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Rome and Greece: Cradles of Western Culture
On this fascinating voyage from Rome to Athens, we will explore myriad facets of ancient Greek and Roman society and consider how elements of these two cultures formed the crucible of our Western civilization. From Civitavecchia, Rome’s port, we will sail to Campania—home to some of the most important Greek and Roman sites in Italy—and then to Sicily, the island that has witnessed the rise and fall of every major civilization in the Mediterranean. We will then cross the Ionian Sea to the Greek island of Crete, Zeus’ birthplace and home to the Labyrinth of the Minotaur. Then it’s on to medieval Rhodes and Ephesus as we continue to examine the layering of centuries and ideas in this seminal corner of cultural flourishing. Our journey to these ancient shores takes place aboard Corinthian II, an ideal vessel for a rewarding return to our intellectual origins.
Special Savings:
• 1 complimentary night in Athens at the Hotel Bretagne at the beginning of the program
• $500 per person off the rates in categories E - A
• $1,000 per person off the rates in categories AA - PHS
• No single supplement [Applies to Categories D - A. Limited Availability.]
Itinerary
Monday, June 22, 2009 • USA
Tuesday, June 23 • ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY | EMBARK
Wednesday, June 24 • SALERNO | PAESTUM or AMALFI | SALERNO, CAMPANIA
Thursday, June 25 • SYRACUSE, SICILY
Friday, June 26 • PYLOS, PELOPONNESE, GREECE
Saturday, June 27 • RETHYMNON | HERAKLION | KNOSSOS | HERAKLION, CRETE
Sunday, June 28 • RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES
Monday, June 29 • KUSADASI | EPHESUS or PRIENE | KUSADASI, TURKEY
Tuesday, June 30 • PIRAEUS | DISEMBARK | ATHENS | USA
View Detailed Itinerary
Our guest lecturer on this voyage is an expert in the field of Classics and Classical Archaeology, specializing in the Greek and Roman periods, with applications of geophysics to archaeology, and underwater archaeology.
Corinthian II
Our ships are known for their effortless elegance, bespoke service and atmosphere of charm and camaraderie.
SPACIOUS SUITES
The deluxe Corinthian II is an all-suite yacht accommodating up to 114 guests. Built in 1992 and refurbished and redecorated in 2005, it has 57 suites, each with:
• Sea view
• Queen-sized bed separable into two twin-sized beds
• Sitting area
• Satellite TV, DVD/CD player
• Telephone
• Mini-refrigerator
• Marble-appointed bathroom with fine toiletries
• 225 square feet or more
• Plush terry robes and slippers
• Fresh flowers and fruit basket
• 24-hour room service
The Penthouse Suites and Veranda Suites (400 and 300 square feet, respectively) feature private balconies accessed via sliding-glass doors, as well as white glove butler service.
FINE DINING
Corinthian II’s superb Continental cuisine is created by master chefs who select fresh local ingredients at many ports of call. Meals are served either in the stately restaurant or al fresco on the umbrella-studded sun deck. Fine regional wines are complimentary with lunch and dinner, and beginning in 2008 open bar service will be available throughout the day.
BESPOKE SMALL-SHIP AMENITIES
Returning from excursions, guests enjoy complimentary refreshments, afternoon tea and all-day coffee in The Club, a gracious space for relaxation, surrounded by panoramic windows. Before or after dinner, cocktails are served to live music performed by the ship’s pianist.
Other Corinthian II features include:
• Library with Internet access
• Lounge with audiovisual facilities
• Dining room
• Wraparound sun deck with Jacuzzi
• Exercise Room
• Beauty salon
• Medical facilities with available doctor
• Elevator serving all passenger decks
• Swimming platform
Corinthian II complies with the latest international safety regulations and is outfitted with the most current navigational and communications technology as well as with retractable fin stabilizers for smooth sailing, an ice-strengthened hull, and a fleet of Zodiacs. Corinthian II’s 75 officers and crew ensure gracious personalized service and a convivial atmosphere akin to a private club.
• Cruise aboard the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Open bar aboard ship throughout the cruise
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying study leader
• Professional Travel Dynamics International tour staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program departure and arrival dates
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers
Monday, June 22, 2009
USA
Fly from the United States to Rome, Italy.
