Many of the large cruise lines visit Greece, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one to suit your cruising budget and style. Greece offers beautiful beaches, ancient ruins and exquisite scenery along with nightlife and shopping. Each island has its own personality, so it’s certainly not a case of “seen one, seen them all”.

The Greek islands are small and diverse. Some such as Mykonos are known mostly for their party atmosphere, others such as Santorini are known more for their history. Here is a quick run down of a few of the islands and what you can expect to find.

Santorini is a rocky volcanic island with black pebble beaches and whitewashed houses perched among the rocky cliffs, which makes for a stunning view when you arrive at the island. Almost 4,000 years ago a major volcanic eruption on the island caused the center of Santorini to disappear leaving the island in its present crescent shape. Some believe this is the site of ancient Atlantis and Minoan ruins have been found at one end of the island at the town of Akrotiri.

Mykonos is known for its party atmosphere. Nightclubs, shopping, and outdoor cafes are to be found among the cobble-stoned streets. If you are looking for ancient ruins, Mykonos is not the place for you. Better off taking a short boat ride to nearby Delos.

Corfu is one of the Ionian islands in northwest Greece. It is beautifully green and lush, and the smell of olive groves mingles with the salty sea air. While it is quite a touristy place, as many of the Greek islands are, you can still find beautiful beaches and wonderful scenic views.

Crete is another island full of history. Perhaps it is best known for the Minoan Palace of Knossos, home of King Minos and the legend of the Minotaur. The palace still contains stunning frescos. Beautiful beaches abound and the mountainous landscape is something to see.

Rhodes is the fourth largest of the Greek islands and lies close to Turkey. Ships that dock in Rhodes are close to the old part of town, which is a maze of streets, and the oldest medieval town in Europe. Rhodes offers something for everyone, beautiful beaches, nightlife, and plenty of history. It is the site of one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes, none of which remains today.

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