Virgin Voyages Greek Island Glow Itinerary Without Booked Excursions
Virgin Voyages’ Greek Island Glow cruise itinerary includes iconic Greek islands plus a bonus stop in Bodrum, Turkey. But what do you do when it’s not your typical beach excursion?
If you want to take an epic Europe trip without having to pack and unpack a million times and take a zillion ferries, the Virgin Voyages Greek Island Glow Itinerary is the perfect alternative for you. We’ve traveled all over Europe by plane, train, car, and boat, and we have to say - I think the cruise ships are the most relaxing route of European travel! If you’re a vacation maximizer trying to make the most of your precious, limited vacation days – this post (and vacation) is for you!
We traded in our love of European train routes for some serious Aegean Sea views aboard Virgin Voyages' "Greek Island Glow" cruise on the stunning Resilient Lady. Here's what you can expect at each port, giving you a head start on planning your own Greek Island getaway.
Ship to Shore Details
One of the best things about cruising is the ease of getting from the ship to shore.
Here's a general breakdown of how it works, but be sure to check your specific cruise line's guidelines for the most accurate information.
Tendering: This is a common method of getting to shore, especially in smaller ports or when the ship is too large to dock. Tenders are smaller boats that ferry passengers between the ship and the port. The process usually involves a short wait in a queue, followed by a quick boat ride to the shore.
Walking: In some ports, you can simply walk off the ship and into the town. This is often the case in larger ports with piers that can accommodate the cruise ship.
Day 1: Setting Sail from Piraeus (Athens)
Embarkation day is a whole thing. To get a better idea of boarding, you can check out our full ship review for the insider scoop on that beauty here! And if you need tips on where to stay in Athens before or after your cruise, we have heaps of hotel recommendations in this blog, too. There’s so much to see and do in Athens, but as it’s not technically part of the cruise itinerary, we’ll save those recs for another time.
Day 2: Santorini, Greece
Santorini, with its iconic whitewashed houses and dramatic cliffs overlooking the caldera, is truly what travel dreams are made of. On Embarkation day, we were encouraged to reserve our tender times for when we would disembark from the boat to the island. We booked the first time available which was 9:00 a.m., but as we were eager, we arrived early at 8:40 a.m., and were in our group getting off the ship before 9 a.m. Tip for the wise: book your tender times as quickly as you can! Especially if you’re a morning person. If you like to sleep in, there will be more times available, but then you’ll be short on shore time!
Before jumping on the tender, we were given one ticket each for a round trip journey on the gondola that takes you from the shore of the island to the top where you can find the town of Fira and properly explore the island. Though you can walk or take a donkey up from the shore, this gondola is truly the best way to go AND, most importantly, is included with the cost of the cruise.
From the tender, we were dropped off on the shore, followed the line of people to the line for the gondola, waited about 20 minutes until it was our turn, then took the ride up for a couple of minutes to the top. I’m very fearful of dangling on bridges and gondolas so I didn’t enjoy the ride, but Andrew and our cruisemates agreed the views on the way up were spectacular!
Once we reached the top, we spent about thirty minutes exploring the town of Fire. From there, we took a bus (which we paid for in cash with Euros) to the iconic town of Oia. This is where you see the classic photos of the picturesque blue roofs on the white buildings! We spent the morning exploring the charming town, snapping endless photos of those postcard-perfect views and getting lost in the maze-like streets. Pro tip: wear comfy shoes, as those Santorini steps can be a workout!
For lunch, we found a little taverna with a terrace overlooking the caldera – the most stunning backdrop for a delicious Greek salad and some local wine. Instead of booking an official excursion like a catamaran tour or exploring the volcanic Black Sand Beach, we opted to slowly explore Oia, shop for local goodies and souvenirs, and sip and sample our way through the local coffee and wine shops.
After spending the afternoon in Oia, we took the 30 minute bus ride back to Fira, explored the town for about 30 more minutes as we slowly made our way back to the cable car to take the short ride back. The wait for this was about 30 minutes, so make sure to schedule your time accordingly to not miss the last tender back to the boat!
Once back on board, we enjoyed an unbelievably tasty and fun dinner at The Test Kitchen followed by an evening of trivia at The Loose Cannon.
Day 3: Rhodes, Greece
Rhodes, the largest island on the itinerary, is full of ancient Greek history. It has such a different look than all of the other stops! Instead of having to take a tender, we docked in Rhodes while we were eating breakfast at The Wake. Because we pulled into port, we were able to show our passports, pass our bags through the security line, and walk out straight to the island.
We started our day exploring the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its imposing city walls and charming cobbled streets. The Palace of the Grand Masters is a must-see, as are the many little shops selling handcrafted souvenirs.
Sadly, I had a major migraine coming on as we disembarked from the ship, so after wandering around the medieval city for about two hours, I had to go back to the ship to rest. But this helped us realize the beauty of being able to easily step on and off the ship! It also gave us a great opportunity to see what it’s like onboard on an excursion day. The ship was notably much emptier. The DJ at the pool was bumpin’ and there were many more hot tubs and deck chairs much more readily available.
