Tropical Travel Girl
Plan a Windstar Mediterranean Cruise: Food, Wine, and Historic Sights
Last updated on February 12th, 2025 at 04:38 pm
It was Corfu, Greece, that sealed the deal for me.
As I browsed through Windstar Cruise’s itineraries through the Mediterranean, I was especially attracted to a particular itinerary — A Piece of Greece, A Slice of Sicily, and the Corinth Canal. Departing from Athens and ending in Barcelona, it included three ports in Greece, two in Sicily, and one in Sardinia. One of them was Corfu.
After devouring four seasons of The Durrells in Corfu on Amazon Prime (originally a PBS Masterpiece series), I was totally besotted. The series, loosely based on Gerald Durrell’s autobiographical books, is about a family who moved to the Greek island of Corfu from Britain in the 1930s.
There’s something magical about becoming enamored with a place you’ve seen on TV, in the movies, or read about in a book. And then, while researching cruise trips, you see it on an itinerary, book it, and you are there. For real.
A Piece of Greece, a Slice of Sicily, and the Corinth Canal
Our eight-day cruise, “A Piece of Greece, a Slice of Sicily, and the Corinth Canal,” was aboard Windstar’s Star Pride yacht. The cruise line’s three motorized yachts were recently stretched nearly 100 feet in a $250 million expansion and refurbishment initiative. Passenger capacity increased from 212 to 312. The Star Pride began sailing as an all-suite yacht with two new restaurants and 50 additional suites in April 2022.
Windstar’s Star Pride 312 passenger yacht, after its expansion. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Several years earlier, my husband and I sailed on the Star Pride (before its expansion) on a 7-night cruise, “Treasures of the Greek Isles,” beginning and ending in Athens, with stops in Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Patmos, Santorini, Monemvasia, and Nafplio.
A Pre-Cruise Stay at St. George Lycabettus Hotel
St. George Lycabettus Hotel, Athens, Greece ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
We flew into Athens a day early and arranged to stay at the St. George Lycabettus, the same pre-cruise accommodation we’d used on our previous trip. It was nice to have time to recover from the travel day and to have dinner at a taverna within walking distance.
Lycabettus Hill — the highest point in Athens
View of Acropolis and city of Athens from Lycabettus Hill ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
The following day, there was still time to take a cable car ride to the top of Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in the center of Athens.
(Left) The whitewashed church of Agios Georgios (St. George) at the top of Lycabettus Hill dates back to 1870. (Right) The Tower of Lycabettus Hill. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
(Top) Looking up at Lycabettus Hill…and (Bottom) at the top, where vendors and visitors on the terrace take in views of the ancient city of Athens. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
After taking in sweeping views of the ancient city, we returned to the hotel for lunch in the rooftop garden. From there, we had a different vantage point to view the ancient Acropolis in the distance.
Our Windstar Cruise Itinerary
While Corfu’s inclusion on our cruise initially piqued my interest, I soon found many more reasons to book it. Here was the itinerary:
Depart from Athens, Greece
Cruising the Corinth Canal
Itea, Delphi, Greece
Corfu, Greece
Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece
Messina, Taormina, Sicily
Trapani, Sicily (overnight)
Cagliari, Sardinia
Day at Sea
Arrive Barcelona, Spain
Cruising the Corinth Canal Aboard Windstar’s Star Pride
On our first full day aboard, we rose early to join other passengers at the bow to witness our ship’s much-anticipated transit of the Corinth Canal. Completed in 1893 when boats were much smaller, the Corinth Canal is the world’s deepest manmade waterway. The Canal had been closed for several months of repairs due to landslides. It reopened shortly before our sailing date.
Since a portion of the four-mile-long passage is less than 85 feet wide, it is only possible for small vessels like the Star Pride, with beams/widths of 58 feet and less, to navigate the canal.
Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises
Passengers gathered at the bow to watch the Star Pride transit the Corinth Canal. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
View of passengers watching Corinth Canal passage from inside Star Pride’s lounge. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Once we emerged from the Canal, a pilot boat guided the Star Pride out into the open waters.
