Greek Islands Cruises in 2026

Greek Islands Cruises 2026: Where to Go and Who Sails There

Greek Islands cruises in 2026 span the Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean, with a handful of Western Mediterranean sailings rounding out the choice. The leading embarkation ports are Piraeus (Athens), Trieste, Istanbul, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Venice — so almost every sailing begins or ends in a city worth an extra night. Most itineraries run between 7 and 14 nights, with the median sitting at 9 nights, though options range from a 3-night taster to a 42-night extended voyage.

Which Cruise Lines Sail the Greek Islands in 2026?

Six cruise lines cover the Greek Islands in 2026, ranging from high-volume mainstream choices to boutique luxury. MSC Cruises leads the field by sailings, followed closely by Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, Costa Cruises and Azamara. Whether you want the energy of a large ship with multiple pools and restaurants, or a smaller vessel calling at harbours a bigger ship simply cannot reach, there is a line here to suit you.

Which Ships Are Sailing?

Several distinctive ships operate these itineraries, and it is worth knowing what each one actually offers before you choose.

MSC Lirica

MSC Lirica holds a special place in the fleet — it is the very first ship MSC Cruises ever built, and that original character still comes through on board. With around 1,984 guests, the atmosphere is noticeably more personal than a modern mega-ship. The MSC Aurea Spa, a Broadway-style theatre, a Las Vegas-style casino and a family waterpark are all packed into a compact vessel that feels anything but crowded. Cabin grades on MSC Lirica range from a 13 m² Junior Inside Cabin Fantastica — 1 m² larger than the standard inside — to a 22 m² Premium Ocean View Fantastica (10 m² larger than standard ocean-view) and up to the 35 m² Suite Aurea SP3 with exclusive Aurea access. For those wanting the most generous private space, the Balcony cabin Bella B1 runs to 38 m², nearly 3 times the size of a standard balcony cabin and well suited to longer voyages.

• Interior — Junior Inside Cabin Fantastica: 13 m², sleeps 4
• Ocean View — Premium Ocean View Fantastica: 22 m², sleeps 4
• Balcony — Balcony cabin Bella B1: 38 m², sleeps 2
• Suite — Suite Aurea SP3: 35 m², sleeps 4, with exclusive Aurea access

MSC Fantasia

MSC Fantasia launched in 2008 as the original Fantasia-class ship, pioneering the Swarovski crystal grand staircase that became a signature of MSC’s Italian design language. On board you will find an F1 racing simulator, a 4D cinema and the Avanguardia Theatre alongside 5 swimming pools and the Top 18 Exclusive Solarium. For those wanting something quieter within the larger ship, the MSC Yacht Club is a ship-within-a-ship retreat: 24-hour butler service, a private pool terrace and exclusive dining at L’Etoile restaurant.

Celestyal Discovery

At 1,266 guests, Celestyal Discovery is one of the smaller ships on these routes — and that is precisely its advantage. It calls at village-scale harbours that larger ships cannot access, and its intensive itineraries are designed to maximise time ashore rather than time at sea. If you want to experience traditional markets, working harbours and island culture away from the main tourist crowds, Celestyal Discovery is the ship to consider.

Costa Deliziosa

Costa Deliziosa stands apart for a couple of reasons. It is the only Costa ship with a dedicated golf simulator and an outdoor putting green on deck — a genuine draw for golfers. The Samsara Spa stretches across 3,500 m² on 2 decks, with a thalassotherapy pool and thermal suite. The glass-roofed pool deck has a retractable cover and a cinema screen for open-air film nights. Costa’s fare tiers include an All Inclusive option — full board plus an Italian drinks package — and a Comfort Plus tier covering unlimited drinks, 24-hour room service and a reserved table. Check Costa Deliziosa cabin grades and deck plans when you are ready to choose your space.

Seven Seas Voyager

Regent Seven Seas Cruises positions itself as the most inclusive luxury experience at sea, and Seven Seas Voyager delivers that with unusually generous space per guest. The Signature Suite SG runs to 107 m² of living space with a 17 m² balcony — nearly 4 times the size of a standard deluxe veranda, ideal for sundowners after a day ashore. Regent’s ethos is immersive exploration: smaller group sizes and itineraries designed to spend real time in port. See Seven Seas Voyager cabin grades and deck plans for the full range.

What Do These Sailings Look Like?

Just over half of all Greek Islands sailings in 2026 are one-way itineraries, ending in a port different from where they depart. Common disembarkation ports include Piraeus (Athens), Istanbul, Rome (Civitavecchia), Bari, Trieste and Split. On a one-way sailing, you will need a flight home from whichever port you disembark — and that is exactly where our team earns its keep. We can arrange the return flight, a hotel the night before or after, and transfers, so you arrive and leave without having to piece it together yourself.

A small number of sailings also include a Transatlantic leg — typically as part of a longer repositioning itinerary. If a longer voyage appeals, these are worth exploring through our team.

How Much Do Greek Islands Cruises 2026 Cost?

Prices start from £289 pp* for the shorter sailings. Discounts of up to 24% are available on selected departures — measured against the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing — though most reduced sailings sit closer to a 10% saving. Our advisers can tell you which specific departures are currently reduced and help you decide whether a discounted cabin grade suits your plans.

What Fare Options Are Available?

Fare structures vary by cruise line. Explora Journeys offers Sky & Sea fares that bundle international return flights in Economy Class, private transfers and hotel stays into a single airport-to-airport price. Costa offers fare types such as All Inclusive (full board plus drinks) and Comfort Plus (unlimited drinks, 24-hour room service, reserved dining table). For full details of what each tier covers, our cruise experts can walk you through the options before you book.

Can I Sail to the Greek Islands from the UK Without Flying?

A very small number of sailings on these routes depart from UK ports, making a no-fly departure possible for those who prefer it. The vast majority, however, begin in Greece, Italy, Turkey or Croatia — so for most travellers this is a fly-cruise. Through our Cruise1st Packages, we can book flights from your nearest UK airport, hotels either side, transfers and tours as one holiday, so nothing is left for you to arrange separately.

Explore Related 2026 Sailings

If you are open to other options while you plan, Mediterranean all-inclusive cruises in 2026 cover much of the same geography with a broader choice of ships. For sailings leaving from the UK, Mediterranean cruises from Southampton in 2026 and Mediterranean cruises from the UK in 2026 are the best places to start. You can also browse all 2026 cruises across every destination, or go straight to the broader cruise search if you want to compare regions side by side.

For more specific routes, Mediterranean fly-cruises in 2026 pair well with these itineraries. If you like the Eastern Mediterranean but want a different angle, Transatlantic cruises in 2026 offer a longer voyage that sometimes connects through the same ports. Planning further ahead? Greek Islands cruises in 2027 are already available, and Greek Islands 2026 sailings from Southampton cover the no-fly options specifically.

You might also consider Canary Islands cruises in 2026 or Canary Islands sailings in October 2026 as an alternative island itinerary for a similar time of year.

Book with Confidence

Cruise1st is ABTA and ATOL protected, and rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews. Our team are real cruise specialists — not generalist travel agents — and they know these ships and itineraries in detail. Call before you book, and you will come away knowing exactly which cabin grade suits your plans, which fare tier covers what you need, and how to put the whole holiday together in one place.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.