With unbound beauty and culture, the Aegean Sea, cradle of Europe’s oldest civilization, is one of the world’s most captivating cruise destinations.

In a recent article, the Daily Telegraph has included an Aegean cruise from Athens to Istanbul, via the historic island of Patmos, on its list of the 20 best ocean and river cruises in the world for 2022.

The one-week cruise aboard the brand new super-yacht Evrima, offered by the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, departs Athens on August 13th, stopping at Patmos, Ephesus, Kavala, and the Turkish island of Bozcaada, before arriving at Istanbul on August 19th.

Ideal for Mediterranean history buffs and for those who want to sample the “jet-set lifestyle,” passengers on this maiden voyage will be able to explore the ancient and medieval sites on route, while enjoying fine dining, spa treatments and an onboard fitness center.

The cruise stops for a day on Patmos in the northern Dodecanese, famous as the “Island of the Apocalypse” where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. A popular draw for Christian pilgrimage, Patmos is renowned for its many beautiful churches and monasteries, and serene tranquility. Passengers aboard the cruise will have the opportunity to explore the island, including Chora, the island’s main town, as well as the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In an article by Kathimerini (in Greek) the Mayor of Patmos, Lefteris Pentes commented: “The municipality of Patmos has contributed to the launch of new infrastructure projects that will help strengthen cruise tourism to the island, including the construction of a cruise ship mooring pier in the port of Skala Patmos. The aim is to upgrade the port facilities to serve more cruise ships in the near future. At the same time, through systematic actions, Patmos has been mentioned in tributes in the international media, emerging as one of the promising names for Aegean cruise tourism.”

In addition to the Aegean voyage, the Daily Telegraph also lists a cruise that circumnavigates the UK, described as the perfect way to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, and an Atlantic crossing from Rotterdam to New York recreating the maiden voyage of the first Holland America Line ship, the Rotterdam I, in 1872. Other entries include a 9-day cruise that combines a safari trip in southern Africa, a tour of the waterways of Holland and Belgium, a cruise of Canada’s remote Atlantic coast, and a Viking-style adventure to the frozen Arctic landscapes of Norway.