Explore the breathtaking Ionian Islands on a dream cruise! Discover the beauty of Corfu, Lefkas, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Antipaxi, Paxi, Sivota (featuring the enchanting Blue Lagoon), Saranda (Albania), and return to Corfu.
Each day, immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes and vibrant cultures of these unique destinations. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a mix of both, this cruise promises an unforgettable experience.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through some of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea!
- Kefalonia’s Drogarati Cave and Melissani Lake: Explore the acoustically unique Drogarati Cave, once visited by Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti, and marvel at the sunlit beauty of Melissani Lake, where an earthquake-exposed cave creates a stunning light show on sky-blue waters.
- Antipaxi’s Vutumi Beach and Paxi’s Blue Caves: Relax on Antipaxi’s Vutumi Beach, renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful with its turquoise waters, and cruise near Paxi’s Blue Caves, famed for their creamy-champagne cliffs and vibrant water hues.
- Saranda’s Ancient Butrint and Ksamil Beach: Discover the UNESCO-listed ruins of Butrint near Saranda, Albania, and visit the nearby Ksamil Beach, a pristine stretch with uninhabited islands just a short swim away, showcasing the region’s rich Byzantine heritage.
Availability is always subject to confirmation. Please check with us before booking flights
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
This Greek island used to belong to Italians. The town of Kerkira is an evidence of such influence - Venetian labyrinth of streets, garlands of laundry ropes high above the head and coffee aroma streaming from every open door.
If time allows, stop by the St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral on your commute from the airport to the port. It is one of the most prominent Christian Saints.
“Lefko” in Greek means “white,” and the island got its name due to white upright rocks, which stand along most of the island’s western coast. This rocky and mountainous landscape on one side of the island is balanced with splendid wide sandy beaches on the other side.
Those who appreciate medieval atmosphere may stroll along the streets with abundance of ancient churches. We also invite you to visit the wine factory at Lefkas and the Monastery of Panagia Faneromenis. Only 5 monks live on the territory of the monastery, although it attracts an abundance of pilgrims as a miraculous icon of God’s mother is here. This is icon is considered today as the island’s protector.
Zakynthos is the only Greek island having international status of the natural wildlife preserve. The island has been called “The flower of Mediterranean East” for its beauty and balmy gardens. Mirror-like waters of Zakynthos may be seen on almost every postcard of Greece.
Yachts floating on the water surface appear to be suspended in the air. It would be a crime to visit and not to swim in this magical place! Once in town, one may go to the National Sea Wildlife Preserve or visit the temple of Saint Dionysus, the local winery and the olive oil pressing factory or walk along the coastal avenue – Strata Marina – the liveliest street in the town, filled with coffee shops, bars and restaurants.
Kefalonia is the island of sailors and mountain climbers, Greeks and Venetians, winemakers and travelers. Here stands Enom – the tallest mountain of Ionic islands (1628m), covered with unique pine trees. Those willing to make a pilgrim tour may get into the Saint Gerasim monastery. There you will find an ancient sycamore tree still standing, said to have been planted by the saint himself. His cave-cell is located under the building of the monastery. Then we shall go for Andrew the First-Called Apostle monastery, the museum with miracle-making icons of Stephano Tsagarol, the Monastery of Saint Crucifixion in Pessado and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary with benches. It is also possible to pop into the local winery, where six kinds of Kefalonian wine are being made out of Robola grape.
Another excursion will go to the famous Drogarati cave with stalactites, stalagmites and unusual acoustics, due to which Maria Kallas and Luchano Povarotti took the floor there once. Then the observation ground above the famous beach Mirtos awaits us, followed by a lunch in the picturesque nearby village of Agia Efimia. Our trip will end with the visit to the underground lake Melissani; the cave that once stood over it was destroyed during an earthquake. Now the lake is exposed to the sun, which creates beautiful light show on the water with colors ranging from sky-blue to intense dark-blue.
Antipaxi is an absolutely tiny island, which literally means “opposite Paxi.” Truly a blessed place, it is a real paradise for anyone looking for relaxation and solitude.
The island is known for its famous beaches, among which Vutumi, with turquoise waters, is considered to be the most beautiful in the world. We will not miss it!
Paxi (or Paxoi) is the smallest group of Ionian islands. Poseidon created it by chipping out a piece of land from Corfu to build a love nest for himself and his wife, Amphitrite. And Greek gods definitely knew the meaning of a love nest – just look for yourself! At Paxi, we will go near the Blue caves known all over Greece. And although their real color is creamy-champagne they got their name because of the unusual color of water surrounding them.
Sivota, often dubbed the "Blue Lagoon" is a mesmerizing gem nestled along the western coastline of Greece. Snorkelers and divers revel in the opportunity to explore the vibrant marine life beneath the surface, encountering colorful fish darting among swaying sea grass. The rugged cliffs that frame Sivota add an element of drama to the landscape, providing breathtaking vistas for hikers and photographers alike. For those seeking adventure, Sivota offers a range of water sports activities, from kayaking and paddleboarding to sailing and jet skiing. Excursions to nearby islets and caves provide opportunities for exploration and discovery, with each outing revealing new facets of Sivota's enchanting beauty.