The Star Pride emerges from the Corinth Canal led by the pilot boat. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Ancient Delphi — A UNESCO World Heritage Site near Itea
The ancient ruins at Delphi, Greece. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
By early afternoon, we reached the port of Itea, the first of three Grecian ports on our Windstar cruise from Athens to Barcelona. It is near the ancient archeological site of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which dates to the 8th century BC. Until its unearthing in 1893, it had remained buried for centuries.
The religious sanctuary, dedicated to the Greek god Apollo, was the home of the Oracle of Delphi and his high-priestess Pythia. The site also includes the Temple of Apollo and the best preserved stadium of Greece.
SLIDESHOW (Photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
The myth says that Zeus decided to establish an oracle at the center of the world. In order to find the suitable location, he let loose two eagles, the first flying towards the East and the second towards the West. The two eagles met above Delphi indicating that this was the center of the world. Geographically, Delphi is situated at the heart of central Greece.
Archaeological Museum of Delphi
After our guided tour, we spent time in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, adjacent to the ruins. It includes some of the most important works of ancient Greek art. It covers the period from the 2nd century BC, before the foundation of the Sanctuary, until Late Antiquity. This is a period roughly corresponding to the late third century up to the sixth or seventh century, when a small Christian community was established in Delphi.
Archaeological Museum of Delphi ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
An historical depiction of the site at Delphi ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
The Charioteer and the Twins of Argos in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
A Private Tour of Corfu, Greece
And then, on our second full day aboard, we were in Corfu. This was my long-awaited destination.
The “TV house” where The Durrells of Corfu was filmed is now a private residence.
I researched Durrells-focused tours in advance, and booked a private tour through Blue Tours Corfu. Along with our guide, Eleni, we visited several locations either used in the series or by the real-life Durrells family. Because the house used in the TV series is now privately owned, we had to settle for getting a glimpse of it through the front gates and by peering over the stone wall from the beach side. As we walked the beach on Kontokali Bay, I collected a couple of small shells and a sand sample for my collection. (See my post: How I display my sand collection and shells.)
The beach area on Kontokali Bay where the Durrells in Corfu TV series was filmed. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
We got a glimpse of the Durrells of Corfu TV house from the front gates. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Next stop: Kalami Bay and the White House
Our next stop was Kalami Bay to visit the White House, where Lawrence Durrell and his wife, Nancy, lived in the mid-1930s. Along the way, we learned about other film locations for the series and more of the island’s history.
The White House Showing Plaque (inset) where Lawrence Durrell lived, Kalami, Corfu, Greece. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
The White House, pictured from the back side of the restaurant on Kalami Bay, located on Corfu’s northeast coast. It is attached to the original home where Lawrence Durrell lived in the 1930s. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Stephen and I at The White House, Kalami Bay, Corfu ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Danila Village, Corfu, where many outdoor scenes of The Durrells were filmed. It has also been used as a movie set for a James Bond film, “For Your Eyes Only,” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.” ©Cathy Kinman
Our Blue Tours guide, Eleni and I are pictured with Mouse Island and the Church of Panagia Vlacherna Monastery in the background. The church is connected to Corfu by a walkway, where ferry boats to the island depart. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
More to see in Corfu Town
We later had time to walk the cobblestone streets of Corfu Town before heading back to the ship. The “Old Town” of Corfu, including its two forts, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its roots date back to the 8th century B.C.
I loved walking through the cobblestone back streets of Corfu Town. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Street scene in Corfu Town with a view of the bell tower of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
The kumquat, also known as the “golden orange” has become the symbol of Corfu. It was first brought to Corfu in 1846 by English botanist Sydney Merlin. We had time for a quick tasting of the Kumquat liqueur, available for purchase in many shops in Corfu town. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Mon Repos Villa, Corfu, birthplace of Prince Philip ©Marc Rychaert
Did you know? Corfu’s most famous “son” is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was born here (on the dining room table) in 1921. Visitors can tour his birthplace, Mon Repos villa, which is now an archaeological museum. We didn’t make it there, but I would put it and several other things on my list if I am ever able to return to Corfu.
