14 nights in Greece and Albania with 35 meals and a small ship for $1,495 per person
O.A.T.'s Athens & Ionian Sea Voyage departing Dec 1, 2026 is $1,495 per person (Main Deck D cabin, two sharing), flights not included: 14 nights including 7 aboard a 50-passenger ship, 35 meals, 24 guided activities and internal transport. The Dec 15 special is no longer listed; O.A.T. lists this Dec 1 cabin at $3,995 before the special, and the trip page shows from $4,995 per person with airfare. Flights from New York were about $660 per person round trip for early-December dates when we checked in October.
- 14 nights' accommodation, 7 aboard the 50-passenger M/V Arethusa
- 35 meals: 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners
- 24 guided activities, including the Parthenon and Butrint
- All transport within the trip, including internal flights and transfers
- A local trip leader; groups of no more than 25
The catches
What you pay
| Item | Basis | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| O.A.T. land and small-ship fare (2 × $1,495)Required | two sharing, Main Deck D | $2,990 |
| Total | two travelers, O.A.T.'s price; flights and travel protection not included | $2,990 |
| Flights New York→Athens, Tirana→New York, about $660 per person (estimate, not included)Not included | not in the price: Google Flights lowest for Dec 8–24 dates on Oct 18 (Turkish Airlines via Istanbul); Dec 1–16 fares will differ | $1,320 |
| Travel protection with medical and evacuation cover (estimate, bought separately)Not included | estimate: about $60 per person for a third-party policy; O.A.T. requires coverage | $120 |
| Gratuities for trip leader and crewNot included | customary, not included | |
| Meals not among the 35 includedNot included | about 7 lunches and 3 dinners on your own |
How to book it
- Call O.A.T. at 1-800-955-1925 and mention code OAT SPECIAL for the Dec 1, 2026 Athens & Ionian Sea Voyage, Main Deck D.
- Confirm the cabin, the exact arrival and departure dates, and what travel protection is required before paying.
- Then book flights into Athens and home from Tirana for the dates O.A.T. confirms.
Why it's this cheap
The tour operator is selling unsold cabins on a winter departure at a fraction of the normal fare rather than sail with them empty.
Why it's a steal
GOOD COMPARISONO.A.T.'s regular price for this Dec 1 Main Deck D cabin on its special-offers page, $3,995 per person before the special, for two. The trip page shows from $4,995 per person with airfare, about $4,095 without our $900 Europe flight estimate, so we use the lower $3,995. Main Deck D is a lower-deck cabin; the trip page's regular price includes airfare and we compare without flights.
Evidence trail
| Source | What we checked | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| O.A.T. special offers re-check | Nov 9: Athens & Ionian Sea Voyage from Greece to Albania still listed: 12/01/26 Main Deck D $3,995 -> $1,495 per person (12/09/26 Upper Deck A $4,495 -> $1,995). | Nov 9, 7:56 AM ET |
| Re-check Nov 6: O.A.T. trip page | Re-checked 2026-11-06T13:00:34Z: From $4,995 per person, 16 days, includes airfare. | Nov 6, 8:00 AM ET |
| Google Flights: JFK→ATH Dec 8, TIA→JFK Dec 24 | Lowest $660 per person multi-city, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul; Austrian $692; Delta nonstop $873. | Oct 18, 12:13 PM ET |
