seen by many as a positive advantage! This cruise combines magnificent scenery with ports suitable for cultural visits or swimming and relaxation. Indeed itineraries are so planned that, whilst breakfast and one meal are taken on board, you will be in port with time to experience the local cuisine for lunch or dinner (the cruise director will give a port briefing before arrival). The informal approach also includes occasional ‘swim stops’ and complimentary tea, coffee and still mineral water all day.

The 56 islands of the Cyclades in the southern Aegean Sea are everyone’s Greek island ideal. Dazzling white houses, twisting, cobbled alleyways, blue-domed churches, hilltop windmills and stunning beaches. Deriving their name from the word ‘kyklos’ meaning circle because they surround the sacred island of Delos, some are tiny, barren and undisturbed and others - of which only 24 are inhabited - count amongst Greece’s most well-known and beautiful islands. Delos, tiny and uninhabited, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, a contrast to Mykonos with its sandy beaches and nightlife. Widely believed to be a candidate for the lost kingdom of Atlantis, the stunning crescent-shaped island of Santorini reveals white painted villages clinging to volcanic cliffs above black sand beaches.