Compare Grand Odyssey: Istanbul, the Black Sea & Greek Isles by Road Scholar

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive Istanbul, Transfer to Port, Embark Aegean Odyssey Istanbul

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 1 mile including ship and port corridors and gangways.

Transfer from the airport to the Port of Istanbul. Meals aboard ship will begin with dinner; a light lunch will be available for those who arrive in time.

Embark the Aegean Odyssey. Complete boarding procedures, get your cabin, unpack, and freshen up. Then begin to explore this comfortable ship that will be our floating home. The ship’s courteous and friendly staff are scrupulous about hygiene and you will find numerous dispensers with hand sanitizer we are encouraged to use. Along with everyone on board, we will meet at muster stations when called for the ship’s safety drill. During succeeding evenings aboard ship, there will be activities to choose from such as a guest speaker, a performance by talented musicians, and opportunities for interaction with fellow Road Scholars. Please note that lecture times and dates may vary due to time in port. Check your briefing memo for the most up to date lecture schedule. There is also a well-stocked library with daily newspapers received via satellite. Most mornings will begin with a group stretch session. On each full day of the program, we will gather for an informal “port talk” about what’s ahead. Each evening, we’ll get a briefing memo in our cabins with highlights of the next day’s activities. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. In most ports, we will have shuttle buses, or tender boats, running from/to the ship during the day for your convenience if you wish to explore independently. The extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities depends on personal choice. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight.

Aboard ship, enjoy your first dinner on board in the venue of your choice: the a la carte Marco Polo restaurant, open for dinner as well as lunch on full days at sea; and the Terrace Café with its extensive buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals feature fresh ingredients in tasty preparations including healthy choices. Both restaurants offer open-seating dining. All meals aboard ship — as well as afternoon tea and late night snacks — are included. Non-alcoholic beverages and select wines at dinner are included; other beverages are available for purchase upon request.

Day 3 Istanbul, Topkapi Palace, Archaeological Museum At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 5 miles including steps at Palace; no handrails; standing up to 2 hours at each site. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods. NOTE: The “On Your Feet” activity level group will not be going to the harem apartments.

Orientation: We will gather in the morning, and the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. After the orientation session, we will step off the ship, walk to and board a motorcoach, and ride to the Topkapi Palace. Constructed from 1460-1478, it served as the residence of Ottoman sultans as well as their administrative and ceremonial center until the mid-19th century. A local expert will lead our exploration as we see aspects of the Imperial Treasury that holds riches of royal history including thrones, jeweled pendants and precious stones, sacred items from the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed, decorated weapons, and much more. We will also see parts of the harem apartments that originally contained more than 300 rooms including living quarters for the sultan and his family, bath houses, courtyards, dormitories for concubines, a hospital, laundry, mosques, and pavilions.

Next, we will visit the Istanbul Arkeoloji Muzesi, or Istanbul Archaeological Museums, complex. The museum was founded in 1875 by accomplished archaeologist, Osman Hamdi Bey, and is actually comprised of three different museums. Discover ancient treasures from the Assyrian, Hittite, Egyptian, Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to leave Istanbul on our journey to Sinop.

In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — there are hot and cold dishes to choose from such as eggs, breakfast meats, cereals, fruits, breads, pastries, and a variety of healthy choices as well as milk, juice, coffee, tea, water. Meals feature fresh ingredients in tasty preparations.

In a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 4 Free Time, Lectures at Sea At Sea

Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program. We will gather for our first port talk in the late afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. We will continue our journey to Sinop.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 5 Sinop, Free Time At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Driving from the port through the city to the first stop could take 1/2 hour or so depending on traffic. Walking about 4 miles; mostly flat terrain, steps at mosque; no handrails; standing up to 2 hours. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods. NOTE: This day may be operated in reverse for some groups. NOTE: The “On Your Feet” activity level group will not be visiting the ruins on Balatlar Kilisesi.

We will step off the ship and board a motorcoach for a field trip to medieval Sinop, a walled city perched on a promontory overlooking the Black Sea. Founded by colonists from the Aegean port of Miletus in the 800s BCE, Sinop became a major port thanks to its fine natural harbor. We will explore remnants of its medieval city walls; the Alaeddin Mosque dating from 1267 and its medrese (seminary); and the ruins on Balatlar Kilisesi, a Roman temple converted into a Byzantine church. The Greek philosopher Diogenes — one of the founders of Cynic Philosophy who carried around a lantern “looking for a good man” (and not finding one!) — was born in Sinop.

