7 or 8 Nights Venetian Passageways: Athens to Venice and reverse

Type of Vessel

With only 212 guests, you begin to feel like it's your own private yacht almost as soon as you step aboard. The sitting area of your spacious suite gives you an expansive ocean view, making it a welcome retreat. When you're ready to make an appearance, the lounges, club, casino and library are waiting to be explored. Take some "you" time in the tranquil WindSpa, enjoy a dip in the pool, work off that decadent dessert in the Fitness Center and, of course, you are always welcome to visit the Bridge to examine navigation charts with the Captain. Star Breeze is large enough to pamper and entertain you, yet small enough to tuck into delightful tiny harbors and hidden coves that others can’t reach.

Itinerary

Day 1: Athens, Greece: With 3,000 years of history, you can’t turn around in Athens without encountering the past. The Acropolis, the Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are must-sees. But leave time if you can to climb Pnyx Hill for photos of the Parthenon at sunset, to buy your own set of Greek komboloi (worry beads), and to explore the metro stations that serve as mini-museums for the relics that are constantly being unearthed.
Day 2: Nafplio, Greece: This charming seaside town on the Peloponnese is one of the most romantic cities in Greece. Enjoy the medieval old town with narrow cobblestone alleys, and neoclassical mansions with bougainvillea trees adorning the balconies. Take an optional tour to the UNESCO site of Epidaurus or the UNESCO site of Mycenea, ancient ruins including the famous Lion’s Gate. Stroll the Syntagma Square and take in the beauty of the Palamidi Castle with its 999 steps carved from the rocks. The view is breathtaking.
Day 3: Itea (Delphi), Greece: Before there were fortune cookies there was the oracle of Delphi, dating back to 1400 B.C. The oracle gave cryptic guidance to the leaders of the day and was so highly respected that Delphi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became known as the center of the world. An optional tour lets you go exploring, from the Temple of Apollo to the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which contains some of the finest works of art in Greece.
Day 4: Katakolon, Greece: Charming and scenic Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia, the original home of the Olympic Games and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit this memorable site only 30 minutes away and see the fertile Peloponnese valleys along the way, full of strawberries, tomatoes, corn and olive trees before your delightful Destination Discovery Event at a Greek farm.
Day 5: Butrint National Park, Albania: The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint has been ruled by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans, with the ruins of each culture perfectly preserved by the encroaching marshes. It’s one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Adriatic, and even more extraordinary for its rural setting on a picturesque lagoon. In the 4th century B.C. it was a major commercial center, but it faded into obscurity until Mussolini dispatched a young archaeologist to Albania in 1924. What he uncovered was a layer cake of history dating from the rise of the Iron Age to the fall of the Iron Curtain. Study the colorful peacock mosaics in the 6th century baptistry, sit in the amphitheater where Greeks and Romans once laughed and cried, feel what Cicero felt when he wrote that Butrint is the “quietest, coolest, most pleasant place in the world."
Day 6: Kotor, Montenegro: This is one of Montenegro’s most beautiful bays, and the approach offers one breathtaking fjord-like view after another. Just when you’ve reached your fill of blues and greens, the bright red rooftops of the medieval Old Town come into view. The entire area has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The charming streets of Old Town remain car free, filled with 12th century Baroque palaces and Romanesque churches. For a fresh perspective, climb to the fortress on the hill for a breathtaking vista.
Day 7: Dubrovnik, Croatia: While larger ships pass by, you anchor right beyond the famous walled city so you can admire its beauty with every glance. Tender ashore and step right into Old Town, a UNESCO site where no cars are allowed, just eons of history. Capture the exhilarating views on your camera — and in your memory. End your day at the Buza Café (if you can find it) watching bold divers leap off the cliffs into the crystalline sea.
Day 8: Hvar, Croatia: Celebrities from Prince Harry to Beyoncé have made Hvar their go-to place for both unspoiled escape and action, so you might want to check out the other yachts in the harbor to see who your neighbors are. Soak up the natural beauty of the island, covered in pine and palm trees, fragrant lavender fields, vineyards, and gorgeous beaches. Head to the town square for a look at the Venetian cathedral. Or follow the city walls to sweeping views from the fortress on the hill.
Day 9 & 10: Venice, Italy: No other sea approach in the Adriatic raises goose bumps like Venice. On your luxurious home-away-from home, you arrive already equipped with a sense of what it’s like to live in the city that’s neither land nor water. Add your own sigh to the Bridge of Sighs, sip a spritz al bitter as you plot your agenda, and let the water taxis do your navigating unless you don’t mind getting lost. Not such a bad prospect, with serendipitous discoveries around every corner.

