Aegean Islands & Istanbul Family Cruise Tour
Duration: 14 days • Route: Athens → Greek Islands Cruise → Kusadasi (Ephesus) → Pergamon → Bursa → İstanbul
Travel Style: Family-Friendly | Hybrid Land + Cruise | Relaxed Pace (2–3h drive blocks)
Best For: Families with kids, multi-gen groups, seniors seeking easy logistics
Overview:
Unpack once for the islands, then roll through Turkey’s classics at a gentle pace. Start with two nights in Athens for the Acropolis and Olympic highlights. Board a comfortable 3–4-night Greek Islands cruise (full board—ideal for families) calling at marquee ports such as Mykonos, Patmos/Crete (sailing dependent), Rhodes, and Santorini with our included Oia viewpoint visit. Crucially, your ship also calls at Kuşadası for a guided Ephesus tour. From here we transition seamlessly to land: overnight by the clifftop ruins of Pergamon, pause for kebab-famous Bursa, and finish with 4–5 nights in İstanbul—kept flexible with a Bosphorus evening cruise, Old City touring, bazaar time, and kid-friendly options. All airport/port transfers, guided sightseeing, and priority timing are handled—so you can just enjoy.
✅ What’s Included :
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13–14 nights: hotels (3★–5★) + 3–4-night Greek Islands cruise
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Meals: daily breakfast on land + full board on cruise
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Guided visits & entries: Acropolis, Ephesus, Pergamon, Bursa, İstanbul (Topkapı, Hagia Sophia*, Grand Bazaar)
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Santorini Oia viewpoint stop (during cruise call)
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Bosphorus evening cruise (İstanbul)
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Private coach: Kuşadası → Pergamon → Bursa → İstanbul
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All airport/port/hotel transfers
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English-speaking guides & 24/7 support
❌ What’s Not Included
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International flights (to Athens / from İstanbul)
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Travel insurance (required)
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Visas & local city taxes (Schengen, Turkey e-Visa; Greece hotel tax)
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Cruise gratuities, onboard drinks & specialty dining
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Optional tours/upgrades not listed
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Meals not mentioned; personal expenses
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Port taxes/fuel surcharges if applied by cruise line
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Early check-in / late check-out
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Athens
Meet & greet, private transfer, easy evening in Plaka.
🏨 Overnight in Athens | 🍴
Day 2: Athens Highlights
Guided Acropolis & Museum, Panathenaic Stadium photo stop; free afternoon.
🏨 Overnight in Athens | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 3: Embark Greek Islands Cruise & Mykonos (Evening Call)
Board in Piraeus; sunset stroll by Mykonos windmills.
🛳️ Overnight on cruise | 🍴 B/L/D onboard
Day 4: Patmos or Crete (AM Call)
Short guided visit (Monastery/Cave of St. John or Knossos option per schedule).
🛳️ Overnight on cruise | 🍴 B/L/D onboard
Day 5: Rhodes Full Day
Explore the Medieval Old Town, then beach/free time.
🛳️ Overnight on cruise | 🍴 B/L/D onboard
Day 6: Santorini (PM Call)
Included Oia viewpoint stop for the classic caldera view.
🛳️ Overnight on cruise | 🍴 B/L/D onboard
Bosphorus Skyline (Galata)
"Step inside the Roman world"
Rhodes Old Town Lane
Day 7: Kuşadası & Ephesus → Disembark → Pergamon
Guided Ephesus tour, then drive north to Bergama (Pergamon).
🏨 Overnight in Bergama | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 8: Pergamon Sites → Bursa
Acropolis & Asklepion visits; continue to the first Ottoman capital.
🏨 Overnight in Bursa | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 9: Bursa → İstanbul + Bosphorus Evening Cruise
Green Mosque & bazaar stop; arrive İstanbul and relax on the water.
🏨 Overnight in İstanbul | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 10: İstanbul Old City
Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia* (per local rules), Hippodrome & Grand Bazaar.
🏨 Overnight in İstanbul | 🍴 Breakfast included
“Oia Caldera View”
Sail between two continents"
Day 11: Spice Market & Galata
Tastings at the Egyptian Bazaar; funicular to Galata—optional family hammam.
🏨 Overnight in İstanbul | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 12: Family Choice Day
Pick one: Princes’ Islands, Asian-side food walk, or archaeology “treasure trail.”
🏨 Overnight in İstanbul | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 13: Free Day in İstanbul
Leisure for shopping, museums, or optional Dolmabahçe visit.
🏨 Overnight in İstanbul | 🍴 Breakfast included
Day 14: Departure
Private transfer to the airport (timed outside peak traffic).
Standard Package
From CAD $3,699 pp
✓ 3★–4★ hotels + inside cruise cabin
✓ Full board on cruise; breakfasts on land
✓ Guided visits: Athens, Ephesus, Pergamon, Bursa, İstanbul
✓ Santorini Oia viewpoint stop
✓ Bosphorus evening cruise
✓ Private coach Kuşadası → Pergamon → Bursa → İstanbul
✓ All airport/port/hotel transfers
Optional Extensions Before or After Your Main Tour
BODRUM
Unwind on the Aegean coast with a boutique BB stay in Bodrum’s charming harbor area. Stroll its historic castle, explore vibrant markets, or relax by turquoise waters.
Bodrum also offers a wide range of luxury resorts for those seeking an upgraded beach escape.
Flexible Dates Before or After Main Tour