Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
19 m²
2
- Last staterooms
Cruising the Aegean: Turkey and the Greek Isles – with Smithsonian Journeys
Istanbul - Athens
Dates:
15/04/2025
to
22/04/2025
Other available dates
days
nights on board
Shore excursion or activity in each port of call + transfers included
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
Departing from Istanbul, capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, your first stop is the port of Canakkale, from where you may travel south to explore ancient Troy, site of the war that is the subject of Homer's Iliad, or cross the Dardanelles to visit the World War I battlefield and cemeteries at Gallipoli.
Kusadasi on Turkey's Aegean coast is your gateway to Ephesus, one of the world's greatest archaeological sites, spanning the period from the Hellenistic world through the early Christian era. The immense excavation here includes temples of several Roman emperors, the iconic Library of Celsus, and the terraced hill houses, with their splendid mosaics and frescoes, overlooking the city below.
Leaving Turkey for the Greek Islands, spend a morning in Delos. The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks—the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples—a veritable open-air museum. Mykonos, by contrast, is a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques, where you will enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all that this dazzling town has to offer.
Santorini offers a choice between browsing the sundrenched shops and restaurants of Thira and Oia, perched on cliffs overlooking the caldera of an ancient volcano, or exploring the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, destroyed by a massive eruption of that volcano in the 2nd millennium BC, but preserved in ash and pumice much like Pompeii.
Visit Patmos and discover the monumental Byzantine monastery that guards the cave where St. John the Evangelist received his visions of the Apocalypse. You will also have time to explore the island's Chora (main town), home to an 11th-century monastery and to a labyrinth of picturesque, cobbled streets and arched alleyways.
From Nafplion travel to Mycenae, the legendary home of Agamemnon and an important center of the extraordinary civilization that flourished here in the 2nd millennium BC, before continuing to Epidaurus, the ancient shrine of Asklepios, whose ruins are dominated by a 4th-century BC theater that is one of the finest in Greece.
Your journey concludes in Athens, Europe's oldest capital and birthplace of democracy.
Ref : IA2545US - EU150425
Your itinerary
A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion or activity in each port of call. Engaging...
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Included in your cruise
For more peace of mind, PONANT organizes your trip before or after the cruise. This package is included in the price of your cruise.
Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects stays and flights then takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
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05/11/2025 to the 23/11/2025
LE CHAMPLAIN
03/12/2025 to the 13/12/2025
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
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Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Diptyque Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys is the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, consisting of 21 museums, the National Zoological Park, education centers, research facilities, cultural centers, and libraries. Drawing on Smithsonian's resources dating back 175 years, these sailings will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. For more than 50 years, Smithsonian Journeys has been rooted in and focused on cultural immersion and discovery – with a goal of inspiring guests to become global citizens through travel.
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Highlights
- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion or activity in each port of call.
- Engaging discussions onboard with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, including geologist Wayne Ranney and Rob Stephan, Roman archaeologist and professor of Classics.
- Experience as many as six UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Visit the site of the Trojan War.
- Marvel at the splendor of Ephesus.
- See the cave on Patmos where John the Evangelist had visions of the Apocalypse.
- Explore the remarkably well-preserved Bronze Age ruins on Santorini.
- Marvel at the sheer number of temples and shrines on tiny Delos.
- Relax and refresh in the cafés and shops for which Mykonos is famous.
- Step into the Homeric age of heroes at Mycenae.
- Witness the architectural sophistication of the Classical Age at Epidaurus.
Ports of Call & Excursions
15 April 2025 - Istanbul
Embarkation 15/04/2025 from 15:30 to 16:30
Departure 15/04/2025 at 17:30
Located on the Bosphorus, Istanbul is one of the most beautiful of all Turkish cities. Named Byzantium when founded by the Greeks, and then Constantinople under the Roman Empire, this city is steeped in history and, for this reason, is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on Sultanahmet hill, the great Blue Mosque, the mysterious Hagia Sophia and the vast Topkapi palace and its countless mosaics, dominate the Marmara Sea. In the Beyazit district, the Grand Bazaar allows to discover elegant covered passages. A little further away, delicate aroma of loukoum and spices will draw the visitors’ attention at the Egyptian Bazaar.
16 April 2025 - Canakkale
Arrival 16/04/2025 early morning
Departure 16/04/2025 midday
Çanakkale is located on the edge of the straits of the Dardanelles, in the north-west of the country. On the promenade alongside the harbour, you’ll come across a contemporary sculpture of an immense wooden horse evoking Odysseus’ legendary scheme to take Troy. In the Archaeological Museum, you’ll see artefacts found during the excavations made in the ancient city. Thirty or so kilometres south of Çanakkale, you can also visit the archaeological site of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rising out of the luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation, you’ll see many stone walls, sculptures and inscriptions, as well as a theatre with stone tiers.
17 April 2025 - Kusadasi
Arrival 17/04/2025 early morning
Departure 17/04/2025 evening
The attractive seaside resort of Kusadasi is located in a gulf on the western coast of Turkey. You can bathe there in clear waters or stroll along the coastal walk, in the shade of palms. In the historical district, you can take a mosey down the narrow streets and explore the colourful shops in the bazaar. Close by, the Ephesus archaeological site in the hillsides provides an opportunity to discover the ruins of one of the most famous cities of Antiquity.
18 April 2025 - Patmos
Arrival 18/04/2025 early morning
Departure 18/04/2025 evening
Patmos is one of the legendary must-see islands in the Dodecanese. This is where Saint John resided, presumed author of the last book in the Bible. The cave of the Apocalypse and the Saint John Monastery are dedicated to him. These sites, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, are located at the top of a hillside planted with vines and orchards. On the shore, the crystalline coves of Kambos and Lampi offer absolutely gorgeous swimming areas.
19 April 2025 - Santorini
Arrival 19/04/2025 early morning
Departure 19/04/2025 late evening
The spectacular volcanic island of Santorini stands out proud in the Cyclades. Its basalt cliffs offer particularly expansive views of the Aegean. To enjoy these views, you can head for the capital, Fira. Its floral belvederes of bougainvillea provide a bird’s-eye view of several thousand metres of coastline. Further away, the gorgeous village of Oia looks like a stairway of blue and white houses on the slopes of the volcano. In the south of the island, you will be able to visit the stunning ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient city destroyed by an eruption and covered with a thick layer of lava stone.
