CRUISE GUIDE
CLA S SICAL GREECE & AEGEAN ISLANDS
This fascinating voyage around the Aegean is a true autumn treat. Starting from Athens, you will visit some of the most inspiring monuments of the ancient world
October 7 – 18, 2017 Athens to Athens
YOUR ITINERARY In response to recent feedback, we are now pleased to introduce our new dedicated cruise guides, produced individually for each Voyages to Antiquity cruise.
Kavala
AEG171007
Thessalonica PORT
OCT 7
ATHENS Greece Embark Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus
OCT 8
NAUPLIA Greece
7.00am
6.00pm
In this guide, you will find useful information and expert tips about the destinations you will visit, plus a comprehensive guide to both included and optional shore excursions. There is also information on your guest speakers and an invaluable reading guide to help you discover even more.
OCT 9
SANTORINI Greek Islands
8.00am
6.00pm
OCT 10
HERAKLION Crete
6.00am
2.00pm
MARMARIS Turkey Technical stop
3.00am
5.00am
OCT 11
Santorini
RHODES Greek Islands
8.00am
6.00pm
DELOS Greek Islands
Heraklion
MYKONOS Greek Islands
8.00am 2.00pm
Noon 11.00pm
OCT 13
PATMOS Greek Islands
8.00pm
5.00pm
OCT 14
KAVALA Greece
2.00pm
8.00pm
OCT 15
THESSALONICA Greece
8.00am
7.00pm
OCT 16
VOLOS Greece
7.00am
8.00pm
Be sure to take this guide with you and we look forward to welcoming you on board.
OCT 17
SKIATHOS Greek Islands
7.00am
2.00pm
OCT 18
PIRAEUS Greece Disembark Aegean Odyssey
6.00am
OCT 12
ARRIVE
DEPART
GREECE
2017
Volos Skiathos
8.00pm
Nauplia
Ship at anchor
Santorini
2
Mykonos
ATHENS
Delos Patmos Rhodes
INTRODUCTION
VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS
With the heat of summer abating, this is the perfect time to explore Greece and its glorious islands. Sailing from the port of Piraeus, near Athens, your first call is at Nauplia where you’ll can visit either Agamemnon’s Mycenae or the amphitheatre of Epidaurus.
• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Epidaurus
See the Bronze Age artefacts of Akrotiri on Santorini and the Minoan treasures of Crete, including the Palace of Knossos, legendary location of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Visit the Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes and the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo. Finally, cruise the Aegean to Byzantine Thessalonica and the breathtaking monasteries of Meteora before soaking up the sunshine on the “Mamma Mia” island: Skiathos.
• Explore the Minoan excavations at Akrotiri on the island of Santorini • On the island of Crete, the Minoans also created the Palace of Knossos, which was restored in the late 19th century • On Rhodes, a chance to visit the Acropolis at Lindos • Sacred Delos and St John’s Patmos • Discover Philippi where St Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe • Follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and scale the monasteries in the sky at Meteora
Athens
Knossos
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YOUR CRUISE DAY BY DAY
OCTOBER 7 ATHENS, GREECE Embark Aegean Odyssey in Piraeus, the port of Athens, this afternoon, with time to settle in before an evening sail.
OCTOBER 8 NAUPLIA, GREECE Arrive in the picturesque port of Nauplia at breakfast time, for a choice of excursions: Agamemnon’s Mycenae begins with a scenic 45-minute drive across the Argolid Plain to one of the greatest cities of the highly-developed Mycenaean civilisation, Mycenae. Here you will see the Lion Gate, Europe’s oldest piece of monumental statuary, the Royal Palace and the shaft graves, before learning more about the city’s tragic history in the Tomb of Agamemnon. Alternatively, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Epidaurus is home to a 14,000-seat ancient Greek amphitheatre, where the acoustics are so perfect it is said you can hear a pin drop from the highest tier. Carved into the hillside and extended in Roman times, the theatre is still in use today. The afternoon will then be at leisure, before an early evening sail.
OCTOBER 9 SANTORINI, GREEK ISLANDS
Santorini
4
Among the Aegean’s most spectacular sights are the cliffs of Santorini, rising from a great half-moon caldera. The island was also home to the Minoan settlement of Akrotiri; dating from the 16th century BC, this ancient city was wonderfully preserved beneath volcanic ash.
of King Minos gave birth to a half-man, half-bull Minotaur which lurked in the labyrinth. Excavations began in 1899 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who controversially “restored” the palace with his own eccentric ideas of Minoan interior design. After arriving in Heraklion early in the morning, there will be an included guided tour of The Palace of Knossos, followed by a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the greatest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan art. Then return to Aegean Odyssey for an early afternoon sail, with the rest of the day and evening at sea. Knossos Mycenae
Arrive on the island in the morning for a full-day of included sightseeing to archaeological Akrotiri, featuring a wealth of material dating back to the Bronze Age housed within an amazingly well-preserved city of houses, streets, squares and workshops. Afterwards you will drive to the dramatic settlement of Oia, perched on the edge of the caldera overlooking the sea, followed by the old capital of Pyrgos and its large Venetian castle. Finally, enjoy some free time in the scenic capital of Fira, before returning to ship for an early evening sail.
