Following on from my previous blog post, 9-Night Greek Isles Cruise onboard Norwegian Viva with NCL, I’m going to include a day-by-day review of each port I visited. It’s worth noting that each of these was written after a few glasses of sauvignon blancs, so they may not be the most detailed. If you don’t want to read the entirety of my Greek Isles Cruise Review, then here you go… We really like to walk around the towns, as we’re not so big on excursions.
Ravenna, Italy
As soon as we booked our NCL Greek Isles cruise, we knew we wouldn’t be going into Venice from Ravenna. The long, hour-plus round trip just didn’t seem worth it, especially since we had just come from Venice airport the day before.
We initially decided to disembark the Norwegian Viva, stretch our legs, and then re-board the ship. However, upon seeing a taxi rank and a queue for a shuttle bus, we spontaneously decided to explore Ravenna instead. We shared a taxi with another couple (four people in total), which cost €40.
The city is absolutely charming, with side streets filled with boutiques, bakeries, and plenty of gelato. We loved walking around and sightseeing.
Around 1:30 pm, we decided to head back to the ship and looked for a taxi. However, we soon realised we didn’t really know where we were, and communicating with taxi drivers and call centres was tricky. By 2:00 pm, then 2:30 pm, and finally 3:00 pm, we still had no luck finding a taxi. It seemed all the taxis were pre-booked.
After finding the NCL shuttle bus area, we decided to give up on the taxi idea and just take the shuttle back. The queue was long as heck, and after three full shuttles and a 45-minute wait, we finally got on a bus back to the port.
Although the taxi situation put a damper on our day, we’re glad we know better for next time.
Split, Croatia
We were relieved that the Norwegian Viva docked in the actual centre of Split, Croatia, so we wouldn’t be repeating yesterday’s adventure.
Split itself is a very walkable port with plenty of taxis, tuk-tuks, and coaches readily available to take you wherever you want to go, including popular spots in the city.
The town is exactly what you’d call “charming,” with lots of medieval side streets and local craft stores.
We strolled along the promenade, admiring the yachts and sailboats. Afterward, we walked for about 20 minutes to reach the beach, which was a bit disappointing but not terrible. It was practically deserted and was a pebble beach rather than sand, making it slightly uncomfortable to relax on. However, we were grateful later as it meant our feet were sand-free on the walk back.
We then stopped for gelato, which was amazing. Just a few shops ahead, though, we saw an artisan gelato shop with so many unique flavours. We couldn’t resist trying a small portion!
On our way back to the ship, we noticed a local fair filled with fresh produce, artisan baked goods, and lavender stalls. We decided to spend the final part of our afternoon browsing through the stalls.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
As soon as we arrived in Dubrovnik, we spoke with a taxi driver to take us to the Old Town. Since another couple wanted to do the same, we decided to share the ride. The driver quoted £40 for all four of us. The ride was short, scenic, and smooth. Within 15 minutes, we had arrived and were ready to explore.
At first glance, Dubrovnik was stunning. Each alleyway was bursting with local charm, outdoor eateries, and tourists snapping pictures. It was exactly as you’d expect from all the photos.
We decided to spend the morning wandering around the Old Town without any urgency or specific destination, just letting the streets lead us.
Once you reach the centre of the Old Town, the charm starts to fade just a bit. The eateries are replaced by back-to-back Game of Thrones merchandise stores.
After seeing the sights, we wanted to dip our toes in the ocean and headed to the beach. Like in Split, the beach was covered with pebbles, but unlike Split, this beach had some sandy spots.
Following this, we decided to cool down in some shade and plan our way back to the cruise port. We grabbed the first taxi we could and paid £20 for the ride back, half the price of the morning trip.
Corfu, Greece
Corfu was the only destination where we had a clear plan: to grab the hop-on, hop-off bus and go sightseeing! Especially after the stress of Ravenna and given we were only in port for 5 hours, we knew this would be the smoothest option.
The ticket cost €22 and was valid for the entire day. The complete trip around all the spots took just over an hour. We decided to complete the route first and then head into the centre of Corfu for some light shopping and maybe a coffee.
The hop-on, hop-off bus was great for getting around the town. The only downside was that the audio guides didn’t work on any of the buses we took, so if you’re hoping for a guided audio tour, you might want to consider an alternative option.
While the town was extremely charming, it felt a lot more British than the other ports of call. This was likely due to Corfu being a very popular destination for Brits abroad, leading to some gentrification.
The town was filled with local leather makers, cafes, and typical holiday merchandise (crude t-shirts, magnets, and souvenirs).
Santorini, Greece
We knew we would take it easy today for two reasons: we didn’t get into port until 1:30 pm, and Santorini is extremely busy. We decided to have breakfast in our room at 9 am, relax in bed, watch a movie, and then start getting ready for the day.
Breakfast was a success, although NCL only provided one bowl for the cereal, ha. Our movie was cut off halfway through and then completely removed from the TV app. I called guest services to find out what had happened, but they were clueless about it. My guess is that NCL changes some of the movies every day, and they removed ours while we were watching it.
If you ever have a late arrival into port, I highly recommend a lazy day in bed with breakfast! It makes you feel like you’re having a vacation from your vacation, which is exactly what we were going for. Since the UK isn’t far from Greece, we figured we could easily come back during the off-season. Plus, seeing three ships in port and the donkey rides up the mountain put us off.
