Oceania Cruise: Athens

(Photo courtesy of Tilemahos Efthimiadis)

This is the 10th and final post in our series which has covered the “Grecian Glory” itinerary of Oceania’s newest ship, Marina. In fact, as I write, Marina has now left the Genoa shipyard and is on her maiden voyage heading for Miami, where she will be christened.

Here’s a final look at her in this series.

(Photo from Oceania Cruises)

Marina’s final stop on her “Grecian Glory” cruise is Athens. Of that ancient city, you have no need that I write. However, a photo tour is always in order! I searched 3,000+ photos of Athens to select the 10 below.

(Photo courtesy of Tilemahos Efthimiadis)

The Evzones (Presidential Guards) guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament Building. There’s a changing of the guard every hour, and on Sundays a grand ceremony is accompanied by a military band.

(Photo courtesy of Trent Strohm)

(Photo courtesy of Ryan Healy)

(Photo courtesy Tomasz Zdandowski)

(Photo courtesy of Royal Olive)

Corinthian Columns

(Photo “Ionic Order” courtesy of Ryan Healy)

Ionic Columns

(Photo courtesy of Camelia TWU)

Ancient Agora of Athens

 

(Photo courtesy of Tilemahos Efthimiadis)

Agia Eirini Church

(Photo courtesy of Spiros K)

Athens Metropolitan Church

(Photo courtesy Pretty Kate Machine)

ACCOMMMODATIONS:

There are two hotels I like very much in Athens. Both are 5-star, and both have an excellent TripAdvisor guest ranking of 4.5. One is the Hotel Grand Bretagne, and it is over-the-top luxury, especially in its suites. However, its average prices start where our pick hotel’s leave off.

SCHECKTREK PICK: Classical King George Palace

A reviewer said of the Classical King George Palace, “This is a fairytale hotel, and you will feel like royalty.” Looking at the photos, that’s easy to believe. (Photos from Expedia unless otherwise noted.)

Rooms are individually decorated, so the guest room photos below are only a sampling.

 

Tudor Hall Restaurant

(Photo from Gogreece.about.com)

This brings us to the end of our special series, chronicling Oceania’s “Grecian Glory” cruise, which will take place this May. Since November 18 we’ve made virtual visits to Venice; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Zakynthos and Monemvasia, Greece; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Delos and Mykonos, Greece; and finally, disembarkation in Athens. We hope you’ve enjoyed the tour as much as we’ve enjoyed presenting it.

Join us again next week as we resume our pick for other exciting destination somewhere on the planet.  And meanwhile, happy cruising, Marina!

(Sorry, this photo of the Classical King George Palace prefers to be at the end of the post!)