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Itinerary |
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Day 1 Fri Depart USA Evening departure. Meals and refreshments served on board. Day 2 Sat Istanbul/Cruise Morning arrival into Istanbul Airport, where you'll be met and transferred to the pier to board the M/V CRISTAL for an 8-day/7-night Aegean Sea cruise. The balance of the day is at leisure to enjoy the many facilities of the ship or join an optional "Istanbul by Night" tour. Spend the evening on board your ship. (D) Day 3 Sun Istanbul Today you have your morning and afternoon at leisure. Several optional shore excursions are offered. Since at the end of the cruise you will return to Istanbul, where a full day of sightseeing is included, we suggest, if you wish to go ashore on an optional tour, that you chose the Bosphorus cruise. This exciting excursion takes you on a private boat, sailing past historical palaces built on the European shore, gliding under the Bosphorus Bridge and past the Anatolian Fortress and Kanlica on the Asian shore. A splendid opportunity to take amazing photographs sailing between these two continents. Return to the m/v Cristal, which is scheduled to depart Istanbul in the early evening. (B,L,D) Day 4 Mon Izmir Morning at sea. Early afternoon arrival at Izmir, on Turkey mainland. An optional excursion is offered to visit Ephesus one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". Other optional shore excursions include the house of the Virgin Mary, or a tour the city of Izmir itself and Pergamum, a major center of the Hellenistic civilization. Resume sailing in the early evening. (B,L,D) Day 5 Tue Patmos/Mykonos Morning arrival in Patmos, site of the Monastery of St. John the Divine. An optional excursion to visit the Monastery is available as well as a tour of this scenic island. Afternoon arrival in Mykonos, famous for its jet-set atmosphere, white-washed buildings, sidewalk cafes and chic shops. Optionally you may visit picturesque Hora, the island capital, or take a cruise to Delos, once a Sacred Island and legendary birthplace of the Sun God Apollo. Late evening sailing for Rhodes. (B,L,D) Day 6 Wed Rhodes Spend the day on Rhodes, the Island of Roses, famed for its Medieval Old Town, great shopping and the ancient site of the Colossus of Rhodes. Here optional visits to the Temple of Athena on the majestic Acropolis of Lindos or the Old Town and Philerimos are available. From July to September you may also visit the Valley of Butterflies and Kamiros. (B,L,D) Day 7 Thu Crete/Santorini Morning arrival at Heraklion, Crete. Optional visit to the Palace of Knossos, legendary home of the Minotaur. Also available is another optional excursion to explore the mythical countryside. Shortly before noon sail to Santorini, known as the "most beautiful island". The village is perched on the rim of an ancient volcano and believed by many to be the site of the Lost Continent of Atlantis. This evening sail to Piraeus. (B,L,D) Day 8 Fri Cruise/Piraeus (Athens) In Piraeus, some exceptional optional tours are offered. You may join an Athens city tour revealing the splendor of the Golden Age of Athens, including the Acropolis on which stands the Parthenon, the symbol of classical architecture and visit, among other landmarks, the Panathinaikon Stadium where the first Olympics of modern times were held in 1896. A second optional city tour ends at the foot of the Acropolis, and after an included refreshment, continues to the old part of the city called Plaka, where you can explore its pedestrian streets with picturesque houses, shops and numerous cafes. You also have an optional excursion to the Corinth Canal and ancient Corinth and continue to Mycenae, a city that gave its name to an entire civilization. Resume sailing in the late afternoon. (B,L,D) Day 9 Sat Cruise/Istanbul Sail across the Aegean to the Sea of Marmara. As we get closer to Istanbul, a majestic view awaits. First colonized almost 4000 years ago, and known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, Istanbul was also the seat of the Byzantine Empire for nearly 1000 years. After disembarking, you will be transferred to your hotel by your local Central Holidays representative who will also assist you in suggesting interesting dinner venues. (B,L) Day 10 Sun Istanbul Today discover Istanbul with its beautifully preserved remains of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Start by exploring the Hippodrome, the ancient site of chariot races, the magnificent Blue Mosque, then on to the glorious St. Sophia Museum. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant where you will savor authentic Turkish cuisine. In the afternoon, visit the lavish Topkapi Palace and end your day in the colorful Grand Bazaar. (B,L) Day 11 Mon Istanbul/USA (or extend your stay) Morning transfer to Istanbul Airport for your return flight to the USA. |
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Special Airfares are available for this selected packages.
Cabin Upgrade: Supplements (in double) Per Person
Outside 2 Lower Beds Cat XA $77.00 to $105.00 p.p
Superior Cabin Cat XB $ 105.00 to $134.00 p.p
Deluxe Cabin Cat XC $ 345.00 to $393.00 p.p
Other categories are available.
FREE CRUISE for children under 16 years of age if sharing cabin with two adults.
Plus per person Fuel Surcharge $ 63.00 and Port Taxes $ 262.00.
Price is per person based on double occupancy and may vary according to hotel and airfare seasonality, weekend surcharges, holidays and local events. Rates for Single/Triple/Children and additional nights in Athens are available. A SELECTION OF OTHER HOTELS IS AVAILABLE. Airfare is from New York based on current estimates and is subject to change. Actual airfares from all gateways will be advised at the time of deposit. Other departure city airfares are available.