20 April 2025 - Delos
Arrival 20/04/2025 early morning
Departure 20/04/2025 midday
This legendary Cyclades island of Delos stands just a few miles southwest of Mykonos. The ceremonial solemnity of this ancient holy sanctuary will not leave you indifferent. The sheer size and importance of this UNESCO World Heritage site which covers over half of the island is thrilling in itself. From the Stoa of Antigonos, the Terrace of the Lions, to the carved marble animal statues, you will make discovery after discovery, against a backdrop of the Aegean stretching to the horizon. The theatre steps on the hillside are a particularly good place from which to enjoy the expansive view.
20 April 2025 - Mykonos
Arrival 20/04/2025 midday
Departure 20/04/2025 late evening
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
21 April 2025 - Nafplion
Arrival 21/04/2025 late morning
Departure 21/04/2025 early evening
The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Do not be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. Some of the must-see visits are the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.
22 April 2025 - Athens
Arrival 22/04/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 22/04/2025 at 08:00
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.
Troy and Its Museum
This morning, travel to the site of ancient Troy, where excavations begun in the second half of the 19th century have revealed nine different layers of cities superimposed in rings. As Homer recounts in the Iliad, one of these cities is where the Greeks fought the Trojans over a period of ten years, before King Priam's city finally fell to the ruse of the Trojan Horse.
The importance of this site in the history of archaeology can hardly be overstated. As the UNESCO Heritage Convention said in 1998, when Troy was designated a World Heritage Site, the excavations begun by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870 "could be considered the starting point of modern archaeology and its public recognition." Whether or not Achilles ever battled Hector on this site, the excavations here have taught us a great deal about the early interactions of civilizations from the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Aegean and Black Seas, and established Troy's importance as a crossroads of trade in both goods and ideas.
Following your visit to the ancient site, explore the nearby Troy Museum. Opened in 2018, it houses some two thousand artifacts from the site, retrieved from other museums around the world, including a fascinating collection of gold jewelry from the 3rd millennium BCE. Perhaps the most famous piece is the Polyxena sarcophagus, depicting the scene of the sacrifice of King Priam's daughter Polyxena with warriors holding her down as one cuts her throat.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total of approximately one mile of walking over uneven terrain. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Gallipoli Campaign of WWI
The Gallipoli Peninsula, across the narrow Dardanelles Strait from Canakkale, was the site of the 1915 battle between the Ottoman Empire and the combined forces of Britain, France, and Russia that ended with victory for the Ottomans, launching the career of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and nearly ending that of Winston Churchill. The 8-month-long campaign was also the first engagement of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War I, an engagement that is commemorated every April 25 in Australia as ANZAC Day.
Drive across the new 2.5-mile-long bridge spanning the Dardanelles to begin your visit to the peninsula in the small but fascinating Kabatepe Museum, containing historic items related to the Gallipoli Campaign. Following this orientation, tour several sites associated with the important events in the story of the battle—ANZAC Cove, where the Australian and New Zealand forces came ashore at dawn on April 25, 1915; Lone Pine Battlefield, where ANZAC forces captured Ottoman trenches in an intense battle in early August 1915; and the Chunuck Bair Memorial to New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives during the campaign.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total of approximately one mile of walking over uneven terrain. Total driving time is over 2 hours. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Goddess Artemis/Diana
This excursion approaches the history of Ephesus not by touring the site, but by focusing on what can be learned from the extraordinary collection of artifacts at the nearby Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. Its best-known exhibits are the ancient statues of the Greek Goddess Artemis (the Roman Diana), but the thousands of other objects on display collected from various temples and halls in Ephesus tell a compelling story of the daily lives of the residents of the city. Especially rewarding in this respect are the objects found in the Roman Villas (terrace houses) of Ephesus.
Your next stop is a short distance from the museum—a temple erected long before the Romans built the city whose remains are seen in Ephesus today. This earlier ancient city was a center of worship of the mother-goddess Cybele (who became the Greco-Roman Artemis/Diana), and her importance to the city and its surroundings can be judged from the massive ruins of the 6th-century BCE Temple of Artemis, built by King Croesus—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
On a hill just behind Artemis's temple, Isa Bey Mosque is the oldest active mosque (built in 1375) in Turkey and a prime example of Anatolian architecture. On the same hill, a bit higher up, is the Basilica of St. John, constructed by the Emperor Justinian I on the site of the tomb of John the Apostle at about the same time he was building the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
At the end of the tour, enjoy a break for tea near the Roman Aqueducts.
- This is a relatively easy excursion with only a bit of walking required. There are very steep steps leading to the entrance of the Isa Bey Mosque, so it will be optional to go inside. The visit to the Basilica of St. John is outside only.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Priene and Miletus
From Kusadasi, drive to Priene, site of a well-preserved 4th-century BCE city situated on a mountain slope looking out over the plain where the river Meander winds its way to the Aegean Sea. Priene is an early example of city planning, laid out in a grid pattern of evenly spaced streets. Your tour includes the Temple of Athena, a classic example of Ionic architecture, the Agora, the town hall and council chamber, and the beautifully preserved Hellenistic Theater.
Continue to the nearby ruins of Miletus, an ancient center of trade, science and philosophy—the birthplace of the mathematician Thales and of the philosophers Anaxagoras and Anaximander. Alexander the Great liberated the city from Persian rule in the 4th century BCE, but most of the remains you see are from the Roman period, particularly the spectacular theater, built to accommodate 15,000 spectators. Like Priene, Miletus is laid out in a grid pattern, likely because of the influence of the architect Hippodamus, who lived here in the 5th century BCE.
- This is a moderate excursion with a considerable amount of walking over the uneven terrain of the archaeological sites. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Ancient City of Ephesus and Its Terrace Houses
Set off on an exploration of the ancient city of Ephesus. Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later for Diana by the Romans.
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the Mediterranean. Originally excavated in 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and are open for visitors. Recall what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans as you wander through the upper administrative section including the town hall, civil basilica, and 1400-seat Odeon. Meander through residential building dwellings, shops, and even public toilets on the lower section of town. See the famous Library of Celsus, the State Agora, and ruins of the ancient Greek stadium.
Explore the Terrace Houses, located on a slope opposite Hadrian’s Temple. These luxury villas give us information about family life during the Roman period.
