Globus vs DIY: What It Really Costs to Do the “Greek Escape + 4-Night Iconic Cruise” on Your Own

Brad Kaplan
Dec 23, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jan 10

If Greece has been living rent-free in your daydreams—sunlight on whitewashed villages, ancient ruins that still feel alive, and that sparkling Aegean-blue water—this itinerary is one of the best “see a lot, feel a lot” combinations you can book.

Globus’ Greek Escape + 4-night Iconic Cruise packs major mainland highlights (Athens, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi) plus a Greek Islands cruise (Mykonos, Kusadasi/Ephesus, Rhodes/Lindos, and Santorini). The big question I hear all the time is:

“Is it cheaper to do this myself?”

The honest answer: sometimes ye on paper. But the full story is about more than the headline number. Below is a client-friendly breakdown of what you’re paying for with Globus, what a DIY version typically costs, and how to decide which approach fits your travel style.

The answers are not ALWAYS in the numbers or the cost, but they help tell the entire story of cost and value.

The Quick Cost Snapshot (Excluding Airfare)

Here’s the simplified comparison per person (double occupancy):

Option 1: Globus Escorted Package

From: ~$3,198 per person
Promo examples: around ~$2,698 per person (dates and availability vary)

Option 2: DIY Independent Build (Estimated)

Core trip (hotel + cruise + transport + sites): ~$1,925 per person
With meals, local taxes/fees, and a realistic onboard spend: ~$2,267 per person

Bottom line: A well-planned DIY trip can come in a few hundred dollars below an escorted package—especially if you’re comfortable self-managing logistics and staying disciplined on “extras.”

What a DIY Version Really Includes (And Costs)

To make this a true apples-to-apples comparison, the DIY estimate assumes:

Comparable first-class hotels (similar to the Globus program)
A 4-night cruise in an outside cabin
Ground transportation between cities (most DIY travelers rent a car)
Admission to major sites
At least one guided experience (because some places are far better with a guide)

Here is what your DIY budget typically looks like:

1) Hotels (7 land nights) — ~ $442 per person

Globus uses first-class properties in Athens, Nauplia, Olympia, and Delphi. DIY travelers can book the same hotels or similar category options—pricing varies heavily by season.

2) Cruise (4 nights, outside cabin) — ~ $799 per person

This includes your cabin and many cruise inclusions. (Exact inclusions depend on the sailing and fare type.)

3) Ground Transportation — ~ $259 per person

For the mainland touring portion, DIY travelers often rent a car and budget for:

Rental cost
Fuel
Tolls/bridge fees
Parking (not always included in estimates, but it can add up in cities)

4) Site Admissions + One Guided Tour — ~ $191 per person

The itinerary includes bucket-list historic sites. DIY travelers should plan for:

Acropolis (Athens)
Mycenae
Epidaurus theater
Olympia
Delphi museum and excavations
Lindos (Rhodes)And at least one guided tour (Athens is a great place to do it).

5) Meals + Incidentals Allowance — ~ $376 per person

This accounts for lunches, dinners not included, and the “small extras” that always happen:

coffee stops
snacks
casual lunches
a few “we couldn’t resist” splurges

6) Local Taxes and Cruise Fees — ~ $59+ per person (estimated)

Greece has implemented a cruise passenger levy charged at certain ports. Hotel climate/resilience taxes can also apply depending on season and hotel class.

DIY Total Estimate: ~ $2,267 per person (excluding airfare)

So why would someone still choose Globus?

Because travel isn’t just about cost—it’s about effort, risk, and time.

Globus is not simply “a hotel + transportation bundle.” You’re paying for structure, access, and stress reduction.

What Globus Delivers Beyond the Line Items

A Tour Director + Local Guides you don’t just see places—you understand them. Brilliant guides turn ruins into stories and logistics into a smooth rhythm.
Seamless Logistics No route planning, parking stress, check-in puzzles, or “Are we on the right road?” moments. It’s all handled—day after day.
Efficient Pacing These itineraries are engineered. Globus builds the sequence to reduce backtracking and make days flow. DIY planning often looks simple until you start mapping timing, distances, and site hours.
One Point of Accountability when something changes (and something always does), you’re not negotiating with three vendors and a rental car company. You have one operator managing the solution.