2025 Explora Hosted cruise

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On May 19, I will start to make my way to Greece from Florida.  Many have been asking me about my day to day, so, Here is a nice layout.

The trip will be a working vacation as I am hosting an Explora Journeys cruise for Signature travel network.

Flying from Orlando saved me about $1000 on the flight, so, I will take Amtrak from Jacksonville (about $40) to the train station near MCO.  Ill stay at an airport hotel and just relax before my flight on the 20th.

I have a dual layover flight on Condor air (german operated airplane) with stops in Toronto and Frankfurt before arrival in Athens on the 21st at around 3pm.  

I decided it was best to get a private car from ATH to the city center, the ride is about 45 minutes or so.  That cost around $85.  You can also take a regular taxi for around $70 or the train starts at $15.

From the 21st to the 24th I will stay at a hotel in Athens called The Stanley, which I have booked for guests in the past with good review and feedback. I will have a full review of the hotel upon my return.

I decided to book a night tour dining and walking tour, which should be a great way to refresh my my memory of Athens, as I have not been since 2017.

Lets rundown a quick day by day pre cruise schedule: 

May 21 - Transport to Hotel, Evening food tour.

May 22 - City bike ride in the early afternoon and a food and wine tour at 5:30p.

May 23 - Yacht Tour.  This is a 10 hour yachting tour with lunch and drinks with stops at Agstri and Moni (swimming and relaxing)

May 24 - Boarding day.  In the morning I will do a walking tour with the Acropolis and museums.  Around 3pm, I will board the ship and prepare for my welcome party that evening abord the beautiful Explora I.

This cruise is a seven night Greek Isles cruise that will end in Turkey. Below will be a quick overview.

May 25 - Mykonos. In the Day I will do a Catamaran with Project Expedition excursion providers.  That evening, I will visit a Greek farm.

May 26 - Patmos. Im doing an excursion with Explora called "The Spirit of Patmos" (Cave of St. John, Monastery and a Greek show.

May 27 - Volos. Hiking and photography with Explora.

May 28 - Thessaloniki - Tombs and Relic tour with Explora

May 29 - Kavala- Historical tour with Explora

May 30 - Much needed at Sea rest day.

May 31 - Disembark in Istanbul.

Istantbul - 

May 31- June 3. -  Check into the Ritus hotel in central Istanbul.

May 31 -  I have a full day.  after dropping my bags off, I will do a tour with Viator that will include lunch and a ferry ride to the asian side of the country.  That evening, I have a small group walking tour with Viator that includes rooftop dining and views.

June 1 - Im doing a full day tour of all the main sights in Istanbul (Blue Mosque ect) that will last around 8 hours with viator.  After that, I am visiting a Turkish traditional spa with Viator.

June 2 - Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Asian Side that I booked with Shore excursions Group and then a traditional dinner show that I booked with Viator.

on June 3, I fly back to Jacksonville and 7am.

Feel free to post or ask any questions!

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