Athens to Barcelona cruise onboard Celebrity Xcel

The port of Piraeus is one of the last old-style Mediterranean ports from where you can catch ferries to all of the Greek islands and travel a short distance to Greece's capital city Athens. In the heart of the city lies the ancient Plaka district, with its honeycomb of streets, little shops - and tavernas that come alive at night. Situated on the north and east slopes of the Acropolis, it is rich with historic sites, such as ancient monuments and churches. Within Athens there are eight large hills, including the Acropolis, and on the outskirts, Mount Parnitha, Mount Pendeli and Mount Hymettos surround the city. A trip to Athens' most famous tourist attraction, the impressive Parthenon built on the Acropolis around 2,500 years ago, will be memorable to say the least. There are an extraordinary number of historic tourist sights in Athens and many of these are known world-wide. Some of the top Athens attractions include the Agora - a grand, ruined Roman building, Hadrian's Arch - originally the city gate linking the Roman quarters with original town of Athens and the stunning Dionysos Theatre - the world's oldest theatre where many great plays have been performed over the years.

Mykonos is the most famous tourist island in the Eastern Mediterranean and certainly the most cosmopolitan among the Cyclades. Mykonos easily captures the visitors interest, thanks to the great variety of choices on offer here. There is something for everyone; “holidays” here can mean anything from the most peaceful relaxation to the wildest partying. Located on the islands’ western harbor, the “Chora” of Mykonos is a very beautiful old island town, which in the past had its own merchant fleet. Today it maintains a balance between tourism-related development and the preservation of its very picturesque features. There are whitewashed houses, proud windmills, a multitude of chapels, busy back streets with balconies full of flowers and a multicolored fleet of fishing boats in the port. In the background is the Paraportiani Church; alongside it, sea-washed “Little Venice”. After sunset everything changes: crowds throng this luxurious marketplace and the restaurants, bars and discos consign the tiny town to the pleasures and the different rhythm of the night. Ano Mera one of the most eastern side of the island, a tranquil village in the midst of farms, is a lovely locale, known for its excellent taverns. It is ideal for bicycling and hiking, and there are beaches nearby for swimming and water-sports. Tourists may also visit the two monasteries in the area, “Tourliani” and ”Paleokastro”. As long as the sun is shining, the island’s greatest attractions are the many beautiful beaches and the clean blue-green sea. Most of the beaches are on the south side of the island. Among these are the much frequented Platy Gialos, Psarou, Ornos, Paranga “Paradise” (Kalamopodi), “Super Paradise” (Blintri), Elia, Kalafati, Kalo Livadi, and Lia. On Mykonos western shore are Agios Stefanos, Houlakia, Tourlos, Megali-Ammos and Agios Yannis (opposite Delos). A day devoted to exploring Delos is a must before returning home. This ancient ruined city dedicated to Apolo, was also a major center in the Mediterranean. There are a number of small museums in Mykonos town and, during the summer, there is an outdoor cinema, the Cine Mando, and various art exhibitions, theatrical performances and concerts.

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is one of the best-known of the Cyclades where towering cliffs crowned by tiny white houses plunge straight into the depths of the sea. The steep coastline of the west is countered by the vast beaches of the east side, some of them sandy and others with pebbles. Santorini is famous for dramatic views, stunning sunsets from Oia town, the strange white aubergine, the town of Thira and naturally its very own active volcano. There are also fantastic beaches such as the Perissa and Kamari.

Kusadasi is a resort town in the province of Aydın on the Aegean coast of Turkey, 90 km (56 mi) south of İzmir, and 71 km (44 mi) from the inland provincial capital of Aydın. The city stands on a bay in the Aegean with the peninsula of Guvercin Ada sticking out into the sea at one end, and the mountain of Kaz Dağı behind. Kusadasi is a sprawling tourist center, serving thousands of tourists who flock here to visit the nearby ruins of Ephesus (30 km's away) and enjoy the beaches. It is also a great place for shopping. A highlight is a visit to a small island connected to the coast by a footbridge called Guvercin Adasis. The island has a walled fortress with a small museum and is great for exploring.

Cruising

Messina is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, Italy and the capital of the province of Messina. It is located near the North-East corner of Sicily, and is the closest point on Sicily to mainland Italy. It is easily accessible from Reggio di Calabria or Villa San Giovanni on the mainland. Messina is a modern city with few intact monuments due to an earthquake in 1908 and Allie bombings in 1943. It is gateway to nearby Taormina, Mt Etna and ancient Naxos.

Cruising

Barcelona, Spain