For years, I said I would never do a cruise. Somehow, my friends convinced me to join them on the Virgin Voyages Greek Islands this summer. I was hesitant, but I gave in—and honestly, I had a great time. We visited Santorini, Rhodes, and even Bodrum in Turkey. But the destination we were most excited for? Mykonos.
We’d been dreaming about it for months. An overnight stop meant we had plans to party day and night—Scorpios, Principote, reservations booked, the whole thing. Then, on day six of the cruise, the announcement came: Mykonos was cancelled due to high winds.
I was pissed.My friends and I had basically been holding out for Mykonos. Instead, the ship was heading to Crete.
We weren’t about to waste an overnight stop. So we did some quick research and realized the closest lit beach town was three hours away—Malia. Three hours might sound insane, but with a full overnight and our “you’re only young once” mindset, we went for it. Yes, the taxi was expensive, but the adventure was worth it.
We booked the Intercontinental Greece, which came with stunning views and even a plunge pool. After weeks of being on a ship, we didn’t mind the change of pace. I swam in the rooftop pool, relaxed in the room for a bit, and by evening we were ready for dinner at a spot across the street before heading out for the night.
Malia is known for its long strip of bars and clubs. Options everywhere, but our sights were set on Apollo. By the time we arrived, it was midnight and the line was long. With a taxi booked for 7 a.m. to get us back to the ship, I wasn’t about to waste hours waiting.
At first, I hesitated, but my friend pushed me to talk to the person at the front. Surprisingly, it worked; we skipped the line and got in.
Apollo did not disappoint. The energy was insane, music blasting, we were dancing on tables all night. We stayed until 6 a.m. without even realizing how fast time flew. It was the perfect chaotic ending to the trip.
We stumbled back to the hotel, grabbed our bags, and made the 7 a.m. taxi back to the ship, completely exhausted. No sleep, but full of memories. That one night in Malia turned what could have been a disappointing detour into one of the best highlights of the trip.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Ten out of ten. Sometimes the best moments come from the plans that fall apart.