Bigger is not always better.  I cruised the Greek Islands on Compagnie du Ponant’s l’Austral<\/em>. With only 160 cabins and a capacity of 320 passengers, l’Austral<\/em> is one of a group of smaller vessels that are able to call at harbors that can’t handle large cruise ships. For passengers, this means a more laid back, uncrowded view of the Greek islands.<\/p>\n

We stopped at some of the classics such as Santorini and Rhodes, but we bypassed party-town Mykonos in favor of quieter islands that see so few cruise ships that l’Austral brought its own guides with it.<\/p>\n

Overwhelmingly, the palette of the Greek Islands is blinding white and blazing blue — this is what tells you you are in the Greek islands and nowhere else on earth. But each island has its own hues and patterns, and some of them break ranks dramatically.<\/p>\n

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