The ship was completely empty, and we absolutely loved having our very own sea day. The pools were empty, we had the best sun beds, and it was very relaxing.
Kusadasi, Turkey
After Santorini, we had an early day in Kusadasi. Our arrival was at 6 am, with departure at 12:30 pm. We set our alarms for 6, skipped breakfast, and headed off the ship. The town is charming, but the persistency of the shop assistants is a little off-putting.
We were persuaded to buy some local bowls for €10, which at the time seemed like a deal—until we saw them in Istanbul, Mykonos, and Athens for only €3. Oh well! It’s not a cruise vacation unless you get ripped off at least once.
As we arrived so early in Kusadasi, there wasn’t much open. We had a stroll through the town and headed back on board. If your ship plans to do the same, I highly recommend booking an excursion to make the most of your time in port, or have a sea day!
It’s also worth noting that if you’re from the UK, check your mobile provider, as Turkey was the one place we didn’t have internet coverage.
Istanbul, Turkey
After Kusadasi and having no internet service, we decided to download the entirety of Istanbul’s maps on Google Maps using the ship’s Wi-Fi.
Istanbul was the port we were most looking forward to! We had read about the mosques, bazaars, and amazing dining, so we couldn’t wait to explore. Upon leaving the terminal, we were greeted by persistent cab drivers. In hindsight, we probably should have taken one.
We had heard about Istanbul’s excellent public transportation and decided to use it. We queued for 10 minutes at the metro ticket machine, but sadly, it didn’t accept our cards.
Instead, we used Apple Maps and walked to the city centre. It took around 20 minutes, including a walk through a few different bazaars.
Visually and environmentally, Istanbul feels quite like London—fast-paced, bustling, and a bit smoggy.
When we reached the Grand Bazaar, we were amazed by the number of shops. While we knew it would be extensive, there were hundreds of shops, all selling similar items: knock-off clothing, tea, and Turkish delight. It was disappointing as we expected to see more culturally unique items. The bazaar felt like a maze, not due to its size, but because every shop seemed identical. We left the bazaar after about 10 minutes and headed to the Blue Mosque.
Once we were in the area of the Blue Mosque we decided to stop for some lunch at a place called House of Medusa. The food, service, and quality was absolutely gorgeous – highly recommend. We both got some light bites and some tea.
From them, we decided to head over to the Blue Mosque. The entire area is absolutely stunning and definitely worth the visit.
Istanbul was quite easy to navigate on foot, and once we were in the centre, we didn’t feel the need for a cab or the metro.
We often try not to see everything in one visit, as we like to leave with the intention of coming back. Istanbul is definitely a city you can’t see all in one go.
Mykonos, Greece
We were scheduled to arrive in port at 1:30 pm, but we actually managed to get in at 12 on the dot. Our group as number 25 for the tender, and we initially thought would be a few hours wait, but it was actually only an hour! Following a little wait in the theatre, we stepped foot on the island at exactly 1:30, which isn’t bad considering everything.
Oh my. To sum up Mykonos in one word, it would have to be stunning. Everything looks exactly how you imagine it: clean, bohemian, and 100% Instagram-ready.
The small, narrow streets were bustling, but the moment you stepped behind them, it was completely deserted—totally unlike any other port we have ever been to. Photos certainly don’t do it justice.
I honestly don’t have much else to say other than GO! Even though we didn’t do anything but walk through the streets, it has honestly been our highlight.
Athens, Greece
We disembarked the Norwegian Viva around 7:30 am, originally planning to use our Norwegian airport transfer for a flight back to Edinburgh at 1 pm. However, EasyJet changed the flight to 11:30 pm, giving us a full day and evening in Athens.
Knowing our travel habits (groggy), and not wanting to lug two heavy suitcases around Athens all day, we decided to book an Airbnb to use as a day hotel. It was the best decision, allowing us to freshen up, nap, and recharge.
Although the Airbnb wasn’t the greatest (probably wouldn’t have stayed overnight), it served its purpose.
Athens as a whole was stunning. With zero expectations, we were completely blown away. Imagine Manchester’s Northern Quarter spanning for miles, with the historic elements of Edinburgh and Bath. Very trendy, with street art covering the city (not sure if the government is happy about that), amazing food, and perfect for those who love mixing historic culture with good beer.
We had an amazing brunch at a spot called JOIN, a late lunch at The New Era, and late evening pizza and wine at a place I can’t remember the name of.
We would definitely return to Athens and consider using it as a base for future Greek Isles cruises.
Overall, Athens was probably our favourite spot!
The flight back to Athens was fine! However, the 11:30 pm to 4:25 am schedule wasn’t ideal. I was seated in the emergency exit, which prevented me from sleeping due to the responsibility of handling an emergency.
To conclude on my Greek Isles Cruise Review
We managed to get home at around 3 am UK time, and what a whirlwind 9 nights we had. We absolutely loved our Greek Isles Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and would definitely book with them again.
The one critique we had throughout our cruise, and I’m sure you can guess what it is, is that the excursions are very expensive onboard. This is entirely why we didn’t do a single one. We simply couldn’t justify the cost.
A note for our future selves, or perhaps for you, would be to save up some extra money to book excursions—especially for the ports where you only get a short time or those known for being busy. This would ensure you get the most out of your time there.
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