Crete Cruise Holidays

The largest Greek Island, Crete lies at the very south of the Aegean, and is a popular stop on a Mediterranean cruise, thanks to its wealth of ancient Minoan ruins and abundance of mythology, not to mention stunning natural beauty and glorious beaches. Crete cruises offer the chance to visit the diverse resorts on its coastline, with the island ideal for a sailing trip or intimate cruise. Together with its endless list of historic and cultural attractions, a cruise to Crete is a great choice for all types of holidaymaker, home to family-friendly sandy beaches with plenty of tourist facilities, quaint mountain-top towns and charming and unspoilt fishing villages.

 

Most Crete cruises stop at the islands' commercial port, Heraklion, located in the middle of Cretes north coast. The largest town, Heraklion, has plenty of attractions and sights to see, and is best explored on foot. A cruise to Crete takes in the stunning Venetian harbour at Heraklion, with its great fortress and walls, whilst the main tourist spots of Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum are not to be missed, offering extensive displays of ancient Minoan art. Heraklion is easily explored in a day, as the important sights are located quite close to each other, and the main pedestrian square, Venizelou, is home to a great choice of bars, cafes, shops and restaurants. There are plenty of other shore excursions to be had close to the town, with beaches to visit on a Crete cruise including Amoudara, Elounda, Agia Pelagia and Gouves.

 

The mountainous landscape on Crete conceals a wealth of hidden gems, with the countryside dotted with traditional hilltop villages, ancient monasteries, secluded churches and lush olive groves and vineyards. As well as its history and mythology, Crete cruises are a chance to try the highly regarded cuisine, with the island offering a great choice of regional specialities in its many tavernas. A cruise to Crete can show visitors the best of the island if they choose a cruise and stay trip, offering much more time to explore the island and all its delights.  Azamara cruise and Island cruise lines have ships that sail to Crete, and other destinations in Greece.