OCTOBER 10 HERAKLION, CRETE, GREEK ISLANDS The heyday of Minoan civilisation (2000-1600 BC) was marked by the construction of great palaces, with the best known being Knossos on the island of Crete, where legend has it the wife
OCTOBER 11 MARMARIS, TURKEY – RHODES, GREEK ISLANDS Very early this morning there will be a short technical stop at Marmaris in Turkey, where passengers will not be able to disembark, before we arrive in Rhodes, where the Colossus once stood, for a choice of included morning sightseeing tours: Explore Rhodes’ Old Town and the Grand Master’s Palace, citadel of the Knights of St John, which was modelled on the great Papal Palace of Avignon. Step into the 15th-century Knights Hospital, now an archaeological museum housing treasures including the Aphrodite of Rhodes. You may then return to the ship or continue to wander this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alternatively, gain inspiration from the natural setting of the Acropolis at Lindos, a Doric town that rose to power hundreds of years before Christ, where sites of interest include the Acropolis, surrounded by contrasting 12th-century crusader
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DESTINATION TIP RHODES After a morning of exploring Rhodes’ Gothic highlight or the Doric remains at Lindos, the afternoon is free to spend at your leisure. The port is well located for heading into the old town with docking positions just a short stroll from the main gates. The town is voted as one of the best places to shop for crafts in the Aegean – especially for jewellery, art and pottery. Shopping in Rhodes is a cultural experience with the myriad of shopping streets being more like a Turkish bazaar.
fortifications, and the Doric Temple of Lindian Athena, an archaeological jewel dating from the 4th century BC. The afternoon will then be at leisure, before an early evening sail.
OCTOBER 12 DELOS GREEK ISLANDS
,
Arrive on this tiny, deserted isle at breakfast for an included morning guided tour to Sacred Delos, one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Greece, where columns lie glistening in the sun, and the Lions of Delos guard the Sacred Way. Walk along the spectacular Avenue of the Lions. Pay homage to the guardians of the Sacred Lake, where Leto gave birth to the twin gods, Artemis and Apollo, and above all, savour the almost-mystical silence that pervades this haunting site of antiquity. You will then sail at noon to the nearby island of Mykonos, where the cafes and shops provided the perfect contrast to the rich historical site of Delos. Spend a free afternoon and evening here before returning to Aegean Odyssey for a late-night sail.
A helpful hint – our local guides always joke that should you get lost in the maze of medieval streets, just take a street that heads downhill and you will find the harbour again.
Patmos may be one of the smallest islands in the Dodecanese, but it compensates for size with beauty and history. Called the “Jerusalem of the Aegean,” the island has long been a place of pilgrimage. After arriving here at breakfast there will be an included morning sightseeing tour to the important sites of St John’s Patmos, who is said to have written the Book of Revelation here. Visit the Cave of the Apocalypse, where he received his revelation, the medieval village of Chora and the 10th-century Monastery, featuring an El Greco icon, that together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There will then be some free time to explore Chora before a return to the ship for a late afternoon sail.
OCTOBER 14 KAVALA, GREECE Morning at sea, before an early afternoon arrival in Kavala for an included afternoon excursion to Philippi, where the apostle St Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of Christianity. Founded by Philip of Macedonia in 356 BC, this extraordinary archaeological site has extensive ruins, including a large Roman forum, sacred gates, baths, wrestling rings and even a public latrine with marble seats. On your return to the ship, stop at the stream where St Paul’s first European convert, a merchant-woman named Lydia, was christened along with the rest of her household. The site is marked by a Greek Orthodox basilica.
Delos
6
– MYKONOS
OCTOBER 13 PATMOS, GREEK ISLANDS
OCTOBER 15 THESSALONICA, GREECE Arrive in Thessalonica at breakfast time. Also known as Salonica, the city became part of the Byzantine Empire in 395 AD and today is Greece’s second city. Here there will be a choice of included morning sightseeing tours with the afternoon at leisure: Explore Byzantine Thessalonica, concentrating on the city’s Eastern Roman Empire heritage, including the 5th-century basilica Agios Dimitrios, the Rotonda that was built as a mausoleum for Emperor Galerius in the 4th century, the mosaics of the Agia Sofia and the Museum of Byzantine culture. En route, you will also see the 15th-century White Tower and the International Trade Fair grounds, built on the site of an old Jewish cemetery razed by the Germans in World War II.
Thessalonica
Alternatively, explore the 5th-century site of Ancient Dion at the foot of Mount Olympus, home to the gods of classical Greece, featuring the Archaeological Park, Roman theatre and Hellenistic theatre, which is still in use today, as well as a museum housing an array of artefacts from across the site’s history. A full-day optional tour is also available, following the Traces of Alexander the Great to the archaeological museum near Pella and the town of Veria, where Paul the Apostle famously preached, before descending underground to the remarkable Royal Tombs of Vergina, burial site of Macedonia’s kings, including the father of Alexander. Patmos
We will then return to Aegean Odyssey for an evening sail.
