Voyage into Antiquity: Ancient Cities of the Aegean & Mediterranean
« All Corinthian II cruise options
- Day 1 Athens, Greece
- Day 2 Santorini / Akrotiri
- Day 3 Heraklion / Knossos
- Day 4 At Sea
- Day 5 Port Said / Cairo / Giza
- Day 6 Haifa / Jerusalem
- Day 7 Limassol, Cyprus / Kourion
- Day 8 Kastellorizo, Greece
- Day 9 Rhodes, Greece / Lindos
- Day 10 Kusadasi, Turkey / Ephesus
- Day 11 Canakkale / Troy
- Day 12 Istanbul / Disembark
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| Cat E | Cat D | Cat C | Cat B | Cat A | Cat AA | Cat VS | Cat PHS | |
| Oct 3 '12 |
$7,995 | $8,995 | $9,995 | $10,995 | $11,995 | $12,795 | $13,995 | $14,995 |
Single travelers can opt to pay a single supplement for a private cabin or opt for a willing to share on select departures
Please note: Cruise fare does not include fuel surcharges.
Deposit & Payment Please note: Cruise fare does not include fuel surcharges.
Day 1 Athens, Greece
Arrive in Athens and transfer to the port of Piraeus to embark Corinthian II. Sail in the evening.
Day 2 Santorini / Akrotiri
In the 2nd millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded the island of Santorini in a blanket of pumice and ash, preserving many of the buildings in the town of Akrotiri, which had been inhabited by a sophisticated Bronze Age society. An excursion leads to the archaeological excavations of this site where houses still contain pottery and furnishings left as they were abandoned and where the narrow streets and broad squares remain as they were 3,600 years ago.
Day 3 Heraklion / Knossos
Crete, Zeus’s legendary birthplace, was home to the Minoan civilization, Europe’s first. In the morning drive across the island to Phaestos to visit its Minoan palace, which is beautifully located facing a plain surrounded by mountain. Also explore Gortyn, which was Crete’s main city during the Roman period. After lunch, visit the excavations at Knossos, where the brilliance and refinement of the Minoans are revealed. The largest palace of the period on Crete, Knossos is a labyrinth of corridors and chambers decorated with frescoes illustrating life as it was 4,000 years ago. Continue to the Heraklion Museum, which contains an outstanding collection of artifacts. Alternatively, visit the sites of Phaestos and Gortyn. Alternatively, visit the beautiful town of Rethymnon, whose architecture reveals the influence of Venice. Explore the charming streets and alleyways of the Old Town, as well as the impressive Fortezza which overlooks both land and sea.
Day 4 At Sea
Relax aboard your ship as the Corinthian II sails toward Egypt.
Day 5 Port Said / Cairo / Giza
Today, Corinthian II enters Port Said, located at the entrance to the Suez Canal. From here, travel to Cairo and Giza for a full-day excursion. Known as Memphis in ancient times, Cairo has been Egypt’s most important city since 3100 B.C. Today the city is meeting the challenges of providing for its enormous population and preserving its magnificent array of historical and cultural sites. Visit the renowned Egyptian Museum, a repository of the finest antiquities, including finds from the tomb of Tutankhamun. In Giza, see the famed Sphinx and Pyramids, still among the wonders of the world.
Day 6 Haifa / Jerusalem
From Israel’s port of Haifa, take a full-day excursion to Jerusalem. A tour of this extraordinary city begins at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the site that tradition identifies as the tomb of Jesus. Then follow the Via Dolorosa, the ancient web of arcaded streets along which Jesus carved the cross. Also visit the Western Wall, the only remnant of the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. Alternatively, take an excursion to Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea for 600 years and one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites. Continue to Megiddo, in the Carmel Mountains, where excavations have uncovered 20 cities and the stables of Solomon. Also visit the ruins of ancient Ein Gedi, one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites.
Day 7 Limassol, Cyprus / Kourion
Cyprus’s position as a stepping-stone between East and West has left a rich legacy of the many civilizations that flourished on the island. From the port town of Limassol travel to nearby Kourion, an ancient city set beautifully on a bluff overlooking the sea. Continue to Paphos, whose ancient remains cover an extensive area. Among other well-preserved monuments, the House of Dionysos contains exquisite floor mosaics.
Day 8 Kastellorizo, Greece
Sail in the morning for the small island of Kastellorizo, one of the hidden gems of the Greek archipelago. Formerly a prosperous trading and shipping center, it now supports a tiny population, most of which live in the island’s quaint—and only—town, which you will have the opportunity to explore on your own.