Saranda, a resort town in Albania, offers the most beautiful coastline of the country. Ancient town of Saranda is known from the times of Ancient Greece. A large number of Greeks still inhabit this region. The Greek government even wanted to connect this territory to Greece. Cicero wrote about Saranda as an important strategic point. In the times of the Byzantine Empire, the town was a ferry port between Italy and Epirus. Byzantine heritage left many traces here. The ruins of an ancient town of Butrinty - “The town of the world heritage” – are adjacent to Saranda. Ancient town of Phinichi is located neaby as well. According to scientists, the largest Acropolis in the world is found here; it is seven times larger than the Acropolis in Athens. “Blue eyes” and beautiful tiny islands are nature’s gift. Interested tourists may wish to spend time in Ksamile – the best beach of Albania. A group of the uninhabited islands is located at the distance of 10 minutes’ swim from the shore.
This Greek island used to belong to Italians. The town of Kerkira is an evidence of such influence - Venetian labyrinth of streets, garlands of laundry ropes high above the head and coffee aroma streaming from every open door. If time allows, stop by the St. Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral on your commute from the airport to the port. It is one of the most prominent Christian Saints.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Running On Waves
Vessel Type: Three-Mast Sailing Vessel, Barquentine
Length: 64 metres
Passenger Capacity: 42
Running On Waves is one of the biggest sailing yachts in the world. According to SOLAS convention, the highest safety standards are maintained on board a vessel of this class, the same as would apply to a cruise liner carrying thousands of passengers. “Running on Waves” operates under the flag of Malta.
The ship was conceived to combine maneuverability of a sport yacht, the highest standards of comfort and decor, and a shallow draft that allows calling at small marinas inaccessible even to many a big yacht, let alone cruise liners. The unmatched draft of 3.2 metres was made possible owing to a brilliant idea to use lead ballast. The uniqueness of a number of technological solutions confirmed by the US Patent Department.
Every guest of ours enjoys 15,5 square metres of available open teakwood deck space, that is three times more than aboard most expensive cruise ships and would befit a most prestigious private mega-yacht.
The policy of the Company is to always keep the boat in a mint condition. That is why, despite her tender age, we do profound refitting every winter, so that in Spring she welcomes you in full glamour of perfection.
Sails are our main driving power, thus we boast unbeatably low level of fuel consumption, on average 75 l per hour only, which is about 10 times lower than on a motor boat of a comparable size.
Premium comfort notwithstanding, RUNNING ON WAVES is nothing close to a floating hotel or a museum on water, she is a supercharged windship, and with favourable wind can run at 16 – 17 knots under sail. The ship’s superbly efficient ratio of sailing surface to displacement 2 sw.m/t makes her one of the fastest sailboats of old and new times.
To make sailing comfortable at any sea conditions, cutting-edge technologies were used, such as pitch-killing stabilizers, while sophisticatedly calculated mass distribution prevents the hull oscillation frequency from resonating with the frequency, which affects human vestibular system. There are desalinators on board which account for the unlimited supply of fresh water. Air–conditioning throughout the vessel makes you feel a sheikh even in hottest days of Mediterranean summer. Our state-of-the-art hydraulic ramp at the stern of the vessel allows for a direct access to water for swimming and water sports.
Sun Deck
Primary feature — a spacious deck for sunbathing with 16 chaise lounge chairs, which are accessible at any time absolutely free of charge. Additionally, the ship has a large area of covered surfaces, creating vast shaded zones on open decks, which allow for an enjoyable cruise while being protected from the sun. A fresh water Jacuzzi-swimming pool, accommodating six people, is located in the fore of the ship. In the aft of the ship, navigation equipment is behind the command bridge, followed by the massage center and the lounge area. A tour of the command bridge can be arranged at passenger’s request. One may enjoy professional massage services in the massage parlor, followed by some downtime on a small sofa in the lounge area.
Main Deck
The restaurant located on the Main deck is ready to please the ship’s guests with delicacies of Mediterranean cuisine. A fantastic Ocean Bar, located in front of the restaurant in the central part of the deck, offers refreshing drinks and exotic cocktails. You can enjoy your breakfast seated on comfortable sofas located in the cockpit, aft of the ship. Smoking is not prohibited in this zone. An observation deck in the fore of the ship is above the bowsprit, creating the feeling of flying over the water! Mini-suites and Premium cabins are located on the main deck. Size of the cabins vary from 16m2 to 20m2 (172ft2 – 215ft2).
Tween Deck
Passenger cabins occupy most of the tween deck. Crew cabins, companion cabins for the crew and the galley are also located on the tween deck. Fully equipped Water sports center with access to a hydraulic ramp is located in the stern. The stern can be opened up and lowered onto the water, transforming into a diving deck for water sports and recreation. Standard cabins and economy class cabins are located on the tween deck. Cabin sizes vary from 11m2 to 12m2 (118ft2 – 129ft2).
Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.
