Day 1 – Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Departs 05:00 pm.

The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens’ destiny. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece. Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens’ port of entry for over two millennia.

Day 2 – At Sea

Day 3 – Alexandria (for Cairo & Giza), Egypt

Arrives 06:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.

Having added Egypt to his empire, Alexander the Great decreed that a new city be raised as his imperial capital and named it Alexandria. The young conqueror never lived to see his dream realized, dying nine years later at the age of 33. But the city he founded would play a major role in world history for the next 20 centuries. Alexandria was the capital of Egypt under the Ptolemys and the Roman Empire. An early center of Christianity, the city was famed as a focus of commerce and culture – a legacy that endured until the waning of the Byzantine Empire in the 14th century. Under Ottoman rule, Alexandria suffered a long period of decline until Muhammad Ali revived its fortunes in the 1800s. The opening of the Suez Canal also served to diminish Alexandria’s role as a major port, but the city was a bastion of the British Empire in both world wars. Today Alexandria is Egypt’s second-largest city with a population of some 5 million souls.

Day 4 – At Sea

Day 5 – Haifa (Tel Aviv), Israel

Arrives 08:00 am.

Day 6 – Haifa (Tel Aviv), Israel

Departs 09:00 pm.

Day 7 – Limassol, Cyprus

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 8 – Antalya, Turkey

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 9 – Rhodes, Greece

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.

The largest and arguably the most beautiful of the 12 islands forming the Dodecanese, Rhodes has long played a major role in history. Lying just 12 miles off the coast of Turkey, the island straddles the sea-lanes linking Egypt, Southern Europe and the Holy Land. Rhodes Town bears witness to that long history. The ancient city features a classical stadium and the ruins of the Temple of Apollo. The “old” city is a walled town with medieval buildings and streets harking back to the days of the Crusades. The new town is a Mecca of luxury resorts lining the island’s picturesque Mandaraki Harbor.The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is reputed to have once stood guard over the harbor. Today, the bronze statues of a stag and doe top the two columns marking the harbor entrance.

Day 10 – At Sea

Day 11 – Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus)

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

From the port of Kusadasi on Turkey’s Anatolian Coast, one travels into the past. Nearby stand the ruins of ancient Ephesus, a major site of archeological excavation. The city was once a Roman provincial capital and trading center. Ephesus is also home to several of Christendom’s holiest sites. St. Paul preached at the Great Theater and the ruins of Ephesus’ Basilica cover the tomb of Christ’s most beloved disciple, St. John the Apostle.In Kusadasi, whitewashed stone houses rise in tiers behind the market district. The palm-lined esplanade is the center of town life, with thousands of merchants offering wares to rival the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Day 12 – Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Arrives 07:00 am.

The past maintains a vibrant presence in the cradle of Western civilization. Atop the Acropolis, the serene Parthenon sails above the commotion of the modern city. The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed in the Theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. On Pnyx Hill, citizens of a fledgling democracy gathered to cast their votes on Athens’ destiny. Then there is the hustle and bustle of the modern city, a metropolis of 4.5 million that spreads out from the foot of Mt. Lycabettus and across the plain. Packed with busy shops and lively tavernas, modern Athens is a colorful counterpoint to classical Greece. Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens’ port of entry for over two millennia.