8-Day Cruise - Greece & Turkey with Orient Queen

Life Onboard

Experts in the art of hospitality and exceptional service, the staff and crew will offer you an unforgettable experience.

You will be tempted by the wide variety of on board facilities and activities. From a work out at the fitness centre to a complete make over in the beauty salon or refreshing swim in the pool you will prepare yourself for the most fascinating and enriching shore excursions you have ever experienced.

When at the sea you can watch a movie in the Cinema, read your favourite book or play a game of cards in our Library, take dancing lessons or simply relax on one of our roomy sun decks.

From Breakfast in the morning to the midnight buffet our chefs and well trained dining staff will prepare and serve regional specialties prepared from scratch and our wine stewards will assist you in selecting some of the finest wines from a diverse local or international list.

While the night is still young you will enjoy our shows, try your luck in the casino, dance in our disco till early morning hours or enjoy a romantic stroll on deck under the star-studded sky as you sail towards your next destination.

Welcome to Istanbul!  Istanbul's dazzling amalgam of mosques, churches, cabarets, palaces and bazaars adds to the itinerary a once in a lifetime experience. During your stay here pick a couple of the shore excursions offered on board or, if you decide to move on your own, do not miss to visit the Saint Sophia Byzantine Church, now a museum, the Top Kapi Museum, the Blue Mosque, near Saint Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, a most impressive masterpiece of Architecture, or take the opportunity to visit the Grand Bazaar (Kaparli Carsi); here there are 4000 shops selling leatherware, alabaster, souvenirs, gold and silver jewelry, wood-carved items, clothing, glassware, decorative items, musical instruments and nargilehs, antiques, hand-woven carpets and fabrics, anything one could (or could not) imagine. Here, a prerequisite to shopping is hard bargaining!

 

Mykonos combines the cosmopolitan and sophisticated lifestyle with a simple yet charming life of this Cycladic Island. Take a stroll through the maze of narrow streets, marvel at the hundreds of tiny chapels and the whitewashed houses with their flower-filled balconies. Take a walk up to the famous windmills or just relax on the waterfront, enjoy the sunset, accompanied by a refreshing drink or traditional ouzo!

 

Very often, Patmos is called the Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea. It is the sacred island where St John the Divine, whilst in exile, wrote the book of Revelations, which constitutes the last part of the New Testament. Built 900 years ago, the Monastery of St John is an impressive structure with outstanding interior frescoes. The museum inside also exhibits priceless ecclesiastical treasures. Visit the Grotto where St John lived and actually wrote the Book of Revelations.

 

 

Izmir is Turkey's third largest city, with an inhabited area of more than 12,000 km2 and a population of over 3 million. It has always been famous for its port, which is one of the most important in the country for trade and exports of dried figs, sultanas and hazelnuts, and at first glance looks like an extremely modern city. But traces of Izmir's ancient past are everywhere. An optional excursion is offered to Pergamum, which together with Alexandria, was the main center of the Hellenistic civilisation in the East and capital of the Roman province of Asia. It enjoyed over three centuries of economical prosperity which resulted in exceptional cultural and artistic development, such as the Askelepion complex, and the Acropolis.

 

A mix of modern and medieval, Rhodes fascinates and impresses each visitor. not to be missed is Lindos, the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. Climb to the top of the ancient Acropolis of Lindos with its breathtaking views covering the great expanse of the Aegean Sea and St Paul's Bay below. Wander through the Medieval city of Rhodes, view the palace of the Knights and walk down the famous Chevaliers Road. Walking along its cobbled streets one is reminded of iron-armored horse’s hooves clapping, and steel swords clashing and clanging.

 

An opporunity to explore the capital city and main port of Crete, the center of the great Minoan Civilization and the mythological home of Zeus. You can visit the excellent Archaeological Museum in town, or take the outstanding optional excursion to the palace of Knossos, dating to 4000 B.C., where ongoing excavations unravel more of the mystery of its incredible past and its great civilization. 

 

Santorini is a unique island, considered to be the lost continent of Atlantis. Marvel at the whitewashed village of Fira, capital of the island with its narrow and picturesque streets, perched on the Caldera rim. Enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, whilst relaxing over a coffee and gazing out to sea. Visiting Oia is also a must, an inspiration to all artists with numerous art galleries and spectacular views.  Access to Fira is an amazing cable car ride or for the more daring, by donkey.