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OCTOBER 16 VOLOS, GREECE
Thessalonica
Arrive in the port of Volos this morning, from where you will travel by road for an included full-day tour to the truly remarkable Byzantine Monasteries at Meteora, which means “suspended in air”. These sandstone “columns in the sky” soaring up over a thousand feet above sea level are crowned with monasteries built by anchorite monks from the 11th century onward. There are twenty-four in all, and although many have fallen into ruin, some of the remaining ones are adorned with beautiful frescoes. Perhaps the highlight of any trip to Greece, few sights are more iconic or unmissable. Following the visit, the tour will then continue through this unearthly landscape, descending slowly to the plain before returning to ship for an evening sail.
OCTOBER 17 SKIATHOS, GREEK ISLANDS Breakfast time arrival in Skiathos of “Mamma Mia” fame; this delightful Greek island is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing stroll, or simply watch the world go by from a harbour side cafe. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore at leisure in the morning, before an early afternoon sail, with the rest of the day and evening at sea to enjoy the many facilities Aegean Odyssey has to offer.
OCTOBER 18 PIRAEUS, GREECE Disembark after breakfast in Piraeus, the port of Athens. .
8
Volos
For those passengers who have opted for the pre-cruise hotel stay in Athens, please go online to www.voyagestoantiquity.com for more information. Full itinerary details will be sent with your Final Documents.
INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS NAUPLIA
PATMOS
Agamemnon’s Mycenae
St John’s Patmos - Half Day
- Half Day Epidaurus - Half Day
KAVALA Philippi - Half Day
SANTORINI Santorini and Akrotiri
THESSALONICA
- Full Day
Byzantine Thessalonica - Half Day
HERAKLION Knossos Palace and Heraklion Archaeological Museum - Half Day
Ancient Dion - Half Day
VOLOS Remarkable Monasteries at Meteora
RHODES Old Town and Grand Master’s Palace - Half Day Acropolis at Lindos - Half Day DELOS
- Full Day
For details of these excursions, please see itinerary on preceding pages or for more in-depth descriptions, visit us online at: www.voyagestoantiquity.com
For details of the optional excursion available on this cruise, please refer to pages 10/11.Excursions listed are half day, either morning or afternoon, depending on time in port, or full day as shown. One excursion is included in each port of call; where more than one excursion is shown, you will be able to choose. All our excursions require a basic level of fitness, although some are more strenuous than others. The symbols next to each excursion will give you an idea of specific things to be aware of. When there is a significant amount of walking involved in an excursion, the walking symbol has been indicated. Generally, this applies when at least 1.5-2 hours of the excursion is made up of continuous walking. Many archaeological sites are visited on this itinerary and so uneven terrain (which can be difficult in places) should be expected. Some guests may want to carefully consider before opting to participate in excursions where extensive walking is involved. For example, the tours from Thessalonica all feature lots of walking and so some guests may wish to take a break from sightseeing on this day.
KEY TO SYMBOLS Extensive walking Cobbled streets Archaeological ground Significant steps Uphill sections Cable car Lunch included Gravel Terrain
Sacred Delos - Half Day
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OPTIONAL EXCURSION THESSALONICA, Greece Traces of Alexander the Great - Full Day - $79 During this tour to the archaeological museum near Pella, the ancient city of Macedon, we will see many residences of the ancient aristocrats, alongside findings from various excavations, including exceptional floor mosaics from the 4th century BC. The daily life of Pella has been wonderfully brought to life in this museum, where the restoration of period furniture, models and clothes has been carefully designed to provide an insight into every facet of the ancient city, from administration and production to commerce.
Alexander the Great
10
After finishing at Pella, we will have some free time before we move to the town of Veria, where Apostle Paul famously preached, for a traditional Macedonian lunch. We will then visit the burial site of Macedonia’s kings, including the father of Alexander the Great.
The Royal Tombs of Vergina are among antiquity’s greatest treasures, although for centuries they lay hidden beneath a mound known as the “tumulus” where local children played football. The small village of Vergina, once known as Aegea, is renowned for its remarkable temple complex, which has only been open to the public since 1993. Here we will visit the unique museum and descend underground to see the tombs, including a newly constructed exhibit of ancient artefacts, all of which are masterpieces of ancient Greek art, including golden laurel wreaths, silver vessels, miniature sculpture and paintings. Of special note are the crown, armour, shield and magnificent gold casket of Philip II. Note: The price of this excursion already allows a credit for the unused half day excursion.
