Bryn Mawr College

Travel to the Greek Islands and Mediterranean

VOYAGE TO THE LANDS
OF GODS AND HEROES: A Family Learning Adventure in the Greek Islands and the Ancient Mediterranean

July 9 - 20, 2008

A Bryn Mawr-Haverford Bi-College Travel Expedition

In the summer of 2008, history comes alive for the whole family. We hope that you will join us on our first co-sponsored trip with Haverford College aboard the private yacht Corinthian II, where we will embark on a voyage of discovery in the Mediterranean.

What better way to awaken young minds to the wonders of classical antiquity than to travel to Athens, the fabled Greek islands, southern Italy, and Rome? Grandparents, parents, and children will learn about the history, literature, mythology, and culture of Greece and Rome, all while walking among the ruins of those civilizations. Experienced youth education counselors will lead groups of similarly aged children in the Young Explorers Program, a series of educational and recreational activities developed to enhance their appreciation of the sites we visit.

Our journey includes Pompeii, where the ruins inspire awe in children and adults alike. Visit ancient Olympia and Sicily, seeing massive Mount Etna from Taormina’s Greek Theater. Become enchanted by Crete’s Minoan Palace of Knossos, and explore Rhodes, whose fortified town of Lindos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. We will visit the great city of Ephesus in Turkey. On the cliffs of Santorini, discover 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.

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Trip Itinerary

Aboard the All-Suite, 114-Guest Corinthian II

July 9, Wednesday
USA

Fly from USA

July 10, Thursday
ROME| CIVITAVECCHIA | EMBARK

Arrive Rome and transfer to Civitavechia to board Corinthian II. Sail in the evening.

July 11, Friday
SORRENTO | POMPEII | SORRENTO

From Sorrento, an excursion leads to Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. 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.

July 12, Saturday
NAXOS BAY | TAORMINA | NAXOS BAY, SICILY, ITALY

Taormina offers a breathtaking view out to sea and the cone of Mount Etna. An 8thcentury B.C. Greek colony prospered here throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Visit the Greek theater, which offers dramatic views of Etna and the Sicilian coastline, and enjoy time at leisure to admire Taormina’s architecture and gardens. Or, enjoy a relaxing morning on the beautiful beaches of Naxos Bay.

July 13, Sunday
KATAKOLON | OLYMPIA | KATAKOLON

Travel to Olympia, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and one of four sites of the Panhellenic (Olympic) games. Tour the temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House, the Treasuries, and the Stadium, where Young Explorers can run a race following in the steps of ancient Olympians.

July 14, Monday
GYTHEION | MYSTRA OR DIROS | GYTHEION | KOTRONAS BAY

From Gytheion, adults depart for Mystra, a ruined Byzantine city sheltered in a cleft of Mount Taygetos. Its ghostly abandoned buildings and churches contain remarkable medieval frescoes and fine stonework. Meanwhile, Young Explorers explore the haunting stalactite caves of Diros by gondola. The afternoon is at leisure to explore charming Gytheion. Before dinner, enjoy swimming off the ship’s stern in Kotronas Bay.

July 15, Tuesday
RETHYMNON | KNOSSOS OR IMBROS GORGE | RETHYMNON

Arrive in Crete, the island that was home to the Minoans, Europe’s earliest developed civilization. From lovely Rethymnon, one of Crete’s quaintest towns, travel to Knossos to explore the fabled Minoan Palace, a labyrinth of corridors, stairways, and chambers decorated with frescoes illuminating life as it was 4,000 years ago. Continue to the superb Agreco for lunch, an authentic Cretan organic farm, and then spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore Rethymnon and swim at a nearby beach. Alternatively, walk the rugged and scenic 7- kilometer-long Imbros Gorge. The walk ends at the coast of Crete, near the 14th-century Venetian castle of Frangokastello, where we will enjoy swimming and lunch at a taverna. This nature activity is for children older than 12 years, who must be accompanied by an adult.

July 16, Wednesday
SANTORINI

The bay of Santorini, a flooded volcanic crater, provides dramatic scenery as Corinthian II sails toward the whitewashed village of Phira, perched on the black cliffside high above the bay. Many of the buildings in the ancient town of Akrotiri were preserved when volcanic eruptions shrouded the island in a blanket of pumice and ash. Adults will visit the Archaeological Museum in Phira while Young Explorers board a private sailboat for an excursion to the volcano of Nea Kameni, the island in the center of Santorini’s caldera. After hiking to the top of the volcano and learning about the area’s geology, they will ascend the caldera wall by donkey. Adults and children reunite for lunch and free time to explore Phira.

