Cyprus has so much to offer visitors including its unique geographical position in the eastern end of the Mediterranean. Cyprus can be used as the perfect stepping stone by travellers who are eager to see as much as possible during their trip - but a word of warning - don't make things too action-packed or you'll be going home for a rest and you will not have made the most of the wonderful slower pace of life in Cyprus!

For those coming to Cyprus for just one week or two, there is the chance to enjoy a mini cruise to the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kastellorizo or to visit the pyramids in Egypt. Both cruises are offered by several of the Cypriot cruise lines and leave Limassol port on various days of the week. The great thing is that these mini cruises are really reasonably priced and give visitors to Cyprus the chance to visit somewhere different like Cairo that would be so expensive to do from home. Transport is available to the port from all holiday resorts.

At this time of year many people come to Cyprus on longer stay holidays to escape the gloomy weather of northern Europe. For those with a little more time to spare there are longer cruises to enjoy including this special Autumn cruise with Salamis Cruise Lines that explores the well-known and lesser well-known Ioanian islands of Greece next week….

If you are visiting Cyprus on different dates, contact your tour Rep. or hotel Reception desk as soon as you arrive to find out what cruises are available...

Discovering the Greek islands in the mellow Autumn sunshine...

At this time of the year, it is not unusual for the local cruise companies to offer one-off departures to some of the Greek islands that they do not always have the chance to visit, and not surprisingly, these special itineraries are very popular - and well worth watching out for! Salamis Cruises is offering a special departure to the Greek Islands on board the Salamis Star on Monday 8 October and returning on Sunday 14 October - and still has availability. It is the perfect time to leisurely explore the islands as all the tourists have returned home, and the cooler temperatures are perfect for sightseeing.

The ship's first 'port of call' is Santorini, where it arrives late in the afternoon. This island is one of the most beautiful and passengers get a spectacular view as the ship sails into the 'caldera'{this island was formed from the outside rim of a volcano crater} and moors at the foot of the straight volcanic cliffs that are capped by the snowy white buildings of the capital town- Thira. There are two ways up - by cable car and donkey, one is definitely quicker and more comfortable than the other! Those 'in the know' quickly grab a bus to Oia on the north- west point where the sunsets really are spectacular - particularly at this time of year. This little town is as attractive as Thira, but less touristy with a good assortment of shops and restaurants and fewer people - and you don't have to pay an outrageous price to sit in a bar to watch the sunset!. The Salamis Star sails overnight from Santorini to Zakynthos {also known as Zante}where it arrives mid-afternoon.

Zakynthos is usually too busy to enjoy in the summer {especially in the south, but in the autumn, the island is at its best}. There is an optional excursion of the island to visit its best known monuments including the Cathedral of St Dionysios, patron saint of the island that is said to have a steeple similar to Saint Mark's in Venice. The Machairado is a place of pilgrimage and an interesting village with the Church of Ayia Maura whose walls and ceilings are covered in frescoes depicting Biblical stories. The Venetian Castro {castle}offers marvellous views over the island. Like in several other islands, as the ship does not leave until late evening, there is the chance to enjoy a meal ashore, although most passengers prefer to slip back onboard to enjoy the excellent cuisine of the Salamis chefs. By 10.00 p.m. the ship is on its way to Corfu.

The name 'Corfu'{Kerkyra} conjures many images in people's minds as it has long been one of the most popular Greek islands with links to Poseidon and Greek mythology, it has a rich history, and was home to famous writers Gerald and Lawrence Durrell. The challenge for the Salamis staff is to provide an optional excursion that gives passengers a good overview of the island in just a few hours.

The excursion visits Achillio, the palace built by Elizabeth of Austria a hundred years ago and contains the famous statue of the dying Archilles and all sorts of neoclassical sculptures. There is the famous Islet of Pontikonisi {mouse island} that legend says is not an island, but Odysseus's ship that was turned to stone. The excursion also visits the church of Saint Spiridon - the Patron Saint of Corfu - which is dark, shadowy building that is heady with incense! Four times each year the Saint's relics that was once in Cyprus are paraded through the town to celebrate the end of certain bad events in the town like plague, famine and the defeat of the Turks in 1716! For 'shopaholics there is plenty of free time in the very atmospheric Corfu old town, whilst those who would rather can discover the town's many magnificent historical sites..

The same evening the ship sails on to Cephallonia the largest of the Ioanian islands for a few hours. Cephallonia has become very much an 'in' place since the huge success of Louis de Berniere's novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin {and now the film}. Again, there is the chance to take an optional excursion to se a little more of this very attractive island including Argostoli, its capital, and the stone bridge that joins both sides of the town. The tour takes visitors through the famous Rombola vineyards {buy a bottle if you can as the island's wines have a good reputation} to Saint George's Church where the Saint's relics are housed in a silver sarcophagus. In complete contrast, visitors get the chance to see the unique geological phenomenon at Katavothres where the sea flows towards the land and then vanishes!

The cruise heads for the mainland just for one day -the sixth - when it visits Katakolo so that passengers can enjoy the optional excursion to the archaeological site and museum at Olympia. The Temple of Zeus is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and other archaeological treasures to be seen at the site including the Olympic Stadium that can seat 45,000 people where the first Olympic Games were held in 776BC and the first Olympic torch was lit. The tour also includes a visit to the museum containing pottery, frescoes and mosaics from the site.

The final 'port of call' on this special cruise is another popular one - the island of Crete and one of its prettiest port towns - Ayios Nikolaos that has managed to keep its charm despite its popularity. The town has a lake that is said to be bottomless and the home of spirits. The lake said to be connected with Santorini {Thira} and there was proof of this when an earthquake rocked Santorini in 1956 - strangely all the fish died in the lake. The excursion also visits Kritsa, the island's largest village that is well known for its folk art, especially weaving, and the magnificent church of the Virgin Mary containing many fine Byzantine frescoes. En route back to the port, the excursion stops in Elounda, the setting for the popular film 'Who Pays the Ferryman' and as the ship slips anchor and heads once more for Limassol, everyone can relax on deck and recall all the wonderful places they have been able to visit in the past seven days…

Information courtesy of forsale.com.cy