Criss-cross the Aegan Sea to ancient ruins. little-known villages, and delicious culinary havens during this 9-day cruise along the sun-drenched coasts of Turkey and Greece. Recline on ancient Ottoman marble and soak in the warm, steamy atmosphere of a 500-year-old Turkish bath in Istanbul. Sip red wines and sample Anatolian cuisine in a vineyard near Canakkals on the Darandelles. Lunch on crunchy fried calamari and shrimp saganaki in Mykonos as hungry pelicans and wandering cats await the return of the local fishing fleet.
Relish an exclusive musical performance and dinner beneath the stars in the glow of the ancient city Ephesus. Gather olives, fresh fruits, and regional vegetables for cooking up Turkish meals with a talented Bodrum chef. Wander cobbled lanes winding between medieval towers, markets, and fortifications in Rhodes.
Once back on the ship get an afternoon massage, take a snooze or my favorite, hit the Marine Deck (weather permitting) where you can go swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking or just float and play with the water toys. What a fabulous way to cool off and refresh after a fun-filled day ashore!
Each evening you leave a port is a celebration. The “Sail Away” is not a good-bye but a “see ya next time and a where to next!” Take a moment to listen to the beautiful music playing, watch the sails unfurl, marvel at the colors of the setting sun, and taste the delicious champagne. It is a truly magical part of the trip – you will not want to miss! Then it’s onto the dining room for a gourmet’s gourmet dinner where the chefs have prepared food like you have never seen on a ship before. No assembly line pre-prepared meals here. Each course is more beautiful than the one before, the wines are harmoniously paired with the entrees and the decadent desserts. (Let’s just say thank goodness you can get more than one!) The dining room is a delightful buzz with people making new friends and old friends reconnecting.
Two of your evenings feature especially extraordinary dinners. One will tantalize your taste buds with the delicious spread of Windstar's Seafood Under the Stars and Signature party. The second evening includes an immersion activity designed just for us!
Post dinner you can hear live music in one of the lounges, you can take a walk on deck to see the stars, you can have an after dinner drink by the pool or relax in your very comfortable and well-appointed cabin. Don’t miss this unique itinerary on this spectacular ship! This is the life!
Windstar Legend
GUEST CAPACITY: 312 Windstar Legend Deck Plan
GUEST DECKS: 6
CREW MEMBERS: 188-190 Black Sea Excursions offered by Windstar
LENGTH: 522 feet (159 meters)
BEAM: 62 feet (19 meters)
DRAFT: 17.7 feet (5.4 meters)
CRUISING SPEED: 15 knots
PROPULSION: Twin propeller, driven by two Wartsila diesel engines
TONNAGE: 12,995 gross registered tons (grt)
SHIP’S REGISTRY: Bahamas
Final payments are due to Windstar on June 25, 2022, Alt Esc will be use the credit card that you supplied for your Registration Deposit to pay the balance due to Windstar BY June 24, 2022.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE CRUISE PAYMENTS IN WETRAVEL!
To make a payment on your cruise, please contact Tricia directly Tricia@Alt-Esc.Net!
At least $100 On Board Credit
Group Cocktail Party for the Cool Kids - exclusive to our group! We will have our own space, bartender and invite the officers to join us!
Beautifully appointed ocean view stateroom or suite
At the get-to-know-you Happy Hour you will meet the others in our exclusive group, review the itinerary and learn all about our adventure!
All meals in all venues - no up charge for specialty restaurants
All non-alcoholic beverages, including specialty tea and coffee drinks
Full Time Alt Esc Guide (exclusive to our group) to help you have the BEST adventure EVER!
Access to the Open Bridge is thrilling! Get a tour and watch as they masterfully navigate this UBER-COOL Yacht around!
Beautiful 'Sail Away' program from every port - say good bye with great music, lighting and sharing the stories of your day!
Enjoy a glass of the bubbly as you are registered, all formalities are covered and you explore your new home for the next 12 days!
Spectacular onboard deck barbecue
All onboard entertainment including local performances in most regions
Full use of fitness facility - free weights and machines. Classes also offered once on board.
Full use of Marine Deck to splash, float and play with cool water toys, boats, stand up paddle boards, kayaks, etc (weather permitting)
Fresh fruit and flowers in your stateroom or suite
Plush bathrobe and slippers
Flat screen TV and DVD player
Easy roundtrip USA to Istanbul. Fly in early or stay later to explore
Always good idea to arrive night before a cruise departure to avoid missing the ship! Hotel/port transfer will be offered as a group option soon!
from Istanbul to Port and from port to Istanbul airport . This will be offered as a group option soon.