Thesssalonica
Pella
11
YOUR GUEST SPEAKERS A quintessential part of the Voyages to Antiquity experience is our worldclass programme of celebrated guest speakers, all of whom are carefully chosen to provide high quality lectures designed to enrich your time aboard Aegean Odyssey, adding texture and depth to your journey. With topics ranging from art and history to archaeology and architecture, from wine and cuisine to theology and nature, you will find a Voyages to Antiquity talk informative and accessible. Here are the experts who will be providing an array of enlightening talks during your voyage.
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Gillian Hovell Archaeologist, NADFAS Accredited Lecturer After graduating in Latin and Ancient History at Exeter University and a career in BBC Television, Gillian became deeply involved in archaeology. As an author, historian, archaeologist, tour guide and NADFAS accredited public speaker of considerable experience and astonishing range, the Reithian mantra of ‘educate, inform and entertain’ remains central to her work; she specialises in lively, passionate and engaging history that connects with our lives today, enabling audiences to relate to archaeology and to find depth and colour in our modern lives through the past’s continuing influence on us today. She has lectured to audiences including the national media, Classical Associations, art galleries, museums and literary festivals and her books include Visiting the Past: finding and understanding Britain’s archaeology and Roman Britain, while Latin All Around Us: Why the Romans still matter today came out in 2014 (CUP) and she is currently working on her next book on the history of the Mediterranean. She also shares her love of ancient
history by teaching Latin and Roman History to adults and by continuing to work with community archaeology projects. She embraces all media for spreading the word about archaeology and was most recently heard on Radio 4.
Knossos
John Osborne Classicist, NADFAS Accredited Lecturer John Osborne graduated in Classical subjects at Cambridge University and taught Latin and Greek language and Ancient History – now revamped as Classical Civilisations – for over thirty years at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, where he was Senior Master. His main interests are in Roman imperial history and the architecture of religious buildings. He worked for several years teaching English for the British Council in Iran and Turkey, which gave him a now long-standing interest in Islamic culture as well as the ancient civilizations of these two countries. Since 2015 he been a NADFAS Accredited Lecturer, lecturing regularly in the UK and abroad, including Australia and New Zealand. He has run courses on Ancient Rome and on Islam at the University of Bath, runs an annual course on Mediaeval Parish Churches at Marlborough College Summer School and guides at Salisbury Cathedral. He has lectured on classical tours to Italy, Greece and Tunisia and has also led specialist tours to various
SING AT SEA WITH BOB PORTER Bob Porter’s experience as a choir master, conductor and artistic director is back by popular demand. This voyage will include singing workshops and a final performance at the end of the voyage, arranged by Bob Porter and the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London. Athens
countries in SE Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, including Croatia, Romania and (especially) Bulgaria, where he runs his own cultural and historical tours. He has taught himself Bulgarian and is writing ‘A Traveller’s History of Bulgaria’. He and his wife, Karen, have led several highly successful tours to Turkey and Iran in recent years and took a group to Georgia in 2014.
After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Bob worked as a musician and teacher, returning to Guildhall to teach and becoming Head of Wind and Percussion in 1985 – a position he still holds today. In the early 1980s, Bob founded the Brandenburg Sinfonia, the first of a group of orchestras under his artistic direction and later in 2010, the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London.
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READING GUIDE There’s nothing like a good book to accompany you on your travels. Our associates at Blackwell’s – the famous Oxford bookseller – have put together a selection of books that we feel would provide the perfect accompaniment for this magnificent voyage. For a description of each book, please go online to www.voyagestoantiquity.com, or for a more comprehensive description, please visit Blackwell’s website www.blackwell.co.uk and enter the ISBN number shown.
Sofka Zinovieff Eurydice Street ISBN: 9781862077508, Paperback
James Davidson Courtesans and Fishcakes ISBN: 9780006863434, Paperback
Thucydides The Peloponnesian War ISBN: 9780192821911, Paperback
Cathy Gere Knossos
Colin McEvedy New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History ISBN: 9780141977164, Paperback
David S H Abulafia The Great Sea ISBN: 9781904955771, Paperback
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Edith Hall Introducing The Ancient Greeks ISBN: 9780099583646, Paperback
Dr Matthew Nicholls 30-Second Ancient Greece
ISBN: 9780192842114, Paperback
Judith Herrin Byzantium ISBN: 9780141031026, Paperback
Barbara Graziosi The Gods of Olympus: A History ISBN: 9781846683220, Paperback
Leonard Cottrell The Bull of Minos
Harry Mount Harry Mount’s Odyssey Ancient Greece in the Footsteps of Odysseus
