Cruising Through History

Where ancient Greece comes alive and a brand new yacht sails these shores. Anna Hobbs

ANCIENT GREEK HISTORY NEVER MADE my list of favourite school subjects. Too many greyed pictures of ruins, too many details of wars, their causes and outcomes, too many names and dates to memorize and regurgitate at exam time. But 2,000-year old stone structures, such as the Acropolis, trigger a kind of awe that no history book could capture. My world opened up in 11 days from boring lists to reimagined, old world treasures and stories of people throughout the ages. 

This revelation occurred in April, on a Mediterranean cruise on Emerald Kaia, Emerald Cruises new era, luxury superyacht. My husband and I were travelling on her highly anticipated inaugural voyage, exploring the Eastern Mediterranean’s historic and picturesque destinations from Cyprus to Athens and the Acropolis. Scenic Group, which includes Emerald Cruises is the only cruise company to design, build and operate their own ships - river ships, expedition discovery yachts and most recently, Emerald Kaia. 

We set sail from Limassol, the vibrant port on the south coast of Greek-speaking Cyprus. The first day at sea gave us time to explore the ship, marvel at the luxurious, relaxed on-board lifestyle and soak up Greece’s sweeping coastline. Each of the ten islands we visited had its own distinct appeal, intriguing history and legendary gods. The common denominator was the first glimpse of the ports - a stunning white wash spread of buildings cascading down hills and hugging the coastlines. Arriving in Rhodes, we discovered a land crisscrossed throughout antiquity by different civilisations, secure in its recognition as one of Europe’s best-preserved, inhabited cities.

More than three km of thick stone walls surround narrow cobbled streets, quiet courtyards and out-of-the-way boutiques and cafés. Past and present co-exist in this lively UNESCO World Heritage site. Mykonos, the mythical birthplace of the gods Apollo and Artemis and frequented by Jackie Onasis in the 1960s, maintains a reputation as the St. Tropez of the Greek Islands. In Old Town, we wandered through an uncrowded maze of cobblestone alleys lined with gleaming white-washed buildings with vibrant blue doors. 

By contrast, Patmos, a tranquil little island, accessible only by boat, is steeped in religious history. Towering over the capital Chora, the 11th century Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian – another UNESCO World Heritage site, worth the hillside climb. Nearby, we toured the humble Cave of the Apocalypse, now a pilgrimage destination where, according to local legend, St. John wrote the book of Revelation. Both Christian and Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations coincided with our trip, highlighting the religious traditions of the country. Spetses is a small, cosmopolitan, car-free island, best known as a retreat for the wealthy, where almost everything is within walking distance. If you prefer not to walk, choose a bike, a scooter or a horse-drawn carriage.

Emerald Kaia, designed to accommodate only 128 guests, provides access to ports where supersize ships are unable to visit. Its smaller capacity also means no lineups to get on or off the ship. We savoured the balance between the comprehensive shore programs, time to explore on our own and laid back on-board relaxation. The friendly, attentive staff made pampering us look effortless. If chilling out is not your thing, the wellness facilities include a morning exercise class, a well-equipped gym, a cold plunge pool and a spacious spa with an array of superb treatments. 

The observation sun deck’s spa pool, and marina plat-form make room for water sports and ocean access for anyone wanting to take a plunge. La Cucina, the bright, spacious restaurant wraps around an open kitchen providing excellent buff et-style breakfast and lunch and table service at dinner. Our compact yet spacious balcony suite was, like the public rooms, clad in a palette of subtle neutral colours and the sparkle of glass and chrome. With an enviable staff to guest ratio, service was superb. Once home, friends wanted to know what we most enjoyed. Our list was long, but the memory to last forever was a special concert at The Great Theatre of Ephesus, to celebrate Emerald Kaia’s maiden voyage.

As dusk settled over the vast 2,300-year old, 1500-seat structure, we climbed onto steep rows of stone seats where thousands had done before to enjoy a string quintet playing classical music. We were spellbound. After 11 days, we weren’t ready to disembark but Athens awaited. Here we did more than read about its history; we absorbed it with a wonderous sense of awe.

As Alponsion, our tour guide said, “We are lucky. We are living on our history.

Written by Anna Hobbs for Cruise & Travel Lifestyles Magazine, Fall 2026 issue