Post Cruise Beach Stay

[Lilycat2010]

Hi,

 

Has anyone stayed at a resort, maybe an all inclusive, post cruise?  We are contemplating a 7 day Athens to Athens Celebrity Cruise.  Would like to add on some resort time.  We would prefer not to have to take a lengthy ferry ride.  Does anyone have a recommendation for the Athens beach area, or a nearby island with a nice upscale resort?

 

Thanks!

[Hlitner]

You have all kinds of options, depending on whether you are willing to spend time schlepping on a ferry to one of the Greek Islands (most are not very close to Pireaus).  You could simply stay on the mainland and go to a resort like the Four Seasons Astir Palace.

 

My own preference is to take a ferry some distance to an island like Naxos or Paros.  

 

Hank

[princeton123211]

12 hours ago, Hlitner said:

You could simply stay on the mainland and go to a resort like the Four Seasons Astir Palace.

I was going to mention the FS Astir Palace as well-- close to Athens and ticks the boxes you mention (except for being all inclusive). It is stunningly spectacular, but also breathtakingly expensive. 

[Lilycat2010]

Thanks for the responses.  That one is a bit out of budget, but looks fantastic.

[edinburgher]

18 hours ago, Lilycat2010 said:

We would prefer not to have to take a lengthy ferry ride.

There are  both fast and slow ferries and a fast one would not necessarily be "lengthy".  Or you could take a short flight to one of your choosing.

 

For suggestions if you have not already done so, try internet searching something like "closest islands to Athens" or "best islands close to Athens" or similar wording.

Edited March 13 by edinburgher

[princeton123211]

2 hours ago, Lilycat2010 said:

Thanks for the responses.  That one is a bit out of budget, but looks fantastic.

Another option that avoids a ferry (and while it can be expensive, but there are deals here and there and you can use Marriott points to reduce cost or get it for free) would be the Hotel Grande Bretagne, actually in the center of Athens. They have a spectacular rooftop pool deck with pool bar which we spent an entire day at last time-- you can literally pretend you're not in the city, although you still have spectacular views. 

[Lilycat2010]

Thanks for all the responses!

[Lilycat2010]

One more question.  Is it easy to navigate the port to get from the ship to a ferry?  Is it walkable?  Do you need a taxi?  Thanks in advance!

[CruiserBruce]

25 minutes ago, Lilycat2010 said:

One more question.  Is it easy to navigate the port to get from the ship to a ferry?  Is it walkable?  Do you need a taxi?  Thanks in advance!

Whether its walkable depends on  where you dock. If you look at Google Maps there are ferry and cruise ship docks all around the port/bay.

[princeton123211]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Whether its walkable depends on  where you dock. If you look at Google Maps there are ferry and cruise ship docks all around the port/bay.

Yep-- to the OP, Piraeus is less like a traditional cruise terminal and more like a small airport for cruise ships and ferries. Much like an airport one day you might dock near your ferry connection, another day not so much and you might not know until you're there. 

[edinburgher]

6 hours ago, Lilycat2010 said:

Is it walkable?  Do you need a taxi?  

It also depends on any mobility issues you might have and how much luggage you will be carrying.

 

 

Edited March 15 by edinburgher

[Hlitner]

7 hours ago, Lilycat2010 said:

One more question.  Is it easy to navigate the port to get from the ship to a ferry?  Is it walkable?  Do you need a taxi?  Thanks in advance!

It truly depends.  As has been posted, there are ferry piers all around the harbor (which is over more than a 1 mile).  And there is various Ferry Gates (where you enter for certain ferries) so the answer is going to depend on where your ferry docks in relation to your ship.  On our most recent visit to Pireaus we debarked from a Seabourn cruise and needed to board the ferry to Naxos, which was docked in the ferry area nearest the train station.  That would have been more then a 1 mile hike (just to the entrance gate) so we hired a taxi at debarkation.

 

By the way, if you do book a ferry you should do your homework as to where that ferry docks.  The taxi drivers do not always have the answer so it is helpful to give them a hint on which gate/pier.

 

Hank