ISBN: 9781845119423, Paperback
ISBN: 9780571201655, Paperback
Rodney Castleden Minoan Life in Bronze Age Crete
Timothy Ware The Orthodox Church
ISBN: 9780226289540, Paperback
N O N -F I C T I O N
Robin Cormack (Lecturing on Board) Byzantine Art
ISBN: 9780415088336, Paperback
ISBN: 9780141980638, Paperback
Eduard Verhoef Philippi: How Christianity Began in Europe
Simon Price and Peter Thonemann The Birth of Classical Europe: A History from Troy to Augustine
ISBN: 9781782403883, Paperback
Jill Dudley Lap of the Gods ISBN: 9780955383465, Paperback
ISBN: 9780567331045, Paperback
James H McGregor Athens
ISBN: 9780140274851, Paperback
Richard M Berthold Rhodes in the Hellenistic Age
Mark Mazower Salonica: City of Ghosts
ISBN: 9780674047723, Hardback
ISBN: 9780801475979, Paperback
ISBN: 9780007120222, Paperback
FICTION
MAPS, GUIDES & REFERENCE
Jose Carlos Somoza The Athenian Murders
Title
Publisher
ISBN Number
ISBN: 9780349116181, Paperback
Mediterranean Cruise Map
Freytag and Berndt
9783707912906
Leo Kanaris Codename Xenophon
Cruise Guide to Europe
Eyewitness Travel Guide
9781409370222
Greece & The Islands
Marco Polo Map
9783829767095
Athens
Marco Polo Pocket Guide with Map
9783829707077,
The Greek Islands
Eyewitness Travel Guide
9780241181324
ISBN: 9780099547075, Paperback
Greece: The Aegean Islands
-
9781905131358
Davis Bunn The Patmos Deception
Corfu
Marco Polo Pocket Guide with Map
9783829706643
ISBN: 9781846973130, Paperback
Madeline Miller The Song of Achilles ISBN: 9781408821985, Paperback
Zachary Mason The Lost Books of the Odyssey
Corfu Town
ISBN: 9780764211393, Paperback
Paul Sterry Birds of the Mediterranean ISBN: 9780713663495, Paperback
Lawson Wood Sea Fishes of the Mediterranean Including Marine Invertebrates ISBN: 9781472921789, Paperback
Rhodes
Philippi
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AEGEAN ODYSSEY
16
Carrying around 350 passengers, the size of our ship allows access to ports other vessels cannot reach, meaning we can offer a greater breadth of itinerary and range of destinations. We sail up the Guadalquivir River into the heart of Seville as well as the Gironde River in France to Bordeaux, and are ideally sized to access smaller ports and islands, too.
SHIP’S SPECIFICATION Ship’s Tonnage
11,563
Length
461 Feet
Beam
67 feet
Draft
20.5 feet
Cruising Speed
16 knots
Our on-board experience is also a little different: you’ll discover an intimate and relaxed atmosphere that enables you to get to know your like-minded fellow travellers. Whether it’s over dinner, in conversation about a lecture or on shore excursions, friendships are easily formed.
Passenger Decks
7
Stabilisers
2
Passengers also appreciate our smart, casual dress code – cutting down on the amount of luggage you need.
Ship’s Registry
Passenger Staterooms/Cabins
216
Passengers, lower beds
386
Classification
Lloyd’s Register Society London Panama
ON-BOARD FACILITIES • Two restaurants
• Internet Centre
• Three lounges
• Outdoor pool
• Four bars
• Athena Spa and Gym
• Lecture theatre
• Beauty Salon
• Library
• Medical Centre
• Shop
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What passengers love most about Aegean Odyssey is the warm and intimate atmosphere. Ships, like people, have personalities. Some are proper and formal. Others offer the anonymity of a large hotel. On board Aegean Odyssey you are greeted as a returning family member even if it’s your first time on board.
DINING DELIGHTS - INDOORS OR OUT! We are very fortunate that the areas we sail to have a strong culinary tradition. The gastronomic culture of using the very best fresh local ingredients cooked in a simple but delicious style is the inspiration for the menus on board Aegean Odyssey. THE MARCO POLO RESTAURANT: The most formal of the ship’s restaurants, the Marco Polo has full waiter service and a casual country-club elegance. THE TERRACE CAFE: With a combination of indoor and outdoor seating, sophisticated Mediterranean interior design and cooking on the open grill, the Terrace Cafe replicates the charm and ambiance of a seaside trattoria.
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Dinner al fresco: In the evenings, the Terrace Cafe recreates the informal yet sophisticated atmosphere of a bistro, the perfect place to start your evening.
SERVICE WITH A SMILE Ask any world traveller where they receive the best service and they will undoubtedly answer the Far East.
REFRESHING THE MIND - AS WELL AS THE BODY! During your cruise you will enjoy a programme of lectures and discussions held in the Ambassador Lounge, designed to bring to life the wonderful sites you visit on your journey. There will normally be a number of guest speakers on your cruise, each with different areas of expertise. Our library is beautifully appointed and houses a well-stocked collection selected by the experts at the Oxford-based bookseller, Blackwell’s. Newspapers are delivered by satellite and are available in the library. Relax on the sun deck and cool off in the outdoor pool. Pamper yourself at the Athena Health Spa,
where you will find wonderful therapies and treatments to revive you. Our hairdressers and beauty centre is also on hand, and there’s a full fitness studio and early morning yoga sessions to set you up for the day.
Of all the nationalities in this part of the world, it is the Filipinos who carry the highest reputation for attention to detail. Fluent in English and always ready with a smile, our Filipino crew will win your heart.
