Turning Points of History

There is no better time to travel Homer's "wine dark sea" than spring, when wildflowers bloom along the coastline and the weather is warm and mild. Sail from Cyprus to Istanbul, with port calls in Israel, Turkey and Greece from May 16 - 27, 2012.

From Cyprus we wend along the Eastern Mediterranean shore, spending two days in Israel before turning north and west along the Turkish coast, through the Aegean, and on to Istanbul. Along the way, encountering the remains of civilizations from the dawn of history to the height of the Roman Empire - the holy city of Jerusalem; the magnificent Greco-Roman cities of Aspendos and Perge on the Turkish coast; Greece's Chios, the reputed birthplace of Homer; and legendary Troy. Our journey comes to an end in Istanbul, amid Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman monuments.

Accompanying us will be the renowned historian, Yale Professor John Hale, ensuring that this voyage will be both a feast for the mind and the senses Professor Hale has this to say about his plans: "It's hard to imagine a more extraordinary and diverse itinerary than the one we will follow through the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea this coming May. From the moment we embark at Cyprus, legendary birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, we will be caught up in a magical world of ancient gods and heroes, as well as such towering historical figures as Alexander the Great (we will visit his home in Macedon, and the fabled tomb of his father King Philip II), the poet Homer (the island of Chios claimed to be his birthplace), and King Herod the Great of Judea, whose magnificent harbor at Caesarea in Israel was built by Roman engineers sent across the sea by the emperor Augustus. I have had the privilege of diving on these submerged ruins and look forward to sharing with you an archaeologist's view of Caesarea as well as biblical sites from Mount Carmel to Armageddon (Megiddo), spectacular ancient Greek cities in southern Turkey, and Homer's Troy, where recent discoveries have been rewriting the history of the place where the hero Achilles fought against Hector. From Israel to Istanbul, our pilgrimage will include both rarely visited historical gems and world-famous destinations."

We hope you will join us as we experience the Turning Points of History.

Dates & Prices

Trip Dates: May 16 - 27, 2012
Prices:  from $5995 per person based upon double occupancy

Trip Summary:

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - FLY FROM USA

Thursday, May 17 - LIMASSOL, Cyprus | Embark
Arrive in Limassol, an old port city on the south coast of Cyprus, and transfer to the pier to embark the Corinthian II. Sail in the evening. (D)

Friday, May 18 - HAIFA, Israel | JERUSALEM and GALILEE or MEGGIDO and BEIT SHE’AN
Arrive in the morning in Haifa, Israel’s main port city, beautifully situated between the wooded Mount Carmel and the sea. From Haifa, we will offer a choice of full-day excursions that will explore several of the country’s most prominent sites. One excursion will be Jerusalem, one of the world’s most venerable cities, sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Visit several of the city’s principal sites, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, parts of the Old City, and the Israel Museum. Continue on to Galilee, including Capernaum and other Biblical sites. Alternatively, spend the day exploring two of Israel’s most important archaeological sites, Megiddo, best known as Armageddon, and Beit She’an, with its extensive Roman and Byzantine remains. Return to the ship, which will remain overnight docked in Haifa. (B, L, D)

Saturday, May 19 - HAIFA | CAESAREA
In the morning, drive to Caesarea, the capital of Roman Judea for about 600 years and one of the Empire’s most prominent and prosperous ports. Founded by Herod the Great in 22 b.c. on an earlier Phoenician settlement, the site is beautifully situated by the sea. (B, L, D)

Sunday, May 20 - TASUCU, Turkey | OLBA-DIOCAESAREA | SILIFKE
From Tasucu on Turkey’s south coast, drive through attractive hill country of tea and coffee plantations to the ancient site of Olba-Diocaesarea, which is dominated by the imposing and well preserved 3rd century b.c. Temple of Zeus Olbios. On the return to the ship, stop in the picturesque town of Silifke, the ancient Seleucia ad Calycadnum. (B, L, D)

Monday, May 21 - ANTALYA | PERGE | ASPENDOS
From Antalya, visit two of Turkey’s most famous ancient sites. Perge’s Hellenistic ruins include its great stadium; colonnaded, marble main street; and theater. At Aspendos, tour the 20,000-seat theater commissioned by Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century a.d. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, May 22 - CNIDUS
Spread around a headland overlooking the Aegean Sea, Cnidus was founded in the first millennium b.c. by settlers from the Peloponnese. The Cnidians looked to the sea for prosperity from the earliest days, founding colonies in Sicily and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. In 468 b.c. Cnidus was the base of the fleet of the Athenian dominated Delian League. Cnidus was also famous in antiquity for its Temple of Aphrodite, which housed the celebrated statue of the goddess by the Athenian sculptor Praxiteles. Enjoy exploring this evocative site by the sea. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, May 23 - CHIOS, Greece
Unspoiled and known for the beauty of its landscape, the island of Chios was the reputed birthplace of Homer. In ancient times, Chios was one of the wealthiest places in the Greek world. Drive to the remarkable Nea Moni, an 11th-century monastery known for its extraordinary Byzantine mosaics and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to the main town of the island to visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses, among other objects, two engraved letters from Alexander the Great to Chios. (B, L, D)

Thursday, May 24 - Platam onas | DION | VERGINA | THESSALONIKI
From bucolic Platamonas on the Greek mainland coast of Thessaly, take an excursion to Dion, an ancient site set in a superb location in the foothills of Mount Olympus, dedicated to Zeus. Continue to Vergina, the site of Aigai, the capital of the ancient Macedonian kingdom. Visit the excavations, including the tombs of Alexander the Great’s family, and note the Macedonian burial mounds that dot the plain. Also see the many treasures recovered from the tombs on display in the Archaeological Museum. Reboard Corinthian II in Thessaloniki and spend the night aboard ship docked in port. (B, L, D)

Friday, May 25 - THESSALO NIKI
Spend the day in Thessaloniki, justly famous for its late Classical and Medieval remains as well as early Christian churches. Enjoy a tour of the city, exploring several of Thessaloniki’s monuments, including visits to Byzantine churches as well as the Archaeological Museum. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure, or, as an alternative, take an excursion to Pella, Alexander the Great’s birthplace and capital of Macedonia in the 4th century b.c. Tour the site, including the Agora, the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Cybele, and several of the houses, which boast outstanding pebble mosaics. Also tour the Museum, exhibiting finds from the site. (B, L, D)

Saturday, May 26 - Canakka le, Turkey | TROY
From Canakkale, visit fabled Troy, where ongoing excavations have revealed nine different layers of cities superimposed in rings on a massive mound rising above the “windswept” Plain of Ilium. It was in one of these cities, as legend has it, that the Greeks fought the Trojans as told by Homer in his Iliad. (B, L, D)

Sunday, May 27 - ISTANBUL | DISEMBARK | FLY TO USA
Disembark in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for return flights to the USA. (B)

Inclusions:

• 10-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
• Enrichment program of lectures and discussions by accompanying lecturer
• Professional Travel Dynamics International 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, internet access and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel; and any other item not specifically listed as included in the full program brochure.

Please call us toll-free at (866) 325-8664 or email us at travelstudy@columbia.edu for more details.