Free time. This may occur in the morning for some groups. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, or take advantage of this time for independent exploration. The ship is scheduled to leave Sinop on our journey to Odessa.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 6 Free Time, Lectures at Sea At Sea

Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program. At the end of the afternoon, we will gather for a port talk.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. We will continue our journey to Odessa.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 7 Odessa, Free Time Odessa

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Driving from the port through the city to the first stop could take 1/2 hour or so depending on traffic. Walking about 3 miles; mostly flat terrain, steps at Cathedral, no handrails, standing up to 2 hours. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods. Elective walking during free time according to personal preference. NOTE: The “On Your Feet” activity level group will not be going to the Archaeological Museum.

Odessa was compared to Paris as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe in the early 19th century. We will set out by coach to explore the highlights of Odessa with either our Group Leader or a local expert for an overview of Prymorsky Boulevard, lined with 19th-century gas lamps, majestic trees, and aristocratic palaces, and ride past Catherine Square and the Potemkin Steps. Next, we’ll visit the Transfiguration Cathedral, Odessa’s largest church. The original edifice dating from 1794 was expanded throughout the 19th century, only to be destroyed by the Soviets in 1936. Rebuilding commenced in 1999, and was completed in 2003. We will then move on to the Archaeological Museum. This is the oldest museum in the Ukraine, established in 1825. The museum’s permanent collection houses around 170,000 exhibits, and was declared a national treasure in 2008. We will return to port after our field trip where you are welcome to enjoy free time aboard ship or stay ashore and explore independently.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the shuttle bus available for independent exploration.

This evening, you may take in a performance at the Opera House or spend some time at leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Day 8 Free Time, Nerubaiskoe, Odessa Catacombs, Shustov Museum At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Driving from the port through the city and environs to the first stop could take an hour or so depending on traffic. Walking about 4 miles; mostly flat terrain; at catacombs, 90 steps with handrails; standing up to 2 hours; at Factory Museum, 68 steps with handrails up/down. NOTE: For some groups the activities on this day may run in reverse, and times will be staggered so some may take place in the afternoon.

Our motorcoach will leave the city center and take us through the countryside. We will pass small villages, farms, and gardens in the environs of Odessa on our way to the village of Nerubaiskoe that was first settled by Ukrainian Cossacks as a fortress. With a local expert, we will enter the labyrinthine underground interior of the famed catacombs, stretching more than 1,600 feet (500 meters). The catacombs were first made to provide the city with limestone. During World War II, they were an underground fort of the Soviet army. We will visit the command post and learn about the defense of the catacombs at the local museum. On our way back to Odessa, we will stop to visit the Shustov Cognac Winery Museum. The factory was founded in 2002. Nowadays it is modern enterprise producing one of the best cognacs in Ukraine. We will learn about the production process, the history of cognac making, and have a tasting. We will return to port after the field trip where you are welcome to enjoy free time aboard ship or stay ashore and explore independently.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the shuttle bus available for independent exploration. We will gather aboard ship for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to leave Odessa on our journey to Constanta.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 9 Constanta, National Archaeology Museum, Winery, Free Time At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down; driving from the port through the city to the first stop could take 1/2 hour or so depending on traffic. Walking about 2 miles; mostly flat terrain, steps with handrails; standing up to 2 hours. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal preference.

After stepping off the ship, we will board a motorcoach and ride to the National Museum of History and Archaeology in Constanta. The museum boasts a marvelous collection of prehistoric, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Medieval artifacts, including the famous statue of Fortuna Goddess and Pontos God. We will then travel through the vineyards of the Romanian countryside to a local winery. We’ll sample some of the region’s popular wines and enjoy a performance of traditional Romanian folk music before returning to the ship.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the shuttle bus available for independent exploration. We will gather aboard ship for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to leave Constanta on our journey to Varna.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 10 Varna, Museum of Archaeology, Rock Monastery, Free Time At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving from the port through the city to the first stop could take 1/2 hour or so depending on traffic. Walking about 2 miles, mostly flat terrain, steps with handrails, standing up to 2 hours. At Monastery, walking about 2 miles roundtrip, 150 steps with handrails up/down. Free time activities according to personal preference. NOTE: The “On Your Feet” activity level group will not visit the Rock Monastery, and instead will visit the Roman Baths.

