Greek Cruise vs Island Hopping: How to Visit Greece For The First Time

Visiting Greece for the first time is a very exciting experience, but it can also be somewhat overwhelming! You may be wondering what the best way to travel between the Greek islands is and currently facing two options – doing a Greek cruise, or going island-hopping on your own.

With over 200 inhabited islands, plus the mainland – where do you even start? This is certainly how I felt before visiting Greece! Obviously, I had seen hundreds of videos and photos of the most famous islands like Santorini and Mykonos, but I knew that each island is different and I wanted to explore further.

I knew about the Mamma Mia island of Skopelos, and for long I had saved photos of Sarakiniko Beach in Milos, but I also knew about Tinos, Serifos, Rhodes, Zakynthos, Crete, Paros… it felt endless!

However, don’t worry! This guide will help you choose the best way to travel between the Greek islands for you as a first-timer in Greece!

Contents

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Things to consider when choosing between a Greek cruise or island-hopping for a first visit to Greece

In the next sections, I will dive into the nitty gritty of the pros and cons of Greek cruises and island-hopping. However, there are a few things to consider which may affect your decision:

How much time do you have, and do you know where to go? Unfortunately, most people don’t have unlimited holidays, and figuring out where to visit may be too overwhelming for some looking at a list of 227 inhabited islands. Having a pre-planned itinerary with many stops may look like a good start for those who want to make up their minds about different islands without committing too much. For others, they may have an idea of exactly where they want to go, even if it means visiting less islands or spending slightly longer in transit between places.

How much planning you want to do: Many people (including myself) enjoy planning their own trips, as it allows them to tailor their itinerary however they like. They can stay for however long they want, wherever they want, and choose exactly what to see and do. However, others may not have time or want to spend the effort required for travel planning. For these holiday-makers, the idea of heaven might just be a convenient all-inclusive package where they can simply show up and enjoy their already pre-planned vacation.

Your travelling style: Different people crave different flavours from their travels, and this will influence your decision. Do you like to stay immersed in a place for longer, venture to different corners and try all the experiences that each place has to offer? Or do you want to see as many different places as possible, even if that means spending less time in each one? Do you go out of your way to avoid the crowds? Or do you want to tick off the most popular destinations?

Do you have a disability or mobility issues? This could warrant an entire post on its own but, to put it simply, Greece is not the most accessible destination. Between independent island hopping and a Greek cruise, some islands pose accessibility issues either way (see: Santorini). Whether because they are inherently hilly, require climbing stairs and walking on uneven paths, or (in the case of cruises) require boarding tender boats to reach where the cruise ships are unable to dock, which may not allow access for certain mobility equipments (see: Santorini, again). This means that, whether you choose to explore a few islands on your own or hop on a cruise, you should check where there may be accessibility issues.

Greek Cruise vs Island Hopping: what is best?

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Greek cruise vs Island Hopping: Pros and Cons

Greek Cruises

Cruises tend to have a reputation for being “boring”, or filled to the brim with retired people and families with kids running around all over the place. However, I would challenge you not to hold on too firmly to this stereotype.

There are many types of cruises nowadays (adults-only, small-scale, kid-friendly, party, etc.) and I think that, no matter what type of traveller you are, you can find something that fits your style (I leave some suggestions below).

[TLDR: The main advantage of cruising across the Greek islands is that, as opposed to ferry-hopping, you don’t lose time travelling from place to place. Cruise ships travel overnight, maximising time on shore, and allowing you to visit multiple destinations in a shorter timeframe than it would be possible with regular island-hopping.]

Pros:

Time saved in transport: As opposed to traditional ferry-hopping, cruise ships don’t require lengthy check-in processes for disembarking and onboarding at different ports. Additionally, cruise ships usually sail overnight while guests enjoy the onboard entertainment, food, and sleep – usually maximising time on shore.

Convenience and all-inclusive: This may be one of the major factors differentiating independent island-hopping from going on a Greek cruise. Just like a package holiday, cruises include accommodation, transportation, food and drink, and port taxes – all conveniently packed and rolled up in the ticket price. You know exactly how much you are spending for the most part ahead of time. Besides not having to plan a thing, you also only have to unpack once during the entire trip, as your stateroom is just like a hotel room on wheels (or, rather, sails?!).

