This Greek Isles Cruise Was Beautiful… and Exhausting | Brilliance of the Seas
Mykonos PortCyprus CountryGreece CountryTürkiye CountryRoyal Caribbean Cruise LineRhodes PortSantorini PortBrilliance of the Seas Cruise Ship
Join Sean and Kat aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas for a seven-night Greek Isles and Eastern Mediterranean cruise from Athens, visiting Santorini, Rhodes, Cyprus, Türkiye, and Mykonos. In this Season 2 episode of Royal Cruisers, our full-length Let’s Cruise show, we explore ancient ruins, island scenery and historic cities—with just one sea day to catch our breath. Santorini starts the sightseeing with dramatic cliffside views and an eight-hour excursion, although jet lag catches up with us along the way. Rhodes brings another full day of exploring, including its medieval walled city. In Cyprus, our excursion doesn’t leave us with the same enthusiasm, and we finish the trip wanting to return and experience more of the island. In Türkiye, we visit the ancient city of Ephesus, including the Library of Celsus, and a traditional Turkish carpet workshop. Our final cruise stop combines a ferry trip to the ruins of Delos with a walking tour of Mykonos town, an island bus tour, and food. Back onboard, our balcony cabin sits on the section that projects outward near the middle of the ship, giving us views along its length. Between long port days, we find time for Izumi lunch and some unexpectedly memorable entertainment. A Beatles tribute band and a magician become two of our favorite cruise performances. The adventure continues after debarkation with bonus footage from Athens. We visit the Acropolis, watch the Changing of the Guard, and settle into the historic Hotel Grande Bretagne. This was a beautiful but demanding itinerary for us. With several long excursions, early starts, and lingering jet lag, the pace left us tired—but the scenery and history made it a journey we’re glad we took. ⚓ CRUISE DETAILS Ship: Brilliance of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Sailing: Seven-night Greek Isles and Eastern Mediterranean cruise Departure and return: Athens, Greece Port stops and destinations: Santorini • Rhodes • Cyprus • Ephesus, Türkiye • Mykonos Ephesus: Visited on an excursion from our Turkish port stop Mykonos excursion: Delos ruins, Mykonos town and an island tour Sea day: Day 5 Cabin: Balcony stateroom on the ship’s outward-projecting midship section Traveling: Sean and Kat Show: Royal Cruisers | Season 2 — 2025 sailings This episode: Our complete Brilliance of the Seas sailing, plus post-cruise Athens footage, filmed in 4K 📍 VIDEO CHAPTERS 00:00 Brilliance of the Seas Greek Isles Cruise Itinerary 01:24 Athens Embarkation & First Day Onboard 04:16 Brilliance of the Seas Midship Balcony Cabin 06:36 Missing Luggage Resolved & First Evening Entertainment 11:36 Santorini Shore Excursion & Island Views 17:13 Santorini Excursion Recap & Jet Lag 19:13 Rhodes Shore Excursion & Medieval Old Town 26:41 Beatles Tribute Show on Brilliance of the Seas 28:47 Cyprus Shore Excursion 34:49 Brilliance of the Seas Sea Day & Izumi Lunch 36:16 Evening Magic Show & Onboard Entertainment 37:40 Ephesus Shore Excursion in Türkiye 41:33 Library of Celsus & Ancient Ephesus 44:20 Turkish Carpet Workshop 46:43 Mykonos Port Day & Ferry to Delos 48:37 Exploring the Ancient Ruins of Delos 53:04 Mykonos Town Walking Tour & Island Excursion 55:39 Athens Debarkation & Acropolis Excursion 57:11 Athens Changing of the Guard 59:49 Hotel Grande Bretagne Post-Cruise Stay 🛳️ EXPLORE MORE Watch more Royal Cruisers: Follow our Royal Caribbean adventures, with complete sailings organized by season and cruise year. https://www.youtube.com/show/VLPLGdHP0yyduEQlwvdidVu42zBE8GdHUTyN?sbp=QAE%253D Explore our Royal Caribbean ship tours: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGdHP0yyduETKFGP5mM1yu7fF4vfb3qKi Would you choose a Greek Isles cruise with almost a different destination every day, or would you want more sea days between excursions? ABOUT 3RD ORBIT TRAVELERS We’re Sean and Kat, sharing our Royal Caribbean adventures through Royal Cruisers, our full-length Let’s Cruise show, alongside ship tours, port visits, and restaurant experiences. Some sailings feature both of us, while others follow Sean traveling solo or with friends. Subscribe to travel with us and hear more about our sailings on the SeaLog Podcast. 🎵 MUSIC 3rd Orbit Travelers uses Epidemic Sound for much of the music in our videos. Explore Epidemic Sound and its current trial offer: https://share.epidemicsound.com/0o8qvf This is an affiliate link. If you sign up and purchase through it, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 🌬️ Remember, if you ever feel lost and don’t know where to go, simply follow the wind. #BrillianceOfTheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #GreekIslesCruise