19 Sep 2023

Cruising the Islands of Greece & Turkey

ZSGT

Validity: 01 Jan 2023 to 31 Dec 2023

Secluded beaches, ancient ruins, local flavours and spectacular sunsets – this nine-day Adventure Cruise offers a hearty dose of Greek island life with a splash of Turkish delights. Tick off the idyllic Santorini and Mykonos and stray from the pack to the lesser-visited Cyclades, sail through sparkling waters on a small ship and soak up the salty sea breezes as you explore charming hill villages and hidden coves. Visit ancient archaeological sites and spend time learning about Delos, the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. Add a healthy helping of delicious Greek cuisine and the endless opportunities to swim and snorkel off the back of your boat, and you’ve got yourself and unforgettable overwater odyssey through the Aegean Sea.

Comfort

Adventure Cruising

Small cruise ship,bus

1

No particular level of physical fitness is required for our adventure cruises, although you should have a good level of mobility and enjoy good health. We do ask that you read through the trip notes to ensure that this trip is right for you. Please keep in mind that there are a number of shore excursions offered on your voyage. Some are walking tours and may involve a reasonable amount of walking over varied terrain. We recommend you bring a good pair of walking shoes or boots, carry a water bottle and don’t forget the sunscreen and hat. Depending on the excursion, disembarking the ship may be by zodiac, tender or onto a dock. Very occasionally, it will be a beach landing where you may need to wade through shallow water a short distance to reach the shore. This will be highlighted in the trip notes. Snorkelling and fishing equipment is provided on board all of our vessels. To snorkel, we request that you consider your fitness level and your confidence in the water before taking part.

Astor Hotel

16 Karageorgi Servias Str

Athens

10562

GREECE

Phone: +30 2103351000

Marina Zea

Plateia Alexandras (Alexandras Square) (Closest street) Akth Kountouriotou 1

Athens

GREECE

In 2023 this trip will be on board the Panorama ship COMPLIMENTARY ARRIVAL TRANSFER A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. PASSPORT DETAILS Please provide your passport details at time of booking. It is essential we receive these details at least 14 days prior to departure as we must provide them to the Port authorities in order to comply with Maritime regulations. SINGLE TRAVELERS Single travelers will share a twin a room with another traveler of the same gender. If you’d prefer not to share, a single cabin supplement is available at an additional charge. A single passenger cannot be booked or confirmed in a double cabin unless a single supplement is paid.

On your voyage, as well as the ship and hospitality crew, there will be between 1 and 3 local tour leaders (depending on the total number of passengers). These leaders will be with you on board the ship, and on all included shore activities. They will have good general knowledge of the areas you are passing through including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects, as well as being able to recommend great local eating venues for your on shore meals and what you might like to do with your free time (when you're not relaxing and enjoying the ship's facilities).

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Your cabin has a safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables whilst on board. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.

Wifi is available on all ships at EUR30 for 1 GB. The coverage can be very intermittent and unreliable. On shore in most countries, you should find fast, free wifi available in cafes or restaurants.

PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/visa-health-requirements

Explore the historical city of Athens on a walking tour, get the insider lowdown from your local leader and discover hidden gems and highlights that you won’t find in a guidebook.

Whether you want to revel in the atmosphere of Mykonos or relax on own your private paradise at Manganari Beach, there are plenty of opportunities to soak up the sun.

Enjoy an amazing view as you taste the local wines in Santorini.

Join a local guide and brush up on your history as you explore Delos – one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece.

Tour the Turkish ruins of Ephesus and discover the incredible relics that remain, including the Temple of Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

This is small ship Adventure Cruising, which means you’ll be sailing on a yacht with up to 46 other people. The boat is spacious and comfortable, but the itinerary focuses more on the destination than on-board activities. Instead of a pool, we have the sea itself. Instead of a casino, we’ve got board games and a good book. There’s also no formal dress code to worry about and wi-fi is available for a small charge. Our ship moves under engine power, rather than sailing, so all cabins will experience light engine noise when the ship is moving (and occasionally when we drop anchor). It’s probably worth packing earplugs if you’re a light sleeper. Onshore activities and excursions will involve a bit of walking. You’ll be visiting ancient sites and historical places, and at times you may have to cross cobbled streets and uneven ground, sometimes in hot conditions. If you have any concerns, please speak to your group leader before taking part. Most of our departures run in peak season, when the seas are calmer. The ship will experience some roll and pitch in choppy conditions, however all of our ships come equipped with stabilisers to minimise movement. There will be seasickness tablets on board and your crew will do all they can to minimise any discomfort. There are no lifts (elevators) on board our ships, so you’ll have to navigate a few steep flights of stairs (fitted with handrails) to access all the decks.