Wineries, an Ancient Village, and the Egadi Islands
Argostoli, Greece: A bizarre relic and rare Robola wine
Our final Grecian port was Argostoli, in Kefalonia. It is the largest of the seven Ionian islands and the sixth-largest island in Greece.
We chose another of the ship’s excursions — St. Andrews Monastery and Robola Winery – for our time there.
St. Andrews Monastery
The Monastery of St. Andrew, just outside Argostoli, is famous for housing a bizarre relic inside a glass case, claimed to be the sole of St. Andrew’s right foot. (There’s a whole story behind how it came to be there if you’re interested in reading more.) The other main attractions are the Byzantine frescoes inside the church dating to the 13th and 17th centuries. In 1953, an earthquake loosened whitewashed walls inside the church, revealing the island’s most artistic treasures.
Byzantine frescoes dating to the 13th and 17th centuries were discovered following a 1953 earthquake. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
A glass case displays the sole of St. Andrew’s foot inside the monastery. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
SLIDESHOW: Photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Robola Winery
Later in the morning, we arrived at Robola Winery to gain an insight into the production methods of the famous and rare Robola wine. Although some claim the Robola grape is synonymous with the northeastern Italian varietal, Ribolla Gialla, according to the winemakers, there are striking differences. After we had the opportunity to taste several varietals with bread and cheese, we left with a bottle to enjoy with dinner on the ship later that evening.
The four wines we tasted at Robola Winery, Argostoli, Greece. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
A view of the vineyards at Robola Winery. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
SLIDESHOW: (All photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
Messina, Sicily
“Wine Tasting at Gambino Winery” was the excursion we chose when our Windstar Cruises yacht docked in Messina, Sicily. Gambino Winery was named one of the “10 best wineries of the world with a view” by National Geographic.
Gambino Winery is set on the east side of the Mt. Etna volcano. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
SLIDESHOW: (All photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
The 90-minute drive to reach the winery was well worth it. The winery is located on the east side of the Etna volcano, in the woods of the National Park, facing the Taormina Sea. Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active and iconic volcanoes, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013. At 2,625 feet above sea level, the terraced vineyards surrounding the winery created a unique setting for our visit.
Before being seated for the tasting, our group was given a production facility tour. Following our tasting of four wines with cheeses and local specialties, we decided to order a mixed case of Gambino wines. Since they ship wine to a warehouse facility in the US, it was waiting for us upon our arrival back home.
Trapani, Sicily
Our Windstar Cruises ship docked in Trapani, Sicily, for two days. We booked an independent excursion on the first day through GetYourGuide: “From Trapani: Favignana and Levanzo Boat Trip with Lunch” with Egadi Lines.
A Day in the Egadi Islands
The all-day 8-hour tour included a pasta lunch served with local white wine. It was an excellent way to visit two of the three Egadi Islands. The yacht had a top deck, which allowed us to be in the open air or sit below to be out of the sun.
Torre Lines Intrepido motorboat, with a capacity of 245, took us to two of the Egadi Islands for a day cruise. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Top deck of the Torre Lines motorboat on the Egadi Islands cruise. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Vendors and fishermen in the harbor on Favignana, Egadi Islands ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
SLIDESHOW (All Photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette):
We had two hours to explore Favignana, the largest of the two islands, and one hour to explore Levanzo. There was not enough time to see everything, but at least we got a taste of it (and a gelato!). Most passengers were locals with families. However, as we were boarding, we met an American couple of Sicilian descent and thoroughly enjoyed their company throughout the day.
The Egadi islands have the Marine Protected Area designation, making them excellent for scuba diving. Favignana was formerly the site of the Mediterranean’s largest tuna fishery, which flourished after the Florio family purchased the Egadi Islands.
The Medieval Village of Erice
The Tower of Venus Castle in the background was built in the 12th century. It was previously the site of the Temple of Venus Erycina, Goddess of Fertility. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Erice, called “one of the most beautiful villages in Italy,” was our destination for Windstar’s second day in Trapani, Sicily. The poet Virgil mentioned Erice in his epic work, the Aeneid, making it a stop on the travels of the Trojan hero Aeneas, the mythical founder of Rome.
