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June 23, 2025

Since 2020, the Gemini has been sailing under the flag of Miray Cruises, offering short cruises in the Aegean Sea. It combines elements of Turkish culture with the unique advantages that only a small ship can offer when navigating the Greek archipelago.

The ship itself is no newcomer to these waters. Beginning in 2016, it operated for the Greek cruise line Celestyal Cruises in the Aegean, and from 2018, for the Turkish tour operator Etstur. At that time, the ship management company Miray International was already involved behind the scenes. In 2020, it took over the operation entirely and rebranded it as Miray Cruises.

In addition to Kuşadası—which in 2024 was replaced by Çeşme as the Turkish embarkation and disembarkation port for the Gemini—passengers can now also board in Piraeus. This is a major advantage for all international guests, a demographic Miray Cruises aims to attract alongside its primary Turkish clientele. Still, at the beginning of April, it is mainly Turkish and Russian travelers who board the ship in Piraeus for the four-day “Turquoise Oasis” mini-cruise.

My cabin aboard the ship, originally built in 1992 under the name Crown Jewel, is the outside cabin 4327. It’s located starboard, midship, and features wooden wardrobes and a desk that lend it a classic maritime atmosphere. In total, Gemini has 400 cabins, which by today’s standards no longer even qualifies it as mid-sized. Most are standard inside and outside cabins, reflecting the ship’s age of over 30 years. Only the ten suites on Deck 7 feature private balconies.

An International Ship

The Gemini’s captain is Greek Charilaos Petridis, who previously held the same position aboard Vasco Da Gama of Nicko Cruises. The hotel director is Frenchwoman Helen Roger (formerly of Renaissance), and the chief housekeeper is a determined lady from Guatemala. The guest services manager and many other crew members hail from Turkey and have been with Gemini and Miray Cruises for several years. Most of the 700 passengers currently on board are also Turkish—this is the time of Bayram, the Islamic sugar festival, which traditionally influences bookings for the Gemini in early April. However, there are also passengers from Latin America and India, which is why announcements on board are made in English, Turkish, and Spanish.

The Gemini departs from Piraeus with a delay of three hours for its short cruise beginning on April 4. This, however, does not diminish the spectacular view of the harbor, as the ship’s aft-facing sun decks are terraced like an amphitheater, offering a magnificent view of the wake and the harbor activity around the vessel.

Shortly after departure from Piraeus, the crew kicks off the entertainment program. Around 3:45 PM, two to three dozen passengers gather on the pool deck for the Sailaway Party, which turns out to be a 30-minute pirate-themed dance performance. The 13-member Ukrainian dance troupe gives its best effort to create a cheerful mood, although the crisp spring weather initially makes it a bit of a challenge.

At the Leda self-service restaurant, the various afternoon desserts have a typically Turkish flair, while the buffets in the Aegean restaurant offer salads, soups, and other dishes not easily found on other cruise ships. The entertainment program, held mainly in the Eros Lounge, also has a distinctly Turkish feel—so much so that time flies before the ship reaches Mykonos in the evening. Unfortunately, once again, the Gemini arrives with a noticeable delay, so it’s already dark upon arrival. But the cruise line has anticipated this: to let guests enjoy the island’s nightlife, the ship remains docked at the pier until the early hours of the morning, allowing night owls and party lovers to make the most of their time ashore. And for those who prefer a quiet evening stroll in the small fishing harbor right next to the cruise dock, there’s still more than enough time in Mykonos.

Syros and Tinos

At 5 a.m. the following morning, the Gemini sets sail from Mykonos. Originally, Santorini was meant to be included in the itinerary, but the island is currently not being visited due to recent seismic activity and related safety concerns. The substitute destination—for now—is the island of Syros, which has the advantage of being just a stone’s throw from Mykonos (23 nautical miles).