GENERAL HEALTH All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. For the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, if you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the assessment of our group leader or local staff a traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements in their original packaging as they may not easily be obtained while travelling. If you are carrying medication, ensure you check your government's foreign travel advice for any local restrictions or requirements.  COVID-19 The safety and well-being of our travellers, leaders, crew, staff, and suppliers continues to remain our highest priority as we travel. Intrepid has no specific vaccination, testing or vaccination requirements, however please be aware that some parts of the world still require COVID-19 vaccination or testing as part of their entry requirements and may have their own quarantine or isolation protocols. Please check for any additional requirements on your government's foreign travel advice website or here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/visa-health-requirements There is no doctor on board for this voyage. In case of an emergency, some crew members are trained to offer basic first aid. Medical care is available in all ports we visit and our voyages are mostly cruising around coastal waters meaning we are never far from a port. As we are mostly cruising in coastal waters, we should not regularly encounter rough waters. However, if you know you are prone to sea sickness, please ensure you bring with you appropriate medication. You must also bring with you any general medicines you may need such as pain relief along with any prescribed medications you take. A general first aid kit is also a good idea. If you are feeling unwell, please let a member of the crew know. Travelling on a boat means that everyone is sharing the same common areas and illness can spread very quickly to your fellow travellers.

We are able to cater for most special dietary requirements. Please advise any special dietary needs at least 4 weeks in advance of travel.

When it comes to money matters on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget a sensible amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, tipping and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need. Also make sure you’ve read your trip details thoroughly so you know what’s included in the trip price and what isn’t. This should make budgeting a little easier. You’ll find this info in the Inclusions section of your Essential Trip Information (that’s this document). ON BOARD ACCOUNT An account will be opened for your cabin for purchases aboard ship. This will include bar purchases laundry and communication charges. Cash, Visa or Mastercard are all accepted for settling your ship on board account. It is wise to travel with sufficient cash (in local currency) to pay for incidentals on your last day such as shipboard items, airports taxes and taxis. Most of our voyages are half board, so breakfast, and at least one other meal daily will be included whilst on board the ship. This leaves plenty of opportunities for you to go out and explore local cuisines on shore for the remaining meals. Please ensure you have read the Essential Trip Information carefully and have budgeted for meals not included. Greece is part of the European Union and the currency is the euro. The euro bank notes come in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5. Euro coins are in denominations of 2 and 1 (gold coins) and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 cents (silver coins). BANKING IN GREECE: The Euro is Greece’s unit of currency. ATMs can be found in every large town and in main tourist areas. You can access money from ATMs with a Cirrus and Maestro card or with Visa or Mastercard. Automated foreign currency exchange machines can be found in main tourist areas and are a good way to change money when there are no banks or currency exchange offices available. It’s always a good idea to travel with some cash, in the event that you can’t access money from a bank, however it’s a good idea to limit this emergency stash in the event of loss or theft. Credit cards are widely accepted at restaurants and large retail shops. Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere that credit card is accepted but Diners and America Express are usually only accepted in large tourist areas. Traveller's cheques, although less commonly used these days are a good backup over cash as they are protected over theft. It’s always a wise idea to carry a few means of accessing your money when on holidays. All departure taxes should be included in your international flight ticket. Turkey’s currency is the Yeni Türk Lira (New Turkish Lira; YTL). The lira comes in coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 kurus and a 1 lira coin, and notes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 lira. You can use ATMs to take Turkish lira from your Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus or Maestro card. Use ATMs which show these logos. ATMs are available in most large towns and most offer instructions in English. Remember to draw out money in larger towns to tide you over when travelling through smaller villages which may not have them. Your tour leader can offer advice on this. US dollars and euros are the easiest currencies to change; however some large banks and exchange office also accept UK pounds. It may be difficult to change Australian dollars and Canadian dollars except for in large banks in major cities. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted by many hotels, shops and restaurants; although at pensions and local restaurants you are best to have cash. Cash advances at banks and ATMs is possible on credit cards; however please note that American Express credit cards are not widely accepted. Traveller’s cheques are usually a burden to change and you will often be charged a premium to do so. Instead we recommend you take a combination of cards and cash. CONTINGENCY FUNDS We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itineraries including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. Make sure you have access to an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved. The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers, however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs. TIPPING If you're happy with the services provided a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid destinations. If you are happy with the services received, EUR3 per passenger per day for your tour leader is an appropriate amount. For all other services from your crew who will take care of you onboard EUR7 per passenger per day is an appropriate amount.

