Piraeus is the port of Athens in Greece, located just about 10 kilometers from the Athens downtown area. Because of its geo-political location, Piraeus has a long history that dates back to the early 5th Century BC.

Greece's Main Port

The importance of Piraeus in the domestic and international shipping industry is high, so it bi annually is the host of the major shipping convention, Posidonia. Piraeus is one of the largest ports in Europe and with an estimated 19 million passengers per year.

Piraeus acts as the main port and almost any cruise ship will make a stop at Piraeus. The central port offers ferry routes to every island in Greece. Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese are popular destinations from this port.

So Many Cruise Lines, So Little Time

Given the importance of Piraeus in the industry of shipping, it is not a surprise that there are so many cruise ship lines operating to and from Piraeus. Here's a

The following operators serve the Port and are recommended by locals: Minoan Lines, ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries, GA Ferries, NEL Ferries, LANE Lines, Aegean Speed Lines, Hellenic Seways, Louis Cruise Lines, Monarch Classic Cruise Lines.

Selected Cruise Ship Packages

When visiting the Mediterranean, a lot of people often wonder how to select a cruise line between major port cities. Here are a couple of recommendations when planning a cruise ship trip from the ports of Barcelona, Venice, Rome and Istanbul. These port cities offer great options for cruise ship tours that range from 7 to 14 nights and will include a stop at Piraeus. All of the following prices do not included additional government taxes and only include the cost of the cruise ship. These are all inclusive cruise packages that have free shore excursions. They have been selected because they include great tours of Piraeus.

From Barcelona: Royal Carib Voyager offers 7 night packages around the Mediterranean and Greek Isles starting at $539. Norwegian Gem offers 7 night packages starting at $549. Celebrity Century offers 7 night packages starting at $595. Norwegian Jade offers 12 night packages starting at $899.

From Venice: Costa Fortuna offers 7 night packages starting at $549. Costa Victoria offers 7 night packages starting at $619. Celebrity Summit offers 14 night packages starting at $1,289. From Rome: Princess Grand offers 12 night packages starting at $999. Carnival Dream offers 12 night packages starting at $1,199. Azamara Quest offers 10 night packages from $1,449. From Istanbul: Reyent Voyager offers 7 night packages from $3,349.

Negotiating a Better Deal

Don't be afraid to negotiate a better deal when booking your cruise ship package. Most cruise ship companies offer referral awards from past clients. If you have a friend that took the same trip before, mention it. On board credits are very easy to get, if you ask for them of course! Senior travelers have special rates, so always check.