Adventurous world travelers are eager to make up for some lost time. And, increasingly, they are seeking out exotic destinations where they can immerse themselves in fascinating cultures while enjoying fun activities and opportunities for exploration.
Enter Atlas Ocean Voyages and its first luxury expedition ship World Navigator, which has announced its initial itineraries to two countries that certainly fit the bill for adventure-seekers.
World Navigator will visit the culture-rich countries of Greece and Egypt on summer cruises beginning August 4, 2021. The voyages are on alternating departures that leave from ports in Athens and Cairo. In fact, World Navigator is the only cruise ship scheduled to sail in Egypt this season.
It's exciting to have a new luxury expedition ship that will visit two of our very favorite destinations. We have traveled to Greece often on bigger cruise ships and had a memorable Nile River cruise through Egypt, as well.
But Atlas Ocean Voyages' new ship promises something exciting and new for avid cruisers. You will get a luxe experience on an intimate ship built for adventure. World Navigator will carry fewer than 200 passengers.
Open for Business
Egypt and Greece have reopened to Americans. Atlas Ocean Voyages determined these itineraries would prove safer while maintaining the upscale but adventurous spirit of small and exclusive destinations.
Picture yourself in stunning Mykonos. When you sail on the all-inclusive Atlas World Navigator, you get flights, excursions and more perks included on unique itineraries this August and September. You also can be among the first visitors to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
"We created World Navigator's Egypt and Greek Isles voyages to offer travelers a new, unique and superior choice of exclusive and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, in true luxe-adventure style," Atlas Voyages President Alberto Aliberti said.
World Navigator will be the first ship to call at Egypt this season, with staff, crew and destination partners prepared to keep travelers safe and healthy, Aliberti said.
Visiting Egypt and Greece this Summer
The line's five new itineraries range from seven to 12 nights and include 14 ports -- half of them UNESCO World Heritage sites.
With its low passenger count and high space-to-passenger ratio, World Navigator offers a high level of service and appeals to multigenerational groups. Cruises start at $4,419 per person for seven nights (including airfare).
For $679 plus airfare for the third passenger, families can utilize a triple-occupancy stateroom.
The ship calls on less-visited ports where only smaller vessels can dock. This means you have a chance to see quaint ports, such as Chania, Crete, and Paphos, Cyprus, away from the crowds. Choose from among shore excursions designed for families -- whether you are seeking active adventures, history immersion at ancient sites and world-class museums or relaxing on spectacular beaches. You can explore remote archeological sites, tour the Sanctuary of Delos, the Monastery of St. John or the Library of Alexandria.
Atlas also offers passengers a special land-based excursion (added fee) to explore the Pyramids under the stars and overnight in a top Cairo hotel.
Or you might want to hike in the hills of the Peloponnese. Accessible excursions are available, as well. Check out Atlas' Aegean itineraries for more details.
World Navigator features the most modern hygiene and cleanliness measures and health protocols with pre-boarding and pre-embarkation PCR testing for all passengers.
Onboard, the Sea Spa, the first L'OCCITANE spa at sea, offers the industry's highest guest-to space ratio.
World Navigator's summer 2021 deployment is designed to avoid crowds, as port calls won't coincide with other cruise lines. Shore excursions will be conducted in small groups and led by knowledgeable local guides. Full-sized, air-conditioned buses will operate at 50 percent capacity to allow for social distancing.
Every itinerary includes sun-drenched Santorini, Greece, with its famous beaches and iconic white buildings and residences with blue dome roofs. Each sailing also includes up to two nights in either Cairo or Mykonos so you can take in all of the sites, as well as enjoy the legendarily vibrant night life.
While many other cruise lines are offering cruises around the Greek Isles this summer, Atlas is the only one to include Egypt, with 60 percent of the ports it visits bringing travelers to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you are traveling as a family with children, these are fantastic opportunities for shared cultural and learning experiences.
The ship also will call at smaller Greek Islands not accessible to larger ships, as well as offering unique experiences. You might love a special dinner under the stars in Epidaurus (an ancient amphitheater in the Peloponnese region of the mainland) with music performed by a trio from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra; or rock climbing and rappelling at Lindos on the island of Rhodes.
Cruisers who like more physical activities can cycle through villages and citrus groves or, on Santorini, explore archeological excavations of the ancient village of Akrortiri, considered one of the top archeological sites in the world, also known as the "Pompei of the Aegean."
This new cruise line also has a way to take the hassle out of this summer's travel experience: Atlas Ocean Voyages' signature "All Inclusive All the Way" program includes round-trip air travel, a choice of a shore excursion in every port, prepaid gratuities, travel insurance (including medical evacuation), premium wine, spirits, beers and coffees and regionally inspired cuisine. Knowledgeable guides can answer any questions you might have, whether it's the best local taverna or beaches.
World Navigator's Luxurious Amenities
Eileen Ogintz has traveled the world with her family and writes a nationally syndicated travel column, Taking The Kids. A big fan of family cruising, she wrote this post about Atlas Ocean Voyages for sponsor FamilyTravelConsulting.com.