What to see in Rhodes:
Medieval City of Rhodes: Explore the well-preserved medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander through its narrow streets, admire the impressive fortifications, and visit the Palace of the Grand Master.
Lindos Acropolis: Take a day trip to Lindos and climb up to the ancient Acropolis for panoramic views of the coastline.
Beach Hopping and/or Beach Clubs: Rhodes offers numerous beautiful beaches, including Faliraki Beach, Tsambika Beach, and Kallithea Springs.
Day 4: Bodrum, Turkey
Our next stop takes us across the Aegean Sea to Bodrum, Turkey. This charming coastal town has a beautiful marina lined with traditional Turkish boats and shopping streets where you can find everything from spices and rugs to handcrafted ceramics.
Just like in Rhodes, instead of having to take a tender, we docked in Bodrum early in the morning. Because we pulled into port, we were able to show our passports, pass our bags through the security line, and walk out straight to the island. The walk into central Bodrum was a bit longer and hotter than the walk into Rhodes, so I highly recommend wearing comfy shoes.
We couldn’t wait for authentic Turkish coffee, local wine, and to try the local flavors on our first unofficial step into western Asia! Here in Bodrum, you can make plans to do an official excursion, but we opted to wander for as long as we wanted to explore the center of the city.
From the city center, we easily reached Bodrum Castle, a 15th-century must-see where you can explore its impressive fortifications, visit the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, and enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Aegean Sea. If you love history, you can take a taxi to Halicarnassus Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though only ruins remain.
If you’re into shopping, stop by one of the ATMs in town to get out some Turkish Lira as many market stalls and smaller restaurants ask for cash to be used. Remember we’re in Turkey now - the Euro’s not gonna fly! At the Bodrum market, you can shop for souvenirs, spices, and traditional Turkish goods. Shop workers will call out to you, but everyone is friendly and is not trying to be harassing.
We strolled, we explored, we shopped, we sipped on refreshing local white wine on the beach at a beautiful cafe called Caravan, we met plenty of cute local cats, then strolled back to the ship about an hour before we had to be back on board. That Aegean sun is brutal, y’all!
Day 5: Day at Sea Onboard Virgin Voyages
This is your chance to truly unwind and enjoy all the amazing amenities that Virgin Voyages has to offer. Take a dip in one of the many pools or hot tubs, sweat it out in the gym, indulge in a pampering spa treatment, or simply relax on your balcony with a good book and a cocktail. We also highly recommend checking out the incredible entertainment options on board, from live music and DJ sets to musical or comedy shows.
Days 6 & 7: Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos needs no introduction – this iconic island is famous for its pristine beaches, wild nightlife, and luxurious atmosphere. But we were surprised to find it’s so much more of a relaxed vibe than the raucous island life we expected!
Because ships cannot dock directly at the island, we once again had to tender onto the island. We booked the first boat out to try to experience the island as empty as possible. And with a 9:00 a.m. arrival on Mykonos, we were able to have the majority of the island nearly to ourselves! I guess everyone on the ship and on the island partied a bit too hard the night before. But on this island, the early bird gets the worm - or at least the crowd free Instagram shot!
We spent the first day exploring the main town, Mykonos Chora, with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets, and trendy boutiques. Here, you can explore the charming streets, admire the windmills, meet countless local cats, and visit Little Venice, a picturesque neighborhood with colorful houses. Take full advantage of the local flavors and treat yourself to a stunning waterfront lunch experience in Little Venice. Just prepare your wallet for the sticker shock. But once you sit down and soak up the vibes and the views, that $18 feta and $30 cocktail won’t feel quite so outlandish. It must be the magic of Mykonos!
In the afternoon, take a boat taxi to one of the famous Mykonos beaches, like Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach, or Psarou Beach. Here, you can choose from a variety of beach clubs, each offering a different vibe – from chilled-out lounge music to high-energy DJ sets.
While most cruise excursions are typically at 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. itinerary, Virgin’s unique and freakin’ awesome cruise schedule helps you get the fully immersed Mykonos experience. Since they don’t leave the port until halfway through the next day, you can stay on the island as long as you’d like! If you’re more of a night owl than us and looking to party until dawn, this is the place to be! The ship doesn’t leave until 2 p.m. on the second day, so you can take as much time as you’d like to do anything you’ve set your heart on in Mykonos. We took full advantage of the extended time and called it an early night to enjoy a leisurely dinner at Extra Virgin with stunning views of the Greek island coastline.
The second morning on Mykonos, we yet again took the earliest tender time to go back to the island for one more half-day of fun. We took the morning to take photos and videos of the colorful doors throughout the main town. This was the easiest tender experience as the boats never had a long line and it was a very short journey between the ship, the tender, and the shore.
Day 8: Back to Piraeus (Athens)
Our Greek Island adventure comes to an end as we arrive back in Piraeus. Since disembarkation can take some time, we recommend leaving your luggage packed and enjoying a cafe breakfast on board before saying goodbye to the gorgeous ship.