A thick fog known as Venus’ Embrace surrounded us as we took a tram up to the hillside village. We were fortunate that it burned off quickly for our visit to Erice. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
We took a cable car to reach the medieval town atop Mount Erice, around 2,460 ft. above sea level. The Tower of Venus Castle, built in the 12th century, is on its summit. The son of Athena, goddess of love, is said to have built a temple in his mother’s honor. Our guide led us through narrow, cobblestone streets past Chiesa Madre, the Mother Church, which has been there for over 700 years.
The Chiesa Matrice or “Mother Church” is the oldest in Erice. It is one of 60 remaining, but used to be known as the “City of a Hundred Churches.” ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
SLIDESHOW: (Photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
Erice is also known for its pastries created from recipes handed down from monks and nuns of the cloistered monasteries. We sampled several of them in the La Pasticceria confectioner shop where they originated.
Before taking the cable car back to Trapani and our waiting ship, we still had time to enjoy lunch on a rooftop terrace overlooking the city.
Sardinia, An Ancient Land
The last port on our Windstar Cruises itinerary was Cagliari, Sardinia, before ending in Barcelona. Our 6-hour excursion, “An Ancient Land” included three stops.
San Sperate – A Museum Village
The first was to San Sperate, a “museum village” filled with painted murals on the walls of the buildings. It all started in the 1960s. A local artist, Pinauccio Sciola, returned to his hometown and came up with the idea of painting all the walls of the buildings white so artists could add their different styles and techniques to paint murals. There are now more than 500 murals.
This mural in San Sperate is one of the most photographed in the village. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
We met the artist who painted the large mural pictured above in 1978. It has become one of the most photographed in the village.
SLIDESHOW (All photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
Wine tasting at Ferruccio Deiana Vini Vineyards
Our next stop was the Ferruccio Deiana Vini vineyards in Settimo San Pietro. The winery is usually closed on Sunday but an exception was made for our Windstar Cruises group.
Road leading to vineyards at Ferruccio Deiana Winery, Sardinia ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Here are the four wines we tasted. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Front and back of bottle Sileno Cannonau Di Sardegna wine at Ferruccio Deiana winery. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
We tasted four of its wines, served with local cheese and sausages. They included the Sileno Reserve, a Canonau di Sardinia DOC Reserve, produced exclusively with Cannonau grapes native to Sardinia. Cannonau wine has two or three times the level of artery-scrubbing flavonoids as other wines.
Sardinia is one of the Blue Zones…
Have you heard of the Blue Zones? Sardinia is one of them. Besides boasting the world’s greatest concentration of male centenarians, its residents eat a lean, plant-based diet accented by meat. They consume moderate amounts of wine (one to two glasses daily). Their lifestyle also involves walking five or more miles most days, and they have strong family values.
(Left) I also loved the rosé (always my favorite varietal); (Right) The selection of wines on the shelf were unfortunately off limits for purchasing since we were there on Sunday. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Sunday sales aren’t allowed, so I wasn’t able to leave with a bottle of the Sileno Reserve, made from the Cannonau grapes. I later found through Winesearcher that there are wine stores throughout the U.S. that carry Sardinian wines.
Visiting an Ancient Olive Oil Mill and Museum
The last part of our Windstar Cruises excursion in Sardinia included a visit to an ancient olive oil mill in Dolianova. It has produced extra virgin olive oil since 1600, using over 6,000 olive trees on 50 acres. The oil is cold pressed in the company oil mill on the same day as the harvest.
Before tasting three types of olive oil, we learned a little about the production process. Afterward, we spent time in the olive oil museum.
Museum Exhibits (Photo credit: Locci Olive Oil Museum)
Day at Sea before Arriving in Barcelona
Our 8-day cruise was very port-intensive, with only one day at sea before arriving in Barcelona. Here’s a look at all we packed into our last day onboard the Star Pride.
We look advantage of the “Open Bridge” policy, as we had done on past cruises. Passengers aboard all Windstar ships are welcome to visit the Bridge at any time. The ship’s Captain and officers are happy to share charts and routes, and answer any questions.
