Real trip, actually taken · 15 days
15-Day Istanbul, Egypt and Greek Islands Cruise Itinerary for a Multigenerational Family
The Pyramids, Santorini and Cappadocia's cave houses in one trip, with three generations along.
- Going to
- Istanbul, Eastern Mediterranean and Cappadocia
- Length
- 15 days
- Travelers
- Multigenerational groups
- Trip total
- $15,111–$23,810
A real multigenerational family took this trip. We re-timed three port days to the ship's actual schedule and filled in the sea day and Cappadocia mornings.
Their rating
Rated by the traveler who took this trip.
$15,111–$23,810
The total covers flights from Detroit, Michigan, lodging, getting around and tickets and tours for the whole party, plus food, gas and parking estimated in the breakdown below.
Things to do
- Basilica Cistern (Day 1)
- Private Old City tour (Day 2)
- Cağaloğlu Hamamı (Day 3)
- Grand Bazaar (Day 3)
- Cruise check-in at Galataport (Day 3)
- Pools, kids' club and the ship's activities (Day 4)
- Ship docks in Alexandria (Day 5)
- Private guide and driver: Alexandria to Giza (Day 5)
- Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) (Day 5)
- Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx (Day 6)
- Saqqara (Day 6)
- Back on board (Day 6)
- Walk off the ship toward the Old Town (Day 7)
- Limassol Castle and Medieval Museum (Day 7)
- Limassol Old Town and Saripolou Square (Day 7)
- Molos Promenade and Sculpture Park (Day 7)
- Back to the ship (Day 7)
- Walk from the port into the Old Town via the Marine Gate (Day 8)
- Street of the Knights and St. Athanasios Gate (Day 8)
- Mandraki Harbor: deer statues, windmills and the Fort of St. Nicholas (Day 8)
- Rhodes Old Town (Day 8)
- Private Crete tour from Heraklion port (Day 9)
- Knossos Palace (Day 9)
- Pottery village visit (Day 9)
- Olive oil mill and tasting (Day 9)
- Lassithi Plateau villages and windmills (Day 9)
- Back to the ship (Day 9)
- Pick up rental cars in Fira (Day 10)
- Imerovigli: Skaros Rock viewpoint (Day 10)
- Akrotiri archaeological site (Day 10)
- Santorini Wine Museum, Vothonas (Day 10)
- Return the cars in Fira (Day 10)
- Walk down the Fira steps to the old port, then tender back (Day 10)
- Mykonos Town: windmills, Little Venice and Paraportiani church (Day 11)
- Ornos Beach (Day 11)
- Ephesus guided tour from Kusadasi port (Day 12)
- Ancient city of Ephesus and the Terrace Houses (Day 12)
- Temple of Artemis (Day 12)
- Back on board (Day 12)
- Disembark at Galataport (Day 13)
- Walk around Göreme and Sunset Point (Day 13)
- Watch the sunrise balloons (Day 14)
- Full-day Cappadocia highlights tour (Day 14)
- Last look at the balloons (Day 15)
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Why this plan works
An afternoon landing gets only a hotel check-in, one optional short sight two minutes away, and an early dinner — the Old City hotel puts everything on foot.
- 2:10 PM
Land at Istanbul Airport (IST)
2:10 PM
Book ahead · Fares typically open ~11 months out and are usually cheapest 2–4 months ahead
This family took an overnight flight from Detroit.
- 3:15 PM
Private transfer to Sultanahmet
3:15 PM
Two taxis split a group of eight; one van doesn't.
About 60–75 minutes. A van fits eight with luggage — confirm the vehicle size when you book.
- 4:30 PM
Ring Stone Hotels Old City
4:30 PM
Walking distance to the Cistern, Hagia Sophia and the tour pickup.
Book ahead · Rooms usually open ~12 months out; book 2–3 months ahead for choice
Small hotel in Sultanahmet.
- 5:00 PM
Basilica Cistern
5:00 PM
The one sight worth doing on jet-lagged legs — it's short, cool and dramatic.
Book ahead · Timed-entry tickets usually release a month or two ahead; confirm with the venue
About 30–40 minutes underground. There's a separate evening ticket with a concert in the cistern.
- 6:00 PM
Marmara View Terrace Restaurant
6:00 PM
Early enough for jet lag, with the Sea of Marmara at sunset.
Book ahead · Call ahead: most restaurants open tables about a month out, and large parties often need longer
Rooftop dinner with a 6:00 reservation.
- 8:00 PM
Dessert stop if energy allows
8:00 PM
Baklava or Turkish delight on the walk back.
Bookings & costs
$15,111–$23,810
No stay price yet for 9 nights (after day 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), so they aren't in this figure.
0 of 33 bookable items booked
Food not included: about $4,740, listed below
Locked in
$0
paid or reserved
Still to book
$19,170
est. $14,895–$23,450 · 33 items
Gas & parking
$290
est. $216–$360
Know before you go
Practical notes for this trip — the things worth sorting before you leave.
Egypt
Egypt requires a visa for many passports — check requirements for everyone in the group before you book the Alexandria-to-Cairo overnight.
In Egypt a private guide and driver for eight is simpler than two ship excursions, and the guide handles tickets at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza and Saqqara.
Private guide and driver: Alexandria to Giza
Timing
The Alexandria-to-Saqqara drive back is the tightest leg of the trip; agree a hard leave time with your guide the day before.
Santorini
Santorini is a tender port. Walking down the Fira steps skips the post-sunset cable car queue, but they are steep and covered in donkey droppings — wear closed shoes, and send anyone who can't manage them down by cable car with extra time before the last tender.
Mosques
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque ask for covered shoulders and knees, and headscarves for women — pack a scarf in the day bag for the Istanbul tour day.
Driving
Driving in Santorini is on narrow roads with tight parking; two small cars were easier than one van for a group of eight.
Cruise ports
Port times in Limassol and Kusadasi are short and early or late — re-time any shore plan to the ship's actual arrival, not a generic day plan.
Cappadocia
Balloons over Göreme depend on the weather each morning; watching from a terrace is free, and flights have age minimums set by the operator.
Money
Carry some Turkish lira and euros in small notes for taxis, tips, the Fabrika bus in Mykonos and village stops on Crete.
Want this trip on your dates?
Make this yours — free, no account, no card.
Questions about this plan
- How do you see the Pyramids from a cruise that docks in Alexandria?
- The ship stayed overnight, so the family left it with a private guide and driver, drove about three hours to the Grand Egyptian Museum, slept in Cairo, did Giza and Saqqara the next morning and drove back to the port by 6:00 pm.
- Why rent cars in Santorini instead of taking a tour?
- Two small cars from Santorini Dream Cars let a group of eight do Oia, Ammoudi Bay, Imerovigli, a beach lunch, Akrotiri and the wine museum in their own order, then return the cars in Fira before dinner.
- What changed from the original plan in Limassol?
- The ship arrived at 1:00 pm but the original loop started at 9:30 am, so every stop was pushed into the afternoon and the archaeological museum became optional.
- What do the grandparents and kids do while two adults go to the hammam?
- The plan sends them to Gülhane Park beside Topkapı, and everyone meets at Esto for breakfast at 10:15 before the Grand Bazaar.
- Is there a way to see Cappadocia's balloons without flying?
- Yes. Watching the sunrise launch from the hotel terrace or a Göreme viewpoint is free; a flight is listed as an option for adults and older kids.
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