Cruises on luxury small ship Corinthian II along Adriatic Coast and on Mediterranean Sea

Voyage to the Lands of Gods & Heroes: A Family Learning Adventure in the Classical World

11 Days/10 Nights:
2012 Departures:• June 22 • July 10

This coming summer, history comes alive for the whole family. Aboard the all-suite Corinthian II, embark on a voyage of discovery in the Mediterranean, where ancient cities, idyllic islands, myth, and history are intertwined. This prime itinerary is designed to enlighten the senses and inflame the imagination of your children or grandchildren, and their young minds will awaken to the wonders of Classical antiquity in Athens and the legendary Greek Islands as well as the evocative sights of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and Rome. Our journey includes Pompeii, where children and adults alike will be in awe of the ruins. Visit Sicily, seeing massive Mount Etna from Taormina’s Greek Theater. Discover Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. Become enchanted by Crete’s Minoan Palace of Knossos, and explore Rhodes, whose fortified town of Rhodes is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. On the cliffs of Santorini, see artifacts from Akrotiri, an ancient town buried, and preserved by, the pumice and ash of a volcanic eruption centuries ago. And voyage to Athens, a city capturing the best of the ancient and modern worlds. Youth education counselors will lead the Young Explorers Program, a series of educational and recreational activities developed to enhance children’s appreciation of the sites we visit.

Day 1
ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy | EMBARK
Upon arrival in Rome, transfer to Civitavecchia, the deepwater port of Rome, to embark Corinthian II.

Day 2
CIVITAVECCHIA | ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA
From a collection of huts on the banks of the Tiber, Rome became Empress of the World, the seat of western history’s most enduring empire. On a full-day excursion, travel to Rome and see the Colosseum, the vast elliptical amphitheatre dating from A.D. 70; the Pantheon, the most perfectly preserved ancient temple in Rome; and the Forum, the center of Imperial Rome for nearly 500 years. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at leisure to explore the eternal city.

Day 3
SALERNO | POMPEII or RAVELLO and AMALFI | SALERNO
From Salerno, an excursion leads to Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. No other place so completely captures the character of life in the early Roman Empire. Tour highlights include the Forum, the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Stabian Baths, the bestpreserved and most complete in Pompeii. Alternatively, visit Ravello, a medieval hill-town with stellar views, and Amalfi, an 11th-century maritime city.

Day 4
AT SEA
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we cruise toward Greece.

Day 5
KATAKOLON | OLYMPIA | KATAKOLON, Greece
Travel to Olympia, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and one of four sites where the Panhellenic games were held. Tour the sacred area, including the temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House, the Treasuries, and the stadium.

Day 6
RETHYMNON | KNOSSOS or IMBROS GORGE | RETHYMNON, Crete
Arrive in Crete, once home of the Minoans, Europe’s earliest developed civilization. From quaint Rethymnon, travel to Knossos and its fabled Minoan Palace, a maze of frescoed corridors and chambers showing life as it was 4,000 years ago. It is also home to the labyrinth of the legendary Minotaur. Then spend free time to explore Rethymnon and swim at a nearby beach. Alternatively, walk part of the rugged, scenic Imbros Gorge, ending at the coast, near the 14th-century Venetian castle of Frangokastello, for a swim. Then sail along Crete’s northwest coast to anchor near the isle of Gramvousa, an old Venetian stronghold, for another swim.

Day 7
SANTORINI
In the second millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded Santorini (or Phira) in pumice and ash and collapsed the island into a fractured caldera. This ultimately produced Santorini’s wild, multihued beauty while sending its Minoan civilization into irreversible decline. Adults will visit Phira’s Archaeological Museum while Young Explorers board a sailboat to Nea Kameni, the island in the center of Santorini’s caldera, and ascend to its volcano by donkey to learn about the area’s geology. Reunite for lunch and free time in Phira Town.

Day 8
RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES
The historic island of Rhodes was known in antiquity for its schools of philosophy, rhetoric, and sculpture. Today it boasts one of Europe’s largest medieval towns. Discover Rhodes Town’s winding streets and splendid plazas, which owe their 14thcentury charm to the Crusader Knights of St. John. In the lovely village of Lindos, take a donkey ride or walk up to the acropolis, set on a cliff 400 feet above the sea, with stunning views of the village and bay below. Or, opt to explore Lindos on your own or swim in the crystal waters of its white-sand beach.

Day 9
KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI, Turkey
From Kusadasi, travel to Ephesus. Renowned as the center of worship of the mother-goddess Cybele, later known as Artemis, it was also the site where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Excavations continue and archaeologists are restoring the Terrace Houses, which offer a glimpse of daily Ephesian life. See the facade of the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and Great Amphitheater.

Day 10
PIRAEUS | ATHENS | PIRAEUS, Greece
Arrive in Athens, a city with an incomparably dramatic and influential history. Disembark Corinthian II and explore the Acropolis, perhaps the most important ancient monument in the Western world and where our concept of democracy was born over 2,500 years ago. The ruins include the majestic Parthenon and the Erectheion. After lunch at a taverna, adults visit the stunning new Acropolis Museum while kids enjoy a youth-themed “treasure hunt” exploration of Athens. Overnight at the Hotel Plaza.

Day 11
PIRAEUS | DISEMBARK | ATHENS
Disembark and transfer to the airport in Athens.