Tuesday, June 23
ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY | EMBARK
Arrive in Rome and transfer to the deepwater port of Civitavecchia to embark Corinthian II. Sail early in the evening, cruising along the coast of Lazio.
Wednesday, June 24
SALERNO | PAESTUM or AMALFI |SALERNO, CAMPANIA
Sited on its graceful bay, Salerno was a rich trading city during the Middle Ages and became famous for its university, especially its School of Medicine. Salerno was the site of an Allied invasion during World War II, with parts of the city destroyed during the war. Travel along Campania’s coast to Paestum, the ancient Poseidonia, founded by Greeks in the 7th century B.C. Paestum’s 6th and 5th-century temples, built in the Doric order, are considered to be among the best preserved in the entire Mediterranean. Alternatively, drive west along the rugged coastline to Amalfi, one of Italy’s most celebrated towns. See the Duomo di Sant’Andrea and enjoy time at leisure to explore independently.
Thursday, June 25
SYRACUSE, SICILY
Arrive in fabled Syracuse, which rivaled Athens as the most powerful and prominent center of culture, learning, and the arts of the ancient Greek world. Aeschylus, Pindar, Simonides, and others lived in Syracuse for a time, and the great Archimedes was a native son. Our exploration of this once glorious city will highlight the island of Ortygia, Syracuse’s picturesque old town, where the original settlers from Corinth settled in the 8th century B.C., as well as the ancient remains of the Greek city, including the famous theater.
Friday, June 26
PYLOS, PELOPONNESE, GREECE
After a morning at sea cruising in the Ionian Sea, arrive in Pylos, an attractive small town built on a promontory facing magnificent Navarino Bay, one of the Mediterranean’s best natural harbors. Drive to Ano Englianos to explore the Palace of Nestor dating from the 14th - 13th centuries B.C., the Mycenaean period. Here archaeologists have discovered the palace archives housing more than 600 tablets with Linear B writing. Alternatively, you may visit Methoni, the fortified port of Venice, which was the Serene Republic’s main port of call on the way to the Holy Land from 1125 to 1500.
Saturday, June 27
RETHYMNON | HERAKLION | KNOSSOS | HERAKLION, CRETE
Arrive in Crete, home to the earliest European civilization, the Minoan. Land at Rethymnon, considered one of the island’s most characteristic towns. Evidence of the long Venetian and Turkish occupations can be seen in the town’s architecture. Dominated by a great Venetian fortress, Rethymnon’s old town is spread between the fortress and the harbor. Explore the Historical and Folklore Museum, housed in a restored Venetian mansion. Enjoy lunch onboard and sail along Crete’s coast to Heraklion, where an excursion to the Palace of Knossos will reveal the sophistication and refinement of the Minoan civilization that flourished in Crete during the Bronze Age (c. 3500 – 1100 B.C.)
Sunday, June 28
RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES
Arrive in Rhodes, the Greek island in the southeast Aegean that was a powerful maritime and trading center since the earliest times, but especially so during the Hellenistic period, when Rhodian law, the earliest code of maritime law, was accepted throughout the Mediterranean. Rhodes was also a center of the arts, notably sculpture and music. Its school of oratory was widely admired and was attended by famous Romans, including Cato, Cicero, Julius Caesar, and Lucretius. From 1309 to 1522, the island was ruled by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who fortified the city and built its imposing palaces and other structures, which we will explore on a morning walking tour. In the afternoon, travel along the island’s coast to the picture-perfect village of Lindos, dominated by its superb Acropolis overlooking the sea and the village below.
Monday, June 29
KUSADASI | EPHESUS or PRIENE | KUSADASI, TURKEY
From Kusadasi enjoy an excursion to Ephesus, one of the greatest cities of antiquity, whose origins are lost in the mists of time. Civilized since the middle of the 2nd millennium B.C., the city was renowned for its great mother-goddess Cybele, who was identified as Artemis or Diana of the Ephesians. A large site with considerable excavations still in progress, Ephesus boasts a large theatre, the imposing Library of Celsus, the Temple of Serapis, and other buildings. Alternatively, you may visit Priene, another important city of ancient Ionia, whose remains are found on a headland. Spend the afternoon at sea cruising in the Aegean Sea.
Tuesday, June 30
PIRAEUS | DISEMBARK | ATHENS | USA
Disembark in Piraeus and transfer to the Athens airport for return flights to the USA.