Upon arrival, however, the sky over Syros is overcast, and the morning feels more suited to rain than spring sunshine. Still, this shouldn’t discourage disembarkation. Ermoupoli, the island’s capital, is—despite being the administrative center of the Cyclades—less crowded than Mykonos or Santorini during the height of summer. In fact, the historic center of Syros, with its narrow alleys and streets that climb the hillside, is so charming that it’s almost surprising more cruise ships don’t visit. Here, Gemini benefits from its size: it can dock directly at one of the port’s quays—something that larger vessels simply can’t do.

Syros is served several times a day by high-speed ferries and car ferries from Piraeus, which then continue on to Tinos. The ferry schedule makes it easy to plan a quick excursion to Tinos from Syros—the islands are just 13 nautical miles apart—with a two-hour stopover and enough time to return to the cruise ship in the late afternoon. And Tinos is more than just a consolation prize for missing Mykonos the day before. This island is a true gem, boasting the world-famous pilgrimage basilica Panagia Evangelistria, often called the “Greek Lourdes” for its spiritual significance.

When the Gemini leaves Syros on schedule at 5:30 p.m., the sun finally shines over the Aegean island. On the upper deck, some guests watch the departure under a lamp post disguised as a palm tree, while in front of the Aegean restaurant in the atrium, a small crowd has gathered around the piano, where a pianist is performing. Here, people sing along loudly and cheerfully: on a Turkish ship, a sense of togetherness develops quickly.

The same is true for the group “Ada,” which performs later that evening in the Eros Lounge. The band includes a singer, a guitarist, a violinist, and a drummer—though only the singer and guitarist appear on the onboard posters. The four musicians perform their songs with great warmth and passion. They were already aboard during my first Gemini cruise in 2019. The band is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the ship—at least after 10 p.m., when especially the Turkish guests enthusiastically fill the dance floor to sing and dance to “their” music.

Not to be missed afterward: the midnight snack. On a Turkish ship, this is not cake or cookies, but Gece Çorbası, which the German-language daily program translates simply as “night soup.” It’s a Turkish tradition—a hearty stew-like soup made with beef or minced meat, with a recipe that can vary. It’s served until midnight at the Leda restaurant. After that, it’s time to sleep—another port awaits tomorrow morning.

Kuşadası and Patmos

On the third day of the cruise, the Gemini arrives early in the morning at the Turkish town of Kuşadası, where not only embarkation and disembarkation operations take place, but also shore excursions to nearby Ephesus are organized. Those already familiar with this stop from previous travels can allow themselves to be enchanted by Kuşadası itself, a well-known seaside resort and tourist destination, especially pleasant in the early and late morning hours when the temperature is still mild. From here, one can stroll to the “Pigeon Island” (Güvercinada), connected to the coast by a bridge, walk around the ancient fortress of Öküz Mehmed Pasha, or climb up to the residential neighborhood of the town. However, the bay view one might expect from up there is often obstructed by various houses whose residents, understandably, claim the privilege of enjoying that panorama first. One can also spot the colossal Majestic Princess of the American competition, next to which the small Gemini almost looks like a tender boat. The Kuşadası Cruise Terminal itself now resembles more a shopping mall with, at the far end, an exit door leading to the pier—one of the many changes this Turkish coastal town has had to undergo to remain competitive with ports like İzmir (Smyrna) or Çeşme. In Greek ports, even in Piraeus or Rhodes, the situation is, for now, still different.

Unfortunately, the Gemini can only leave Kuşadası with a delay, which does not help the rather ambitious itinerary that sometimes includes two port calls in one day. But time is on our side, so we can enjoy the departure and the four-hour sail to Patmos from the ship’s spacious outside decks. In the afternoon, another Sailaway Party takes place, again on the pool deck. Here, among other things, it is even possible to open the panoramic windows to let in the sea breeze—an aspect that stands in stark contrast to large modern ships, where for safety reasons passengers stay on upper decks only behind bulletproof glass panels several meters high. The same applies to the lifeboat deck, which on the Gemini is pleasantly wide, runs all around the ship, and is located so low (deck 5) that one truly feels close to the natural elements, and not, as unfortunately often happens today, only close to the lifeboats.