- This is a moderate excursion covering approximately 2 miles on uneven ground with a considerable number of steps. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Monastery of St. John & Apocalypse Cave
It was to this rugged island of Patmos that St. John the Evangelist was banished during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, and it is here that he is said to have received the visions of the Apocalypse that later became the Book of Revelation.
Today, Patmos’s landscape is dominated by the fortress-like Monastery of St. John, built in the 11th century at the summit of a hill. As you explore this sacred place you will discover a veritable museum of Byzantine art — countless frescoes, precious icons, gold and silver liturgical objects, rare manuscripts and antiquities.
After the opulence of the monastery, a short drive takes you to the very different site of the Apocalypse Cave, which John made his home during his exile. Here you can see the resting place outlined in beaten silver where St John laid his head every night. Next to this bed of rock is the spot where John's disciple Prochoros sat as he transcribed the visions John dictated to him.
- This excursion is not suitable for people who have difficulty walking. Access to the monastery is on foot via cobblestone streets. You will go up and down about 100 steps at the Monastery and 40 steps at the cave. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: long pants for men; skirts for women and shoulders and knees must be covered. Taking photos inside the chapel and the cave is prohibited.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Photographing Patmos
In addition to being the site of St. John the Evangelist's visions of the Apocalypse, Patmos is an incredibly photogenic island, and this excursion is designed to allow serious photographers to make the most of it.
Your pursuit of images begins in Patmos's ancient Chora, where you will find panoramic views of the 11th-century monastery overlooking the entire island. Your guide will then lead you through a labyrinth of cobbled streets and arched alleyways, where whitewashed walls produce fascinating patterns of light and shadow, and where small architectural details of doorways and windows invite you to try to capture the exact atmosphere of a fleeting moment.
A short drive brings you to the highest point of the island, where the Church of the Prophet Elijah affords stunning views over the island and the Aegean Sea—a myriad of opportunities for landscapes and seascapes. Leaving this promontory, stop next at Petra beach to discover the prehistoric carved rock that once served as a place of worship for Aphrodite, before ending your photographic survey of Patmos at the seaside village of Diakofti. Here there will be opportunities to capture images of local residents working on their boats and to enjoy refreshments at a local cafe before returning to the ship.
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This tour involves approximately 1.2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and narrow and cobblestone streets. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. You must have your own camera for this tour, and capacity is limited. Your guide is not a professional photographer and cannot provide advice on the use of your camera.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Akrotiri & Picturesque Oia
In the 2nd millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded Santorini in a blanket of pumice and ash, preserving many buildings, much as Vesuvius preserved buildings at Pompeii and Herculaneum. At the time of the eruptions, Santorini was inhabited by a Bronze Age civilization sophisticated enough to support the large and prosperous town of Akrotiri.
Your excursion begins with a visit to the archaeological site of Akrotiri, discovered in 1967 and the subject of nearly continuous excavation since. The two- and three-story houses you will see as you stroll through the site were decorated with marvelous wall paintings and furnished with bronze vessels for cooking and storing foodstuffs, as well as tools and weapons and the other accoutrements one would expect from a well-organized and flourishing society.
From Akrotiri, travel to the village of Oia, on the northernmost tip of Santorini, one of the most beautiful—and therefore most photographed—spots in the Cyclades. Lovingly restored following a devastating earthquake in 1956, it offers breathtaking views of the Aegean from its perch high atop a ridge of red rock.
You will enjoy a walking tour through this once important center of Eastern Mediterranean trade. Notice two very different sorts of dwellings: cave houses, dug into the volcanic rock of the cliffsides, where ships' crew and their families lived, and the neo-classical mansions of the ship captains and owners on the terraces above. Both are intriguing, and many of both types have been converted into charming guest houses.
At the end of the tour, disembark your coach in Fira, where you may take the cable car down to the port, or spend some time browsing the shops in town and take a later cable car.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total of perhaps two hours of walking. The tour of Akrotiri involves walking on wooden platforms above the work floor of the site, and the streets in Oia and Fira are mostly cobblestone with some incline. Wear comfortable shoes and as always be sure to protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Hiking the Volcano & Cruising the Caldera
In the 2nd millennium B.C., a massive volcanic eruption devastated the island of Santorini and buried its main town, now called Akrotiri, in a thick layer of ash and pumice. The cataclysmic eruption blew out the entire center of the island, creating a large crater, where the sea rushed in and formed a beautiful bay. The eastern shore of this bay, the Caldera of Santorini, is where your ship is docked.
Board a local boat for a short cruise across the bay to Nea Kameni, an island formed by later eruptions, and the site of a still active volcano. Disembark on Nea Kameni and hike the trail that rises about 500 feet to the edge of the crater, where you will enjoy superb views of the archipelago of islands that populate the caldera, as well as the jagged cliffs of Fira. Take time to walk among the oddly formed fragments of lava and smell the sulfur in the air as you explore the area around the rim before descending to shore.
Reboard your boat and sail to the thermal springs of neighboring Palea Kameni. Here, the green, vent-warmed waters reach temperatures near 100 degrees, creating a natural hot tub. Passing through the springs, your boat cruises around the tiny island and returns you to the pier.
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This is an active excursion. Participants need to be in good physical condition for the hike up to the summit of Nea Kameni and back, which is uphill on uneven dirt and sandy terrain. Sun protection is also crucial since the island is bare of any shade.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Picturesque Oia & Wine Tasting
The village of Oia, on the northernmost tip of Santorini, is one of the most beautiful—and therefore most photographed—spots in the Cyclades. Lovingly restored following a devastating earthquake in 1956, it offers breathtaking views of the Aegean from its perch high atop a ridge of red rock.
Arriving in Oia after a short journey by boat and coach, you will enjoy a walking tour through this once important center of Eastern Mediterranean trade. Notice two very different sorts of dwellings: cave houses, dug into the volcanic rock of the cliffsides, where ships' crew and their families lived, and the neo-classical mansions of the ship captains and owners on the terraces above. Both are intriguing, and many of both types have been converted into charming guest houses.
Your tour continues with a visit and tasting at the Venetsanos Winery. Built in 1947, it was the first winery on Santorini to export internationally and remains among the largest producers on the island. A brief introduction to the history of the buildings and the surrounding vineyards is followed by a sampling of three award-winning wines—the white Santorini Asyrtiko, the red Mandilaria, and the sweet dessert wine, Vinsanto.
