We are a retired couple seeking exciting travel destinations. The Eastern Mediterranean 12- day Jade cruise beginning in Athens was a great choice for us. The many ports of call, coupled with the October (nearly off-season) date was very attractive.
Having never been in Athens before, we chose to arrive four days before sailing. This gave us time to see the Acropolis, Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Plaka, Monastiraki Flea Market, Athens Archaeological Museum, Syntagma Metro Archaeological exhibit, and many views of other architectural sights within the city. We enjoyed using public transport and walking to see shops, people, and culture up close.
We had booked an overnight outing to ancient Delphi and the monasteries of Meteora as well. This bus ride into Greece's central region gave us a view of life outside the city, including beautiful mountains, farmland, and a brief stop at the site of the Battle of Thermopylae. The site at Delphi was partially closed to tourists because of recent landslide activity. Despite this, it was an area full of wonders for anyone interested in history. We were able to tour two 15th century monasteries perched on the cliffs at Meteora, and this was breathtaking.