We will leave the ship by motorcoach and ride to the Varna Museum of Archaeology to explore with either our Group Leader or a local expert. Human habitation in the region dates back to the Early Paleolithic age — about 100,000 BCE! The most treasured elements of its collection were excavated from a nearby necropolis that is considered one of the foremost sites in pre-history studies. The so-called Varna Gold, the oldest such discovery in the world, has been estimated to be more than 6,000 years old. Next, we will ride to the Aladzha Monastery, carved out of the rock, where a local expert will lead our exploration. Hermit monks lived here during the 13th and 14th centuries, and it is today a place of mystery and legends. The Roman baths of ancient Odessos are the largest on the Balkan Peninsula, and the fourth largest in Europe. Explore the ruins of the function halls and discover the heating system used to warm the water. We will return to port after the field trip where you are welcome to enjoy free time aboard ship or stay ashore and explore independently.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the shuttle bus available for independent exploration. We will gather aboard ship for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to leave Varna on our journey to Istanbul.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 11 Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Bosphorus Cruise Istanbul

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 1 mile including ship and port corridors and gangways; further walking of about 2 miles; steps at church and mosque; standing up to 2 hours.

We will set out by motorcoach for field trips beginning with Hagia Sophia — Holy Wisdom — one of the world’s great historical and architectural wonders. Moving on, we will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque for what were originally richly hued blue tiles decorating its interior. It was constructed from 1609-1616 facing Hagia Sophia. Still an active mosque, it is the only one in Istanbul with six minarets where a Muezzin calls the faithful to prayer five times each day. Beneath its multiple domes, there are more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, some 260 stained glass windows, and verses from the Qu’ran displayed in calligraphic art.

Next, we will ride to a chartered boat for a cruise on the Bosphorus. A local expert will provide commentary as we view palaces, yalis (waterfront mansions), and fortresses along its shores before returning to the ship.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during your final dinner on board.

Day 12 Istanbul, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Standing up to 2 hours at each site. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods.

We will set out by motorcoach for the Basilica Cistern, the largest subterranean cistern in Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of the Byzantine Empire.

Next, we will explore Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered markets, and the Spice Bazaar with our local expert.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 13 Istanbul, Independent Exploration At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods.

Use this time for independent exploration of Istanbul.

Continue your independent exploration of Istanbul.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to leave Istanbul on our journey to Kusadasi.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 14 Lectures at Sea, Free Time At Sea

Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.

We will gather for a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Free time to enjoy the ship’s amenities, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, pick up a good book in the library, or just relax to the rhythm of the waves. In the late afternoon, we will gather for a port talk.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow, when the ship will arrive at the port of Kusadasi.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 15 Free Time, Ancient Ephesus, Terrace Houses At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles; unpaved, winding trail with steps; no handrails; uneven and rough footpath; standing up to 2 hours exposed to sun, no shade.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, ancient Ephesus, where a local expert will lead our exploration. From the UNESCO inscription: “Located within what was once the estuary of the River Kaystros, Ephesus comprises successive Hellenistic and Roman settlements founded on new locations, which followed the coastline as it retreated westward. Excavations have revealed grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Little remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World,’ which drew pilgrims from all around the Mediterranean.” Unlike her Greek counterpart, this Artemis was primarily a fertility goddess. We will also see ruins of what have been called the Terrace Houses, residential structures once inhabited by wealthy Ephesians.

After lunch we will transfer to the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. This multi-room museum houses many findings from the Ephesus archaeological site. Originally built in 1929, it expanded over the years to accommodate the growing collection. The last expansion was in 1995. We will then board a motorcoach to take us to the House of the Virgin Mary. This Catholic pilgrimage site is believed to be where the mother of Jesus spent the last years of her life.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

In a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 16 Samos, Vathi, Pythagoras, Free Time At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Driving for approximately 40 to 50 minutes to reach the wine making museum. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; some steps; standing up to 2 hours.

Setting off the ship with our Group Leader, we’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip into Samos, a small island in the eastern Aegean Sea. In Vathi, the capital and main port, we will explore on foot and see where neoclassical architecture intertwines winding streets and small squares. We will also learn about Pythagoras, the influential philosopher and mathematician born here in the 6th century BCE. For a time, he lived in a cave apart from society where he developed and taught his theories. At the Museum of Samos Wine, we will learn about the millennia old tradition of wine making on this island and sample Samian wines, valued for the unique taste and bouquet. At the end of the morning, we will return to the ship.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You might like to see more of the Old Town on your own or simply relax. Back aboard ship, we will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Samos and begin our journey to Mykonos.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 17 Free Time, Mykonos & Little Venice Mykonos

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; some steps; standing up to 2 hours.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program, or take advantage of the ship tender service, or seabus available for independent exploration.