At the end of the tour, disembark your coach in Fira, where you may take the cable car down to the port, or spend some time browsing the shops in town and take a later cable car.
- This is a moderate excursion involving about an hour and a half of walking over cobblestone streets, some uphill and downhill and some steps. Wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Akrotiri & the Prehistoric Museum of Fira
In the 2nd millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded Santorini in a blanket of pumice and ash, preserving many buildings, much as Vesuvius preserved buildings at Pompeii and Herculaneum. At the time of the eruptions, Santorini was inhabited by a Bronze Age civilization sophisticated enough to support the large and prosperous town of Akrotiri.
Your excursion begins with a visit to the archaeological site of Akrotiri, discovered in 1967 and the subject of nearly continuous excavation since. The two- and three-story houses you will see as you stroll through the site were decorated with marvelous wall paintings and furnished with bronze vessels for cooking and storing foodstuffs, as well as tools and weapons and the other accoutrements one would expect from a well-organized and flourishing society.
From Akrotiri, you travel to Santorini's capital, Fira, to explore the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, which houses pieces from various excavations around the island, but concentrates on artifacts recovered from Akrotiri, including splendid examples of the wall paintings and household items that were a regular feature of life in the city before the eruption. The exhibits strive to sketch the story of Thira in prehistoric times, by displaying illustrative selections of items from the thousands of artifacts in the museum's storerooms.
Following the visit to the Museum, you will have time at leisure to stroll around the picturesque streets of modern Fira, lined with numerous shops and cafes, before you take the cable car down to the old port, and from there tender back to the ship.
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This is a moderate excursion with a total of perhaps a mile of walking. The tour of Akrotiri involves walking on wooden platforms above the work floor of the site, and the streets in Fira are mostly cobblestone. As always be sure to protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Archaeological Wonders of Delos
The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks — the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples. Today, it is a veritable open-air museum.
Your walking tour of this sprawling site begins directly from the pier, as you follow your guide through a maze of fallen columns, sections of the mosaics which once adorned the houses of the rich, a stadium, tiers of seats from a theater abandoned long ago and much more. Atop a small hill is the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena Cynthiens, dating from the 3rd century BC. From this vantage point, you overlook the entire site and get a sense of the grandeur of the city when it was the center of the Delian League.
Among the notable remains you will encounter is the Sanctuary of Apollo, also known as the “Temple of the Athenians," where you will see the altars and votive offerings presented by Athenians to the god so important to their civic life. You will also discover the Terrace of the Lions, among the best-preserved monuments on Delos, where five marble lions stand at the ready to protect the town as they gaze to the east, waiting for the sun to rise.
You will visit the Theater District, the most luxurious district of the ancient city with the mansions pretentiously named the homes “of Dionysus" and “of Cleopatra," among others. This is where the mosaics that adorned the floors of these great houses, as well as the streets and shops of ancient Delos will suggest the wealth of this once bustling city.
Finally, visit the recently re-opened Archaeological Museum, and tour its expanded exhibits of finds from the island.
- This excursion is entirely on foot on uneven surfaces and some steps without handrails. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Experience Mykonos
Its white cubic houses, characteristic windmills, and numerous chapels make Mykonos the quintessential Cycladic island. Formerly a quiet fishing town, Mykonos is now a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all this dazzling town has to offer.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Walking Tour of Nafplion
Although Nafplion has been inhabited since ancient times, the town began to play an important role in Mediterranean history only under Byzantine rule, and then through its periods of domination by the Venetian and Ottoman Empires, eventually emerging in the early 19th century as the first capital of independent Greece.
During this walking tour through the streets of Nafplion, you will visit several monuments of the relatively recent past, beginning with the sculpted relief of the Lion of Bavaria at the entrance the town, erected in honor of King Otto when he made Nafplion the capital of the Kingdom of Greece before moving it to Athens in 1834. You pass a number of churches of historic interest including the church of Agios Georgios, built in 1619 by Venetians, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and becoming an Orthodox church after independence; the Catholic church of The Transfiguration of the Savior, previously a mosque built on the site of a Venetian convent; and the church of Aghios Spyridon, where John Kapodistrias, hero of the War of Independence and the first governor of independent Greece, was assassinated. The bullet hole on the outer wall near the door is still visible.
Visit the small Museum of Komboloi, displaying a collection of worry beads from around the world, and stroll through popular Syntagma Square on your way to the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, housing a delightful display of folk costumes and exhibits on traditional techniques of textile production. Your tour concludes with a snack of various Greek mezzes and ouzo at the Karonis Wine Shop.
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This moderate excursion involves a total of approximately one mile of walking over flat surfaces. We recommend good shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Epidaurus & Mycenae
About 25 miles east of Nafplion, Epidaurus is home to the ancient Sanctuary of Asklepios. In addition to being a place of worship, the Sanctuary is the earliest known organized sanatorium and is often said to mark the beginnings of a movement away from reliance on divine healing toward a science of medicine. The magnificent 12,000-seat 4th-century B.C. Theater, renowned for its architectural beauty and perfect acoustics, dominates the site and hosts productions of Classical Greek tragedies and comedies each summer. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site, and test the theater's acoustics for yourself, before rejoining your coach for the drive to Mycenae.
The ancient city of Mycenae, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, was the center of the civilization that bears its name, an extraordinary culture that flourished in the late Bronze Age and is our source for the earliest Greek language, preserved on Linear B tablets. Homer describes the city, the legendary home of Agamemnon, as “rich in gold,” and your tour of the site will give you a sense of the wealth he is referring to. Beginning at the imposing Lion Gate, explore the acropolis of the walled citadel and the shaft burial graves of a wealthy nobility, whose mythical rulers include familiar names from Greek literature—Clytemnestra, Iphigeneia, Elektra, and Orestes. A short distance from the main complex is a remarkable tholos (beehive shaped) tomb that German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann thought was Agamemnon's, an identification that later excavations have called into question.
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This moderate excursion involves about two hours of walking over occasionally uneven surfaces. You will need extra protection from the sun at Mycenae, which has few sources of shade.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Shore excursion or activity in each port of call + transfers included
PONANT has organized the following included program for you, which starts the day of embarkation.