Diversity of destinations: Cruises with good itineraries usually include various stops, and you can often visit a different island/city each day without worrying about how to get there. It would be very difficult to see as many destinations in a short period of time with regular ferry-hopping, therefore the allure of cruises with packed itineraries is akin to an on-demand ferry.

On-board entertainment and activities: If you board a cruise with a packed itinerary, it will be hard to be bored! Nonetheless, if you go on a cruise with some days spent at sea, most cruises offer plenty of entertainment opportunities on board like casinos, performances, workshops, fitness classes, and even relaxation treatments, massages, spa, sauna, and gym.

Cons:

Environmental and social impact: Cruises are often criticised for their negative impact on the environment and the local communities of the destinations where they dock. Unlike local accommodations, which have a maximum capacity limit, cruise ships offload hundreds if not thousands of cruisers at destinations that may not have the infrastructure to support such a large number of visitors. This leads to overcrowding, littering, and unhappy locals.

One way to combat this is by choosing small Greek cruise lines with less passengers – some cruise companies with small ships include Seabourn, Celestyal Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Silversea, Crystal Cruises, Ponant, Sea Cloud Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, and Emerald Cruises.

Fixed itinerary: It is expected that cruise-goers are already on board with the idea that cruise itineraries are set (see what I did there?), and there is not much flexibility to spend more or less time in a particular destination. I thought I’d reiterate this again, just in case it is a deal-breaker for you.

Accessibility or mobility issues: Many cruises nowadays are accessible, however, if you have a disability or mobility issues, you should check with the particular cruise company about how they can accommodate your needs. Many have modified staterooms for accessibility, though they often sell out quickly, so make sure to book well in advance. As with any visit to Greece, you should check if the destinations themselves are accessible, as some islands are very steep, stair-heavy, and have uneven ground.

You should also note that some islands have tender ports, where cruise ships cannot dock at (for example, Santorini), and require tender boats to move people between the ship and the port. Sometimes, it may not be permitted for people on mobility devices to board the tender boats, so it isn’t possible to disembark on these days. Though they’re quick, tender boats may also be challenging for people with certain mobility issues that may be affected by all the rocking and swaying.

Quality of itineraries: Before purchasing any cruise tickets, you must check the itinerary carefully. Choosing a cruise with a “bad itinerary” will leave you with a poor experience. If you want to visit less-popular islands, look out for these in the itinerary options. If you want some downtime during your cruise, look for itineraries with some time spent at sea – however, if you want to visit as many islands and cities as possible, try looking for itineraries with little to no time spent at sea.

Less authentic experience: No matter how you slice it, visiting any destination as a cruise passenger will always be less authentic than visiting on your own. Unless you embark on a very bespoke and exclusive cruise, most often there’s limited time to visit, hundreds if not thousands of other cruisers dropped on shore at the same time as you, and thus limited interaction with the locals. You should weigh this in carefully against the pros of a cruise for you.

What is the best Greek island cruise:

These are my recommendations for Greek island-hopping cruise companies:

Best itineraries

Celestyal Cruises

This is a smaller cruise line operating primarily in Greece. I went on a cruise with Celestyal Cruises and, from my research and experience, they have the best Greek island cruise itineraries with popular and less-visited islands alike.

Best Adults-Only

Virgin Voyages

If you don’t fancy having children around while on holiday, look no further. It is also not news to anyone that Virgin Voyages have the reputation of serving the best food experiences at sea, so if you’re a foodie this is the cruise line you want to go with!

Best Price

Norwegian Cruise Line

With frequent deals and cruises departing from Athens, Rome, Venice and Barcelona, including other European destinations, you’ll surely get good bang for your buck!

Best Luxury

Sea Cloud Cruises

If you want an exclusive holiday, this company is just the touch – their sailing ships carry less than 100 passengers and are able to access off-the-beaten-track islands with small ports nearly untouched by tourism.

