Greek island cruises departing from Athens

Greek island cruising from Athens: what to expect

Athens’ port of Piraeus is one of the busiest cruise embarkation points in the Mediterranean, and it is easy to see why. Sailings from here reach into the Eastern Mediterranean and across the broader Mediterranean Sea, with itineraries running from short island hops of 4 nights up to extended voyages of 32 nights. The typical sailing is around 7 nights — enough time to visit several islands without rushing — and the mix includes both round trips that return to Piraeus and one-way voyages that finish somewhere else entirely. Check before you book which shape you are looking at, because the two trips ask for different planning. On a one-way sailing our team can handle the flight home from the disembarkation port as part of your booking, so you are never left to sort the return leg on your own.

Where do these sailings go?

The largest share of sailings from Athens explore the Eastern Mediterranean, taking in the island-dotted Aegean alongside the broader Mediterranean. A small number of sailings continue further as transatlantic crossings, making them an option if you want your cruise to be part of a longer journey between continents.

Disembarkation ports

Many sailings return to Piraeus in Athens, which makes the itinerary straightforward — fly in, cruise, fly home from the same city. One-way sailings finish at a range of other ports. Barcelona is a popular finishing point, as is Civitavecchia (the port for Rome). Some voyages end in Istanbul, a striking destination in its own right. Others finish at ports serving Venice — either Fusina or Ravenna — giving you northern Italy at the end of your trip. Wherever a sailing finishes, our team can connect it to your return flight and any hotel nights you need at that end.

Which cruise lines sail the Greek Islands from Athens?

Viking Ocean Cruises carries the most sailings on this route, with a style that suits travellers who want included shore excursions and a calm, contemporary ship. Silversea brings genuine luxury — butler-serviced suites, unlimited wines and spirits, and Wi-Fi all wrapped into the fare — and has a strong presence here. Celebrity Cruises offers a range of fare tiers to suit different budgets, from a no-frills base rate through to the all-in Retreat experience. Princess Cruises gives you options including the Princess Plus package, which covers casual dining, beverages and MedallionNet Wi-Fi in a single bundled fare. Holland America Line adds solid mid-market value, while Explora Journeys brings a newer, more design-led luxury experience to the region.

Are there deals or discounted sailings?

Sailings on this route do carry reduced fares, with some reduced by up to 50% from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — though that maximum applies to a single departure and is not typical. On most reduced sailings the saving is around 11%. Fare types such as early-booking rates, last-minute offers and promotional bundles appear across the cruise lines represented here, so it is worth checking what is current when you are ready to book. Our Best Price Guarantee means that if you find a lower price for the same sailing elsewhere, we will match it.

Ships sailing the Greek Islands from Athens

Several well-regarded ships operate on this route. Here is what makes each one worth knowing about.

Celebrity Infinity

Celebrity Infinity completed a full makeover in 2024, bringing a contemporary feel throughout the ship. Guests in The Retreat — Celebrity’s ship-within-a-ship concept — enjoy a private restaurant, a dedicated sun deck and full butler service. Book an AquaClass cabin and your mornings start with spa-cuisine breakfasts at Restaurant Blu, with access to the Persian Garden thermal suite whenever you like. See the Celebrity Infinity cabins and deck plans for a full breakdown.

• Inside cabin — preferred location I1: 15.8 m², sleeps 2. Central, higher-deck position with short walks to pool and bar areas.
• Deluxe sea-view cabin DO: 15.9 m², sleeps 2. Large unobstructed window with natural daylight and open sea views.
• AquaClass balcony cabin A2: 21.3 m², sleeps 4. The largest cabin in the AquaClass range, with private balcony and spa-cuisine dining included.
• Penthouse suite PS (with private hot tub): from 235 m², sleeps 4. The largest suite on the ship, offering more than twice the space of other top-grade suites.

Sun Princess

Launched in 2024, Princess Cruises’ newest and largest ship brings 29 dining options and 5 pools to the Mediterranean. The Dome — a pool deck inspired by the whitewashed architecture of a Greek island — transforms into an entertainment venue as the evening sets in. If you are weighing up cabin grades, the Sun Princess cabins and deck plans set out every option.