All Inclusive

All meals in all venues at all times, including room service menu available 24 hours; all non-alcoholic beverages, including cappuccino, espresso, and other specialty non-alcoholic drinks; welcome cocktails at reception; all onboard entertainment; unlimited use of Fitness Center; unlimited use of all water sports equipment; informative nightly port talks and destination briefings.

Food and Dining

Options include AmphorA Restaurant, Candles, Star Bar, Lounge, Veranda, and Compass Rose.

Onboard Activities/Events

A pool, fitness center, two whirlpools, a spa, casino, watersports platform, and a host of activities and events are available at your leisure.

Shore Excursions

Some excursion highlights include:

Climb the Acropolis to a breathtaking view of the Parthenon.
Leave larger ships in your wake as you transit the narrow Corinth Canal.
Visit Delphi, where the oracle once shared her wisdom in perplexing riddles.
Take time away from the magnificent ruins to enjoy the unusually bucolic setting of Butrint.
Walk the medieval alleyways of Kotor to discover Baroque palaces and Romanesque churches.
Enter Dubrovnik’s majestic city walls to find an Old Town still savoring the Middle Ages.
Linger in the resort town of Hvar, said to be one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world.
Walk in the footsteps of the original Olympic athletes in Olympia, accessible from nearby Katakolon.
Gondolas, St. Mark’s, the Bridge of Sighs—there’s only one Venice.

Staterooms or Cabins

Gracious Balcony and Ocean View suites, Classic Suites, and Owner’s Suites feature queen beds, Egyptian cotton linens, luxury bath products, waffle-weave roes, separate bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, whirlpool spa tubs, massage showers, separate bedrooms and living rooms, in-suite dining areas, fully-stocked mini bars/ refrigerators, Wi-Fi, fresh flowers and fruit, safes, direct dial phones, granite vanities, magnifying mirrors, and 110/220 outlets.

Spa

WindSpa pampers with spa services.

Fitness

The Fitness Center is fully equipped for your workout away from home.

Other Info

A Complimentary Windstar Destination Discovery Event: Katakolon: Magna Grecia – the Spirit of Greece Itself

A short drive through picturesque villages will take you to the family-owned Magna Grecia Farm located in the heart of a traditional agricultural region close to Ancient Olympia. You will visit the olive grove and learn the history of the olive tree and the tasty, peppery fruit produced here. You'll see the vineyards and their cherished farm animals as well. This family will introduce you to what they believe makes up the spirit of Greece itself - olives and wine. Immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of this estate as you sample the delicious flavors of Greek mezes (appetizer dishes) along with local wine. Flirt with Greek culture as you watch a short demonstration of Syrtaki dance, and maybe try a few steps yourself. Your feast for the senses will continue with a traditional Mediterranean lunch of bread and bruschetta with virgin olive oil, tomato, feta cheese and black kalamata olives, fava beans, grilled traditional sausages, tzatziki, and the main course chicken fillet cooked with orange peel and lemon and orange juice served with a rice dish with saffron, pine nuts, currants and zucchini followed by dessert. Finish with Ouzo, the local liqueur that tastes like licorice. What’s not to enjoy on this exclusive Destination Discovery Event.

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.