Island Hopping

Now let’s see how traditional island-hopping compares with cruises. I can already read your mind – you’re picturing yourself in a real-life Mamma Mia moment, dancing all night, smashing plates and yelling Opa!

[TLDR: The main advantage of island-hopping in Greece is that you get to spend however long you want, wherever you want, doing whatever you want. You have a more authentic experience, but at the expense of time spent planning all the aspects of travel, as well as spending longer in transit between places.]

Pros:

Bespoke itinerary: Since independent island-hopping relies heavily on your own planning, you are free to include anything you’d like as long as it’s logistically feasible. Wine tours? Might do one or two! Laid back al fresco dinners two nights in a row? Don’t mind if I do! Boat tour before driving across the island to visit a specific beach you saw once on Pinterest? Who’s stopping you, anyway?

More authentic experience: Independent island-hopping allows not only for selecting destinations off the beaten track, but also to spend longer exploring each location and interacting with locals. Venturing off the main sites and streets will allow you to see how people live and experience their culture, as well as having more meaningful interactions.

Less crowds: Okay, hear me out. I know this depends, but I’m going to share a trick with you. Obviously, if you visit less-known islands (think: Tinos, Sifnos, Amorgos, Serifos…) you are sure to avoid the crowds. But, say, you really want to visit beautiful Santorini – regardless if you island-hop or take a cruise, most days you won’t be able to escape the cruise crowds because, even if you don’t go on the cruise… the cruise will come to you!

So, here’s a hack: if you’re visiting an island with a port, search the cruise port schedules for that particular island and book your trip on days when no cruises are docking. Voilà! You just bagged yourself an independent visit to a popular island without the suffocating crowds – you’re welcome 😉

Cons:

Travel planning: Unlike cruises, an island-hopping holiday requires planning from start to finish – from deciding where to go to booking flights, ferries, taxis, hotels, rental cars, tours, restaurants… you have to plan it all. You must consider this as the price to pay in return for getting to enjoy a fully-bespoke trip to your own needs and likes.

If you are feeling overwhelmed about where to even begin, you may want to start with more popular islands, or picking a cluster of islands to hop between.

Transport time: Island hopping, as opposed to cruises, requires active time spent in transit in between places. Aside from requiring more time to get settled in each stop, you also have to consider the extra time required to board ferries or flights between islands. Thus, independent island-hopping will always require sacrificing more travel time and include less stops than a cruise, for the same duration.

Availability and frequency of transport: Aside from the additional time required for travel, another important aspect related to connecting between islands is the frequency of ferries and flights. Depending on the season, as well as how off-the-beaten-track you go, transport connections may be infrequent (sometimes even only on certain days of the week)! Please make sure to check timetables and frequency of transport beforehand to avoid surprises or disappointment.

If you’re flying, you should note that not all islands have airports, and it may not be possible to fly directly between islands – you may need to backtrack through Athens.

Accessibility or mobility issues: Greece is notoriously not one of the most accessible countries to visit, and especially not many of its islands are. If you use a wheelchair or have mobility issues, you might want to do some research on which islands provide better accessible conditions before booking your travels. Some islands with good accessibility are Corfu, Rhodes, Crete, and Syros.

Price: Along with bespoke itineraries and spontaneous exploring come bespoke and spontaneous costs 🙂 Sure, choosing less-touristy islands will mean that accommodation, food and activities will be much more affordable. However, less-visited islands will be more challenging and potentially more expensive to reach. Oh, have I mentioned that ferries can be quite pricey? Make sure to book your ferry trips as early as possible to avoid the price hikes!

Of course, staying in popular islands may be logistically easier and perhaps affordable enough to reach, but the prices for accommodation, food and activities will match the popular demand.

What are the best Greek islands for island hopping?

The best strategy when approaching island-hopping in Greece is to pick a cluster of islands and hop between them. Logistically, it’s easier and potentially cheaper and faster than trying to reach islands from different groups.

A popular choice for first-time island-hoppers is the Cyclades. This island group is closer to Athens as a starting point, and includes the popular islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Paros, and Naxos.

