Are You Ready To Discover The Ancient Wonders Of The Greek Isles?

Flight Ideas

Since our Greek Isles cruise leaves and returns to Athens, flights are super easy. Simply log onto your favorite airline’s website and look for roundtrip tickets to Athens (ATH).

The airline you choose is completely up to you. While flights are not included, we’re always happy to help narrow down the best flight options with you. Simply give us a call or send us an email, letting us know where you’ll be flying from, if you have a preferred airline (based on frequent flyer miles or credit card points), and what class of service you typically like to book.

For your return flights home, we DO NOT recommend any flights departing before 12:00pm on Sunday, September 3rd. Although we are scheduled to begin disembarking at approximately 7:00am, the airport is about 45mins from the dock, and with most international flights you’ll need to check your bags at the airline counter, get through security and immigration, and still make your way to the gate in time to board.

Getting to the Ship

Our ship will be docked at the Port of Piraeus Passenger Cruise Terminal, Terminal A.

The exact address of the Port of Piraeus is Akti Miaouli 10, Pireas 185 38, Greece.

The Piraeus port is huge, with over 25 different dock locations for cruise ships, passenger ferries and cargo ships. As we get a little closer to our sail date, our ship, the Azamara Onward, will be assigned a specific dock. We’ll update this section with the most current dock location once that has been assigned.

There are a number of ways to reach the Port of Piraeus.  The port is accessible from both the Athens Termini Metro and the Piraeus Airport via train and shuttle.

By Taxi:  Taxis from central Athens to the Port of Piraeus typically take about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic, and will cost between €20 and €25.

By Metro:  You can get to Piraeus by Metro Line 1 (the green line). Line 1 runs from Kifissia to Piraeus, passing through the center of Athens and making stops at central stations Omonoia, Monastiraki and Thisio.

Remember, your transfers from our host hotel to our ship on Sunday are included with your Pre-Cruise Package.

Boarding

Boarding officially begins at 2:00pm local time on August 27, 2028, but you are free to arrive at our ship at any time after 12:00pm, drop your luggage with one of the many porters, head through a quick security checkpoint, and then relax with some light refreshments in the dock facility until pre-boarding opens. Once pre-boarding opens, you’ll be able to register at one of the many gate agent counters, board the ship and participate in a quick muster station and security information session, and then begin exploring the gorgeous Azamara Onward.

The Windows Café on Deck 9 will be open to grab a bite and start getting to know your fellow OUTbounders!

Our Hotel In Athens

For those of you who are getting an early start and arriving early in Athens, we have you covered with our incredible host hotel, the Royal Olympic Athens. A stylish, contemporary hotel in great location that is only a quick a 15-minute walk from the Acropolis and the gay bars in the Gazi District, the gay neighborhood of Athens. The Royal Olympic offers bright, comfortable rooms with air conditioning and a generous breakfast buffet that will set you up for a day exploring Athens. Here’s a link to all of our host hotel options… Athens Host Hotel

Royal Olympic Athens Address: 28-34 Athanasiou Diakou Street; 117 43, Athens, Greece

Getting To Our Hotel

By Car
The Royal Olympic Athens Hotel is about 30 to 35 minutes from the Athens airport by either taxi or Uber.

By Train
The metro is quick and easy to get from the Athens airport to our host hotel. Airport metro services run every 36 minutes, from 6:00am in the morning to 11:30pm at night. The Athens metro system has three lines… blue, red and green. To get from Athens airport to the Royal Olympic, take the blue line from the airport and then change to Syntagma station for the red line to Elliniko. It takes longer than 60 minutes in total. You can pay by card or cash. You can get more information on the train into Athens by clicking HERE.

LGBTQ+ Tours of Athens

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday you can start exploring with our OUTbound optional tours of Athens. OUTbound has partnered with a local LGBTQ+ tour agency to design a different kind of Greek holiday for our community, offering a uniquely rainbow experience in Athens. Thanks to our LGBTQ+ tour experts and their knowledge, our OUTbounders will get a personal, up close tour of some of Greece’s best-known sights. Start exploring all the things you want to see on a standard tour, but with an emphasis on its LGBTQ+ history just for us! Here’s a link to all of our tour options in and around Athens… LGBTQ+ Athens Tours

Theme Nights & Parties

Nothing makes an OUTbound event more fun than our THEME NIGHTS! This is your chance to express yourself with a fun t-shirt, wild wig or full blown costume. Feel free to show us what you got! As always with OUTbound, you are welcome to participate as much or as little as you like, it’s up to you!

Be sure to check back as we get a little closer to our sail date to see the full list of our Theme Nights! We’ll announce these about three months before we sail… plenty of time to plan and get creative!

Take A Picture!

Before heading out on a big trip, most travelers focus on packing the right clothes, confirming reservations, and making sure your passports are in hand. But seasoned OUTbounders know there’s another small step that can make a big difference in a pinch… snapping a few key photos before you leave home.

These quick snapshots take less than two minutes to capture but can save hours of stress if luggage gets lost, travel apps glitch, or important documents go missing.

Passport
A clear photo of the main passport page can make it faster to get a replacement at an embassy or consulate if your passport is lost. It’s best to keep this image in a secure, password-protected file or cloud app.

