Seas

1. Small cruise boats are able to take visitors to isolated coves and beaches.

2. Explore Athens and see the Parthenon before setting off on an island cruise.

3. Greece’s ancient monuments can be visited during informative shore excursions.

4. The distinctive windmills of Mykonos are popular with cruise passengers.

5. The luxurious SeaDream rests at anchor in the beautiful port of Hydra.

6. The beautiful cliffs of Mantrakia, Milos, Greece.

previous evening aided by a glass of port or the local and extremely powerful brew, ouzo.

Flotilla sailing is available to those who have had some previous experience in navigating their own seaworthy craft, but enjoy travelling in the company of other yachts. Flotillas consist of up to 12 identical yachts skippered and crewed by those who chartered the stylish vessel. As well, there’s one guide yacht with its own crew. In this lead yacht is a skipper, hostess and a mechanic/engineer who offers guide services, organise social gatherings and provide emergency aid. Generally yachts in a flotilla travel together in a 7 to 15 day schedule, although independent sailing during the day may be permitted. Yachts are ‘connected’ by VHF radio to ensure that no one gets lost and everyone is able to receive full assistance.

For those wanting the freedom to fully set their own itineraries, a bareboat yacht charter is the optimum experience. Independent yachties set their own pace, travel where they want to go, can seek out hidden coves and unexplored bays, and generally act as pioneers in Greek waters. Bareboat chartering allows travellers to go where they want, when they please and stay as long as they like. Devoid of crew only, bareboat charters are nonetheless equipped with everything from fully stocked galleys and a barrage of maps, to full safety gear and VHF radios.

If past experience is anything to go by, several thousand yachts will be available for the coming April to November cruise season. With perhaps 75% of these being bareboat yachts, get-awayfrom-it-all, do-it-for-themselves independent travellers will be able to staunchly declare that they have discovered the best way to ‘sea’ the Greek isles.

More than 30 different cruise ship lines now operate to strict schedules in the spectacularly beautiful Aegean and Ionian Seas.

Travel noTebook GREECE

several oddly styled thatched windmills beyond the busy town centre. Unusual silhouettes and the golden sunset provide the most memorable scenes of any we encountered during a glorious month in Greece.

Looking beyond the town and towards the harbour, the lights on a sparkling collection of moored yachts provided me with a bobbing reminder of the third type of pleasure craft available for exploring Greek seas, private yachts. Would-be sailors can select from a tremendous variety of yachts available which meet their interest, skills and budgets.

A fully crewed chartered yacht is by far the most luxurious and indulgent of small capacity sailing vessels mastering Greek seas.

This vessel is perfect for a group of four to eight guests who want to be pampered by a skipper, hostess/cook and a deck hand on board their own 15-metre yacht.

Often the entire yacht is chartered by a small group of friends or even an extended family. (It’s no wonder that chartered yachts are popular with mobile upmarket Indian families!)

Some charter companies welcome two to four independent couples who, in turn, act as a newly formed group and in effect, charter the yacht. Depending upon the wishes of the group a prearranged itinerary can be followed or the plan for the following day can be selected the

FLIGHTS

See your travel agent to discuss the best flight option as there is a choice of good carriers departing Australian capital cities. Check to see if you can include India as a stopover en route to Athens, the gateway to Greece. Otherwise, Athens and your outstanding cruise holiday can be made as part of a Greek stopover en route to Europe.

SEASONS

May, June and July are the peak months when reservations must be made well in advance.

INFORMATION

The Greek National Tourist Organisation, level 3, 37 -49 Pitt St, Sydney 2000, tel (02) 9241 1663, e-mail hto@tpg.com.au offers a number of services for intending visitors from Australia. You can download a wide variety of themed and destination brochures on subjects from archaeological sites and cruising to Athens and Greek Islands as well as maps and newsletters. See www.visitgreece.gr Also visit the Eastern Mediterranean Tourism Association website www.emta.org.au