Daily gratuities ($13.50 per person/per day charged to your on-board account)
Excursions not provided by the ship
Alcohol packages are available and will be offered as you register
Spa & other optional activities
Depart your home town to Istanbul Turkey. With many airlines now servicing Istanbul, the options are almost endless. Come in a couple days early or stay a few days later to get the FULL experience of this amazing city!
Most flights will arrive the next day, afternoon.
Overnight: on plane
Welcome to Istanbul, Turkey!
Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal.
The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight).
Link to Excursion Options for Istanbul (Click here)
Options:
Istanbul: Byzantine Treasures & Hotel Transfer
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Full Day Van & Guide
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Half Day Car & Guide
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Half Day Van & Guide
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Full Day Car & Guide
Istanbul: Byzantine Hippodrome, St. Sophia, Grand Bazaar & Airport Transfer
Istanbul: Highlights of Istanbul & Hotel Transfer
Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight).
Link to Excursion Options for Istanbul (Click here)
Options:
Istanbul: Byzantine Treasures & Hotel Transfer
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Full Day Van & Guide
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Half Day Car & Guide
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Half Day Van & Guide
Istanbul, Concierge Collection: Private Full Day Car & Guide
Istanbul: Byzantine Hippodrome, St. Sophia, Grand Bazaar & Airport Transfer
Istanbul: Highlights of Istanbul & Hotel Transfer
Steeped in antiquity and fascinating intrigue, the region and its famous Trojan War were long considered legend because of the fact that no one could find them. After approximately 4,000 years, the treasured antiquities from the legendary city have been uncovered. Enjoy the beauty of this strategically located city on the shores of both the Marmara and Aegean Seas.
Wake this morning to the postcard-like scene of Mykonos, the classic Greek isle dotted with hundreds of whitewashed churches and thatch-roofed windmills, in a harbor bobbing with fishing boats and luxurious private yachts. An optional tour including a scenic ferry ride takes you back to the 6th century B.C. to the tiny island of Delos, a UNESCO site and the mythical birthplace of Apollo.
Link to Excursion Options for Mykonos (Click here)
Options:
Mykonos, Delos Discovery
As our yacht approaches the spectacular cliffs rising from the deep azure sea, you’ll understand the magic of this area, where some say the ruins of Atlantis remain hidden. Visit the village of Oia and see the iconic Santorini blue domes or take a guided tour of Bronze Age excavations at the UNESCO site of Akrotiri. Toast the day with a crisp, cold glass of local Assyrtiko wine.
Link to Excursion Options for Santorini (Click here)
Options:
Santorini, Concierge Collection: Full Day Private CAR + Guide
Santorini, Concierge Collection: Full Day Private VAN + Guide
Santorini, Concierge Collection: Half Day Private CAR + Guide
Santorini, Concierge Collection: Half Day Private VAN + Guide
Santorini, Concierge Collection: Sailing the Caldera
Santorini, Scenic Drive to Oia & Free Time
Santorini, The Ancient City of Akrotiri & Prehistoric Museum
Santorini, Wineries of Santorini & Oia Village
The 15th century Castle of St. Peter, built by the Crusaders, presides over the city’s dual harbors. Colorful peacocks strut their stuff trying to claim your attention, but they have nothing on the white sugar cube houses, palm-lined boulevards, and shockingly blue Aegean below. For a picture-perfect seaside playground, Bodrum offers a surprisingly rich history, or maybe it’s the other way around. Visit the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Surrender to the captivating magic of bathtub-warm waters and the Marina. Shop the bazaar for Milas cloth scarves and silver jewelry. Stroll the marina to see the other private yachts in port. (None as grand as yours, of course.)