At 5:00 p.m., the Gemini reaches its anchoring position off the island of Patmos and begins disembarking passengers onto boats provided by the port. The setting sun bathes the ship and island in a golden, soft light, allowing guests to fully enjoy the all-too-brief stop in Patmos. Those who have visited the “holy island” multiple times will nevertheless find new alleys to explore, other cats every two meters posing as perfect photo subjects, or beaches and stretches of coastline which, even close to the main center, are so deserted that the island feels truly uninhabited. When the last boat returns to the Gemini, the sun has just set—an ideal conclusion to a short but intense journey.

A Joyful Return Onboard

Shortly after, at the Gemini’s Aegean restaurant, it’s time to use the last drink coupons. These had been distributed at embarkation—a practice that may seem unusual at first but actually makes a lot of sense. It strikes a balance between companies that charge exorbitantly even for a small bottle of water in the restaurant and those that offer free table wine by the bucketful (or rather, by the carafe), often with less-than-ideal effects on both service organization and onboard life in general.

On the Gemini, of course, there are aspects that impressed us and others that could be improved. Among the former, it definitely stands out that Miray Cruises offers a ship with a maximum capacity of about 1,000 passengers, which is considerably smaller than the average vessels operating in the same geographic area. On the former Crown Jewel, which, incidentally, sailed briefly for the prestigious Cunard Line, you’re hardly at risk of getting lost, and thanks to the short internal distances, moving from one area to another is quick. Also interesting is the concept of visiting two ports per day, thus offering a maximum of experiences and impressions in a short time—a format that many other companies can’t even consider for logistical reasons. The atmosphere onboard is pleasantly informal: no need for jackets or evening gowns, and despite the Gemini being a fully Turkish ship, there are no language barriers. All crew members speak fluent English, and those who know a little Turkish—perhaps because of their origins or previous travels—find it easy to integrate into the “onboard family” in no time: just say Merhaba (hello) or İyi günler (good day). With a daily rate starting at around €115, the Gemini also proves to be a fairly economical choice. The daily tip requested by Miray Cruises—€5 per person—is also a perfectly reasonable amount.

However, on the Gemini, some optimization is still needed regarding onboard organization and communication. For example, if you rely on the restaurant opening hours indicated in the daily program, it would be desirable for these to be respected in reality. Otherwise, disappointment is high: either you get up too early for nothing or you have to fight for a good table because the restaurant is already half full even though, according to the schedule, it should not yet be open. Important information such as where and when the lifeboat tickets are distributed or when passports will be returned at the end of the cruise would also deserve at least an announcement over the loudspeaker if they are not included in the printed program.

Late in the evening, the band Ada once again gives their best performance in the Eros Lounge. Every bar stool, chair, and armchair is suddenly occupied, and people crowd the corridors three abreast so as not to miss the evening dedicated to Turkish folklore. There is once again room to dance, sway to the rhythm of the music, and sing loudly, with an interaction between the band and the audience that gives the performance an almost familial tone. A cheerful and lively atmosphere reigns on the Gemini as the ship sails overnight toward its arrival port, Piraeus.

By the way, for those disembarking at Piraeus, a trip to the island of Aegina is highly recommended. This gem of the Saronic Gulf is only an hour away by ferry from the port and adds, after Mykonos, Syros, Tinos, and Patmos, another extremely charming Greek island to the Aegean cruise with the Gemini. Aegina boasts not only important archaeological sites but also sandy beaches washed by turquoise waters inviting a refreshing swim. It is here that the name of the cruise, which is at the same time a promise, finds its full fulfillment.

Don’t miss news, updates, and reviews about the Gemini on Cruising Journal, with photos, videos, and cruise offers.

Kai Ortel

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