All Inclusive Crete & Cruise – Celebrity Infinity – 11 May 2025

All Inclusive Crete & Cruise – Celebrity Infinity – 11 May 2025

All Inclusive Crete & Cruise – Celebrity Infinity – 11 May 2025. Crete is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover!

Chania (also spelled Hania) is the capital city, a place where different civilizations have flourished throughout the centuries. Strolling around the Old Town’s maze-like alleys with the beautiful Venetian mansions, the fountains and the churches will guide you through well-preserved historical monuments.

The city of Chania is built on the area of Minoan Kidonia, at the end of the homonym gulf between Akrotiri and Onicha peninsulas. It was the former capital city of Crete (from 1847 until 1972). Nowadays, it is the second largest city of Crete after Heraklion and capital of the homonym prefecture.

Get familiar with the city of Chania by wandering around in its streets, visiting its museums and admiring the different architectural styles presenting the historical route of the city.

Heraklion is the largest city of Crete and one of Greece’s major urban centres. The city flourished under a multicultural influence throughout the centuries; that’s why there is a plethora of Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman structures to look out for!
The city’s landmark is the 16th c. Koules fortress in the westernmost side of the old Venetian port, which along with the fortification walls (dating back to the same period) are among the most significant and imposing sights.

Agios Nikolaos (“Ag Nik” as the British visitors love to call it) is the capital town of Lassithi. Here, the bottomless salt lake Voulismeni dominates the area. A narrow channel of water connects the lake with the sea, while an imposing backdrop of red rock and trees adds to the natural beauty of the scenery. A small pine tree park lies above the lake, and a stone path leads to its southern section to a cute small harbour for fishing boats.

The city boasts interesting Archaeological, Folklore, and Natural History museums, Byzantine churches, a well-organised marina, bustling pedestrian streets (ideal for leisurely walks), and traditional squares with buzzing cafés and restaurants.

Its strategic location on the map has turned the island of Crete into a crossroads where peoples and civilisations have left a permanent mark on, along with a rich cultural heritage. Across the ages, Minoans, Mycenaeans, Ottoman Turks, Arabs and Venetians have shaped the island’s identity.
Discover Crete’s eventful history that spans fifty-odd centuries: the Minoan palaces at Knossos, Phaestos, Malia and Zakros; the archaeological sites of ancient Gortyna, Eleftherna, Lyttos, Aptera, Falasarna, Spinalonga; the Venetian harbours at Chania, Heraklion and Rethymno towns; the ottoman monuments and architectural structures seen across the island; the historic monasteries of Arkadi, Preveli, Toplou, Agarathou, and Chrysoskalitissa; numerous thematic museums – the Heraklion Archaeological Museum is among the most significant in Europe.