 For
the 2013 Eastern Mediterranean sailing season,
LOUIS CRUISES has unveiled an innovative new itinerary 8-day/-7night “Greece
and Turkey” cruise program, introducing two new destinations in the Aegean, the
island of Chios and the island of
Symi.
This unique itinerary demonstrates Louis Cruises’ enhanced
focus on its Greek heritage with a change in product positioning that gives
travelers the opportunity to visit off-the-beaten-path islands for an even
greater and more in-depth perspective of the diverse Greek Islands.
“The introduction of this novel itinerary furthers our goal to give clients a
more well-rounded Greek experience, not just entree to the big islands that
everyone knows by name,” said Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Louis Cruises. “We
are committed growing by innovation and by providing differentiated experiences
and are pleased to provide the opportunity for guests to really come and
experience our area, our region, and more of its distinctive ports and islands.”
The new Greece and Turkey program presents cruise travelers with a full day in
Istanbul, Aghios Nicolaos (Crete), Santorini and an extended stay in Mykonos.
Scheduled to operate from April 26 to October 25 of 2013, the cruise will depart
weekly and will take travelers to experience the exotic and distinctive islands
of Chios – known for its sweet, aromatic Mastic trees and Symi – with its
postcard-picture panorama.
Additionally, Louis Cruises is introducing a new port of embarkation for the 8
day/7 night itinerary, which will be Athens’ port of Lavrion (Attica),
conveniently located close to Athens International Airport. By implementing
Lavrion as the new embarkation port in Athens, sailing time to Istanbul is
reduced – providing guests more time to enjoy a full day to partake in the shore
excursion program with the best of Istanbul highlights. For further flexibility,
embarkation / disembarkation will also be possible from Istanbul and Kusadasi in
Turkey, Aghios Nicholaos (Crete), and Rhodes.
Chios is known as the fragrant flower of the Aegean. This
sweet-scented Aegean island owes its fame to its near-endless mastic (a kind of
gum) trees, only found on this isle. Its charming medieval villages are called
“Mastihochoria” (Mastic Villages) by the locals because there inhabitants used
to produce and export big quantities of mastic from the area’s trees. Relatively
unknown to most tourists, this beautiful wooded island offers a traditional
culture, golden sand and pebble beaches, hiking trails, extraordinary caves and
medieval stone villages, to remote mountains, unusual museums and a thoroughly
Hellenic nightlife. Some of the most popular sites include, The Castle of Chios,
the Archaeological and Byzantine museum, The Monastery of Nea Moni, and the
Library of Korais.
When it comes to revealing the treasures of the Greek Islands, Symi
stands out as a gem of an island. Symi’s picturesque settings beckon…from its
perfectly preserved Venetian port and mosaic of colorful houses steeped up the
hillside along the harbor, to its 85 kilometers of coastline and azure seas as
far as the eye can see. A small island with a big history, Symi was actually the
capital of the Dodecanese and supported a population of 30,000 inhabitants in
the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, the island’s population is about 2,500
residents who welcome visitors with their warm hospitality to enjoy this
cosmopolitan port town’s spectacular vistas, stunning architecture filled with
18th and 19th century houses and mansions, lively restaurants and bars, plus a
variety of monuments attesting to historical moments of Symi’s past.
With 25 time-honored years in cruising throughout the Mediterranean and 75 years
of award winning history in tourism, Louis Cruises offers an unparalleled cruise
experience onboard its celebrated fleet of destination-friendly cruise ships,
featuring LOUIS CRISTAL and LOUIS OLYMPIA as the vessels for its Eastern
Mediterranean programs. As part of the line’s enhanced focus on showcasing its
Aegean identity, guests sailing onboard these vessels can now more fully
experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Greece and the picturesque Greek
islands on their next Mediterranean journey.
Louis Cruises takes extra care to design itineraries that include the best ports
in their best seasons allowing ample time to enjoy their uniquely individual
charms coupled with meticulously planned shore excursions for a truly insightful
look into each destination. The line’s vessels transport passengers, both
literally and figuratively, to the lands of philosophers and dreamers -- from
the grandeur of Ancient Greece and the legendary Greek Isles to the treasures of
Turkey and beyond! Sailing with Louis Cruises, travelers can expect a complete
destination experience, timely arrivals, flexible and imaginative itineraries,
smooth embarkation and disembarkation, fascinating shore excursions, and
unparalleled Greek hospitality for a lifetime of enriching memories. |
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For
the 2013 Eastern Mediterranean sailing season,
LOUIS CRUISES has unveiled an innovative new itinerary 8-day/-7night “Greece
and Turkey” cruise program, introducing two new destinations in the Aegean, the
island of Chios and the island of
Symi.