Before dinner, enjoy a drink in the Charleston Lounge or watch the sun go down from The Terrace. After dinner, perhaps take in a lecture about the places you’ll visit the next day, or enjoy the string trio, pianist and vocalist performance. In some ports we organise local entertainment to perform on board.
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Category B - Junior Stateroom with balcony
Category H - Premium Outside Cabin
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Category F - Deluxe Stateroom
DECK PLANS
KEY Single Cabins Third Pullman berth in these cabins
Third/Fourth Pullman berth in these cabins
#
Cabin for guests with disabilities
Double Accomodation
Elevator 404# 403
405
707
708
714
711
716
713
718
713
718
715
720
715
720
717
722
717
722
721 723
815
815 816 817
818
819
820 822
816
537 CHARLESTON LOUNGE
CHARLESTON LOUNGE
539 543
541
531
549
429
427 ▲
▲ 530 431 435
532
535
536
537
538 539
HAIR DRESSER
545
540543 547 542549
541
INTERNET
817 819
820
739
742 739
742
TERRACE CAFE
822
741
744 741
744
823
824
823
824
743
746 743
746
826
825
826
745
748 745
748
BAR
BAR
827
828
827
828
747
750 747
750
THE TERRACE
THE TERRACE
476
478
478
• •
• •
554 556
567
560 567
560
569
562 569
562
571
564 571
564
573
566 573
566
575
568 575
568
577
570 577
570
•
476
477
552
558
460
544 477
561 554
• •
456
474
561
• •
TERRACE CAFE
454
460
475
550
556 563
456451
475
542
559 552
558 565
451
474
557 550
565
453
471
559
563
452
471
557
740
446
450
464
546
738
448
452447
464 ATHENA HEALTH 466 SPA 470
548
740 737
446443
467
546
738 735
448445 450449 454453
ATHENA 459 HEALTH SPA 463
555 548
733 736
443 447
459
553
737
440
540 467
555
735
432 436 ▲
445
455
553
SHOP
438
428
449 536 455
730
SHOP 736
434
424
442
727
734
430
444
730
731 734
426
420
442
727
LIBRARY
422
416
444
544
LIBRARY
418
439
551
732
437
414 ▲
441
551
729 732
433
413 416
418415 420 417 422 419 421 424 426 425 428423 430 429 432427 ▲ 434 ▲ 431 ▲ 436433 438 435 440437
412
441
463
INTERNET
408 409 410
412 411
534 439
538 HAIR DRESSER
408 407
••
• 423
RECEPTION
547 545
419
425
728
818
821
• •
• • 535
518 421 522
534
RECEPTION
825
821
530527 528
532 533
520
725
• •
813 814
527 528 529 531
417
728
•
811 812
813
524 523 524 521 522 526 ▲ 525 ▲ 526 ▲
414 ▲
413 415
725
729 812 731 814 733
• •
• 811
723
520519 518 517
523
533
721
• •
POOL
719
517
525 ▲
529
712 • 710 •
709
716
726 •
POOL
521
•
714
711
719
519
726 •
ION
AMBASSADOR LOUNGE
• •
LIDO BAR
•
709
•
LIDO BAR
AMBASSADOR LOUNGE
409 410
•
708
514
513 516
411
•
707
510
515514
• •
706
810 •
809 •
704
705
509 512 511510 509 512 513 516
702
724 •
806 808
703
706
• •
805 807
704
705
712 • 710 •
806 808
810 • 809 •
805 807
703
•
804
803
701
724 •
804
803
515
702
■
701
407
508
■
802
801
• •
511 802
801
504 505 506
507508
406
■
503 504 505 506
■
503 507
404#
406405
•
BRIDGE
•
403 BRIDGE
466 470
MARCO POLO RESTAURANT
MARCO POLO RESTAURANT
M
STANDARD INSIDE
L
PREMIUM INSIDE
K
PREMIUM INSIDE
J
STANDARD OUTSIDE
I*
STANDARD OUTSIDE
H
PREMIUM OUTSIDE
G
PREMIUM OUTSIDE
F
DELUXE STATEROOM OUTSIDE
E
DELUXE STATEROOM OUTSIDE
D
DELUXE STATEROOM BALCONY
C
DELUXE STATEROOM BALCONY
B
JJUNIOR SUITE BALCONY
A
OWNER'S SUITE BALCONY
Single Accomodation MEDICAL
MEDICAL
MM
STANDARD INSIDE
JJ
STANDARD OUTSIDE
II*
STANDARD OUTSIDE
HH*
PREMIUM OUTSIDE
GG*
PREMIUM OUTSIDE
EE
DELUXE STATEROOM OUTSIDE
CC
DELUXE STATEROOM BALCONY
*Categories GG, I, II and some HH cabins
PROMENADE DECK LIDO DECKLIDO DECK BRIDGE DECK PROMENADE DECK BRIDGE DECK
MARCO POLO DECK MARCO POLO DECK BELVEDERE DECK DECK have partially restricted view BELVEDERE DECKCOLUMBUSCOLUMBUS DECK
www.voyagestoantiquity.com 21
EXCURSION INFORMATION Voyages to Antiquity’s cruises include shore excursions in most ports of call. Some ports offer multiple opportunities for sightseeing, and in these instances, Voyages to Antiquity offers carefully selected excursions – some as an alternative to the main included excursion, some at an additional cost.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON TOUR These sightseeing programmes are outstanding but can be challenging. Visits to archaeological sites require walking over uneven surfaces, up and down multiple steps, and therefore a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. Some passengers may decide to take a break on certain days and explore the environs around the port. Look for the symbols alongside each tour description to get a good idea of what can be expected on each excursion. Tour durations are approximate and, to be sure you get the most out of the excursion and to avoid overcrowding, the sequence of site visits and operating times may vary. The on-board staff will brief you nightly on the expected plans for the following day. All departure times and meeting points will be advised in the Daily Journal on board. Some countries require you to carry certain documents ashore and this will be advised on board at the appropriate time. Please note that we reserve the right to change, cancel or substitute an included excursion at any time. Patmos
22
OUR SHORE EXCURSION TEAM Our Shore Excursion Manager and Graduate Assistants are on hand to make sure you get the most out of your shoreside experience. Informative briefings will be given regarding the excursions and ports of call, and the team will be on hand at the Reception Desk to answer any further queries you might have. During the excursions, although we endeavour to have a representative on each bus as much as possible, this cannot be guaranteed. The role of our ship’s excursion staff when ashore, is primarily to ensure the smooth operation and delivery of our excursion product in conjunction with the local guide and operator. This often means rotating between groups and working with the local guides. Kindly note that, although keen to assist when required, our team are not responsible for providing walking support or making sure everyone in the group is present.
