If you are visiting Greece on a cruise, you are going to see some beautiful places. But there is one thing I would keep in mind: you don’t have much time in each destination, so choose wisely.

I have seen many visitors trying to fit too much into one day. My advice? Slow down a little and enjoy the place you are actually in.

Don’t plan too much

When your ship arrives at an island, it can be tempting to book a full-day tour, visit three villages, have lunch by the sea and still find time for the beach.

It sounds great on paper. In reality, you may spend most of the day looking at your watch.

Pick one or two things that really interest you. You will enjoy them much more.

Give yourself plenty of time to get back

This is probably the most important thing.

If your ship leaves at 6:00 pm, don't plan to arrive at the port at 5:55.

Traffic, queues, buses, taxis or a delayed excursion can easily take longer than expected. I always prefer to be back early and have time for a coffee near the port than to spend the last hour worrying about missing the ship.

Santorini can be busy

Santorini is beautiful, but when several cruise ships arrive on the same day, the popular places can become extremely crowded.

If you want to see Oia or enjoy the caldera, check your timing first. Sometimes getting away from the busiest streets for a while gives you a much nicer experience.

Rhodes is different

If your cruise stops in Rhodes, you are lucky because the Old Town is very close to the port.

You can walk through the medieval streets, stop for a coffee or something to eat, and simply enjoy the atmosphere without trying to organise a complicated day.

And if you have more time, there is much more of Rhodes to discover outside the Old Town.

Don't forget the little things

Wear comfortable shoes. Bring water. Put on sunscreen.

And take a little time to look around instead of spending the whole day taking photos.

Some of my favourite memories in Greece have been very simple ones — a quiet street, a small taverna, a beautiful view or a coffee with a local.

One last piece of advice

Don't treat your cruise stops like a checklist.

You probably won't see everything Greece has to offer in a few hours — and that's okay.

Enjoy the place you are visiting, leave yourself enough time to return to the ship, and if you really love an island...

Come back for a longer stay next time.