July 17, Thursday
RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES

Founded in 408 B.C., the Crusader Knights of St. John left their architectural mark here during the 14th century. Enjoy a walking tour, and after lunch, continue to picturesque Lindos. Meander through the winding, cobblestone streets either on foot or by donkey. Then, ascend to the acropolis, built on a cliff 400 feet above the sea with views of the village and bay below. Alternatively, time at leisure to relax in the town of Lindos or swim at its white-sand beach.

July 18, Friday
KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI, TURKEY

Arrive in Kusadasi for an excursion to the great ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most important sites in the history of Asia Minor, with extensive ruins from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Visit the large theater in which the Ephesians rioted against St. Paul, the Library of Celsus with its imposing façade, and the Temple of Serapis.

July 19, Saturday
PIRAEUS | ATHENS

Spend the day exploring Athens’ ancient monuments. Chief among them is the Acropolis, crowned by the incomparable Parthenon. After lunch at a local taverna, adults will have a choice of touring the ancient Agora or the National Archaeological Museum, with its treasures that span centuries. Young Explorers may participate in a youth-themed exploration of Athens. Overnight aboard the Corinthian II docked in Piraeus .

July 20, Sunday
PIRAEUS| DISEMBARK | ATHENS | GREECE | USA

Disembark in Piraeus and transfer to the airport in Athens for return flights to the U.S.

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July 9, Wednesday
USA

Fly from USA

July 10, Thursday
ROME| CIVITAVECCHIA | EMBARK

Arrive Rome and transfer to Civitavechia to board Corinthian II. Sail in the evening.

July 11, Friday
SORRENTO | POMPEII | SORRENTO

From Sorrento, an excursion leads to Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. 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.

July 12, Saturday
NAXOS BAY | TAORMINA | NAXOS BAY, SICILY, ITALY

Taormina offers a breathtaking view out to sea and the cone of Mount Etna. An 8thcentury B.C. Greek colony prospered here throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Visit the Greek theater, which offers dramatic views of Etna and the Sicilian coastline, and enjoy time at leisure to admire Taormina’s architecture and gardens. Or, enjoy a relaxing morning on the beautiful beaches of Naxos Bay.

July 13, Sunday
KATAKOLON | OLYMPIA | KATAKOLON

Travel to Olympia, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and one of four sites of the Panhellenic (Olympic) games. Tour the temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House, the Treasuries, and the Stadium, where Young Explorers can run a race following in the steps of ancient Olympians.

July 14, Monday
GYTHEION | MYSTRA OR DIROS | GYTHEION | KOTRONAS BAY

From Gytheion, adults depart for Mystra, a ruined Byzantine city sheltered in a cleft of Mount Taygetos. Its ghostly abandoned buildings and churches contain remarkable medieval frescoes and fine stonework. Meanwhile, Young Explorers explore the haunting stalactite caves of Diros by gondola. The afternoon is at leisure to explore charming Gytheion. Before dinner, enjoy swimming off the ship’s stern in Kotronas Bay.

July 15, Tuesday
RETHYMNON | KNOSSOS OR IMBROS GORGE | RETHYMNON

Arrive in Crete, the island that was home to the Minoans, Europe’s earliest developed civilization. From lovely Rethymnon, one of Crete’s quaintest towns, travel to Knossos to explore the fabled Minoan Palace, a labyrinth of corridors, stairways, and chambers decorated with frescoes illuminating life as it was 4,000 years ago. Continue to the superb Agreco for lunch, an authentic Cretan organic farm, and then spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore Rethymnon and swim at a nearby beach. Alternatively, walk the rugged and scenic 7- kilometer-long Imbros Gorge. The walk ends at the coast of Crete, near the 14th-century Venetian castle of Frangokastello, where we will enjoy swimming and lunch at a taverna. This nature activity is for children older than 12 years, who must be accompanied by an adult.

July 16, Wednesday
SANTORINI

The bay of Santorini, a flooded volcanic crater, provides dramatic scenery as Corinthian II sails toward the whitewashed village of Phira, perched on the black cliffside high above the bay. Many of the buildings in the ancient town of Akrotiri were preserved when volcanic eruptions shrouded the island in a blanket of pumice and ash. Adults will visit the Archaeological Museum in Phira while Young Explorers board a private sailboat for an excursion to the volcano of Nea Kameni, the island in the center of Santorini’s caldera. After hiking to the top of the volcano and learning about the area’s geology, they will ascend the caldera wall by donkey. Adults and children reunite for lunch and free time to explore Phira.

July 17, Thursday
RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES

Founded in 408 B.C., the Crusader Knights of St. John left their architectural mark here during the 14th century. Enjoy a walking tour, and after lunch, continue to picturesque Lindos. Meander through the winding, cobblestone streets either on foot or by donkey. Then, ascend to the acropolis, built on a cliff 400 feet above the sea with views of the village and bay below. Alternatively, time at leisure to relax in the town of Lindos or swim at its white-sand beach.