Some airfares may require instant purchase.
On board our classic cruise ships you will be pampered by our crew. All staterooms are equipped with shower, WC, wash basin, air conditioning with individual thermostat control, safety boxes, telephone with direct dial , radio and TV. Facilities. 3 Lounges & Disco, 1 Restaurant, 2 Dining Rooms, Bar, Terrace Bar, Pool Bar, Casino, 2 Conference Rooms which can be connected, Internet Corner, Duty Free & Travel Value Shops, Photo Gallery, Shorex Office, Reception-Cruise Office, Beauty Salon, Wellness Center, Swimming Pool, Whirlpool Bath, Telephone, Fax, Satellite Telephone, Doctor on Board. Technical Data: Gross Tonnage: 25.611 - Length: 531.5 feet - Breadth: 83.99 feet Draught: 20.01 feet - Cruising Speed: 18 knots - Passenger Decks: 9 - Elevators: 4 Stabilizers: Yes - Electric Current: 110-220V AC - Classificaton Society: DNV
Amenities
When at sea, relax on one of our spacious sun decks, read your favorite book, play a game of cards in our library, take dancing lessons or enjoy a daily work out at the fitness center followed by a complete make over in the beauty salon or our full service health spa. A refreshing swim in the pool will prepare you for our Shore Excursion Program that offers a variety of interesting tour options ashore. Take in the sights and sounds of foreign lands. Clear blue skies, unspoiled scenery, fascinating archaeological sites, friendly vibrant people, delicious food, captivating music and dances will entertain your mind, body and soul. At sunset the lights come on and the atmosphere onboard changes completely! Enjoy the company of newfound friends, try your luck in the casino, enjoy the show and then hit the dance floor in the disco till early morning hours! Children's Activites. Onboard there are menus, activities and a variety of entertainment designed to suit every family member from kids to grandparents In our nboard Duty Free and Travel Value shops, you will find an extensive selection of international brands and designer products.
Dining
From early morning to late at night, there will hardly be a moment that you will not be tempted by something delicious and appetizing. Aromas from an outdoor fresh pasta station or a teatime buffet full of tasty sandwiches and pastries are bound to break your resolve. Our cuisine combines the exquisite variety of the Mediterranean with other popular flavours from around the world, creating a culinary harmony that suits every palate. All our food is produced onboard and we are sensitive to modern dietary concerns, using healthy preparation methods and fresh ingredients. So eat to your heart’s content in our well designed restaurants with pleasing sea views!
| Full-day Bosphorus & Asia Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Bosphorus & Asia Departure time:9:00am Schedule:Daily Duration:9 hours Highlights:Asian side driving via transcontinental Bosphorus Bridge. Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Hill. (Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays). Visit of the historical Spice Market also called the Egyptian Bazaar and cruise along the European and Asiatic shores of Istanbul. (Spice Market is closed on Sundays). Lunch is included |
| Full-day Bursa Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Bursa Departure time:9:00am Schedule:Thursdays and Saturdays only Duration:9 hours Highlights:Green Mosque, Grand Mosque, Green Mausoleum, Bazaar. Lunch is included. |
| Half-day Byzantine Vision Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Byzantine Visions Departuretime:9:00am Schedule:Daily Duration:4 hours Highlights:Hippodrome Square, St. Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. (St. Sophia is closed on Mondays and the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays). |
| Full-day Classical Tour Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Classical Tour Departure time:9:00am Schedule:Daily Duration:9 hours Highlights: Hippodrome Square, St. Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. (St. Sophia is closed on Mondays and the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays). In the afternoon: Suleymaniye Mosque and Topkapi Palace. (Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays). Lunch is included. |
| Full-day Ephesus Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Ephesus Departure time:9:00am Schedule:Daily Duration:9 hours Highlights:Early flight to Izmir. Drive to Ephesus. Visit the ancient city, the House of Virgin Mary and the Museum of Selcuk. Lunch is included. |
| Istanbul by nigt Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Istanbul by night Departure time:8:00pm Schedule:Daily Duration:3 hours Highlights:Dinner followed by folkloristic show. |
| Half-day Ottoman Visions Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Ottoman Visions Departure time:2:00pm Schedule:Daily Duration:4 hours Highlights:Suleymaniye Mosque and Topkapi Palace. (Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays). |
| Full-day Princess Islands Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Princess Islands Departure time:9:00am Schedule:Daily Duration:9 hours Highlights:Cruise to the Princess Islands. Tour of the Buyuk Ada Island. Lunch is included. |
| Half-day Two Continents Call for Price | |
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This Tour is Available from: Istanbul Two Continents Departure time:2:00pm Schedule:Daily Duration:4 hours Highlights:Asian side driving via transcontinental Bosphorus Bridge. Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Hill. (Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays). |



















Tour Features 2012
Itinerary 2012
Rates
Hotels
Sightseeing/Excursions
Information/Restrictions
Ship Information
