- Part 1: Planning & Pre-Cruise Athens - September 28-October 1, 2022
- Part 2: Embarking Norwegian Jade, Ephesus & Patmos - October 2-3, 2022
- Part 3: Rhodes & Mykonos - October 4-5, 2022
- Part 4: Argostoli & Corfu (October 6-7)
- Part 5: Santorini & Disembarkation (October 8-9)
- Part 6: Prague: The Augustine & Old Town (Coming Soon)
- Part 7: Charles Bridge & Prague Sightseeing (Coming Soon)
- Part 8: Pre-Cruise Barcelona (Coming Soon)
- Part 9: Virgin Voyages: Embarkation, Ibiza, Malaga (Coming Soon)
- Part 10: Virgin Voyages: Funchal, Crossing the Atlantic, Miami Arrival (Coming Soon)
Rhodes: Medieval Grandeur on Our Own Terms
Morning in the Dodecanese
The Norwegian Jade docked in Rhodes the following morning, offering us a beautiful view from the deck as the sun hit the ancient harbor.

Today, we decided to skip the organized excursions and explore this famous medieval city on our own. Rhodes is unique because the inhabited medieval town is still contained within its massive original fortifications.





A Musical Lunch
As we meandered down the narrow alleys and through the fortifications, we stumbled upon a restaurant called Ta Mezeklikia. It looked unassuming from the entrance, but once we walked through the archway, we found ourselves in a large courtyard, generously shaded by an old tree with live music from an acoustic guitarist. What a great find!
We were stunned by the portion sizes! Everything was fresh and delicious, with our stomachs almost bursting.


The Palace of the Grand Master
After lunch, we wandered through Old Town over to the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. This 14th-century citadel is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece and is incredibly well-preserved.








We finished our walking tour by strolling down the Street of the Knights, which looks exactly as it did hundreds of years ago, and visiting the Archaeological Museum before heading back to the ship.

Tonight’s dinner was at Cagney’s, the ship’s steakhouse. It was a classic, high-quality meal that hit the spot after a full day of walking.



Mykonos & The Sacred Island of Delos
Arrival in Mykonos
The next day, we stopped in Mykonos. Our morning was dedicated to an excursion titled “Delos: Birthplace of Artemis and Apollo.” We met at the ship’s theater at 8:15 am and boarded a ferry from the dock to the nearby island of Delos.


Delos is a massive, active archaeological site. Interestingly, it was also home to a high population of feral cats. Our tour guide was clearly a regular; she carried a bag of cat kibble with her and stopped to feed the cats at almost every stop on the tour!






A Surprising Lesson in Protection
During the tour, our guide stopped and pointed to a relief carved into one of the stone walls. “What is this?” she asked.

When no one answered, she proudly proclaimed, “This is a penis!” The group collectively gasped and then broke into laughter. There was a young child, about 7 years old, on the tour who immediately asked her mother what a penis was, which made for a bit of an awkward parenting moment!
We learned that phalluses were commonly carved into stone walls in ancient times to represent protection from evil spirits. Similarly, many people in the region wear blue eye jewelry to ward off the “evil eye”.
Back to the Jade
After the tour of Delos concluded, we headed back to the ship. Unfortunately, the timing of the excursion didn’t leave us enough of a window to explore Mykonos Town itself, but the deep dive into the history of Delos was well worth the trade-off.
Teppanyaki: Dinner and a Show
Once we set sail, we went to the teppanyaki restaurant for dinner. This specific dining venue isn’t included in the Free-at-Sea dining package, so we paid $49 per person plus a 20% gratuity. As I mentioned in my Planning and Pre-Cruise Athens post, we covered this cost with the purchased onboard credits.
The meal was a multi-course experience and a total show. The chefs are incredibly talented, performing tricks with their utensils and ingredients while they cook right in front of you.

We started with miso soup and a fresh salad before the main event began.

The food was fantastic. We watched our fried rice come together while our seafood entrees were sizzling away in the background. Teppanyaki is always a fun time!

Tomorrow, we continue our tour around the Greek Isles with a visit to Argostoli…stay tuned!