Prescription Medications & Labels
OUTbounders who take medication should take a picture of both your pills and the prescription labels. If your medications get lost or you run out, having the generic drug name on hand can make it much easier to refill while traveling.

Boarding Pass & Travel Documents
Travel apps sometimes glitch, and wifi isn’t always reliable at the airport. A screenshot of your boarding pass ensures it’s available offline when needed. The same goes for any hotel confirmations, train tickets, or tour reservations booked outside of your OUTbound trip.

Luggage Contents
Snapping a photo of everything packed in your suitcase before zipping it shut can be invaluable if your bags are delayed or lost. Airlines and insurance companies often ask for detailed lists of contents when processing a claim. A quick image can serve as proof of what was inside your bags and speed up any claims you might need to make.
As we all know, travel can be unpredictable, but your smartphone camera (something that’s already in your pocket and doesn’t require any extra cost) offers one of the easiest safeguards. Taking a few extra photos before you depart is a small habit that can prevent big headaches… and help you stay calm when plans don’t go exactly as expected.

Tipping Our Hosts

Tips for our onboard ship staff are included with your OUTbound vacation through our Ancient Wonders of the Greek Isles cruise.

Tips for our tour guides in Athens or for any of the shore excursions from our ship during the cruise are not included and are optional. At the end of each day’s guided tour, you’ll have the chance to tip our guide and driver whatever you feel your experience was worth.

If you feel that any individual in particular, either onboard our ship or during one of your tours, has gone above and beyond in making your experience something extra special, we encourage you to reach out to them directly and let them know how much you appreciated their service during our time together.

What Money Should You Bring?

Greece

Greece is a member of the European Union and one of the countries that use the Euro (abbreviated €) as their national currency. That means you will be able to use Euros in Athens and every other city we visit during our cruise.

You can also use your credit or debit card as well throughout our trip, as credit cards are widely accepted everywhere in all of the countries we will visit. However, remember that there will be additional bank charges upon usage and even a foreign transaction fee in some cases, depending on your bank.

Will I need a Visa to enter the European Union?

EU Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement

For almost a decade now, European Union authorities have been working on a visa-like system called the European Travel Information and Authorization System. After several years of delays, the new system should be in operation by the time of our cruise in August, 2028.

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be a mandatory, web-based entry requirement for visa-exempt travelers (including citizens from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia) visiting 30 European countries for short stays (up to 90 days in 180 days). Launching in 2027, applicants must complete an online form via the official website or app, pay a €20 fee, and have it approved before traveling to the EU.

We will alert anyone booked with us about the steps needed to complete the ETIAS requirements prior to our cruise.

For all of the latest ETIAS information, visit the official European Union Travel website HERE.

EU Entry and Exit System (EES)
As of October 12, 2025, US citizens will need to go through the EU’s new Entry and Exit System when traveling to 29 European countries. This applies to any visits lasting up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Your fingerprints, facial image, passport details, and entry and exit dates will be collected upon entry to an EES country and stored digitally. You do not need to pay a fee to enter the Schengen Area or the EU. The new system will be introduced gradually, and no advanced action is required.

There is no online application, advanced registration, or fee required for the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES). It is a biometric border control system that replaces traditional passport stamping. You will complete your EES registration in-person at a self-service kiosk or border desk the first time you enter a Schengen Area country.

Travel to Europe Mobile App (EES)
The Travel to Europe mobile application is now available, allowing pre-registration of travel information prior to arrival in Greece. The app allows non-EU travelers to pre-register their passport data for the Entry/Exit System (EES) before reaching a border crossing point.

Non-EU nationals can use the app to pre-register their data up to 72 hours prior to entering or leaving a European country.

The app is voluntary and does not replace border checks but makes border crossing more efficient. Use of the application is optional and free of charge, and it is available on the App Store and Google Play. You can get more information about the EES Mobile App by clicking HERE.

What Power Converters Will I Need?

Our ship, the Azamara Onward, has two (2) EU 220v Type C outlets and two (2) US 110v Standard outlets in each stateroom. Feel free to bring a USB adapter with multiple outlets so that you can charge several of your devices at once.

If you are joining us early in Athens before our cruise, you’ll need a Type C adapter for use at our hotel as it has the standard EU power outlets.

The Type C is the plug which has two round pins, like this…

You can also find a ton of options on Amazon or other retailers that will include USB ports for charging your phone, tablet and other devices all at the same time.

Keep in mind that the United Kingdom (UK) uses different power outlets than the EU, so the Type C adapter will not work if you are visiting England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland during your trip.

Travel Insurance

If we’ve learned anything over these last couple of years, it’s that the world can be an uncertain place at times. While you’re never required to buy travel insurance, it’s a good idea and we recommend all OUTbounders consider protecting your hard-earned vacation money. The price of your coverage will depend on a few factors, including the cost of the trip, what state you live in, how long before the trip departs, and if you have any pre-existing or underlying health conditions, to name a few.

Some reasons why you might buy travel insurance include:

• Cancel for Any Reason
• Unexpected Work Requirements
• Personal or Family Illness

OUTbound does not provide travel insurance. However, we always recommend using a third-party insurance carrier to provide your coverage.