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Journey of Odysseus: Retracing The Odyssey through the Ancient Mediterranean
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11 Days/10 Nights:
2012 Departures:• May 27
Homer’s epic account of Odysseus’s journey home after the fall of Troy is more than just a poem for the literati—it is a beacon to the adventurer.
Nearly 3,000 years after Homer first recounted the legend of The Odyssey, his story still inspires exploration. The Odyssey is the ultimate journey, and many of its pinnacle sites now wait to awe a new generation of travelers. The islands Odysseus visited, the caverns he explored, and the mountain peaks he climbed are among the
most magical places in the Mediterranean.
Day 1
ISTANBUL|Turkey EMBARK
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to Corinthian II. Set sail in the evening.
Day 2
CANAKKALE | TROY: Priam’s Kingdom | CANAKKALE
Explore famed Troy, site of Odysseus’s embarkation, which consists of nine 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 Paris abducted the beautiful Helen, igniting the Trojan War. Here, King Priam’s city finally fell to Odysseus’s clever ruse of the Trojan Horse.
Day 3
NAFPLION | MYCENAE | TIRYNS | ARGOS | NAFPLION, Greece
Arrive at Nafplion for an excursion to Mycenae. Homer described Mycenae, the home of Agamemnon, as “rich in gold.” A tour of the citadel includes the royal beehive-shaped tombs and the dramatic Lion Gate, which leads to the acropolis and grand palace. Continue to Homer’s “wallgirt” city of Tiryns, situated on a rocky summit and where imposing walls of red and gray limestone are still standing 3,400 years after construction. Also tour Argos, an ancient city whose ruins include the Mycenaean necropolis, the Agora, and the Sanctuary of Apollo and Athena.
Day 4
PYLOS
Corinthian II enters spacious Navarino Bay, which is fronted by the uninhabited isle of Sphakteria. Land at the picturesque village of Pylos, situated at the head of the bay, and drive to the Palace of Nestor, dating from the 13th century B.C. Even in ruins, the structure gives a vivid picture of the grandeur of the Mycenaeans.
Day 5
AT SEA | VALLETTA, Malta: Calypso’s Island
As Corinthian II plies the blue waters of the Ionian Sea, attend lectures by our expert study leaders, and enjoy the ship’s amenities. In the evening, dock in the Grand Harbor of Valletta, the fortified bastion of the Knights of Malta. Ruled successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, Valletta’s hundreds of monuments make it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
Day 6
VALLETTA | GOZO | VALLETTA
Today, choose between sightseeing in Malta or the nearby island of Gozo. On the cliffs overlooking Ramla Bay on Gozo, retrace Odysseus’s footsteps to the smooth-walled cave where the nymph Calypso is said to have kept him for seven years. Visit the underground Alabaster Caves in the tiny town of Xaghra and the spectacular Ggantija temple complex. Alternatively, explore the picturesque squares surrounded by medieval palaces of Valletta. Visit the National Museum of Archaeology, the Grand Master’s Palace, and stop for a glimpse of St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Also visit the Neolithic Tarxien Temples, which date back to 2800 B.C., and onto Hagar Qim.
Day 7
TRAPANI | ERICE | SEGESTA | TRAPANI, Sicily, Italy: Land of the Laestrygonians
Trapani, on Sicily’s stunning west coast, is where the cannibal Laestrygonians attacked Odysseus and his companions. Drive up winding roads to the medieval town of Erice, situated on a high plateau overlooking the coast. The town was known for its temple to the fertility goddess, Astarte, who was later identified with Venus and worshipped by the Romans. Peek around the magnificent 12th-century Venus Castle that was built upon the ruins of the ancient temple. Fringed by a lush park, the views from this medieval hilltop castle are breathtaking. Continue to Segesta for a glimpse of its Doric temple, built in 420 B.C. and ranked as one of the best-preserved ancient Greek sites to be found anywhere. The ruins stand in majestic solitude atop a bucolic hill with virtually no modern-day structures marring the vista, making it easy to imagine the Sicily of antiquity.
