Our scheduled port call gives us a particularly nice opportunity: Norwegian Gem is currently scheduled to be in Mykonos from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM, giving us time to experience the island during the day and into the evening.

There are two ways cruise passengers may arrive in Mykonos, and we may not know which one Norwegian Gem will use until much closer to sailing.

Cruise ships may dock at the New Port in Tourlos, just north of Mykonos Town, or they may anchor offshore and tender passengers into the Old Port area. The Mykonos Port Authority operates both port facilities and specifically accommodates cruise tender traffic at the Old Port.

If Norwegian Gem tenders:

You'll arrive very close to the heart of Mykonos Town, also called Chora, making it easy to begin exploring on foot.

If Norwegian Gem docks at Tourlos:

You'll need transportation into Mykonos Town. Shuttle, SeaBus or other local transportation arrangements may be available.

We'll provide updated port information closer to sailing once Norwegian's arrangements are known.

CHOOSE YOUR MYKONOS DAY

Not everyone in our group needs to spend Mykonos the same way.

Instead of trying to squeeze every attraction into one day, choose the version of Mykonos that sounds most like you.

OPTION 1

💙 THE CLASSIC MYKONOS DAY

Best for: First-time visitors, photographers, shoppers and guests who want a relaxed day without traveling far around the island.

Late Morning

Explore Mykonos Town.

If this is your first visit to Mykonos, make Chora your priority. There really isn't a checklist you have to follow here. Part of the fun is simply wandering through the maze of narrow pedestrian streets, whitewashed buildings, colorful doors and hidden courtyards.  Walk the narrow lanes of Chora and visit:

• Kato Mili Windmills

  • Perhaps the most famous image of Mykonos.

  • The historic white windmills stand above the waterfront and provide one of the island's classic photo opportunities.

• Little Venice

  • One of the prettiest corners of Mykonos Town, where colorful old buildings with wooden balconies seem to rise directly from the water.

  • Come during the day for photographs — and consider returning later for sunset.

• Panagia Paraportiani Church

  • This unusual cluster of whitewashed chapels is one of the architectural landmarks of Mykonos.

• Matogianni Street

  • Also written as Matoyianni, this is one of the town's principal shopping areas, filled with boutiques, jewelry shops, cafés and galleries.

Early Afternoon

Find a taverna or waterfront café for a leisurely Greek lunch.

Afternoon

Continue exploring and shopping. Leave time to sit down for coffee, dessert or a cold drink.

Early Evening

Make your way toward Little Venice and the windmills as the light begins to soften.

Evening

Enjoy dinner or cocktails in town before returning to Norwegian Gem.

OPTION 2

🏖️ TOWN + BEACH DAY

Best for: Travelers who want to experience Chora but don't want to leave Greece without putting their toes in the Aegean Sea.

Morning

Spend your first couple of hours exploring Mykonos Town and seeing the major landmarks.

Midday

Head for one of the beaches on the southern side of Mykonos.

Late Afternoon

Return to Chora for shopping, dinner and sunset.

This gives you a little bit of everything — town, beach, scenery and sunset — without trying to turn the day into a race.

WHICH MYKONOS BEACH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

ORNOS BEACH

Best for: Easygoing & Relaxed

A popular choice for travelers wanting a comfortable beach experience with swimming and nearby restaurants.

Choose Ornos if:
You want a pleasant beach afternoon without making the beach club itself the main event.

PLATIS GIALOS

Best All-Around Choice

Beautiful water, restaurants and a lively atmosphere make Platis Gialos a good compromise between a traditional beach day and the more energetic side of Mykonos.

It is also associated with water-taxi connections to other south-coast beaches.

Choose Platis Gialos if:
You want beach time, food and activity all in one place.

PSAROU BEACH

Best for: Upscale Mykonos

Psarou is associated with the more glamorous side of Mykonos and its upscale beach-club culture.

Choose Psarou if:
Luxury loungers, fashionable surroundings and a high-end atmosphere sound like your kind of afternoon.

💰 Be aware: Mykonos beach clubs can be expensive. Always confirm prices for loungers, umbrellas, food and drinks before ordering or settling in.

OPTION 3

🏛️ THE HISTORY LOVER'S MYKONOS — ISLAND OF DELOS

Mykonos also serves as a gateway to something completely different:

The Sacred Island of Delos

Just offshore lies Delos, one of Greece's major archaeological sites.

According to Greek mythology, Delos was associated with the birth of Apollo and Artemis, and the island became one of the important religious and commercial centers of the ancient Greek world.

Today, the archaeological landscape covers much of the islandand is an unusually extensive island archaeological site. Travel from Mykonos to Delos is by ferry.

You may see:

• Ancient temples

• The Terrace of the Lions

• Mosaics

• Remains of homes and marketplaces

• Sacred precincts

• Views across the Cyclades

⚠️ Important for Cruise Guests

A visit to Delos requires more planning than simply walking around Mykonos Town. Ferry schedules, tour times, weather and the ship's arrival arrangements all matter.

For anyone making Delos a priority, I would strongly consider a Norwegian-sponsored excursion or a curated tour from Our Family Travel so your transportation schedule works comfortably with the ship's port call.

