GREEK ISLANDS
The stuff that dreams are made of
By Jeannine Williamson
From the moment I stepped onto the warm teak deck on SeaDream 1 in Piraeus — greeted with a chilled glass of Champagne and a warm smile — I sensed this would be unlike any other cruise. Indeed, by that evening staff were not just smiling, but calling me by name. Don’t ask me how they do it, but that’s the way things are done on a vessel that’s like a private floating villa rather than a cruise ship.
Our seven-night journey through Greek islands in the Cyclades, that also took us across the Aegean to Bodrum, delivered beautiful destinations – many of them lesser-known – alongside an experience that redefined what it’s like to travel by sea.
With a maximum of 112 guests and 95 crew members, there’s almost a one-to-one crew-to-passenger ratio. The complete antithesis of sailing aboard a mega-cruise ship, SeaDream is enough to convert even the most committed landlubbers to dipping their toe into a life on the ocean wave. And what a life it is.
While it’s easy to measure opulence in terms of thread counts, caviar and lobster (and SeaDream has all of them), the real luxury comes with moments that feel personal and exclusive, yet delivered in a way that’s unfussy and relaxed. As well as your name, the bartender remembers your favourite cocktail, and after going for a dip off the marina platform or in the pool, someone will quietly clean your salt-speckled sunglasses.
Another standout feature is most meals – including the best vegetarian dishes I’ve ever had on a cruise – are eaten outside in the al fresco Topside Restaurant or out on deck.
When word went round we were on honeymoon we were surprised with an unforgettable private dinner out on deck overlooking the back of the ship. The waiters had to keep coming up and down the stairs just to serve us, but I never had the feeling this was done out of obligation. Like the service throughout the week, it was executed with a genuine warmth and celebrating a joyous moment with guests. The yacht’s crew operate like a family — and you’re welcomed into it.
Our first stop was the small island of Spetses, which set the scene for the majority of stops during the rest of the week. Inaccessible to large cruise ships because there is no deep water port or suitable anchorages, we stepped straight off SeaDream I on the tender to be dropped ashore minutes later, without 3,000 or more passengers following behind to overwhelm the town.
Wandering along the car-free streets past sun-drenched white buildings draped with vibrant pink bougainvillea, it was easy to see why stressed Athenians escape here to linger in over ouzo and gossip in the cafes lining the waterfront.
While it’s impossible not to relax on SeaDream, it’s best to go with an open mind and be flexible. Itineraries can change with the wind, quite literally. The Etesian winds gust across the Aegean in summertime, and if the sea gets too choppy the tenders can’t operate. We had to skip planned stops in Ios and Mykonos, but were rewarded with unscheduled visits to Milos and Paros, which are featured on other SeaDream itineraries. There’s always a plan B.
While there were optional excursions, most of the time we headed off alone, armed with useful information pamphlets available from the concierge desk. Arriving in the bay of horse-shoe shaped Milos some passengers checked out the surreal, lunar landscapes at Sarakiniko Beach, where bleached volcanic rocks plunge into the turquoise sea. Instead, we headed up the steep streets to an old windmill, one of many which typify the landscape of the breezy islands. On the way back we cooled off with a local beer, flavoured with island honey and served in refreshingly chilled glasses.
This pattern set the scene for our blissfully unstructured days. Things never felt rushed, with plenty of time to join a shore tour or head off independently. Even in the tourist hotspot of Santorini, SeaDream aims to do things differently by arriving in the late afternoon when the big cruise ships have left.
Crossing over to Turkey, we spent most of the day in Bodrum where the silhouette of the crusader fortress dominates the bay. After wandering through the lively shopping area, we stopped off for the mandatory beer on the way back, picking a beachside bar where the sea lapped against the table legs.
Our final stop was Paros and, by now, life had slowed to island time and missing Mykonos was long forgotten. We spent the morning exploring the village of Naoussa which grew out of the old fishing harbour, getting happily lost in the tangle of whitewashed lanes lined by houses with cerulean blue doors and shutters.
Back on board there was time for a late afternoon splash from the marina platform, where paddleboards, kayaks and jet skis are available when conditions allow. But the real thrill? For me that was the inflatable waterslide that launches you into the sea.
Afterwards we relaxed on one of the out-sized Balinese day beds big enough for two. They can be made up with bed linen if you want to sleep out under the stars. Even if you don’t last the night it’s well worth doing. Another evening we watched Mama Mia! on the open deck, sipping wine and munching freshly-made popcorn. With everything included in the fare, including cocktails and drinks, we never needed an excuse for a final nightcap before heading back to our well-equipped stateroom. They all come with trappings including a mini-bar and large flat-screen TV that you probably won’t turn on once (I didn’t). Who needs television when you can watch the ever-changing seascape from the window?
As we sailed back towards Athens on the final evening, I lay on one of the day beds once more with a final glass of fizz. I could easily have nodded off. Had I done so, I might have woken up and, for a fleeting moment, thought the preceding week had all been a dream. But it was the reality of an extraordinary voyage with SeaDream.
Jeannine Williamson October 2025
Fact file
Unforgettable Travel Company offers seven-night cruises with SeaDream Yacht Club in the Greek Islands from £5,699 per person, in the Mediterranean from £5,099 per person and in the Caribbean from £4,299 per person. This includes flights and private transfers, with further personalisation available with a range of private tours, hotels and experiences.
Visit unforgettabletravel.com or call +44 208 004 2345.
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