Last night, National Geographic Orion set sail from the port of Lavrio, near Athens, passed by the Temple of Poseidon for sunset, and continued overnight to our first stop in the Cyclades Islands: Antiparos. We had our first Zodiac cruise around Antiparos and the smaller, nearby island of Despotiko. Despotiko is known for its ongoing archeological excavation of an ancient sanctuary of Apollo and its many Kouros statues.
Back onboard, guests attended photography presentations by photo instructor Lisa Hornak and National Geographic expert Ralph Lee Hopkins as they sailed towards Paros Island in search of a protected swimming cove. On the Southern side of Paros Island, they found a perfect option and the hotel team was able to set up a tiki bar platform in the shallows as guests enjoyed their first swim in the Aegean Sea.
Back on board, we started our week in Greece with the captain’s cocktail reception and dinner. What a fun and exciting first day!