Included Features:
- A program of onboard enrichment provided by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, including including geologist Wayne Ranney and Rob Stephan, Roman archaeologist and professor of Classics
- Transfers and luggage handling from the airport in Istanbul to the ship on the day of embarkation
- Comprehensive 7-night cruise aboard the deluxe Le Dumont-d’Urville, with all the amenities for which PONANT ships are famous
- One included shore excursion or activity in each port of call (see “Itinerary” for more information and choice of excursions, if applicable)
- Gratuities for ship crew and for guides and drivers on excursions
- Transfer from the ship to the airport in Athens at the end of the cruise on the morning of disembarkation
Not included:
- Independent meals and beverages ashore
- Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, etc.)
Notes:
- This voyage is offered on a space available basis
- Program is subject to change without notice
Special Guest Speaker
On our departures in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys, we are joined by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts who will provide an insightful English-language lecture series that enhances your experience with valuable context and new perspectives. From enriching talks to casual conversations on board, their in-depth knowledge will bring you deeper into the history, culture, and natural world of your destination.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
ISTANBUL TREASURES (3 NIGHTS)
This program offers the opportunity to experience some of the very best that Istanbul has to offer. One of the world's great cities, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul is home to iconic religious monuments like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque as well as the massive headquarters of Ottoman sultans, Topkapi Palace. It is a shopping paradise—from the boutiques of the Balat district to the bustling Grand Bazaar. And it is a center of culinary creativity, blending European and Asian cuisines in interesting and delicious ways. Perhaps most compelling, however, is that you will discover all of this from a home base in one of the world's most celebrated hotels.
Day 1 – Istanbul, Turkey
Arrive in Istanbul, where you will be met and transferred to the historic Pera Palace Hotel in the center of the city, your home for the next three nights. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions you may have. Relax and enjoy the many amenities of the this 5-star property before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception this evening. Dinner is independent.
Day 2 – Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver and head to Topkapi Palace, the opulent residence of Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the early 20th century, and the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Your guided tour includes the rooms where the business of state was conducted, as well as the inner sanctum of the Harem, the residential core of the palace from where the Queen Mother wielded extensive power. Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by a visit to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and time to browse in the famous Spice Bazaar before returning to the hotel. Dinner this evening in independent.
Day 3 – Istanbul
Begin the day with a walking tour of Istanbul's Fener-Balat District, the old Greek and Jewish quarter that retains much of its original character and cosmopolitan charm. Its colorful streets, lined with churches, synagogues, and upscale design shops, are home to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and Stefi Stefan Church ("Bulgarian Iron Church") among many others. Your tour ends with a visit to the Rustem Pasha Mosque, built in 1560 for the Grand Vizier under Suleiman I, followed by a private boat ride on the Bosporus. The balance of the day is at leisure with independent lunch and dinner.
Day 4 - Istanbul | Embarkation
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a morning full of discovery: the Blue Mosque and Byzantine Hippodrome; a visit to Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, subsequently used as a mosque, and now a UNESCO Heritage Site; and a stop at the Basilica Cistern. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at leisure in the fascinating Grand Bazaar, a collection of vendors offering goods of every description, before transferring to the pier to embark Le Dumont-d’Urville.
Your hotel:
Originally built as a hotel for passengers on the Orient Express, the Pera Palace, is proud of its tradition of luxury accommodations and bespoke service. Among its many evocations of this history are the Agatha Christie Room, where the novelist is said to have written Murder on the Orient Express, and the hotel's Room 101, which has been converted to a museum to Ataturk, who stayed here often in the early 20th century. The Palace contains five restaurants and bars, offering a variety of cuisines, and its state-of-the-art fitness center and spa are available for your enjoyment.
Your program includes:
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3 nights at the Pera Palace Hotel
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Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day
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Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
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Welcome Reception on Day 1
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Breakfast on Days 2, 3, and 4
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Lunch on Days 2 and 4
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Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
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Local English-speaking guide
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Gratuities for the drivers and local guides
Your program does not include:
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Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day
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Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program
Please note:
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It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.
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Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
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The official currency is the Turkish Lira. Euros and US dollars may be accepted in some places. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
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This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
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Program is offered on a space available basis.
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Program is subject to change without notice.
Hotel contact information:
Pera Palace Hotel
Mesrutiyet Cad. No:52
Tepebasi 34430
Istanbul, Turkey
Telephone: + 90 (0212) 377 40 00
Total : 1,250 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Troy and Its Museum
This morning, travel to the site of ancient Troy, where excavations begun in the second half of the 19th century have revealed nine different layers of cities superimposed in rings. As Homer recounts in the Iliad, one of these cities is where the Greeks fought the Trojans over a period of ten years, before King Priam's city finally fell to the ruse of the Trojan Horse.
The importance of this site in the history of archaeology can hardly be overstated. As the UNESCO Heritage Convention said in 1998, when Troy was designated a World Heritage Site, the excavations begun by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870 "could be considered the starting point of modern archaeology and its public recognition." Whether or not Achilles ever battled Hector on this site, the excavations here have taught us a great deal about the early interactions of civilizations from the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Aegean and Black Seas, and established Troy's importance as a crossroads of trade in both goods and ideas.
Following your visit to the ancient site, explore the nearby Troy Museum. Opened in 2018, it houses some two thousand artifacts from the site, retrieved from other museums around the world, including a fascinating collection of gold jewelry from the 3rd millennium BCE. Perhaps the most famous piece is the Polyxena sarcophagus, depicting the scene of the sacrifice of King Priam's daughter Polyxena with warriors holding her down as one cuts her throat.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total of approximately one mile of walking over uneven terrain. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Gallipoli Campaign of WWI
The Gallipoli Peninsula, across the narrow Dardanelles Strait from Canakkale, was the site of the 1915 battle between the Ottoman Empire and the combined forces of Britain, France, and Russia that ended with victory for the Ottomans, launching the career of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and nearly ending that of Winston Churchill. The 8-month-long campaign was also the first engagement of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War I, an engagement that is commemorated every April 25 in Australia as ANZAC Day.