Day 9 Rhodes, Greece / Lindos
The island of Rhodes was known in antiquity for its schools of philosophy, rhetoric, and sculpture. Explore the Old Town, one of Europe’s largest medieval towns. Walk along the Street of the Knights, replete with mosaics, carved portals, and coats of arms. Visit the Archaeological Museum, housed in the former Knights’ Great Hospital. Also travel to picturesque Lindos. Set high above the village, with stunning Aegean views, are the remains of the Acropolis and the Doric columns of Athena’s Temple. Corinthian II will remain docked in Rhodes overnight, giving the opportunity to enjoy the lively nightlife of the Old Town of Rhodes, just a short walk from where the ship will be docked.
Day 10 Kusadasi, Turkey / Ephesus
From Kusadasi on Turkey’s Aegean coast, drive to the ancient city of Ephesus, renowned for its great mother-goddess, Cybele, later identified as Artemis, or Diana of the Ephesians. Ephesus was for a time the most important commercial city in Asia Minor. The immense Hellenistic and Roman excavation site includes the ancient theater, the imposing Library of Celsus, the hill houses with their fantastic mosaics and frescoes, and early Byzantine remains.
Day 11 Canakkale / Troy
Call at Canakkale, our gateway for Troy, where ongoing archaeological excavations have revealed nine different layers of cities superimposed in rings on a massive mound rising above the “windswept” Plain of Ilium. It was to one of these cities, as legend has it, that the Greeks fought the Trojans as told by Homer in his Iliad.
Day 12 Istanbul / Disembark
Disembark in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
Itinerary Notes
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:- 11-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II
- Complete program of tours and excursions
- 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
- Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturers
- Professional tour staff
- Complete pre-departure materials
- Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program arrival and departure dates
- Port and embarkation taxes
- Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers
NOT INCLUDED: 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; and gratuities to shipboard personnel.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $1500, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.
Final payment by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 100 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 91 days or more | $400 per person |
| 90-61 days | 55% trip cost |
| 60-0 days | 100% trip cost |
| For Itineraries with 19+ days | . |
| 91 days or more | $850 per person |
| 90-61 days | 55% trip cost |
| 60-0 days | 100% trip cost |
Corinthian II
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 114
- Luxury Expedition Ship
The distinguished 114-guest Corinthian II offers a classic yacht-like atmosphere and fine accommodations. Corinthian II is ice-strengthened for voyages into Antarctic waters, and is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac inflatable craft for forays ashore. Originally built in 1992 and refurbished in 2005, Corinthian II accommodates all guests in 57 outside suites, each affording sea views and elegantly appointed with a sitting area, TV, mini-refrigerator, safe, and other amenities as well as a marble bathroom. Several suites include private balconies accessed via sliding glass doors. Spacious and finely decorated public areas include a library stocked with books related to the itinerary and other volumes, and four computer terminals for e-mail access; an elegant lounge; and The Club, a space for convivial relaxation, with picture windows for panoramic views. The restaurant, serving fine cuisine prepared by European chefs, accommodates all guests at a single unassigned seating. The ship also includes a gym, beauty salon, a sun deck with Jacuzzi, and an outdoor café and bar, where meals may be served al fresco. Corinthian II is served by 70 experienced European officers and crew. There is also an elevator offering access to all decks.
Cabin Categories & Descriptions
All accommodations aboard Corinthian II are suites. They face outside, affording sea views, and several have balconies with sliding doors. All suites include a bedroom with twin or queen-size beds, sitting area, ample closet space, mini-refrigerator, TV, marble-appointed bathroom with shower, and other amenities.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Cat E Deluxe suites on Magellan Deck with portholes and sitting area. 225 sq. ft. Suites 250 - 252 |
| Cat D Deluxe suites on Columbus Deck with window and sitting area. 225 sq. ft. Suites 329-332 |
 | Cat C Deluxe suites on Magellan Deck with portholes and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 254 - 262 |
 | Cat B Deluxe suites on Columbus Deck with window and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 333 - 348 |
 | Cat A Deluxe suites on Marco Polo Deck with window and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 416 - 428 |
 | Cat AA Deluxe suites on Marco Polo Deck with forward and side windows and sitting area. 265 sq. ft. Suites 414 - 415 |
 | Cat VS Deluxe Veranda Suites on Erickson Deck with private balcony and sitting area. 300 sq. ft. (including balcony) Suites 505 - 512 |
 | Cat PHS Deluxe Penthouse Suites on Explorer Deck with private balcony and sitting area. 400 sq. ft. (including balcony) Suites 601 - 604 |
