A Greek Renaissance

Renamed Renaissance Ships Return to Greece

Paul Andreassen of the Cruise Division booking service recently posed and answered an interesting question - Where are all the R-ships, the beautiful new ships briefly used by Renaissance Cruises before being sold off? I know Paul had his own reasons to ask - he wants to remind potential clients of these beautiful ships.

But his question caught my attention because once upon a time Renaissance Cruises was a name to be reckoned with in the Greek cruising industry. It was the "good" line, the upscale alternative to often-charming but less-than-luxurious Royal Olympic, now also a distant memory. Renaissance had recovered from some struggles in the past but unfortunately, the devastating and unparalleled effect the September 11th tragedy had on the travel industry led to the bankruptcy of the company shortly after it received delivery on eight gorgeous ships which won raves from the lucky travelers who got to enjoy them.

The ships, previously named somewhat unimaginatively as the R1, R2 and so on by Renaissance, were sold and resold during the intervening years. Now they all seem to have found safe new berths with several cruise lines. And a few of them are coming back to Greece.

Oceania Cruises is sending its three renamed R-class ships on Mediterranean cruises in the spring and fall of 2008, and again in the spring of 2009. The Regatta, the Nautica, and the Insignia will all be visiting Greek ports.

Princess Cruises, who also has three of the R ships, is sending the Pacific to the Mediterranean and Greece for the entire cruise season of 2008.

Finally, new hyper-deluxe line Azamara is sending its two ships, the Journey and the Quest, into Greek waters.

Although all of these lines are upscale ventures, the pricing on these trips and ships is discounted in most cases. With a tricky year in travel coming up, good prices should be fairly easy to find. Look for airfare-included deals coming up for 2009, and keep asking if you qualify for discounts.

Plan Your Own Trip to Greece

Find & Compare Discount Flights to Athens

Find & Compare Discount Rental Cars in Athens

Find & Compare Rates on Hotels in Athens and throughout Greece and the Greek Islands

Book your Own Day Trips Around Athens

Book your Own Short Trips Around Greece

Some of The Best Greek Islands

Temple-crowned Aegina - Natural Alonissos - Traditional Carpathos - Chewy Chios - Cos, The Doctors' Island - Queenly Crete - Dignified Delos - Do it all on Donoussa - Hydra, Artist's Island - Odysseus' Ithaca - Kalokairi "Mamma Mia" Island - Spongy Kalymnos - Aphrodite's Kythira - Lesvos, More than Sappho - Lovely Leros - Mighty Mykonos - Paros Paradise - Pirate Islands - Pastoral Patmos - Volcanic Santorini - Sexy Skopelos - The Dreamy Small Cyclades - Easy Spetses - Symi Summers - Very Greek Syros - Honeyed Thassos - Tilos, Island of Elephants

Reader Reviews: Tell Me About Your Favorite Greek Island