Drive across the new 2.5-mile-long bridge spanning the Dardanelles to begin your visit to the peninsula in the small but fascinating Kabatepe Museum, containing historic items related to the Gallipoli Campaign. Following this orientation, tour several sites associated with the important events in the story of the battle—ANZAC Cove, where the Australian and New Zealand forces came ashore at dawn on April 25, 1915; Lone Pine Battlefield, where ANZAC forces captured Ottoman trenches in an intense battle in early August 1915; and the Chunuck Bair Memorial to New Zealand soldiers who lost their lives during the campaign.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total of approximately one mile of walking over uneven terrain. Total driving time is over 2 hours. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Goddess Artemis/Diana
This excursion approaches the history of Ephesus not by touring the site, but by focusing on what can be learned from the extraordinary collection of artifacts at the nearby Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. Its best-known exhibits are the ancient statues of the Greek Goddess Artemis (the Roman Diana), but the thousands of other objects on display collected from various temples and halls in Ephesus tell a compelling story of the daily lives of the residents of the city. Especially rewarding in this respect are the objects found in the Roman Villas (terrace houses) of Ephesus.
Your next stop is a short distance from the museum—a temple erected long before the Romans built the city whose remains are seen in Ephesus today. This earlier ancient city was a center of worship of the mother-goddess Cybele (who became the Greco-Roman Artemis/Diana), and her importance to the city and its surroundings can be judged from the massive ruins of the 6th-century BCE Temple of Artemis, built by King Croesus—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
On a hill just behind Artemis's temple, Isa Bey Mosque is the oldest active mosque (built in 1375) in Turkey and a prime example of Anatolian architecture. On the same hill, a bit higher up, is the Basilica of St. John, constructed by the Emperor Justinian I on the site of the tomb of John the Apostle at about the same time he was building the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
At the end of the tour, enjoy a break for tea near the Roman Aqueducts.
- This is a relatively easy excursion with only a bit of walking required. There are very steep steps leading to the entrance of the Isa Bey Mosque, so it will be optional to go inside. The visit to the Basilica of St. John is outside only.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Priene and Miletus
From Kusadasi, drive to Priene, site of a well-preserved 4th-century BCE city situated on a mountain slope looking out over the plain where the river Meander winds its way to the Aegean Sea. Priene is an early example of city planning, laid out in a grid pattern of evenly spaced streets. Your tour includes the Temple of Athena, a classic example of Ionic architecture, the Agora, the town hall and council chamber, and the beautifully preserved Hellenistic Theater.
Continue to the nearby ruins of Miletus, an ancient center of trade, science and philosophy—the birthplace of the mathematician Thales and of the philosophers Anaxagoras and Anaximander. Alexander the Great liberated the city from Persian rule in the 4th century BCE, but most of the remains you see are from the Roman period, particularly the spectacular theater, built to accommodate 15,000 spectators. Like Priene, Miletus is laid out in a grid pattern, likely because of the influence of the architect Hippodamus, who lived here in the 5th century BCE.
- This is a moderate excursion with a considerable amount of walking over the uneven terrain of the archaeological sites. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Ancient City of Ephesus and Its Terrace Houses
Set off on an exploration of the ancient city of Ephesus. Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later for Diana by the Romans.
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the Mediterranean. Originally excavated in 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and are open for visitors. Recall what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans as you wander through the upper administrative section including the town hall, civil basilica, and 1400-seat Odeon. Meander through residential building dwellings, shops, and even public toilets on the lower section of town. See the famous Library of Celsus, the State Agora, and ruins of the ancient Greek stadium.
Explore the Terrace Houses, located on a slope opposite Hadrian’s Temple. These luxury villas give us information about family life during the Roman period.
- This is a moderate excursion covering approximately 2 miles on uneven ground with a considerable number of steps. Comfortable shoes and protection from the sun are highly recommended.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Monastery of St. John & Apocalypse Cave
It was to this rugged island of Patmos that St. John the Evangelist was banished during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, and it is here that he is said to have received the visions of the Apocalypse that later became the Book of Revelation.
Today, Patmos’s landscape is dominated by the fortress-like Monastery of St. John, built in the 11th century at the summit of a hill. As you explore this sacred place you will discover a veritable museum of Byzantine art — countless frescoes, precious icons, gold and silver liturgical objects, rare manuscripts and antiquities.
After the opulence of the monastery, a short drive takes you to the very different site of the Apocalypse Cave, which John made his home during his exile. Here you can see the resting place outlined in beaten silver where St John laid his head every night. Next to this bed of rock is the spot where John's disciple Prochoros sat as he transcribed the visions John dictated to him.
- This excursion is not suitable for people who have difficulty walking. Access to the monastery is on foot via cobblestone streets. You will go up and down about 100 steps at the Monastery and 40 steps at the cave. Appropriate clothing is required to enter religious sites: long pants for men; skirts for women and shoulders and knees must be covered. Taking photos inside the chapel and the cave is prohibited.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Photographing Patmos
In addition to being the site of St. John the Evangelist's visions of the Apocalypse, Patmos is an incredibly photogenic island, and this excursion is designed to allow serious photographers to make the most of it.
Your pursuit of images begins in Patmos's ancient Chora, where you will find panoramic views of the 11th-century monastery overlooking the entire island. Your guide will then lead you through a labyrinth of cobbled streets and arched alleyways, where whitewashed walls produce fascinating patterns of light and shadow, and where small architectural details of doorways and windows invite you to try to capture the exact atmosphere of a fleeting moment.
A short drive brings you to the highest point of the island, where the Church of the Prophet Elijah affords stunning views over the island and the Aegean Sea—a myriad of opportunities for landscapes and seascapes. Leaving this promontory, stop next at Petra beach to discover the prehistoric carved rock that once served as a place of worship for Aphrodite, before ending your photographic survey of Patmos at the seaside village of Diakofti. Here there will be opportunities to capture images of local residents working on their boats and to enjoy refreshments at a local cafe before returning to the ship.
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This tour involves approximately 1.2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and narrow and cobblestone streets. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. You must have your own camera for this tour, and capacity is limited. Your guide is not a professional photographer and cannot provide advice on the use of your camera.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Akrotiri & Picturesque Oia
In the 2nd millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded Santorini in a blanket of pumice and ash, preserving many buildings, much as Vesuvius preserved buildings at Pompeii and Herculaneum. At the time of the eruptions, Santorini was inhabited by a Bronze Age civilization sophisticated enough to support the large and prosperous town of Akrotiri.
