A cruise that includes Greek Islands is inevitably going to be popular. The sun drenched shores, white washed buildings with vibrant blue trim and the welcoming islanders ensure that whatever they have to offer will result in a great time. The more popular and common ports of Santorini and Mykonos deserve their own articles. For this article we will focus on Rhodes and Patmos, two of the islands within the Dodecanese islands located in the southeastern part of Greece near the coasts of Turkey.
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and is the ninth largest island in the overall Mediterranean Sea. It is well known for its beautiful beaches and a popular tourist destination for many. We docked in the capital city, also named Rhodes. The port is just a short walk from either of the gates into the Old Town so we decided to forsake an excursion and explore on our own.
The Old Town in Rhodes is filled with ancient ruins and remnants of its occupation by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. Within the city walls you will find the medieval Street of the Knights and the castle-like Palace of the Grand Masters. Once captured by the Ottomans and then held by the Italians, the palace is now a history museum open to visitors. Tickets are €8 during peak season and only €4 off season. 
Rhodes is also an excellent place to purchase souvenirs, leather, spices or textiles. The prices were very competitive. Have fun getting to know the vendors and don’t be afraid to haggle for the best price. We were the first cruise ship to dock this year. Some of the shops were still closed but the ones that were open were especially welcoming.
The weather was glorious so after our self directed walking tour and a little bit of shopping we found a table in the main square at a lovely bar run by Yannis and his daughter Sole. Their hospitality, and excellent Greek beer, kept us there for most of the afternoon. I finally got to try Ouzo, the Greek liqueur known for its distinct taste of anise and spices. Spending an afternoon with friends, people watching and enjoying the Greek sun in early spring is the epitome of a perfect travel adventure.
Our next stop was the island of Patmos, best known for its religious legacy as the place where John the Evangelist wrote the book of Revelation. In 1999 UNESCO included its historic centre which contains the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse as a world heritage site.
As a tender port, we reached the mainland close to where both of these sites are located. If you did not chose a ship excursion there were numerous taxis available to rent, or a reasonably easy uphill climb on foot.
Once back closer to shore there were a lovely collections of shops and restaurants to enjoy before catching the tender back to the ship. Patmos was a relaxing natural and spiritual stop on an otherwise hectic itinerary.
Whether you have Greek Islands as part of a Mediterranean itinerary or it is the destination of preference you will enjoy your visit at any time of the year.