We set off for Greece on a Monday in April to embark on the Costa Neoriviera, a ship designed for Spaniards, with special attention in our language, crew and excursions with Spanish-speaking guides, Mediterranean gastronomy and shows in Spanish, such as the funniest monologues, the famous contest program "The Voice" and "You are worth it" or "Peppa Pig" for the little ones.
The Neoriviera offers an enticing itinerary through the Eastern Mediterranean, departing from Athens and stopping in Mykonos, Santorini, Kefalonia, and Dubrovnik, culminating in the "Queen of the Adriatic," the Serenissima, the beautiful city of Venice, where we'll have the opportunity to spend the night. The trip includes flights with Iberia from Madrid to Athens and the return flight from Venice.
Upon arrival at the airport, Costa has arranged a bus transfer to the port of Piraeus, a journey of approximately 60 minutes, where the Neoriviera awaits. After boarding and settling into our cabin, we'll explore the ship and its facilities. You'll quickly feel at home, as it's a relatively small ship, making it easy to discover all the nooks and crannies of the main decks, get to know other guests, and meet the crew, who are always ready to assist you.
In the evening, we'll enjoy a delicious dinner at the Saint-Tropez restaurant and cocktails at the Portofino Club.
The next day we took the tour of Athens and the Acropolis organized by Costa.
The tour began at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, one of the most impressive of the ancient Greek theaters, located at the foot of the Acropolis.
After entering through the Propylaea on the right, we find the Parthenon, the main building of the entire complex and the grandest monument of Periclean Athens, dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos, whose name meant "queen of heaven," goddess of wisdom and the arts. Inside, it housed the great statue of Athena, made of wood covered in ivory and gold, 12 meters high, also the work of Phidias.
To the left is the Erechtheion. On the south facade, we can see the Porch of the Caryatids. Currently, all are copies; five of the originals are in the Acropolis Museum, and the sixth is in the British Museum.
Mykonos.
We disembark the ship and head to Mykonos Town, a charming town with narrow streets and enchanting white houses adorned with colorful doors and balconies overflowing with flowers. In the afternoon, we'll visit the beaches we've heard so much about—undoubtedly some of the best in Greece.
Some of the ones we were able to visit: Ornos, Paranga or Paradise Beach.
Taking advantage of this long layover, since the ship departs at 11:00 PM, we went to watch the sunset over Mykonos from a terrace in Little Venice, with the windmills in the background, like something out of a postcard or calendar. Afterwards, we returned to the ship to enjoy dinner at the St. Tropez restaurant.
Santorini (Thira)
Before our eyes, immense bare cliffs plunge into the sea, crowned by white villages, a sky without a trace of clouds and a sea of intense blue, this was Santorini, with that luminous immensity that inspired Henry Miller when he traveled through Greece and wrote something like “one feels the desire to bathe in the sky, to get rid of clothes, to run and, with a leap, plunge into the blue and float in the air like an angel”.
We disembarked and, after taking a cable car directly to the main town, Fira, decided to visit Oia, a typical little village with pristine white houses and deep indigo domes. The main street is lined with shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Right at the end of this street, there's a small viewpoint offering breathtaking views of the caldera. We departed at 2:00 PM. We returned to the ship, taking advantage of the sunny day to sunbathe by the pool and enjoy the jacuzzi on deck.
Argostoli (Kefalonia)
Kefalonia is a green and mountainous island. It's less touristy than the ones we visited previously. Apparently, Kefalonia has spectacular beaches, including the famous Myrtos Beach and some hidden coves accessible only by boat. Since our stop in Kefalonia was short and the day wasn't very sunny, we decided to take a trip to the underground lake of Melissani, about 40 minutes away from Argostoli. An earthquake in 1953 exposed this underground lake, causing part of the cave's roof to collapse and allowing sunlight to penetrate and reflect on the water on sunny days.
Back on the ship around 2:00 PM, we set sail for Dubrovnik.
Tonight we dressed up for the occasion, as the Neoriviera offered us Chef Barbieri's special dinner. Absolutely delicious!
Dubrovnik.
From the port, Costa has arranged a shuttle bus to the city center. We entered the walled city amidst hordes of tourists. Dubrovnik's more than a thousand years of history are present in every corner of this city. It truly is a living museum in a breathtaking natural setting.
Dubrovnik is a fascinating city, one that captivates you and awakens the desire to return to discover it at different times of day or night, or in different seasons. Our stopover this time was a bit short to explore such a wonderful place, as our ship departs at 2:00 PM. We said goodbye to Dubrovnik with the firm promise to return.
Venice:
The arrival at the port of Venice is via the Giudecca Canal, passing very close to the famous St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace. The views from the ship's deck are unbeatable.
The canals teeming with gondolas, its monumental historical buildings, its gastronomy, and even its artisanal products like carnival masks and Murano glass, make this city, unique in the world, a truly magical place. What's more, the Neoriviera spends the night in Venice, allowing us to stroll leisurely through the city at sunset and throughout the evening. It was a perfect end to our trip!
