The back story
Season: Spring to late autumn; Dubrovnik reports ships from early March to the end of the year (portdubrovnik.hr, Oct 2026) · Home ports: Piraeus (Athens), Venice, Istanbul (Galataport) · Ports of call: Santorini, Mykonos, Hydra, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, Hvar, Korčula · Greek cruise fee: Per passenger, set by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy; varies by port and season (ynanp.gr) · Venice: No ships over 25,000 GT in St Mark’s Basin or the Giudecca Canal since 2021 (commissariocrociere.ve.it) · Gateway airports: Athens, Split, Dubrovnik, Venice, Istanbul
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The back story
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·In depth
Piraeus and the Cyclades, the walled towns of the Dalmatian coast and the Bay of Kotor, Venice’s new berths and Istanbul’s underground terminal: the eastern Mediterranean by sea.
The ports
Who it suits. On a budget: Week-long Greek Island loops from Piraeus or Greek Isles and Croatia voyages, sailed in May, June or September, with your own walks ashore. Mid-range: Premium ships that stay late in Santorini or Mykonos and add Kotor and Dubrovnik, with a night in Athens or Venice either side. Luxury: Small luxury and yacht-style ships that can reach Hydra, Hvar and Korčula, and a suite at the Cipriani or on the caldera before or after.
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The natural port of Athens
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Home port · Greece
Piraeus, in its port authority’s words the natural port of Athens and Greece’s main gateway, is the home port for most Greek Island voyages.
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Cable car to Fira
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Greece
Ships call in the caldera below Fira, where the Santorini Cable Car climbs from the old port to the town on the clifftop.
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The Cyclades’ white-and-blue harbour town
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Greece
Mykonos Town, or Chora, with its white lanes behind the harbour; Delos, the sacred island of antiquity, lies just offshore.
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Car-free harbour town
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Greece
A horseshoe harbour of grey stone mansions in the Saronic Gulf, without cars, close enough to Piraeus for the smallest ships and yachts.
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Two big ships in port, one off the Old Town
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Croatia
Dubrovnik’s port in Gruž, a 30- to 40-minute walk or a short bus ride from the Old Town, where the port authority keeps cruise numbers to around 8,000 passengers on most days.
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At the foot of the old town walls
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Montenegro
The port at the head of the Bay of Kotor, beneath the walls of the old town; sailing in through the bay, on UNESCO’s list, is part of the day.
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Beside the Riva
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Croatia
Split’s city harbour, beside the Riva and the walls of Diocletian’s Palace: cruise ships berth in the harbour, as the port authority’s daily schedule shows.
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Venetian harbour and fortress
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Croatia
Hvar Town’s harbour, with the Venetian arsenal on the main square and the fortress on the hill above: a call for smaller ships.
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A walled town on its peninsula
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Port of call · Croatia
The walled medieval town of Korčula on its small peninsula, with streets laid out like a fishbone around the Cathedral of St Mark.
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Large ships at Marghera and Fusina
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Home port · Italy
Since 2021 ships of more than 25,000 gross tonnes may not pass through St Mark’s Basin, the St Mark’s Canal or the Giudecca Canal; large ships use Marghera and Fusina, smaller ones still reach the Marittima and San Basilio.
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An underground cruise terminal
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med·Home port · Türkiye
Istanbul’s cruise port on the Karaköy shore: a 29,000 m² terminal underground, a public promenade above, and room for three ships and 15,000 passengers a day.
