7-night Jazz at Sea in the Aegean Cruise

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summit has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.

One of the Greek Sporades islands, its pine-clothed hills and lovely coves and beaches ringed by cobalt-blue seas, Skiathos is a fashionable Aegean haunt of great natural beauty. The only center of any size is Skiathos Town, whose pretty harbor is filled with graceful yachts, and its narrow streets and sunlit waterfront with stylish bars, restaurants and boutiques. In and around the walled town of Skiathos are several monasteries, reflecting the history of the islands from the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. A short boat trip will bring you to the ruined clifftop citadel of Kastro,once a haven from pirates. Handicrafts are also still made including pottery, fabrics and furniture, and on Skiathos Island, boats known as caiques are built.

Volos is a commercial and industrial city; it is Greece’s third-largest port. The location in the gulf of the same name and near scenic Mount Pelion ensures this town an attractive setting. Interesting sites in the surrounding areas include imposing monasteries perched atop craggy mountains and a fine Archaeological Museum. Remains of Mycenaen buildings have been discovered near the river, where a palace stood around 1400 B.C. The main reason visitors come to Volos is to depart on excursions to the monasteries of Meteora.

Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city, busiest seaport after Piraeus, major cultural center in northern Greece, and capital of Macedonia. Prehistoric remains in the city’s vicinity show the area was settled as far back as 1000 B.C. Thessaloniki is considered more cosmopolitan than Athens. In 1997, the European Community honored the city with title of “Cultural Capital of Europe.” Although many older buildings were destroyed in a 1917 fire and during bombing attacks in World War II, the city still has historical landmarks ranging from the 15th century Venetian Tower to the Arch of Galerius. There are also magnificent churches. The main hub centers around Aristotle Square, a traffic-free area surrounded by arcades with cafes and restaurants. The pedestrian strip along the water’s edge is a popular seafront promenade. Main thoroughfares, Odos Mitropoleos and Odos Tsimski, are lined with luxury shops and boutiques. On Aristotle Street is the picturesque Central Market. Paradise Baths, a Turkish bathhouse dating from 1444, is still in use today.

Mount Athos is a holy mountain in Macedonia, and regarded as an autonomous monastic state. Twenty monasteries call this mountain home, visitors must arrive at the mountain by boat and have a special visa. The Athonian monasteries maintain an enormous collection of  invaluable medieval art treasures, including icons, codices and other Christian texts.

Kavala is one of Greece's most attractive large port cities. The large community squares, modern buildings and shopping districts on the west side of the city are a pleasant contrast to the traditional homes and small gardens of the eastern side. Visitors will find charming alleyways and picturesque views of the harbor on the more traditional side of Kavala. There is also an archaeological museum containing ancient finds from Greece's past. Villages adjacent to Kavala are filled with treasures such as Early Christian Basilicas, a Roman Forum, the acropolis and a theater. Performances of ancient dramas are held in the renovated theater every summer.

Hydra, in the Saronic Gulf off of the Greek mainland, may have served as the natural model for ancient architects when they were designing the marvelous acoustically magical amphitheaters in Greece and Rome. Its horseshoe-shaped harbor welcomes boats at all hours. As with most Greek islands, Hydra's port is the center of activity and is lined with tourist shops, restaurants and merchants. It is a wonderful place to sit in a cafe, munching on a Greek salad, writing postcards or watching the world go by. Around the corners to either side of the port are beaches, although some are more rock than beach. Mandhraki beach offers sand for those who want to feel grit between their toes. The beach to the west, in Kamini, is rocky, as is the one at Vlykhos, a half an hour further west. Most of what people consider premium tanning spots on this island are rocks. The further from town, the more private the area is likely to be. Every sound down at the port can be heard, no matter where one is in the town. Even from the Monastery of Profitis Ilias at the top of the mountain, every sound is crystal clear.

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summit has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.