Other favourite island groups include the Ionian Islands (with popular Corfu and Zakynthos), the Sporades (with the real Mamma Mia island of Skopelos), and the Dodecanese (with popular Rhodes island).

If you’re looking for Greek islands that are not crowded, choose to skip the popular islands in a particular cluster and travel between the smaller, lesser-known islands. Every Greek island has its own charm and I’m sure you will have a good surprise no matter which ones you pick!

Greek Cruise vs Island Hopping visiting Greece for the first time

Greek Cruise vs Island Hopping FAQ

This is a tricky question because I truly think you could spend a lifetime exploring Greece and its islands and you would never be done! However, realistically and unfortunately, holidays are finite and limited, so sacrifices must be made.

For a cruise, I would advise choosing an itinerary of at least 7 days and spending a couple nights beforehand or afterwards in Athens.

For island hopping, 10 days is the ideal amount of time to experience 2-3 islands, depending on size.

Absolutely!

Greece is a beautiful country and the one thing you can be sure about its islands is that you will never be bored. Although much of the Greek island life is all about slow living, relaxing and enjoying the little things, this part of the world is soaked in thousands of years of history and mythology, making each island different and interesting on its own.

As detailed in this post, the answer to this question is all about your preferences and needs.

A cruise is a good way to see the Greece if you want to get a flavour for different islands, or if you want a hands-off, convenient and all-inclusive holiday.

Otherwise, if you prefer to travel at a slower pace, going off the beaten track, or to soak in the experience of each individual place for longer, then independent island hopping is the choice for you.

The cruise season in the Greek islands is usually from March to November, with its peak between June and September.

The best months to go on a cruise to Greece (with better chances for sunny weather and to avoid the peak crowds and scorching heat) are between mid-April to mid-June, and from mid-September to mid-October.

As with any kind of travel, budget is very subjective and there are always ways to try and keep costs down, as well as driving costs up!

A reasonable average may be €150 per day (per person). However, how much money you need for traditional Greek island hopping is highly dependent on which islands you visit, the time of year, whether or not you rent a car, and your type of travel (budget, mid-range, luxury), etc.

The cheapest way to travel between Greek islands is by booking ferries well in advance and visiting less-popular islands, or staying in less-touristic areas. The most expensive months to travel in Greece are definitely between June and September, with the highest prices in July and August.

A Greek cruise trip can range from very affordable to eye-wateringly expensive.

If you bag yourself a really good deal, the cheapest way to island-hop in Greece could very well be by going on a cruise, since it’s all-inclusive and with little room for surprises (you can find cruise deals for as little as $400-$700 per person!).

On the other hand, more luxurious cruise lines, including small sailing or yacht cruises can cost thousands per person. On average, the price for a 7-day Greek island cruise on a mid-range cruise line is around $1,500 per person, excluding flights.

Greek island-hopping can be easy if you plan most of your itinerary, as well as transport links and schedules ahead of time.

The easiest way to island-hop in Greece between nearby islands is by ferry. Although, of course, going on a Greek cruise is even easier!

The easiest Greek islands to hop will be islands belonging to the same group (for example, the Cyclades, the Ionian Islands, etc.) as it is easier to travel between nearby islands.

Where to visit in Greece for the first time can be a complicated decision, as there are over 200 inhabited islands, plus the mainland (!), and all of it is worth exploring.

If you’re so overwhelmed that you can’t decide, a cruise could be the ideal solution.

However, if you’re not into cruises and you’re looking to explore a few islands, the Cyclades are a good option for a first visit – as they’re closer to Athens and include some of the most popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos.

If you’d prefer to stick to one single island, then Crete (the largest of the Greek islands) is great for first-time visitors.

Greek Cruise vs Island Hopping first time visiting Greece

Last thoughts

I hope this post helps you plan your next trip to Greece and deciding between going on a Greek cruise or taking on island hopping on your own. No matter which one you choose, I’m sure you’re going to have the best time enjoying this beautiful country and its culture!

Feel free to let me know in the comments if you have questions regarding any part of this post – I’ll do my best to help.

Visiting soon? Check out my Greece guides: