Ashley Kessler, Windstar’s Vacation Planner Supervisor, shares her insights on cruising our Greek Isles & Turkish Delights Voyage.
Windstar’s Greek Isles & Turkish Delights is one of my personal favorite itineraries. There is something about the ancient customs, rich culture, and alluring flavors of Greece and Turkey that make it a magical place.
If your adventure begins in Istanbul, take advantage of the complimentary airport transfer. Windstar will take care of your luggage while you relax in the air-conditioned private coach, arriving in style to your pre-cruise hotel package or directly to the yacht.
Learn about the intricate skills of traditional silk rug making with a private demonstration in a family-owned shop in Kusadasi, Turkey. As you enter Topkapi Carpets you are greeted with Turkish coffee or aromatic Raki, an anise-based aperitif similar to ouzo. Get caught up in the moment as you watch a silk rug maker weave a masterpiece. After the demonstration you can stroll through the rug shop to purchase your very own piece of Turkish history.
No trip to Turkey and Greece would be complete without watching (or partaking in!) live belly dancing. Windstar brings Turkish dancers on board one night per cruise. It’s something not to be missed, with the dancers dressed in opulent costumes performing dances passed down for generations.
Learn to cook like a local with an authentic Greek cooking class in Rhodes, Greece. The class is held in a Greek tavern and you work with your own personal chef as he teaches you how to make local specialties like moussaka, Greek salad, Mediterranean meatballs, and eggplant salad. After the cooking is done, more fun ensues as you sample your creations along with some local wine. Don’t forget to bring your recipe list home with you to impress your friends with your authentic cooking when you return.
In Santorini be sure to pop into Skiza, a local restaurant in Oiia, and enjoy some local Vinsanto, Santorini’s famed dessert wine, while you revel in the views of the sapphire seas.
These are just some of the wonders you can experience on your Greek Isles & Turkish Delights cruise.
Opa!
-Ashley