• Inside cabin IA: 13.5 m², sleeps 4. Compact and well-priced, ideal if the cabin is mainly for sleeping.
• Premium sea-view cabin O2: 19.7 m², sleeps 4. Panoramic window with unobstructed views of the open sea.
• Deluxe balcony cabin DF (spacious): 27.4 m², sleeps 4. Private balcony for breakfast or sundowners with sea views.
• Sky suite S0: 117.2 m², sleeps 4. Two full bedrooms and two bathrooms, one with bathtub and a separate shower.

Seabourn Ovation

Seabourn Ovation is a small-ship luxury experience — elegant, unhurried, and with complimentary fine dining included as standard. The Grand Wintergarden Suite GR runs to approximately 115 m², with a private hot tub, a separate bedroom, a generous living area and a full kitchen with bar — nearly twice the space of the ship’s Owner’s Suites.

Scarlet Lady

Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady takes a different approach: over 20 eateries drawing on food cultures from around the world, 24-hour dining so mealtimes are genuinely on your own schedule, and yacht-inspired suites fitted with smart cabin technology. See the Scarlet Lady cabins and deck plans for the full range of suite grades.

Azamara Onward

With a capacity of only 692 guests, Azamara’s Azamara Onward fits into smaller ports that larger ships pass by, and stays longer with overnight calls and late-night departures built into the schedule. The crew-to-guest ratio means the service feels personal — your name, your drink, your preference. The AzAmazing Evening is a private cultural experience ashore, arranged exclusively for guests. Check the Azamara Onward cabins and deck plans to find the right grade for your trip.

What do the fares include?

Silversea

Silversea’s fares are genuinely all-inclusive. The Classic fare covers butler-serviced suites, exceptional dining, unlimited wines and spirits, Wi-Fi and onboard gratuities. The All-Inclusive Plus tier adds a shore excursion credit based on your voyage length and region, plus a fully refundable deposit — useful if your plans are not yet fixed.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity offers 3 fare tiers. The base rate covers the cruise itself, leaving you to add extras as you like. The All Inclusive fare adds a classic drinks package and basic Wi-Fi in one price. At the top, The Retreat fare bundles premium drinks, premium Wi-Fi, suite accommodation, exclusive lounge and deck access, and dedicated personal service.

Princess Cruises

Princess Standard is the base cruise fare, with extras available to add on. The Princess Plus package — available on several fare types — bundles 4 casual dining meals per voyage, beverages up to A$15 each with a daily limit of 15 drinks, MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid crew appreciation, unlimited digital photographs and 3 prints, and reserved theatre seating.

Getting to Athens from Australia

Every sailing departs from Piraeus in Athens, so a flight from Australia is part of the trip for every guest. If you are flying from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth, the flight to Athens is a straightforward international connection — long-haul, but with good direct and one-stop options. Our team can book that flight, a hotel in Athens for the night before you sail, transfers between the airport and the port, and any tours you want to add, all as part of a single DreamAway Package. On one-way sailings, we handle the return flight from your disembarkation port too, so the whole trip is on one booking.

Why book with CruiseAway?

Our cruise experts know these ships and these fares — they can tell you which cabin grade suits a couple who want to be outside all day versus one who wants a proper suite experience, and which fare tier makes sense for the way you travel. The Best Price Guarantee means you are not paying over the odds, and our DreamAway Packages pull flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance into one holiday rather than leaving you to assemble the pieces. We are CLIA-accredited cruise specialists, and this is what we do.

Explore more sailings

If you are weighing up the Greek Islands against other parts of the Mediterranean, our Mediterranean cruises 2027 page covers a wider range of routes and departure points across the region. For Princess Cruises specifically, the Princess Cruises Australia 2026–2027 season launch sets out what is new across the fleet, and Princess cruise deals lists current fare promotions. The Princess 2027–2028 season launch shows what is coming next. If you are planning a Princess sailing from Australia, Princess cruises from Brisbane in 2027 and Princess cruises from Melbourne are worth a look alongside your Greece options. For Silversea, our Australia cruises with Silversea page covers the line’s broader programme, and Celebrity Cruises in the Mediterranean goes deeper on Celebrity’s regional itineraries. Our broader cruise search lets you filter by line, duration and destination.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.