Your excursion begins with a visit to the archaeological site of Akrotiri, discovered in 1967 and the subject of nearly continuous excavation since. The two- and three-story houses you will see as you stroll through the site were decorated with marvelous wall paintings and furnished with bronze vessels for cooking and storing foodstuffs, as well as tools and weapons and the other accoutrements one would expect from a well-organized and flourishing society.
From Akrotiri, travel to the village of Oia, on the northernmost tip of Santorini, one of the most beautiful—and therefore most photographed—spots in the Cyclades. Lovingly restored following a devastating earthquake in 1956, it offers breathtaking views of the Aegean from its perch high atop a ridge of red rock.
You will enjoy a walking tour through this once important center of Eastern Mediterranean trade. Notice two very different sorts of dwellings: cave houses, dug into the volcanic rock of the cliffsides, where ships' crew and their families lived, and the neo-classical mansions of the ship captains and owners on the terraces above. Both are intriguing, and many of both types have been converted into charming guest houses.
At the end of the tour, disembark your coach in Fira, where you may take the cable car down to the port, or spend some time browsing the shops in town and take a later cable car.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total of perhaps two hours of walking. The tour of Akrotiri involves walking on wooden platforms above the work floor of the site, and the streets in Oia and Fira are mostly cobblestone with some incline. Wear comfortable shoes and as always be sure to protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Hiking the Volcano & Cruising the Caldera
In the 2nd millennium B.C., a massive volcanic eruption devastated the island of Santorini and buried its main town, now called Akrotiri, in a thick layer of ash and pumice. The cataclysmic eruption blew out the entire center of the island, creating a large crater, where the sea rushed in and formed a beautiful bay. The eastern shore of this bay, the Caldera of Santorini, is where your ship is docked.
Board a local boat for a short cruise across the bay to Nea Kameni, an island formed by later eruptions, and the site of a still active volcano. Disembark on Nea Kameni and hike the trail that rises about 500 feet to the edge of the crater, where you will enjoy superb views of the archipelago of islands that populate the caldera, as well as the jagged cliffs of Fira. Take time to walk among the oddly formed fragments of lava and smell the sulfur in the air as you explore the area around the rim before descending to shore.
Reboard your boat and sail to the thermal springs of neighboring Palea Kameni. Here, the green, vent-warmed waters reach temperatures near 100 degrees, creating a natural hot tub. Passing through the springs, your boat cruises around the tiny island and returns you to the pier.
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This is an active excursion. Participants need to be in good physical condition for the hike up to the summit of Nea Kameni and back, which is uphill on uneven dirt and sandy terrain. Sun protection is also crucial since the island is bare of any shade.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Picturesque Oia & Wine Tasting
The village of Oia, on the northernmost tip of Santorini, is one of the most beautiful—and therefore most photographed—spots in the Cyclades. Lovingly restored following a devastating earthquake in 1956, it offers breathtaking views of the Aegean from its perch high atop a ridge of red rock.
Arriving in Oia after a short journey by boat and coach, you will enjoy a walking tour through this once important center of Eastern Mediterranean trade. Notice two very different sorts of dwellings: cave houses, dug into the volcanic rock of the cliffsides, where ships' crew and their families lived, and the neo-classical mansions of the ship captains and owners on the terraces above. Both are intriguing, and many of both types have been converted into charming guest houses.
Your tour continues with a visit and tasting at the Venetsanos Winery. Built in 1947, it was the first winery on Santorini to export internationally and remains among the largest producers on the island. A brief introduction to the history of the buildings and the surrounding vineyards is followed by a sampling of three award-winning wines—the white Santorini Asyrtiko, the red Mandilaria, and the sweet dessert wine, Vinsanto.
At the end of the tour, disembark your coach in Fira, where you may take the cable car down to the port, or spend some time browsing the shops in town and take a later cable car.
- This is a moderate excursion involving about an hour and a half of walking over cobblestone streets, some uphill and downhill and some steps. Wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Akrotiri & the Prehistoric Museum of Fira
In the 2nd millennium B.C., volcanic eruptions shrouded Santorini in a blanket of pumice and ash, preserving many buildings, much as Vesuvius preserved buildings at Pompeii and Herculaneum. At the time of the eruptions, Santorini was inhabited by a Bronze Age civilization sophisticated enough to support the large and prosperous town of Akrotiri.
Your excursion begins with a visit to the archaeological site of Akrotiri, discovered in 1967 and the subject of nearly continuous excavation since. The two- and three-story houses you will see as you stroll through the site were decorated with marvelous wall paintings and furnished with bronze vessels for cooking and storing foodstuffs, as well as tools and weapons and the other accoutrements one would expect from a well-organized and flourishing society.
From Akrotiri, you travel to Santorini's capital, Fira, to explore the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, which houses pieces from various excavations around the island, but concentrates on artifacts recovered from Akrotiri, including splendid examples of the wall paintings and household items that were a regular feature of life in the city before the eruption. The exhibits strive to sketch the story of Thira in prehistoric times, by displaying illustrative selections of items from the thousands of artifacts in the museum's storerooms.
Following the visit to the Museum, you will have time at leisure to stroll around the picturesque streets of modern Fira, lined with numerous shops and cafes, before you take the cable car down to the old port, and from there tender back to the ship.
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This is a moderate excursion with a total of perhaps a mile of walking. The tour of Akrotiri involves walking on wooden platforms above the work floor of the site, and the streets in Fira are mostly cobblestone. As always be sure to protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Archaeological Wonders of Delos
The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks — the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples. Today, it is a veritable open-air museum.
Your walking tour of this sprawling site begins directly from the pier, as you follow your guide through a maze of fallen columns, sections of the mosaics which once adorned the houses of the rich, a stadium, tiers of seats from a theater abandoned long ago and much more. Atop a small hill is the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena Cynthiens, dating from the 3rd century BC. From this vantage point, you overlook the entire site and get a sense of the grandeur of the city when it was the center of the Delian League.
Among the notable remains you will encounter is the Sanctuary of Apollo, also known as the “Temple of the Athenians," where you will see the altars and votive offerings presented by Athenians to the god so important to their civic life. You will also discover the Terrace of the Lions, among the best-preserved monuments on Delos, where five marble lions stand at the ready to protect the town as they gaze to the east, waiting for the sun to rise.
