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

Designed for families with children, this luxurious voyage of discovery in Italy, Greece, and Turkey combines learning with leisure, as our study leader Professor Suzanne Said guides us through a unique curriculum of tours and lectures.

Join fellow Columbians this summer on a cruise where history comes alive for the whole family. Designed for families with children, this luxurious voyage of discovery in Italy, Greece, and Turkey combines learning with leisure, as our study leader Professor Suzanne Said guides us through a unique curriculum of tours and lectures.

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. The itinerary—to some of the seminal cities and sites of the Classical world, including Athens, Rome, Pompeii, Olympia, Ephesus, and Rhodes—is designed to enlighten the senses and ignite the imagination of your children or grandchildren, with their young minds awakening to the wonders of Classical antiquity. Create memories of shared learning and discovery as you explore this remarkable region as a family. Grandparents, parents, and children will learn about Greek and Roman history, literature, mythology, and culture while walking among the ruins of these civilizations.

Experienced youth education counselors will lead groups of similarly aged children in the Young Explorers Program—educational and recreational activities developed to enhance their appreciation of the sites visited,
from discovering how archaeologists piece together the past to competing in a mock Olympics on its original grounds. The cruise also addresses lifelong learning for adults. Accompanying us will be expert lecturers who will enrich the program with their knowledge of the ancient world.

If you have ever dreamed of introducing your children or grandchildren to the wonders of Classical antiquity and the adventure of sailing to foreign lands, here is the opportunity to do so. We hope you will join us this summer on our enriching Voyage to the Lands of Gods and Heroes.

Dates & Prices

Trip Dates: June 21 - July 2, 2012
Prices:  From $6,995 for adults and from $3,995 for children/young adults (ages 7-18)*

* per person double/triple occupancy. Please see brochure or contact the Alumni Travel Study Program for more details.

Trip Summary:

Thursday, June 21, 2012 - USA
Fly from the U.S. to Rome, Italy.

Friday, June 22 - ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy | EMBARK
Arrive in Rome and transfer to Civitavecchia, the deepwater port of Rome, to embark Corinthian II. (D)

Saturday, June 23 - ROME
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 amphitheater 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. (B,L,D)

Sunday, June 24 - POMPEII or AMALFI & RAVELLO
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 best preserved and most complete in Pompeii. Alternatively, visit Amalfi, an 11th-century maritime city, and Ravello, a medieval hill-town with stellar views. (B,L,D)

Monday, June 25 - AT SEA
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we cruise toward Greece. (B,L,D)

Tuesday, June 26 - OLYMPIA, 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. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, June 27 - KNOSSOS or IMBROS GORGE, 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 or 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. (B,L,D)

Thursday, June 28 - 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 the Archaeological Museum while Young Explorers board a sailboat to Nea Kameni, the island in the center of Santorini’s caldera, and ascend to the top on foot to learn about the area’s geology. Return to Phira and ascend the caldera wall by donkey to reunite with adults for free time in Phira. (B,L,D)

Friday, June 29 - RHODES | LINDOS
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 Old Town’s winding streets and splendid plazas, which owe their 14th-century 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. (B,L,D)

Saturday, June 30 - KUSADASI | EPHESUS, 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. (B,L,D)

Sunday, July 1 - PIRAEUS, Greece | DISEMBARK | ATHENS
Disembark Corinthian II and transfer to Athens, a city with an incomparably dramatic and influential history. Adults tour the New Acropolis Museum while kids enjoy a youththemed “treasure hunt” exploration of Athens.
After lunch at a local taverna, 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. Overnight at the Athens Plaza Hotel. (B,L,D)

Monday, July 2 - ATHENS | USA
Transfer to the airport in Athens for return flights to the U.S. (B)

Young Explorers Program For Children Ages 7-18
Experienced youth education counselors will lead groups of similarly aged children and young adults in the Young Explorers Program, a series of educational and recreational activities designed from a child’s perspective. This is the perfect opportunity to inspire young minds with the poetry of Homer, the legends of The Iliad and The Odyssey, the ideas of Socrates, and real-life examples of great architecture. Accompanied by their parents or grandparents, children will take guided shore excursions specifically created to bring to life legend and history. Or, flexibility being the key, they may also enjoy independent time to relax or explore together as a family. In addition, while adults attend lectures or enjoy free time,

Young Explorers may:

• Participate in their own mock archaeological “excavation”
• Discover how ancient sailors navigated by the stars
• Visit the ship’s bridge and keep a log of their journey
• Learn about the heroes of Greek mythology
• Produce a play in the ancient Greek style for presentation at the end of the cruise

PROGRAM INCLUSIONS

• 1-night stay at the Athens Plaza Hotel, with breakfast
• 9-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 57-cabin 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 study leaders
• 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 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.

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