With our Group Leader, we’ll take a tender boat or shuttle bus into the old town. Explore Mykonos on foot. As we walk, we will see the three main highlights of Mykonos: the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, one of the most photographed churches in Greece; the iconic windmills that can be seen from almost every angle in the village; and “Little Venice” where the buildings are built perched over the water's edge.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 18 Free Time, Sacred Delos At Sea

Getting on/off a local boat with steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles; some rough terrain, steps, no handrails; standing up to 2 hours.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the shuttle busses available for independent exploration.

We will board local boats for a walking field trip in Delos, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “According to Greek mythology, Apollo was born on this tiny island in the Cyclades archipelago. Apollo's sanctuary attracted pilgrims from all over Greece and Delos was a prosperous trading port. The island bears traces of the succeeding civilizations in the Aegean world, from the 3rd millennium B.C. to the palaeochristian era. The archaeological site is exceptionally extensive and rich and conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port.” During our field trip, we will have an onsite lecture and explore the amazing remains here including the Marble Lions, the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Temple of Isis, and impressive mosaics. Returning to the ship, we will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Mykonos and begin our journey to Santorini.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 19 Santorini Traditional Villages, Wine Tasting At Sea

Getting on/off tenders and a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles uphill; narrow alleyways paved with stones, some steps, no handrails; standing up to 2 hours. Getting on/off tenders and a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles uphill; narrow alleyways paved with stones, some steps, no handrails; standing up to 2 hours.

What we call Santorini is really a group of islands born out of violent eruptions — often associated with the legend of Atlantis. The sea-filled caldera covers what is still an active, though currently dormant, volcano. We will step into tender vessels then board a motorcoach and drive through the village of Pyrgos on the northern coast to Oia. This is the most picturesque village on Santorini with charming houses, narrow streets, and blue-domed churches. We will explore the village with a local expert and take in the amazing views over the caldera.

There is no way to describe the wild volcanic beauty of Santorini where cliffs drop straight down to the dark blue waters of the caldera. We will go to one of the numerous wineries to taste some of the fine Santorini wine.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Santorini and begin our journey to Hydra.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 20 Free Time, Hydra At Sea

Getting in/out of tender vessels. Walking about 1 mile; narrow, cobblestone streets; standing up to 2 hours at a time.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the tender vessels available for independent exploration.

We will dock at the island of Hydra and set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader to learn about local traditions and customs. Separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strip of water, Hydra has developed a strong maritime culture around the many natural bays and harbors. It was around these harbors that towns grew into picturesque port towns along the steep hillsides. We’ll return to the ship with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Hydra and begin our journey to the port of Piraeus.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 21 Athens, Acropolis, Acropolis Museum Piraeus (Athens)

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 2 miles up/down a winding trail with many well-worn steps to Acropolis; no handrails; uneven, rocky, sometimes slippery surfaces; standing up to 2 hours. At Acropolis Museum, walking and standing for more than an hour. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods. Note: The “Moderate” activity level group will not climb to the Acropolis.

We will step off the ship with our Group Leader and walk to our waiting motorcoach for a field trip to the city’s most iconic symbol, the Acropolis. From the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: “The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world.” We will climb to the top of the rocky crag and stand in awe before ruins of the Parthenon and other temples. Built between 447-432 BCE, the Parthenon — named for the city’s patron goddess, Athena Parthenos — has been called “the supreme effort of genius in pursuit of beauty” and “the most perfect Doric temple ever built.” Its architectural proportions symbolize the ideals of Greek thought at the height of Greek civilization.

The long-awaited Acropolis Museum was completed in 2007. During an expert-led exploration in the dramatic Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis, we will ascend floors of glass that seem to float above the excavations for an extraordinary perspective of the layers of Greek history that lie below. In addition to irreplaceable masterpieces, the exceptional collection includes items from everyday life and all historic periods. A recreation of the Parthenon’s frieze was based on existing original blocks as well as copies from museums in London and Paris. We will return to the ship by motorcoach with time to freshen up and relax. We will then gather with our Group Leader for a port talk in the late afternoon.

At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant at the foot of the Acropolis.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 22 Piraeus, Athens, Disembarkation, Program Concludes In Flight

Disembarkation begins as early as 2:00 a.m. or earlier depending on local schedules. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

We will complete disembarkation procedures. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.