OUR GUIDES It is one thing to see the Lions of Delos and quite another to see it in the company of a good guide who can share his/ her knowledge and passion for history. All of our shore excursions feature qualified English-speaking guides who seek to enlighten your visit with their expertise.
SHOPPING From Greek pottery to olive oil and woodcarvings, the crafts of this part of the world have evolved over the centuries. While these shore excursions focus on the history, culture and archaeology of the area, some offer the chance
to visit local workshops and observe demonstrations. Voyages to Antiquity has no connection with any shopping establishment and does not assume responsibility for purchases made ashore. We also recommend insurance on anything you choose to ship home.
TRANSPORTATION Various modes of transportation are used, depending on the excursion. Most motorcoaches are deluxe, air-conditioned vehicles unless unavailable in that port.
VISITS TO SITES/MUSEUMS On occasions, substitutions need to be made due to opening/ closing times of some sites/museums, but all possible is done to ensure schedules operate as described. If a change is made, guests will be advised with their final documents or at the shore excursion briefings on board. Note: For passengers on Grand Voyages, availability of included and optional excursions in Piraeus will be advised on board.
CLOTHING TIPS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Sunhats and sunscreen are recommended when participating in excursions – especially when walking through towns and villages. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended for most of the excursions on this itinerary.
Itinerary Changes The cruise and tour programmes featured in this brochure are planned many months in advance. Occasionally changes have to be made to the itineraries due to circumstances beyond the control of Voyages to Antiquity.
Respectful dress is required for the following excursions as sites of a religious nature are included: St John’s Patmos and the Remarkable Monasteries at Meteora. As a rule, this means that shoulders and knees should be covered – yet the monasteries will often hand out additional material to wear. Further details will be advised in the on-board briefings, along with weather predictions.
Responsibility The responsibility of Voyages to Antiquity and the operator of the vessel is strictly limited according to the Terms and Conditions set forth in the Passage Contract that you receive prior to embarkation. You are urged to read the Passage Contract carefully. A sample is available to be mailed on request or can be viewed and printed from the Voyages to Antiquity website at any time. Transportation on board the ship is provided solely by the ship operator and pursuant to the Passage Contract. Voyages to Antiquity reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a guest for any reason. Voyages to Antiquity shall not be responsible for any act, event or omission during the time passengers are not aboard the Voyages to Antiquity vessel. Voyages to Antiquity acts only as an agent for the supplier of off-ship services such as airlines and other off-ship transportation carriers, meals, shore excursions, accommodations, air ambulance and shoreside physicians. Guests agree not to hold Voyages to Antiquity, its owners, agents or representatives liable for any loss, injury, expense or damage which results directly or indirectly from any act or omission, whether negligent or otherwise, of any third party person or firm which is to, or does, provide goods or services in connection with the trip or any available option. Without limiting the foregoing, Voyages to Antiquity shall have no liability to passengers for the quality of services at, and the condition, cleanliness or safety of a hotel, housing facility, or conveyance, or for any transportation delay, including but not limited to liability for inconvenience, shortened
vacation time, additional expenses, or any other kind of damage. Voyages to Antiquity expressly disclaims all responsibility of any nature whatsoever for any loss, damage or injury to property or person resulting from air, rail, motorcoach or any other form of transportation other than that actually provided by the Voyages to Antiquity vessel. Services provided by Independent Contractors All shoreside tours and services described in this brochure or on the website are provided by independent contractors. Voyages to Antiquity acts solely as ticketing agent for all shoreside activities and has no legal obligation or liability of any kind to guests for acts or omissions in connection with or arising out of arrangements with independent contractors, including but not limited to airline carriers, ground/tour operators, and hotels since they are neither agents for nor employees of Voyages to Antiquity. Guests with Special Needs The tour programmes featured in this brochure include extensive sightseeing and to fully participate each guest must be reasonably fit and have no walking difficulties. Whenever possible Voyages to Antiquity will try to accommodate guests with special needs as long as the mobility issues are not an impediment to others on the guided tours. For further details, refer to the Essential Travel Information leaflet or to that section of the Voyages to Antiquity website. Errors & Omissions While Voyages to Antiquity makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information in this booklet, its promotions and as displayed on the website, Voyages to Antiquity reserves the right not to honour any published fares that it determines were erroneous due to printing, electronic or clerical error. Voyages to Antiquity is not responsible or liable for any typographical errors, omissions or misprints.
