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Heraklion

Full of ancient lore and legend, the city of Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete is steeped in history.

Ancient lore and legends under the warm Grecian sun

Full of ancient lore and legend, the city of Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete is steeped in history. Inhabited for over 10,000 years, Crete holds a special place in Greek mythology and was an influential location in the evolution of Hellenic civilization.

A highlight of your visit to Heraklion will be touring the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, believed to contain the original Labyrinth of the Minotaur and a staggering 3,700 years old. But more contemporary pleasures also lie in store for our holidaying cruise passengers too.

Your luxury cruise liner will dock in the modern cruise ship terminal and history fans in particular should note that Heraklion is one destination on your Mediterranean cruise vacation that is not be missed!

Of note is the outstanding Archaeological Museum, one of the best in Greece. Visitors will find a fascinating mix of architectural styles in both Heraklion and the surrounding villages, ranging from Byzantine to Moorish; under the warm Grecian sun you can stroll the pretty streets of villages such as Rethymnon or Fodele, birthplace of the legendary 16th century painter, El Greco.

Situated nine miles outside Heraklion is the recently-opened Crete aquarium: here you can help children balance balance ancient attractions with modern-day distractions! Culture, food, wine, legends, mythology and fun – Heraklion boasts a gloriously rich array of activities to suit all tastes and interests.

We invite you to join one of our excursion packages and benefit from attractive sightseeing deals to help you make the most of your stay in Heraklion.

 		Cruise to Heraklion - Greece - Ocean Voyages - MSC Cruises

Directions


The pier is right in Katakolon, with the town’s main street a 5-minute walk away. Olympia is around 30 km far away.

Port average temperature

Crete has a warm Mediterranean climate. Summers in the lowlands are hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by seasonal breezes. The mountain areas are much cooler, with considerable rain in the winter. Winters are mild in the lowlands with rare frost and snow. Because Heraklion is further south than Athens, it has a milder climate.

The temperate figures shown are based on monthly average weather conditions for the selected port. Weather data is not real-time, and sometimes no data is shown for a specific date, month or port in general.

HERAKLION Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high °C (°F) 14
(58)		 14
(58)		 16
(61)		 19
(67)		 22
(73)		 26
(80)		 28
(83)		 27
(82)		 26
(79)		 23
(74)		 18
(66)		 16
(61)
Average low °C (°F) 8
(48)		 8
(48)		 10
(50)		 12
(54)		 15
(59)		 18
(66)		 22
(72)		 21
(71)		 19
(67)		 16
(62)		 13
(56)		 10
(51)
 IRK02GC - KNOSSOS PALACE AND SHOPPING (approx. 4 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Cultural  Shopping  You don’t need to have an expert’s knowledge of Greek history or Cretan civilizations to appreciate the fabulous Minoan Palace of Knossos. More than just a collection of stones or ruins, the Palace structure is still visible and visitors can wander the maze of rooms. The Palace was reconstructed by a British archaeologist, Arthur Evans, who led the excavation of the site in the 1900s. Pictures on the walls help visitors gain a sense of the scale of the Palace – which was originally 20,000 square metres - and an idea of life here during the late Bronze Age. The Palace of Knossos is built on the ruins of a larger Neolithic settlement and of the supposed 1,300 rooms which made up the five-storey Palace, 800 are left today. After the visit we will drive to Heraklion for free time exploring and shopping.

Price per person $59.00 Adults $41.00 Children

   


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 IRK03GC - EXPLORING CRETE (approx. 4.5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  Snack  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Come and pay homage to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine-making and revelry ! Leave the port and drive southwards through ancient vineyards that have flourished here since the Minoan period, around 1,600 BC. Our first stop will be at a modern winery to see how wine is produced today and to taste the flavoursome, sherry-like Cretan wine. We will continue exploring the island, travelling through Crete’s picturesque villages before taking a break for photographs at Vathypetro. This Minoan country house and archaeological site is one of the oldest farmhouses in Crete. The tour continues through the island’s hilly countryside which is rich in olive groves and vineyards before arriving at the village of Archanes, just 10 km south of Knossos Palace. Enjoy free time in this lovely village which has been named the 2nd best-restored village in Europe and sample the local food and drink. We will take the scenic route back to the ship via the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos.

Price per person $60.00 Adults $42.00 Children

   


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 IRK05GC - FODELE VILLAGE & RETHYMNON TOWN (5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Leave the port and drive along the northern coastal road to the charming village of Fodele located in a pretty valley full of orange groves. The village is the birthplace of the famous painter El Greco who was born here in 1541. You can take a short walk through the village before continuing to Rethymnon. With its aristocratic XVI century buildings and fascinating mix of Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remains, this town exudes a charming air of faded grandeur. Rethymnon is a mixture of Venetian and Turkish influences and is dominated by a Venetian fortress; you will have time to wander the narrow streets, admire the architecture and browse the local shops.

Price per person $69.00 Adults $48.00 Children

   


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 IRK06GC - THE MINOAN PALACE OF PHAESTOS (approx. 4.5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Cultural  This tour will take you through some of the most beautiful areas of Crete which are characterized by lush vineyards and ancient olive trees. We will drive across the Aghia Varvara Pass to the southern part of Crete to reach the traditional village of Aghia Varvara where we will stop for a short visit. Our next destination will be the Messara Plain where we will explore the Minoan Palace of Phaestos. The Palace, situated in a magnificent location overlooking the Messara Plain and Ida Mountains, is second in importance and size to the palace of Knossos. The Palace was excavated by the Italian archaeologist Frederico Halbherr at the beginning of the XX century. The earliest settlements on the site date from the Neolithic Period and small settlements from the early Minoan period were scattered over the hill where the Palace stood. Phaestos was the centre of southern Crete, with two harbours, Matala and Kommos.

Price per person $52.00 Adults $36.00 Children

   


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 IRK07GC - THE VILLAGES OF CRETE (5 hours) - 2013/2014
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Cultural  Drive along the coastal road and through the spectacular ravine of Saint George to Kritsa. The whitewashed mountain village with its blue and green doors and shutters is famous for woven handicrafts and the Byzantine church of Panagia Kera which boasts 700-year old frescoes depicting Biblical stories. Continue along the northern coastal road to reach the typical Cretan coastal town of Aghios Nikolaos which has a small lagoon – Lake Voulismeni – in the centre of the town which, according to local legends, is bottomless. Walk along the lakeshore or explore the pretty streets and browse the shops selling typical souvenirs. Enjoy free time before returning to the port.

Price per person $60.00 Adults $42.00 Children

   


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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.