Link to Excursion Options for Bodrum (Click here)
Options:
Bodrum, Castle & Gulet Cruise
Bodrum, Castle & Mausoleum
Bodrum, Concierge Collection: A day at the Beach Kempinski Barbaros Bay Hotel
Bodrum, Concierge Collection: Exclusive Bodrum Culinary Experience
Bodrum, Concierge Collection: Private Gulet Cruise
Bodrum, Certified One Tank Dive in Bodrums Wonderful Reefs
Bodrum, Certified Two Tank Dive in Bodrums Wonderful Reefs
This gracious oasis, known as the “Island of Roses,” was home to the legendary Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today it is a yachting paradise, whose shores are lined with sparkling beaches and lush green mountainsides. A scenic drive leads you through quaint villages and lemon groves to the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, standing guard over the picturesque town or to the Old City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Link to Excursion Options for Rhodes (Click here)
Options:
Rhodes, Concerge Collection: Half Day Private Van & Guide
Rhodes, Concierge Collection: Half Day Private Car & Guide
Rhodes, Concierge Collection: Full Day Private Car & Guide
Rhodes, Concierge Collection: Full Day Private Van & Guide
Rhodes, Scenic Drive to the Acropolis of Lindos
Rhodes, Concierge Collection: Introduction to Rhodian Pottery
Rhodes, Old Rhodes on Foot
Few places offer such a rich combination of history and scenic beauty. In Ephesus, one of the greatest outdoor museums in the world, you’ll explore legendary sites steeped in history. Also visit the houses of Bulbul Mountain, where the roof of one forms the terrace of the next. Take in the Celsus Library twice today. First with the other tourists and then again this evening as we present our Destination Discovery Event.
Kusadasi: Evening in Ephesus
No one who has seen the magnificent Celsus Library of Ephesus will ever forget it. And Windstar guests will get a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Library – after hours during this exclusive Evening in Ephesus event.
You will walk the Marble Road to the Library that housed more than 12,000 scrolls nearly two millennia ago. Your 5-course, white-glove-service dinner will be in the courtyard in front of the Library. The spectacularly illuminated façade allows you to examine the statues in their niches and the elegant details of the frames. Dinner under the stars will be accompanied by a trio from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra.
Just as you'd expect. No crowds. No rush. Delight in every detail.
Please note: This Destination Discovery Event has been scheduled in a way that will allow you to book and experience another shore excursion on the same day and you will not miss anything.
Link to Excursion Options for Kusadasi (Click here)
Options:
Kusadasi, Archaeological Ephesus & Museum
Kusadasi, Best of Ephesus
Kusadasi, Concierge Collection: Half Day Private VAN + Guide
Kusadasi, Ephesus and Virgin Mary's House
Kusadasi, Concierge Collection: Ephesus & Private Lunch at Sirince Village
Kusadasi, Concierge Collection: Full Day Private VAN + Guide
Kusadasi, Ephesus & Ancient Houses
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known worldwide as the sacred island where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation, Patmos is the ideal place for nature lovers with its coastline of sheer cliffs and its volcanic soil. Highlights of Patmos include the Cave of the Apocalypse and the Holy Monastery of the Apocalypse.
The island is ideal for total relaxation at the beach or in the countryside. Swimming in the wonderfully secluded beaches of Patmos is a delight. Enjoy a day under the hot sun visiting history and in the afternoon have lunch in the seaside taverns.
Link to Excursion Options for Patmos (Click here)
Options:
Patmos, Concierge Collection: Daily Life at the Monastery of Evaggelismos
Patmos, Concierge Collection: Half Day Private Car & Guide
Patmos, Concierge Collection: Half Day Private Van & Guide
Patmos, Monastery & Cave of St John
Patmos, Spirit of Patmos
Lemnos is a delightful, off the beaten path island with wild mountainous geology , inland lakes (including a salt lake) and large, uncrowded, sandy beaches all along the coastline. Windsurfing is becoming increasingly popular here. Sites to see here include the Medieval Castle of Myrina, Ancient Poliochni, Ancient Kavirio and the legendary cave of Philocetes.
At the north part of the island at the Cape of Falakro, or 'Falakro', a beautiful geographical phenomenon reveals beautiful and interesting rock formations from millions of years ago. Hot volcanic lava flooded out of the depths of the earth and froze to crystal as soon as it came in contact with the sea waters. Well worth a visit which attracts many novice photographers, capturing these stunning petrified rocks.
Link to Excursion Options for Myrina (Click here)
Options:
Myrina, Concierge Collection: Discover Lemnos by 4x4
Myrina, Highlights of Lemnos
Myrina, Lemnos by Traditional Caique
We awake to the sights & sounds of Istanbul. We say good bye to the fabulous crew that took such good are of us, disembark the yacht and head to airport or a post trip. We bring with us all the fabulous memories we have made on this truly unique itinerary!
Until next time Windstar!
