Opus Mediterraneo: A Music Cruise from Venice to Barcelona

10 Days/9 Nights: 2012 Departures:• Aug. 15 Opus Mediterraneo combines a handcrafted Mediterranean itinerary with sublime classical music. This combination is undoubtedly one of the most beguiling travel experiences. The concerts will be held aboard ship as well as ashore at places of special interest, including palaces and churches, only accessible to travelers on this voyage. The small size of the audience and the accessibility of the artists offer a truly unparalleled experience. Day 1 VENICE Italy | EMBARK Arrive in Venice and transfer to Corinthian II. Day 2 ANCONA | MACERATA | ANCONA From Ancona, drive inland to Macerata, a quaint, hilltop medieval town. Explore the town and view its historic buildings, including the 16th-century Loggia dei Mercanti and the 17th-century Palazzo del Comune, with its splendid atrium decorated with sculptures. Visit the City Museum, housed in an old Jesuit college, and the Palazzo Ricci Gallery, with its excellent collection of works by modern Italian artists. Our musical performance will take place at the Teatro Lauro Rossi. Day 3 VIS ISLAND, Croatia Closed to outsiders until the fall of Yugoslavia, Vis is one of Croatia`s most beautiful and unspoiled islands. Dock at Komiza, which has retained its medieval character and architecture. Stately homes and other buildings face the harbor, while the terraced hillside provides a lovely background to this idyllic setting. After exploring Komiza, drive across the small island to Vis Town, which is built around a beautiful bay. Day 4 MONOPOLI and the TRULLI VILLAGES The fishing town of Monopoli is dominated by its 1552 castle. Explore the region`s unique trulli villages, with their curious whitewashed conical dwellings built without mortar. Focus on two of the main villages, Alberobello, where trulli line the streets, and hilltop Locorotondo. Also stop at Ostuni, an ancient town enclosed within ramparts. Day 5 CROTONE | SANTA SEVERINA | CROTONE Arrive in Crotone, in Italy`s rugged Calabria region. Pasta is a religion of its own on this "toe" of Italy`s "boot"; the cuisine also features tomatoes of spectacular ripeness, spicy sausages and polenta dishes complemented by eggplant. Ancient Crotone was one of the most prominent cities of Magna Graecia and home of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. Visit the impressive Archaeological Museum and then drive to the small town of Santa Severina, dramatically situated on an isolated outcrop of sheer rock, to see the Byzantine church of San Filomeno and the Norman cathedral with its 9th-century baptistery. Day 6 VALLETTA In the morning explore the Palace of the Grand Masters and the National Museum of Archaeology. Then it`s a short drive to the remarkable Tarxien Temples, which date back to 2800 B.C., and onto Hagar Qim, an even older temple that stands atop a hill on the southern edge of the island overlooking the sea. Day 7 TRAPANI | ERICE | SEGESTA | TRAPANI, Sicily, Italy Drive up winding roads to the medieval town of Erice. The town was known for its temple to the fertility goddess, Astarte. Look around the 12th-century Venus Castle and continue to Segesta for a glimpse of its magnificent Doric temple, built in 420 B.C. and among the best-preserved ancient Greek sites. Day 8 CAGLIARI | SU NURAXI | NORA | CAGLIARI, Sardinia Arrive in Cagliari, Sardinia`s capital, built on a hill facing the sea. Disembark and drive to the village of Barumini to visit Su Nuraxi, Sardinia`s most important and impressive nuraghic complex and a UNESCO Heritage site. After lunch aboard, spend time at leisure to explore Cagliari on your own, or take an excursion to Nora, whose ancient remains date from the Carthaginian and Roman periods. Day 9 AT SEA Spend a relaxing day at sea enjoying the ship`s amenities and attending lectures. Day 10 BARCELONA, Spain | DISEMBARK Disembark and transfer to the airport in Barcelona. Special Guest Artists David Finckel and Wu Han Artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society since 2004, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han rank among the most esteemed classical musicians in the world today. In high demand as chamber musicians, they appear together in over 100 concerts each season at the most prestigious venues and concert series. David Finckel also serves as cellist in the Emerson String Quartet, which has won nine Grammy Awards as well as the Avery Fisher Prize. In addition to their distinction as world-class performers, David Finckel and Wu Han are the founding artistic directors of Music@Menlo.

SINGLE RATES:
A limited number of cabins are available for solo travelers at the following rates: Category B: $12,495; Category A: $13,495.

RATES INCLUDE
• 9-night 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 guest lecturers
• Young Explorers Program, a series of educational and recreational activities for children ages 7 - 18, led by youth education counselors
• Professional tour staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and transfers on the designated program departure and arrival dates
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers

RATES DO NOT INCLUDE
• Airfare; visa and passport fees (if applicable)
• Luggage and trip cancellation insurance
• Meals, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages other than those specified above
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service
• Gratuities to shipboard personnel

BOOKING AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
At the time when/if you decide to go ahead with your cruise on board the Corinthian II Yacht we will send to you our booking confirmation document. Our booking confirmation document includes detailed terms and conditions applicable to your cruise.
The deposit of USD 1,500.00 per person will secure your reservation. Payment for the reservation is to be accomplished within one week from the day when we issue and send to you by email our booking confirmation document. Final payment due will be no later than 95 days prior to your embarkation.


CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations of confirmed reservations are subject to a $US 400,00 per person administrative fee. Additionally, passengers are subject to any cancellation fees assessed by the purveyors of services, including airlines or hotels used in the itinerary.
Cancellations received 71-95 days prior to departure will be assessed a penalty equal to 50% of the total program cost per person.
Cancellations received within 70 days of departure are subject to 100% cancellation penalties. Requests for cancellations must be made in writing. No refunds will be made for any part of this program in which you choose not to participate.
Service fees may apply to deviations and are non-refundable.