July 18, Friday
KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI, TURKEY

Arrive in Kusadasi for an excursion to the great ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most important sites in the history of Asia Minor, with extensive ruins from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Visit the large theater in which the Ephesians rioted against St. Paul, the Library of Celsus with its imposing façade, and the Temple of Serapis.

July 19, Saturday
PIRAEUS | ATHENS

Spend the day exploring Athens’ ancient monuments. Chief among them is the Acropolis, crowned by the incomparable Parthenon. After lunch at a local taverna, adults will have a choice of touring the ancient Agora or the National Archaeological Museum, with its treasures that span centuries. Young Explorers may participate in a youth-themed exploration of Athens. Overnight aboard the Corinthian II docked in Piraeus .

July20, Sunday
PIRAEUS| DISEMBARK | ATHENS | GREECE | USA

Disembark in Piraeus and transfer to the airport in Athens for return flights to the U.S.

Trip Price

Adult rates from ------------------------------------------------------$5,995

Children rates from----------------------------------------------------$4,295

Cruise and Land Only

AIRFARE:

Airfare from and to the U.S. is not included in the Cruise and Land Rates. Should you require assistance, the Air Travel Desk at Travel Dynamics will be more than happy to assist you in your flight reservations to/from Athens and Rome.

• 10-night cruise aboard the all-suite 114-guest Corinthian II
• Welcome and farewell dinner cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Open bar throughout the cruise
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Educational program of lectures by accompanying guest lecturers
• Professional Travel Dynamics International tour staff
• Young Explorers Counselors and activities
• Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program departure and arrival dates
• Port dues and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers

A Bryn Mawr-Haverford Bi-College Travel Expedition

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Guest Lecturer - Dr. Pamela Webb

Accompanying and instructing your group will be Dr. Pamela Webb. Dr. Webb is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology at Bryn Mawr College. Professor Webb, who received her M.A. (1983) and Ph.D. (1989) from Bryn Mawr, specializes in the areas of Greek and Roman sculpture and architecture, with an emphasis on the Hellenistic period. As a classical archaeologist, she has studied numerous Greek and Roman sites and has traveled extensively in Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Dr. Webb has taught such courses as Greek Sculpture, Greek Architecture, Roman Archaeology, the Archaeology of Magna Graecia (Italy and Sicily), and the Archaeology of Pompeii. She is the author of Hellenistic Architectural Sculpture (1996) and several articles on Greek architecture and sculpture.

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The Corinthian II

The Corinthian II is the ideal combination of cruise-ship grandeur and small-ship intimacy. The five-star deluxe Corinthian II brightens the sea for its 114 guests with an uncommon ambience of sophistication. This all-suite mega-yacht, originally built in 1992, was refurbished and redecorated in 2004 and 2005 specifically to create an atmosphere of heightened comfort, eschewing burdensome ostentation for a sense of dignified, easy elegance—all while fostering a sense of convivial intimacy impossible for larger ships plying the Mediterranean. To view the deck plan click here. (note: the deck plan may take a few seconds to load)

Fine Dining

Superb Continental and internationally accented cuisine is created by the Corinthian II’s fine European chefs and served either in the stately restaurant, or al fresco on the wide sun deck, which has been specially outfitted with a second galley for efficient outdoor dining service. Fine regional wines are complimentary with lunch and dinner. Throughout the voyage, fresh ingredients are chosen from local suppliers at many ports of call, guaranteeing cuisine of excellent quality. All meals are served at one, unassigned seating, and seating arrangements are flexible, allowing for both large groups and intimate couples seating. Corinthian II is widely praised for the efficiency of its service, which is as swift and unobtrusive as that of the finest restaurants.

 

Effortless Elegance each Day and Night

Complimentary refreshments will welcome you the ship from shore excursions, and prepare afternoon tea. Coffee is served throughout the Club, a civilized and comfortable space for relaxation and lectures, with panoramic windows; both before and after dinner, the Club’s cocktail are filled with the sounds of conversation drifting the pianist’s witty arrangements of jazz classics. The ship’s exceptionally spacious public areas also include a beautiful library stocked with books related itinerary and other volumes, a beauty salon, an room, an elevator serving all decks, and a with jacuzzi that encircles the ship. Corinthian II’s 70 European officers and crew (more than one crew member for every two guests), and the friendly, confident, and supremely efficient cruise director and tour manager ensure an atmosphere akin to a convivial club for the length of your voyage.

 

Jacuzzi/Deck

Suite


Library

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