Pros and Cons of a Small Ship Cruise in the Greek Islands
Thinking about cruising the Greek Islands? In this episode we’re sharing the pros and cons of our small ship experience aboard the National Geographic Orion. From stunning stops to incredible service, here’s why you’ll want to add a Greek cruise to the travel bucket list!
In June Ward and I visited Greece for the first time! We had an amazing cruise experience aboard the National Geographic Orion ship. Let’s dive into all the details!
When should I go on a Greek cruise?
Travel experts suggest traveling to Greece in late May-June or September.
These shoulder seasons help the crowds not be as bad, and helps you beat the intense summer heat.
What should I pack?
For context, we went in early June where the average high temperatures were in the 80s.
I packed quite a few sun dresses and these ended up being perfect for the warm weather! I also loved wearing my Vuori skirt (with built-in biker shorts).
Bring a lightweight long sleeve shirt to help protect you from the sun. You will be spending a lot of time outside and the sun is intense.
I would definitely bring a hat as well! You will likely be riding on smaller boats during your stay, so if you have a hat with a chin tie that might be helpful.
For shoes, I loved my Tevas! These were perfect for all-around wear as well as the smaller hikes we did.
What is a small cruise ship like?
Just to set your expectations, these ships are nothing like the mainstream cruises (Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, etc.) that you may have been on or seen.
Smaller cruise ships are often used to travel through rivers or on more “expedition” type trips.
Pros of going on a small ship cruise
You can easily navigate the ship! Our ship only had 50 cabins with 60 crew members.
We had exceptional service! Due to the high ratio of staff to guests, they really cater to everything you can think of. Whenever we walked into the lounge, they always prepared our favorite drinks without asking and always remembered our preferences.
This depends on the ship, but our excursions were included in the cruise price. This was super nice to not have to worry about!
Since they’re cooking for less people, the food quality is much higher. The food was delicious! Breakfast was typically a buffet in the dining hall, lunch was served outside on the deck, and dinner alternated being served inside or outside.
National Geographic photographers were on our ship to help teach guests about photography (including iPhone photography). They are also out and about taking pictures in town and on excursions. They are more than happy to share tips or help taking photos.
National Geographic naturalists are also on board to teach you about the areas that you are visiting.
I also love that National Geographic cruises are centered around being active (if you want to be)! I was able to go on three hikes during our Greek cruise. The naturalists guided these tours and they were so insightful!
Internet (Starlink) was included, but it wasn’t the best.
There was also a doctor on board who offers free medical consultations as needed.
All beverages (including alcohol) were already included in the price.
Laundry was also included in the price!
Being on a smaller boat allows for more opportunities to make friends and get to know people!
Cons of going on a small ship cruise
There were no “sea days”. You are out and about everyday, which doesn’t allow for a ton of relaxing time. (Maybe this is a pro for you!)
There aren’t a ton of entertainment options like big cruise lines have.
The cost is very high. This cruise was not cheap by any means, but it was amazing.
There are fewer excursion options. Since we were visiting smaller destinations, there weren’t as many choices of what you can do.
This ship and the excursions are not super accessible for anyone with mobility difficulties.
Now that you have a basic overview of a trip on the National Geographic Orion, let’s go over the cruise stops! Keep an eye out for these amazing destinations if you’re ever heading on a Greek adventure!
Cerifos
Here we went on a Narlis farm tour where we had the most amazing meal, cooking demonstration, and walked around the farm.
Sifnos
This beautiful town had amazing photo opportunities and winding sidewalks. This was the quintessential Greek town!
Tour the church and grab food from a bakery!
Milos
This island is a little more well-known and busier.
Faragas beach was my favorite place we visited on Milos. I could have spent hours at this beach!
This city is so fun to explore. We found an amazing dinner restaurant and a delicious bakery.
Santorini
This is by far the most popular island we visited. It was my least favorite stop due to the huge crowds (not even during the busy season) and heavy amounts of tourist shops.
However, we did visit Akrotiri, which was amazing! Akrotiri is a village that has been preserved due to volcanic ash and there is so much to learn here.
Paros
Here we went on a Petra farm tour. It was really cool to see how “dry farming” works here! They use the least amount of water possible and let the humidity water the plants!
I recommend seeking out any farm tours you can in Greece!
Naxos
We got to go on a hike in Naxos, which I loved!
Delos
Delos was a highlight! Do not miss this island if you can! This island is almost uninhabited.
We did an awesome hike up a large hill where you get great views of ruins and the entire island. You are able to wander right through the ruins!
There is also a great museum reviewing the island’s history.
Syros
We had the most picturesque views upon arrival here. They had the cutest little houses all over the side of the mountain.
This island has so much marble that all of the streets are lined with marble.
There is really great (non-tourist) shopping here! I got a new dress, shoes, and earrings.
We stayed in town for dinner this night, and it was fantastic!
If you have any more questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram @thistraveltribe!