Day 8
NAPLES | POMPEII or PHLEGREAN FIELDS: Land of the Cyclops | NAPLES
From Naples, drive to the Phlegrean Fields, where Odysseus and his men were captured by Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Drive by Lago d’Averno, the ancient Avernus Lake, home of the Cimmerians in The Odyssey, and Lago di Fusaro, the ancient Archerusian Lake, where Odysseus entered Hades. Continue to Monte di Cuma and the cave of the Sibyl of Cumae, who prophesied the future. Alternatively, visit Pompeii, the fabled city both destroyed and preserved by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Archaeological Museum in Naples.
Day 9
MESSINA | TAORMINA: The Kingdom of Helios | MESSINA, Sicily
Cross the Strait of Messina, the site of the legendary Scylla, a terrifying six-headed monster, and Charybdis, a treacherous whirlpool. Odysseus was cast ashore in the Kingdom of Helios, modern Taormina, where his companions slaughtered and ate the sacred oxen. To avenge the death of his beloved oxen, Helios sent a lightning bolt that destroyed their ship, drowning all aboard except Odysseus. Picturesque Taormina is situated on a mountainside affording magnificent views of Mount Etna. Here we visit the superbly situated Greek theater, built in the 3rd century B.C.
Day 10
ITHACA, Greece: The Home of Odysseus | CORINTH CANAL
Ithaca, the legendary home of Odysseus, is a stunning island of pristine beaches and verdant forest. Visit the bay of Dexia, Homer’s harbor of Phorkys, where the Phaeacians left Odysseus sleeping on the beach. Admire the Cyclopean Walls (Alalkomenai), a ruined site known locally as Odysseus’s Castle, and stand atop the Plateau of Marathia, where Odysseus’s loyal servant Eumaeus kept his swine. Later, sail along the Corinth Canal.
Day 11
PIRAEUS | DISEMBARK | ATHENS
Disembark and transfer to the airport
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| MORE INFO |
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SHIP STATISTICS |
| Flag: Malta
Number of Crew:75
Official Language: English
Passeng. Cap.: 114
Built: 1992
Refurbished: 2005
Ship Speed: 15 knots
Tonnage: 4200 GRT
Length: 302 Feet
Beam: 51 Feet
Draft: 14 Feet
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| Rates (per person) |
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E
D
C
B
A
AA
VS
PHS
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$7,995
$8,995
$9,995
$10,995
$11,995
$12,695
$13,795
$14,495
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SINGLE RATES:
A limited number of cabins are available for solo travelers at the following rates: Category B: $12,495; Category A: $13,495.
RATES INCLUDE
• 10-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II
• 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
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturers
• Professional tour staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and transfers on the designated program departure and arrival dates
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers
RATES DO NOT INCLUDE
• 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
• Gratuities to shipboard personnel
BOOKING AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
At the time when/if you decide to go ahead with your cruise on board the Corinthian II Yacht we will send to you our booking confirmation document. Our booking confirmation document includes detailed terms and conditions applicable to your cruise.
The deposit of USD 1,500.00 per person will secure your reservation. Payment for the reservation is to be accomplished within one week from the day when we issue and send to you by email our booking confirmation document. Final payment due will be no later than 95 days prior to your embarkation.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations of confirmed reservations are subject to a $US 400,00 per person administrative fee. Additionally, passengers are subject to any cancellation fees assessed by the purveyors of services, including airlines or hotels used in the itinerary.
Cancellations received 71-95 days prior to departure will be assessed a penalty equal to 50% of the total program cost per person.
Cancellations received within 70 days of departure are subject to 100% cancellation penalties. Requests for cancellations must be made in writing. No refunds will be made for any part of this program in which you choose not to participate.
Service fees may apply to deviations and are non-refundable.
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