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There's no better way to tour the Greek isles and show kids and parents a truly educational, enriching and fun good time than by ship.

Children may not be thrilled at the thought of viewing a brilliant sunset on the Greek island of Santorini, which is famous for such occasions, but they might be more favorably inclined to see a volcano close-up and have the experience of riding a docile donkey up a steep hill. That was one of my thoughts while on a cruise through the Greek islands. This is not Disney World, but you don't have to be religious or scholarly to appreciate the Biblical-familiar sights, the museums, restored archeological sites, or even the sheer rugged beauty of Greece. Then, there are windmills and pelicans. 

I was on Louis Cruise Line's Cristal, which did not have a lot of children aboard, but the cruise line has children's programs and offers special prices and discounts for families with children throughout the year. The Louis ships are not the kind where you find rock-climbing walls or bowling alleys. But they are comfortable.

The real attraction, however, is that the cruise line organizes excellent shore excursions. Here are some island impressions from my ports of call. 

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is one of the most famous islands in the world, partly because of its views but also because it is the remains of the original large island that had been destroyed by a volcanic eruption several millennia ago. Today's small, 29-square-mile Greek city was built on layers of lava but most visitors find its cobblestone streets and white-washed houses clinging precariously to steep cliffs among the most attractive, and perhaps most classically "Greek," sights in Greece. 

Contrasting black lava rocks and white pumice seen from a ship make the island look like a huge checkerboard. It has a reputation as a romantic wedding spot, deservedly so especially at the northern tip in Oia, one of the prettiest traditional villages in the country of Greece. 

Those familiar with the island say if someone visits just one spot, it should be ancient Akrotiri, a Minoan-era town frozen in time 3,000 years ago by ash from a volcanic eruption. 

In modern times, more than 40 buildings have been excavated with work continuing. Unlike Pompeii, Akrotiri's ruins feature strikingly colorful murals from its heyday rather than petrified skeletons of those caught in the volcanic eruption. The site is accessible only by public bus or a guided tour. 

Because of tourists, there are many excellent bars and restaurants in the Chora, or hilltop main town of Santorini. But perhaps offering the best view anywhere is Panorama (30 228 608 1123). It's built on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. Another place to dine that holds much interest because it is described as a "living museum" is the 1800 Restaurant (30 228 607 1485, e-mail at info@oia-1800.com), which also has a roof garden with a view of the sea. 

And those donkey rides? Santorini is famous for them, though they are common throughout the hilly areas of Greece. Arriving by ship at the old port of Santorini, you have a choice of ascending to the cliff-top main town by taking either a funicular (cable car) ride; walking the 580 white-washed stairs past homes and olive oil cans filled with geraniums, or riding an ornery donkey. Keep in mind if you choose a donkey, the trick with the animals is to avoid scraping your legs against walls when they turn a corner. The trick with their wranglers is to fix the price of your ride in advance.