Announcing the New 2022 Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Cruise – October 2022

I am excited to announce the 2022 Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Cruise sailing on October 2, 2022 on the Windstar Star Legend. It is an exclusive small group limited to no more than 18 guests.

Departing from Istanbul, Turkey – but not before experiencing the first Private Culinary & Cultural Event will be held (detailed below) – we will visit a number of ports in Turkey and Greece before we arrive in beautiful Santorini for an amazing day of wine tastings and a paired lunch (details below)…finishing up with an amazing sunset and glass of wine overlooking the caldera. Not done, after transiting the Corinth Canal (very cool) and visiting more of Greece – including an overnight in Rhodes (can you say “Party!”), we arrive in Israel for two nights and three days, where our final Culinary & Cultural Events are planned to be happening. 

I really like the itinerary’s combination of diversity and interconnection of the ports as well as the ability to delve into the antiquities, religions, culinary delights, wines, shopping and/or laid-back approach to life mixed with just enough cosmopolitan style.  (This is a longer cruise, but not to worry, if you prefer you can join for the first or second eight day segments (Istanbul to Athens or Athens to Haifa).  And, of course, Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Cruises are not a “joined at the hip” sort of thing, so you will have plenty of time to yourself and to bow out of any event. )

• October 2 – Istanbul – Private Special Pre-Cruise Event Before Boarding – Depart 5:00 PM
• October 3 – Canakkale, Turkey 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• October 4 – Mykonos, Greece 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• October 5 – Kusadasi, Turkey 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Windstar Special Event: An Evening at Ephesus Included)
• October 6 – Bodrum, Turkey 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• October 7 – Santorini, Greece – Private Special  Event – 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• October 8 – At Sea
• October 9 – Delphi 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
• October 9 – Transit Corinth Canal 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 
• October 10 – Athens (Piraeus), Greece 12:10 AM – 5:00 PM
• October 11 – Mykonos, Greece 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• October 12 – Heraklion, Greece 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• October 13 – Rhodes, Greece 12:00 PM – Overnight
• October 14 – Rhodes, Greece Depart 12:00 PM
• October 15 – Limassol, Cyprus 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• October 16 – Ashdod (for Jerusalem), Israel 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Private Culinary Luncheon)
• October 17 – Haifa, Israel 7:00 AM – Overnight
• October 18 – Haifa, Israel Disembark 7:00 AM

So what are the Goldring Travel Special Events?  

Istanbul, Turkey – Yes, it is technically before the cruise, but you can’t skip this amazing city. I have spent a good bit of time here and it always grabs me.  The itinerary is as follows:

• We will be picked up at the pier early in the morning by a private yacht accompanied by two guides (cultural and culinary) for a cruise the Bosporus  including a delicious traditional Turkish breakfast (with Turkish tea and coffee) as we viewing many historical sites and learning a bit about Turkey’s history and cultures. This will allow you to see many parts of Istanbul normally not seen in a single day. The yacht has beautiful exterior and interior seating, bathroom and plenty of room to both relax and take in the extraordinary views.

 

• We will then return to the pier and be picked up in a minibus to visit (with Fast Track – so no lines) the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Yerebatan Sarayi (the underground cisterns…and one of my favorite places in Istanbul).  Even if you have been to these sites before, it has been years, the restoration of Hagia Sophia is well along and these sites are well worth revisiting.
• Next up is lunch at a wonderful Istanbul restaurant frequented by locals. Here we will not only have a full Goldring Travel culinary experience, but we will enjoy the traditional Turkish raki and Turkish wines.  
• After lunch we will head to the Grand Bazaar.  
• For those of you who want a full shopping experience you will have about 2 hours to bargain for rugs, leather, antiques, watches (real or real fakes), etc.
• For those who wish to experience a Turkish hamam (Turkish Bath), we will depart the Bazaar after a quick look and head to the hamam.
• We will then arrive back at the Star Legend for a later boarding.

Note: I would suggest you spend at least two extra days in Istanbul as there is so much more to see and do, including possible visits (on your own) to Topkapi Palace, the Spice Bazaar, the Galata Tower, Taksim Square, the Flower Passage or, possibly, some of the areas such as Ortakoy that we will cruise by on our tour.  I am happy to assist and arrange a private guide if you like.

Santorini, Greece –  I have arranged for a very interesting tour of a good portion of the island…by way of visits to five (5) different unique wineries along with a traditional Greek luncheon with an expert sommelier and guide. During the course of our journey we will be tasting 20 different wines paired with appropriate cheeses and local fare, as well as water. To get you a little familiar here is an article from eRobertParker.com from a few years ago referencing one of the wineries we will visit.

We will arrive in Santorini at 8:00 AM and take a tender to the Cable Car up to the town of Fira. There you will have about an hour to wander (or you can stay on the ship a bit longer) before we meet our sommelier and guide for our journey inland and south to the most prolific wine growing region of Santorini. The wineries have been selected due to their uniqueness rather than necessarily their notoriety as they range from cool caverns to spectacular views to one that combines an art gallery in a modern setting.  Our luncheon will be at one of the oldest vineyards on Santorini which has grown over the years into one of the largest and most diverse wineries, including Vinsanto…which, if you were part of Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise, you have already enjoyed.

This will be a full day.  But as the ship does not depart until 8:00 p.m. depending how the day goes…and how much wine goes!…there will be a little bit of time to visit in Fira before heading back to the ship.

Haifa, Israel – This will be a multi-cultural, multi-religion, tour and culinary + wine experience that will bring a new perspective to not only Israel, but the interrelationship between all three aspects. More information to come, but I promise it will be unique and rewarding. 

Of course, in addition to the three off the ship Culinary & Cultural Events in Istanbul, Santorini and Haifa, there will be a number of other special events onboard the Windstar Star Legend including:

• Private Culinary Lunch – Where the Windstar Executive Chef get to have some fun reminding us of the culinary journey we have been experiences…along with a great wine pairings!
• Private Cooking Demonstration – This ain’t your ordinary cooking demonstration!
• Private Shopping with the Windstar Chef
• Private Cocktail and Wine Party
• Ya Never Know What Else!

As those who have experienced, or have wanted to experience, a Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Journey, there is no extra cost! That’s right, it is all included.

Speaking of all included, you may also have an all-included experience on the Star Legend; one of Windstar’s all-suite power yachts with no more than 312 guests.  If you loved the Seabourn triplets, Windstar as made them even better, with new restaurants, expanded spa and fitness centers, and they are virtually better than new.  I was recently on the Star Legend’s sistership, the Star Breeze. You can read all about the ship here:  Windstar Star Breeze Inaugural: Part Deux – V. Reflections 

It is also worth taking a moment to watch this short video on Windstar’s President, Chris Prelog. 

Prices start at only $8,759 per person including taxes or $10,023 per person including all taxes, beverages, gratuities, WiFi, and laundry.  Prices for either of the eight night segments are also available with both options. (All prices are subject to change and availability in any particular category is not guaranteed. This offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice.)

This is an extraordinary opportunity to get back to travel and to explore some of the most interesting culinary and cultural places in the world on an intimate ship, with intimate events, and in casual luxury on an all-suite Windstar yacht.

Capacity for this 2022 Goldring Travel Culinary & Cultural Journey is limited. So if you are interested, now is the time to book. (And, of course, if the price goes down I will get you the lower price!) So give me a call, send an email, text or even WhatsApp.