Treasures of the Aegaen
We have booked Treasures of the Aegean for May, 2027 and we would like to get reviews from others who have been on this small ship tour. Thank you in advance to those who respond !
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We have booked Treasures of the Aegean for May, 2027 and we would like to get reviews from others who have been on this small ship tour. Thank you in advance to those who respond !
Comments
You can see a lot about the cruise in my blog - https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2024-2Athens-01.htm
The ship was the WindStar which is a very old ship (40 years), the cabins are tiny, there are no elevator(s) and you have to take an outside stairs to get to the restaurant (not bad unless it's raining). I don't know which ship they use for that tour today.
The highlight of the tour is the dinner at Ephesus.
My one real disappointment was that I could not find a company that offered a day tour with a boat ride through the Corinth Canal. I contacted every provider of day tours that I could find in Athens. They would take me to see the Corinth Canal but none of them would provide a boat ride through the canal.
Following up on my original post above, our ship is going to be Wind Surf.
Mike, I've seen and looked down into the Corinth Canal when we crossed the bridge during a bus excursion (not Tauck) from Athens to the Peloponnese. It is nothing more than a deep, narrow, rock-cut channel built about the same time as the Panama Canal. You would just see the rock walls and sky if looking up from the Canal and It might be just mildly interesting to see a small cruise ship from above as it slowly sails through where there is literally only a few feet clearance either side of the ship's navigation bridge, but, having seen it, it really isn't something that I would spend any extra time or money to see.
@AlanS - Yes, I know. I've looked at pictures. I just wanted the experience of sailing throught the canal.
The Wind Surf is a different experience than the Wind Star. We have done Wind Surf twelve times and I just booked antother trip on her. The cabins are small. It’s a sailboat. You sleep there and change clothes. You are rarely in the cabin.
Mike, my guess re: the canal is that boats going thru the canal must pay a fee to do so. Of course, the tour operator could pass that along to the customers if it wasn't so much they'd lose business on it.
Yes, there is definitely a fee for a boat to go through the Corinth Canal, just like the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal. But, as you say, the tourist could pay that. And if there were multiple people on the boat, the cost would be spread over all the passengers. I'm sure the cost is by boat and not by passenger.
Like other canals, I assume the toll is based on the size of the boat, so a somewhat small tourist boat would not be charged the same as a small cruise ship (it has to be small to fit through the canal).
You'll have so much fun! My very detailed opinion, having visited last year:
Delos can be quite windswept and there is not much cover so bring layers if the weather looks cool. The ferry ride will also kick up surf if you sit outside. You need an incredible guide to bring Delos to life (unlike the Acropolis or the Arch Museum which can be amazing with almost any guide) so maybe do some pre-research and make sure your group is ready to go all in on imagining the history of the site. There are bathrooms on the ferry over and back - use the bathrooms there instead of waiting in line for ages at the one spot to go on Delos.
Kusadasi & Ephesus are not to be missed - some of my favorite parts of our trip. Do NOT miss the dinner in Ephesus.
If you are looking for a carpet, do it in Kusadasi. It's basically a private carpet viewing for your Tauck group but picturesque, educational, and avoids being transactional. Drink all the lovely beers and spirits they freely offer you, even if you know you won't buy anything.
If you do want to buy a carpet at Kusadasi, be ready to politely haggle - they WILL do payment plans and do not be afraid to involve your local guide to ask if you are making a good deal. That's how I ended up with two silk rugs with steep discounts and monthly payment plans (paid over four months). They are worthy investments and I am thankful each day I have their craftsmanship and beauty in my home. Tauck also covers any mishaps with the rugs from this supplier ONLY. So, if there are issues, you are completely financially covered.
Not sure if you will make the trip but...the Corinth Canal may kick up your allergies depending on the season you travel through it. It left a few on our trip running for the Claritin. You will not be too disappointed if you miss this, imo, unless you are someone who is obsessed with engineering and historic canals (which is hobby I do not share but DO respect!).
If you have the free time and finances to eat on the islands/stops versus the ship, do it EVERY TIME and always ask your local guide or Tauck guide for tips. They know all the good spots and often let you tag along. We wouldn't have found the local non-tourist trap spots without them and were never led astray.
As on any small ship: be nice to the crew and the crew will be nice to you. Learn names, say hello, alway say thank you. Go on the culinary ship tour with the head chef if you can, it's fun. Also, if you like a recipe at any meal, ask for it nicely. It'll be printed and in your room by nightfall.
In Athens, go to Pharaoh if you have time for dinner or have a night before/during your tour. It's a Michelin Bib Gourmand (great food at great value) and outstanding. There's no menu online but trust. There are plenty of vegetarian, fish, meat, options and be sure to ask your server for local wine recommendations. You will feel like a very in the know local. Take an Uber from the hotel.
Also in Athens, go to The Clumsies. DO NOT let their slick, dark website fool you. Cheat code: The Clumsies is deserted until after work but opens at 10am. They have the best French toast I've ever had and you will not fight for a breakfast/lunch table mid-week. My family of three was the only group in the place for at least an hour at 11am on a Thursday. Get the flight of cocktails to see what this World's 50 Best Bars is all about. It is a DREAM during the day. They are very family friendly until about 6pm (as long you do not expect the staff to babysit your child). The space feels like discovering a hidden secret. You can walk from the hotel and it's a lovely stroll. If you go after 6pm, get ready to fight the influencer crowds.
If you have a day or a few before your tour and are interested in a food tour in Athens, Culinary Backstreets is phenomenal. We saw many neighborhoods we would have never seen with Tauck, learned history and local politics Tauck would have not covered, and ate at places that were hyper local and historical. Not to be missed and well worth the cost (you eat so much food that it covers both breakfast and lunch easily, including alcoholic drinks). A mid-week booking often means your group is small - for us, it meant our group of three had a private tour. However, the guides are local and opinionated - you will not get "Athens Disneyland." You will get their views on democracy, tourism, gentrification, what the city is really like with a huge dollop of history (and often, your coffee grinds read at the oldest greek coffee shop in the city). It's an incredible tour but you should avoid if international opinions on democracy and governance make you uncomfortable.
To me, the food we had at stops on the tour was very boring. Chicken, rice, some veg every meal off the ship that was a group meal. Nothing authentic or local. I get Tauck is calibrating for many palates and these are safe choices. To this end, if you like food how I love food, be even more bold and adventurous when get a chance to eat off the ship. Try that local dish or spirit, take that restaurant rec, go out of your way to go to that weird or local bar. You will not be steered in that direction with the Tauck food provided.
Very small creature comfort but if you time things right, your small ship or hotel will make you a fancy coffee you can take to go on to any bus or excursion. I did this every time and folks acted like I was a genius. I'm not but it's an added perk and luxury some folks don't take advantage of or leave time for. Timing is everything! Ask for what you want nicely, receive with gratitude, and you will find fewer doors closed. Even when it comes to fancy coffees.
Finally, have the local beer in Turkey every chance you can (if you drink!). It's called Efes and it's light, low ABV (5%), and so refreshing.
Sorry/please enjoy the novel. Have an amazing trip!