I joined a small group of passengers for a Galley tour, led by the Executive Chef. The tour ended in Amphora, the main dining room. A small group was participating in an “Old vs. New World” wine tasting, featuring wines from the region.
The crew hosted a special cooking demonstration of traditional Indian food at lunchtime on the top deck. Passengers gathered again on top deck for the Captain’s Farewell Event.
SLIDESHOW (Photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
Our Last Evening in the Compass Rose Lounge
After dinner, we headed to the Compass Rose Lounge. It had been our favorite spot to congregate with friends we’d met throughout the week to enjoy the nightly entertainment. I even got up and sang a song with the Star Pride band! It was the perfect way to cap off our eight-day cruise.
(Top) I’m pictured with the band, Free Duo, who kept us entertained throughout the cruise in the Compass Lounge. They quickly learned the song I performed, “You Belong to Me.” (Bottom) An overview of the Compass Lounge. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
(Left) Stephen and I in the Compass Lounge; (Right) Me posing with a Giant Frame after singing my song on our last evening. ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette
Arrival in Barcelona
As soon as we disembarked, we boarded a coach for a half-day Barcelona Highlights Tour. Windstar offered several post-cruise excursion options, with transfers to the airport or a post-cruise hotel. Since this was our first time to visit Barcelona, we booked two extra nights at the Gallery Hotel Barcelona.
Tour Antoni Gaudi Sites with GetYourGuide
Sites designed by famed architect Antoni Gaudí were high on our list. Get Your Guide’s tour of both Sagrada Familia and Park Güell was the perfect way to see both sites the following day.
SLIDESHOW (All Photos ©Debbra Dunning Brouillette)
Interested in booking this cruise in May, September, or October 2025? Check out the details on the Windstar Cruises website:
A Piece of Greece, a Slice of Sicily & the Corinth Canal
For those interested in reading more about the three wineries I visited, you may enjoy this article I wrote for Food, Wine, Travel Magazine:
3 Wineries in Greece, Sicily, and Sardinia: Ancient Grapes and World-Class Wines
You may also enjoy reading:
Ah, Athens! Must-see sites: Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Serendipity in Santorini: A Day to Remember
Looks great!
Thanks, Elizabeth!
Great photos and slide shows too. You sure explored each spot! We adore Barcelona!
I appreciate your comment, Deirdre! Yes, we made the most of each port, which is what I always do on cruises. Port intensive cruises are my favorite. We got a nice “taste” of Barcelona but I know there was much more to see there.
This is a fabulous resource – great job!
Thank you, Darla! I am happy to answer any questions you may have. This is a wonderful itinerary!
What an amazing opportunity! I have been wanting to do a Windstar cruise. Everyone I see taking them, loves them!
This was our third Windstar cruise… I have loved them all and plan to do another one!
Such a detailed story. Makes me want to go!
Thank you, Julie! I would highly recommend this itinerary! It is a winner, and you can’t go wrong sailing with Windstar Cruises.
Wow, Debbra! We were with you on this itinerary! You captured it so well….I enjoyed reliving each moment! Yes, it is a great itinerary, and Windstar Cruises does it best!
Yes, Anne! So glad we met you and your husband! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. You are a Windstar “expert” by now, for sure… Hope we get to sail with you again sometime!
You had a very diverse and beautiful itinerary with Windstar. That’s the advantage of traveling by sea: you can move from one location to the other with very little effort. The reason I’m not really crazy about cruises is that they don’t give you enough time at each destination. Otherwise, it’s so much more pleasant and easy to travel that having to plan your own itinerary.
Yes, Anda, I think this itinerary was just stellar from start to finish! I would highly recommend it and also love the small ship experience with Windstar. It’s a lovely way to be exposed to different areas and then go back for a longer visit, if you have the time and interest, as you and your husband do.
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Everything looks great! When I go on vacation, I always try to choose interesting places. I am interested in architecture, people and everything that is new to me. I would gladly go on vacation to this place if only the opportunity arose 🙂