Greek Island Hopping Viva Pitch - 9 Night Cruise

Transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. Athens received a make-over for the 2004 Olympics. There is lots to see here such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Poseidon and Athena, Odeon Herodus of Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysos.

A further overnight hotel stay in central Athens.

Make your own way to nearby Piraeus Port to embark the ship.

Kusadasi is the staging post for Ephesus (the Turkish equivalent of Pompeii) well known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and is a popular tourist destination.

Overnight onboard in port. Where east meets west straddling the Bosphorous Strait. Visit either Asia Minor or Europe in one city, check out the Blue Mosque and St Sophia - its twin, haggle in the Grand Bazaar, visit Topkapi palace and try out an invigorating Turkish Bath.

Volos sits on the coast of Greece's mainland, between Athens and Thessaloniki. It's a port city with a lovely waterfront area. Take a day trip to one of the nearby beaches or into the mountains. Volos is also one of the closest mainland cities to the Sporades Islands such as Skiathos and Skopelos.

Frequently visited by many cruise ships for its Greek charm and upmarket cosmopolitan atmosphere plus there are some excellent beaches.

The most popular port of call on any cruise itinerary is the photographer’s paradise of Santorini. This volcanic island is made up of a crescent shaped Caldera which is the edge of an ancient volcano . Ancient legend suggests that this was the site of the lost city of Atlantis – when the volcano erupted the centre of this island disappeared in to the sea leaving the remnant known as Santorini.

Rhodes Old Town is an ancient walled city with its cobbled streets and history that dates back to the crusades and the Knights of St John. Visit the Acropolis of Rhodes, Temple of Apollo, Palace of the Grand Master, Modern Art Gallery and perhaps have a flutter in the casino. Stand in the footsteps of the Colossus of Rhodes at the entrance to Mandraki harbour or head for the picture-postcard Lindos with is winding cobbled streets and large beach.

Crete is the southernmost and largest of the Greek Islands. The major port of call is the Capital Heraklion in the centre of the Island. This is close to the ancient Palace of Knossos and the Minoan civilisation from 4000 years BC. Knossos is home to the ancient myth of the Minotaur and the Labyrinth . During world War II Crete was the last bastion of the Greek resistance when the locals helped Allied troops escape South through the Samaria Gorge as German paratroopers invaded from Souda Bay. Here you will high snow-capped mountains, an incredible 12km hiking trail through the Samaria Gorge and ancient Lassithi Plateau with its windmills and the birth-place of Zeus.

Disembark the ship after breakfast in Piraeus and transfer to Athens airport for your flight home.