You will visit the Theater District, the most luxurious district of the ancient city with the mansions pretentiously named the homes “of Dionysus" and “of Cleopatra," among others. This is where the mosaics that adorned the floors of these great houses, as well as the streets and shops of ancient Delos will suggest the wealth of this once bustling city.
Finally, visit the recently re-opened Archaeological Museum, and tour its expanded exhibits of finds from the island.
- This excursion is entirely on foot on uneven surfaces and some steps without handrails. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Experience Mykonos
Its white cubic houses, characteristic windmills, and numerous chapels make Mykonos the quintessential Cycladic island. Formerly a quiet fishing town, Mykonos is now a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all this dazzling town has to offer.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Walking Tour of Nafplion
Although Nafplion has been inhabited since ancient times, the town began to play an important role in Mediterranean history only under Byzantine rule, and then through its periods of domination by the Venetian and Ottoman Empires, eventually emerging in the early 19th century as the first capital of independent Greece.
During this walking tour through the streets of Nafplion, you will visit several monuments of the relatively recent past, beginning with the sculpted relief of the Lion of Bavaria at the entrance the town, erected in honor of King Otto when he made Nafplion the capital of the Kingdom of Greece before moving it to Athens in 1834. You pass a number of churches of historic interest including the church of Agios Georgios, built in 1619 by Venetians, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and becoming an Orthodox church after independence; the Catholic church of The Transfiguration of the Savior, previously a mosque built on the site of a Venetian convent; and the church of Aghios Spyridon, where John Kapodistrias, hero of the War of Independence and the first governor of independent Greece, was assassinated. The bullet hole on the outer wall near the door is still visible.
Visit the small Museum of Komboloi, displaying a collection of worry beads from around the world, and stroll through popular Syntagma Square on your way to the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation, housing a delightful display of folk costumes and exhibits on traditional techniques of textile production. Your tour concludes with a snack of various Greek mezzes and ouzo at the Karonis Wine Shop.
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This moderate excursion involves a total of approximately one mile of walking over flat surfaces. We recommend good shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Epidaurus & Mycenae
About 25 miles east of Nafplion, Epidaurus is home to the ancient Sanctuary of Asklepios. In addition to being a place of worship, the Sanctuary is the earliest known organized sanatorium and is often said to mark the beginnings of a movement away from reliance on divine healing toward a science of medicine. The magnificent 12,000-seat 4th-century B.C. Theater, renowned for its architectural beauty and perfect acoustics, dominates the site and hosts productions of Classical Greek tragedies and comedies each summer. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site, and test the theater's acoustics for yourself, before rejoining your coach for the drive to Mycenae.
The ancient city of Mycenae, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, was the center of the civilization that bears its name, an extraordinary culture that flourished in the late Bronze Age and is our source for the earliest Greek language, preserved on Linear B tablets. Homer describes the city, the legendary home of Agamemnon, as “rich in gold,” and your tour of the site will give you a sense of the wealth he is referring to. Beginning at the imposing Lion Gate, explore the acropolis of the walled citadel and the shaft burial graves of a wealthy nobility, whose mythical rulers include familiar names from Greek literature—Clytemnestra, Iphigeneia, Elektra, and Orestes. A short distance from the main complex is a remarkable tholos (beehive shaped) tomb that German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann thought was Agamemnon's, an identification that later excavations have called into question.
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This moderate excursion involves about two hours of walking over occasionally uneven surfaces. You will need extra protection from the sun at Mycenae, which has few sources of shade.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
THE HEART OF ATHENS (2 NIGHTS)
Athens is the birthplace of democracy and philosophy and home to the most enduring symbol of classical civilization—the Parthenon. Join this specially designed program to explore the incomparably rich legacy of this amazing city.
Day 1 – Athens, Greece
After breakfast aboard ship, join a tour this morning to the heart of Athens. Your first visit will be to the New Acropolis Museum, opened to the public in 2009 and designed to house and showcase all of the artifacts found on the Acropolis since archaeological work at the site began. The result is the exhibition of some 4,000 objects dating from the Greek Bronze Age through the Roman and Byzantine periods. Your tour of the Acropolis itself includes the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex, the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens. And of course, there is the Parthenon, the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, designed as a shrine to Athena and at one time housing a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess.
Following the excursion, enjoy time at leisure to stroll the pedestrian walkways of the Plaka, the ancient neighborhood at the base of the Acropolis. Here you will find a variety of shops and cafés where you can browse and have an independent lunch before checking in to your hotel.
The balance of the day is at leisure and dinner is on your own.
Day 2 – Athens
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by an excursion to two of Athen's most important sites. First, explore the National Archaeological Museum, an incomparable treasure trove of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Classical Greek art. A few of the museum's most important exhibits include the bronze statue of Poseidon, the head of Hygeia (Goddess of Health), the bronze statue of the 'Jockey-boy' of Artemision, the Golden mask of 'Agamemnon,' and the brilliant Minoan-style frescoes from Santorini.
Next, a short drive brings you to the Ancient Agora, which once served as the political, cultural and religious center of the city. Athenians would gather to buy and sell goods, but also to learn the news, to debate issues, or simply to gossip. This is where Socrates could be found daily posing his questions to fellow citizens.
The balance of the day is at leisure with independent lunch and dinner.
Day 3 - Athens | Depart
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for flights homeward.
Your hotel:
Located in historic Syntagma Square, the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne is the perfect venue for a visit to Athens. Within walking distance of exclusive shopping areas, museums, and the business district, the hotel boasts 320 rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a spa. Its views of the city center, from the Parliament building to the Parthenon, are unrivaled.
Your program includes:
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2 nights at the Hotel Grande Bretagne (or similar)
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Transfer and luggage handling from the pier to the hotel on disembarkation day
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Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the airport on Day 3
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Breakfast on Days 2 and 3
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Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
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Local English-speaking guide
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Gratuities for the drivers and local guides
Your program does not include:
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Transfer from the hotel to the airport on any day other than the scheduled program departure day
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Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program
Please note:
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It is imperative that your flight details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the hotel to the airport.
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Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
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The official currency is the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
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This post-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
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Program is offered on a space available basis.
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Program is subject to change without notice.
Hotel contact information:
Hotel Grande Bretagne
1 Vasileos Georgiou A' str.
Syntagma Square
Athens 105 64, Greece
Telephone: +30 210 333 0000
Total : 1,130 €
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.