🍽️ TASTE MYKONOS

Don't let sightseeing crowd lunch out of your day.

One of the pleasures of Greece is sitting down, slowing down and enjoying the food.

Look for opportunities to try:

🧀 Kopanisti

A strong, peppery local cheese traditionally associated with the Cyclades.

🥩 Louza

Cured pork seasoned and sliced thinly — another Cycladic specialty.

🐟 Fresh Seafood

Ask what's fresh rather than automatically ordering the most familiar fish on the menu.

🥗 Greek Salad

Simple ingredients can be spectacular in Greece — tomatoes, cucumber, olives, onion and feta.

🍪 Amygdalota

Traditional Greek almond sweets that make a nice dessert or snack.

And yes — you're allowed to order the same Greek dish more than once during the cruise.

🍴 RESTAURANT IDEAS

Avli Tou Thodori — Platis Gialos

A beachfront dining possibility for guests combining lunch with a beach day.

Kastro's — Little Venice

Especially attractive for its waterfront setting.

Kavos Taverna

Another possible choice for seafood and water views.

Grecos

A more casual option when you don't want lunch to consume a large part of your sightseeing day.

Remember: We are still nearly a year from sailing. Restaurants, operating hours, menus and reservation policies can change. Treat these as ideas rather than fixed plans, and verify current information closer to the cruise.

🛍️ WHAT TO SHOP FOR IN MYKONOS

Mykonos Town is one of the better shopping stops on our itinerary.

Look for:

• Greek leather sandals

• Handmade jewelry

• Olive-oil soaps and skincare

• Local artwork

• Ceramics

• Greek food products

• Mykonos-inspired home décor

You'll also find plenty of international luxury brands, but the locally made items are usually much more interesting souvenirs of the trip.

🌅 DON'T MISS GOLDEN HOUR

Sunset in Little Venice

As afternoon fades, make your way back toward the western side of Chora.

Little Venice and the nearby windmills are among Mykonos' classic sunset locations.

Rather than arriving at the last minute, come early enough to enjoy golden hour, find a comfortable place and watch the colors change over the Aegean.

And remember:

Everyone else has heard about the Mykonos sunset too.

Popular viewing areas can get crowded.

🌙 MYKONOS AFTER DARK

This is one port where the ship's later departure lets us experience at least a little of the island after sunset.

You could:

• Enjoy a romantic dinner

• Have cocktails beside the water

• Wander illuminated Chora

• Listen to music

• Visit one of the town's bars

• Simply enjoy Mykonos Town when the daytime crowds begin to change

Suggested spots for nightlife: Scandinavian Bar and Semeli are among the more popular nightlife possibilities.

You do not have to turn the evening into a Mykonos nightclub marathon to enjoy the atmosphere. A drink beside the water may be plenty. . . . especially since we have another Greek island waiting for us tomorrow!

Your Personalized Itinerary

Don't treat this as a required schedule. It's simply an example of how you might comfortably structure the day.

10:00 AM — Norwegian Gem scheduled to arrive

Late Morning — Head ashore and explore Chora

12:30 PM — Windmills, Little Venice and Paraportiani

1:30 PM — Leisurely Greek lunch

3:00 PM — Shopping and more wandering
—or head to the beach if you're choosing the Town + Beach option

5:30 PM — Return toward Chora

6:30 PM — Golden hour, drinks and waterfront views

Around Sunset — Little Venice / Windmills

After Sunset — Dinner, drinks or an evening stroll

Then: Begin your return to Norwegian Gem with plenty of time to spare

🇬🇷 Mingo Says: Speak a Little Greek

Kaliméra! (kah-lee-MEH-rah) — Good morning

Efcharistó! (ef-kha-ree-STOH) — Thank you

Parakaló! (pah-ruh-kah-LEH-oh) — Please / You're welcome

Yámas! (YAH-mahss) — Cheers!

Póso kánei? (POH-soh KAH-nee) — How much does it cost?

Mingo's Port Challenge

☐ Take a photo with the famous Mykonos windmills

☐ Find a blue door that matches the Aegean Sea

☐ Walk through Little Venice

☐ Try one Greek food you've never eaten before

☐ Find the narrowest street you can squeeze through

☐ Photograph a Mykonos church

☐ Spot a pelican — real or otherwise!

☐ Take one photo that makes everyone back home jealous

Mingo’s Bonus Challenge

☐ Put the phone away for 10 full minutes, find somewhere overlooking the sea and simply enjoy being in Greece.

No photographs.

No social media.

Just Mykonos.

Getting Back to the Ship

THIS IS IMPORTANT

Norwegian Gem's published itinerary currently shows a 10:00 PM departure, but that does not mean guests should plan to arrive at the ship at 10:00 PM.

Norwegian will provide the official all-aboard time onboard.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE SHIP'S TIME.

If we are tendering, allow additional time for tender lines.

If the ship is docked at Tourlos, allow enough time to travel back from Mykonos Town.

If you've gone to a beach or elsewhere on the island, build transportation time into your plans.

Mingo's Rule: If you're wondering whether it's time to start heading back to the ship . . . it probably is!

We want everyone aboard Norwegian Gem when she sails for Santorini!