www.voyagestoantiquity.com 23
THE 2017 CRUISE COLLECTION MADEIRA,
May 3 2017
M OR O C C O & SEVILLE
Madeira’s magnificent flora begins this springtime voyage to the Canary Islands, Morocco’s great cities and the charms of Moorish Seville and Cordoba
IBERIA,
HISTORIC SPAIN, SICILY & ITALY
May 11, 2017
ICELAND,
May 25, 2017
FRENCH MOORISH
A springtime voyage combining a two-night hotel stay in Rome, visits to the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Elba, Renaissance Florence and the French Riviera
June 29 & August 8, 2017
ENGLAND,
Enjoy the sunshine on a two-week voyage from the French Riviera down the western Mediterranean coast to Spain’s historic cities, and the tip of mainland Europe
July 13, 2017
CELTIC
FRANCE &
FAROES &
IRELAND &
S COTLAND &
ENGLAND
SHETLANDS
S COTLAND
IRELAND
Join our magnificent voyage to the edge of the Arctic Circle and the incredible landscapes and nautural wonders of Iceland
From the catles and caves of Scotland to the Isles of Scilly, get to know more about the British Isles and Ireland on this fascinating summer sailing
Two nights in Edinburgh begin this voyage from Scotland to the spectacular west of Ireland and the beautiful Isles of Scilly
Sail from Seville along the Guadalquivir River and onto the Atlantic on a voyage to Portugal’s historic cities, France’s Bordeaux wine region and England’s South Coast
THE BEST OF
August 22, 2017
FRANCE &
MEDITERRANEAN
September 1, 2017
ODYS SEY
ITALIAN &
September 13, 2017
ADRIATIC
PORTUGAL
Sail through the Strait of Gibraltar and accross the Mediterranean as this splendid voyage takes you to charming ports and historic cities
DALMATIA
July 24, 2017
September 27, 2017
& ANCIENT
HIGHLIGHTS
Enjoy the summer sun as you sail south to France’s Chateaux Country and on to Portugal’s historic cities
June 6, 2017
RIVIERA & SPAIN
Moorish cities, monumental Sicily, the mysteries of Pompeii, and the grandeur of Rome - all in one magnificent journey
June 15, 2017
THE RENAIS SANCE & RIVIERA S
GREECE
This leisurely-paced cruise around Italy allows time to enjoy the pleasures of beautiful Sorrento, explore the ruins of Pompeii and Sicily, and sail along the glorius Adriatic coast to Venice
THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING CRUISE LINE
Cruise through the beautiful Adriatic Sea and the serene splendour of Kotor Bay en route to the classical sites of ancient Greece
UK CRUISERS’ CHOICE
CLA S SICAL
October 5, 2017
ANCIENT
GREECE &
GREECE,
AEGEAN
SICILY &
ISLANDS
SPAIN
This fascinating voyage around the Aegean is a true autumn treat. Starting from Athens, you will visit some of the most inspiring monuments of the ancient world
Sail across the southern Mediterranean to the fascinating island of Sicily and the sites of Moorish Spain
October 16, 2017
ANDALUSIAN
October 29, 2017
SEVILLE,
SPAIN &
MOROCCO
MOROCCO
& CANARY ISLANDS
November 9, 2017
2017
Voyages to Antiquity Aegean Odyssey Best Small Ship: Shore Excursions
WINNER Andalusia’s great cities – Seville, Cordoba and Granada – combine with exotic Morocco on this fabulous voyage
Discover the lkesser-known teasures of the canary Islands and enjoy a tour of the very best of Morocco
These Cruise Guides are available to download from our website www.voyagestoantiquity.com
AWARDS
2015 VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY BEST FOR ENRICHMENT