Please travel as lightly as possible so as not to restrict space in your cabin. Soft bags are more practical than hard suitcases. The dress code on board ship is casual. You may want to bring something slightly dressier for the Captain's dinner or a theme night but as a rule, neat casual will suffice. Swimming will be offered on most days so swimwear is essential. Below is a suggested general packing list. Daypack (a smaller back pack that you can take with you on shore excursions) Comfortable clothing for warmer temperatures [shorts, t-shirts, light long sleeved tops and pants] A sweater or jacket for the cooler evenings or early mornings A light rain coat or poncho Comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions Sandals or thongs/flip flops/jandals Sunscreen [bio degradable and waterproof if available] and lip balm [to combat the effects of wind burn] Sunglasses Sunhat [that can be secured as it can get windy out on the water] Swimming costume Water bottle [filtered water is available on board the boat] Bio-degradable shampoo, conditioner and soap Pegs [so you can hang your swimming costume or towel out to dry] Insect repellent European adaptor/electrical plug Camera *** Beach towels and snorkelling equipment are provided on board ***

We like to think our Intrepid travellers are all connected by a love of adventure and passion for seeing the world in a different way. We've laid down a few non-negotiable rules to ensure everyone feels connected, comfortable and safe on our trips. We ask that you respect your fellow travellers, group leader, and local people and places we visit in all circumstances. We don't tolerate any forms of violence and expect that you follow the local laws, customs and regulations in any destination we travel to. Any behaviour contrary to the above, including any behaviour that prevents our staff from performing their duty of care or continuing the itinerary as planned, may result in travellers being removed from the trip. If you consume alcohol while travelling, we encourage responsible drinking and expect you to abide by local alcohol laws. To ensure the well-being of everyone on the trip, all decisions made by group leaders and ground staff are final. Romantic relationships between travellers and group leaders are not permitted while on trip. By travelling with us, you agree to comply with these rules and the laws and customs of all countries visited. If something is concerning you during your travels with us, please speak to your group leader or local guide immediately. Alternatively, contact us on the emergency contact number detailed in your Essential Trip Information’s Problems and Emergency Contact section.

Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travellers like you. Share your experience with us at: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback/

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below: PEAK DMC Europe: +49 (0) 8677 918 66 57

Our Responsible Travel Policy outlines our commitment to preserving the environment, supporting local communities, protecting the vulnerable, and giving back to the places we travel. All our trip leaders, suppliers, and staff are trained on these principles and are core to us delivering sustainable, experience-rich travel. Explore the different parts of our Responsible Travel Policy by visiting: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/responsible-travel

We created our not-for-profit, the Intrepid Foundation because you – our travellers – told us you wanted to make an even greater impact in the communities you visit. The Foundation works by teaming up with partners around the world so that together we can deliver greater positive impact at scale. Partners are identified by our local staff who live and work in our destinations. They harness their powerful community connections to determine the issues that matter most and select local partners who can deliver real solutions. Since 2002, the Intrepid Foundation has raised more than 12.8 million dollars and supported more than 130 communities worldwide. Now, with almost 40 partners all over the world, your donations are helping to restore forests in Kenya, empower women in Honduras and promote elephant welfare in Laos, to name just a few. By simply being on this trip, Intrepid Travel will make a donation to the Intrepid Foundation on your behalf. If you choose to donate too, 100% of your donations will go directly to our partners on the ground – where they’re needed most. For more information about the Intrepid Foundation, please ask your leader or visit our website: http://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/ This trip directly supports Amurtel, who provide a safe space for refugee and migrant women and children in Greece. Donations help Amurtel’s antenatal and postnatal care programs, run by qualified midwives. The programs specifically provide breastfeeding and infant nutrition care; gender-based violence support; education; support for integrating into a foreign culture and navigating public health systems; and distribution of essential items like baby kits, food, nappies and menstrual pads. To find out more or make a donation, visit https://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/t/amurtel

Cruise: Wifi is available on all ships at EUR15 for 200MB or EUR20 for 250MB. The coverage can be very intermittent and unreliable. On shore in most countries, you should find fast, free wifi available in cafes or restaurants. Internet connections in Cuba are very unreliable.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects and covers all countries visited on your itinerary.

As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure. Single travellers on this voyage can be matched with a passenger of the same gender in a twin cabin. If you wish to have a cabin to yourself, this can be arranged with the payment of a single supplement and is possible in any cabin category. Pre and post voyage accommodation will always be on a single basis for solo travellers.

Travelling by sea is a fantastic way to explore, but it brings some challenges when weather conditions are not ideal. The itinerary may be subject to change, based on winds and sea conditions which may render anchorage and landing at some stops difficult. We reserve the right to change the itinerary for the safety of passengers and the ship. Shore excursions are subject to shore and weather conditions and are based on a minimum participation. Each days' schedule will be posted by the cruise co-ordinator listing necessary information such as arrival/departure times, meal times, days activities and other information. This is given as a guideline and is subject to change.

Hotel (1 night),Small cruise ship (7 nights)