Med Cruise: Corfu
In this sixth post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Corfu, Greece on her Mediterranean Cruise on Crystal.
I am exploring parts of the Mediterranean on my inaugural cruise on Crystal. The 7-night cruise on Crystal Symphony kicks off in Istanbul, Turkey and wraps up in Venice, Italy. Join me as I explore the many wonderful ports in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Italy along the way!
Crystal Mediterranean Cruise Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about my time in Corfu, Greece. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- Pre-Cruise – September 6-8: Istanbul, Turkey
- Cruise Day 1 – September 9: At Sea
- Cruise Day 2 – September 10: Kusadasi, Turkey
- Cruise Day 3 – September 11: At Sea
- Cruise Day 4 – September 12: Katakolon, Greece
- Cruise Day 5 – September 13: Corfu, Greece
- Cruise Day 6 – September 14: Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Post-Cruise – September 15: Venice, Italy
Cruise Day 5: Corfu
There was another stunning sunrise to greet me this morning as we arrived in Corfu, Greece. I enjoyed breakfast out on the patio, watching the sun rise.
Grotto Boat Tour
Today’s excursion was another fantastic one! First up was a 30-minute drive to Paleokastritsa, on the other side of the island of Corfu from where the ship is docked. Here I had a wonderful grotto boat tour. We had a short walk from our bus to the dock, where we were split up into smaller groups to board the small boats used for the tour.
We set off across the crystal clear and calm water to begin our exploration of the rocky coastline and the many small caves that dot it.
Our small boat took us on a leisurely tour, ducking in and out of some of the caves along the way. The water was so clear that we could see a lot of fish swimming…when we asked our boat captain what type of fish they are, he answered (with a smirk), “Greek ones.” We also had some wonderful views of the small towns on the shore along the way.
Enjoying the Beach
After the grotto boat tour, we had a few minutes of free time. I took the opportunity to dip my toes into the Ionian Sea and walk along the pretty little beach area by the boat docks. The water was cool but comfortable.
Old Corfu Town
The final stop of the morning tour was some free time in the Old Corfu Town area. This quaint area is filled with winding roads lined with shops, galleries, and sidewalk cafes. As with every other place I visited on this trip, I also spotted a few cats along the way!
It was so much fun to just wander through Old Corfu Town. There are a lot of colorful buildings lining the narrow walkways. It was a busy place on this beautiful day, but it was still easy to navigate. As always, I found time to get some shopping done and added to my travel collection at a few local galleries with something for my curio, something to hang on the wall, and something for my Christmas tree.
Bites, Nibbles, and Treats
After the fabulous morning excursion, I returned back to the ship for another relaxing lunch out on the patio. I had a wonderful view of Old Corfu Town. After lunch, I enjoyed my new-favorite tradition of getting a scoop of delicious gelato. The ship has about 10 different flavors of homemade gelato, with a wide assortment of toppings, available in Scoops every day. My flavor of choice today was mint chocolate chip. Later in the afternoon, I also had another lovely plate of canapes waiting for me in my suite late afternoon which I snacked on while getting ready for dinner.
Sail Away from Corfu
We had a late-afternoon sail away from Corfu. There were gorgeous views as the sun kissed the water. I then stepped inside and sipped on a cool Cosmo in Crystal Cove before dinner.
Another Delicious Dinner
Tonight’s dinner was another delicious one. I enjoyed the following in the main dining room, Waterside:
- Appetizer: Goat cheese hazelnut tortelli with citrus brown butter
- Soup: Beef essence, with Port wine gel, vegetable Brunoise, and puffed wild rice
- Main Course: Grilled black Angus filet steak Diane, with Armagnac-flavored green peppercorn sauce, sauteed mushrooms, honey roasted carrots, Romanesco, and Berni potatoes
- Dessert: “Opera Revisited”, Cremeaux, Opera sponge, praline, and orange caramel
Spectacular Sunset
While enjoying a delectable dinner, I also had a spectacular seat for the “show”…the sunset! I couldn’t stop taking pictures between bites as the sun dipped lower. I can’t decide which one is my favorite, so scroll through the slideshow below to see the full collection.
Conclusion
My day on the idyllic island of Corfu, Greece was lovely from start to finish. I had a stunning sunrise to welcome me in, and that was followed by a wonderful grotto boat tour. The location was serene and beautiful, and it was a unique view of the area. I also enjoyed spending some free time wandering around the pretty Old Corfu Town. After a gorgeous sail away, the day wrapped up with yet another delicious dinner onboard.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
Click the button below for more information about Crystal:
