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An island-hopping cruise in Greece

My husband, Gary, and I recently took a Holland America cruise that included stops on four Greek islands and the Turkish coast. A bonus was the luxury of unpacking just once. Before our cruise could set sail into the Mediterranean, our adventure began in Athens. On our first evening, we discovered an outdoor rooftop bar with an unparalleled vista of the Acropolis. The ancient citadel stood as a timeless beacon of Greece’s storied past. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden...

Marybeth Bond Sheppard
By MARYBETH BOND SHEPPARD · 1 min read
Santorini is celebrated for its breathtaking cliffs and charming villages.

My husband, Gary, and I recently took a Holland America cruise that included stops on four Greek islands and the Turkish coast. A bonus was the luxury of unpacking just once.

Before our cruise could set sail into the Mediterranean, our adventure began in Athens. On our first evening, we discovered an outdoor rooftop bar with an unparalleled vista of the Acropolis. The ancient citadel stood as a timeless beacon of Greece’s storied past.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the hills encircling Athens, we took a taxi to Plaka, the vibrant neighborhood nestled at the foot of the Acropolis that is full of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. Above us, the Parthenon was illuminated against the night sky.

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A version of this story appeared in the Aug. 21, 2024, print edition of The Ark. See something wrong? Request a correction.
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