Compare Egypt Family Adventure by Look at Egypt vs Odyssey at Sea: Greece, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt by Road Scholar

Day 1: Arrive Egypt

Upon arrival our assistance will meet and assist you to finish all formalities then you will be transferred to your hotel, overnight at hotel in Cairo.

Day 2: Giza pyramids , Sakkara step Pyramid, Memphis

After your breakfast, it’ll be time to begin your tour to the Pyramids and Sphinx. The first visit of the day will be to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built by the pharaohs from the period starting from 2590 BC to 2480 BC. You will have the chance to explore the wonders of the Great Pyramid, get inside the queen Pyramid. You will also discover the beauty of the Sphinx, one of the largest monolith statues in the history of mankind. After enjoying the view and taking your lovely photos you will move to Sakkara, which includes the step pyramid of king Zoser the oldest pyramid in Egypt.

After that you will move to Memphis, the first capital of Egypt. Here you’ll see the best and the biggest statue of King Ramses the great, one of the greatest king who ruled Egypt in the new kingdom.

Finally, you’ll head back to Cairo for another night at your hotel.

Day 3: Cairo – Egyptian museum - Coptic Cairo

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by another full day tour, to the Egyptian museum.

Gaze at the wonders of King Tutankhamen, including his golden Mask; stare upon the mummies of some of Egypt’s ancient pharaohs (optional); lose yourself in the many rooms and galleries, where thousands of artefacts are awaiting your visit.

After that have lunch at local restaurant, then will be taken on a tour of Cairo famous Churches.

Including: The Hanging Church and the Church of St. George the Martyr, 2 churches built into the walls of the Fort of Babylon and its remains could be Cairo’s oldest structures; and the Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius), where, it is said, the Holy Family took shelter in a cave, with the church being erected her to commemorate this.

This whole area is a world famous destination for Pilgrims.

After that back to your Hotel.

Day 4: Luxor- Nile cruise

After your breakfast you will check out of your hotel in Cairo and be transferred to the Cairo airport to take your Flight to Luxor. upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to embark on your luxury Nile Cruise ship, Which you will stay full board for the coming four nights.

You will start your visits by exploring the Karnak Temple, the largest religious Pharaonic temple Ever built in the world, then visit the Luxor temple as well with your private guide.

Enjoy the evening onboard .

Day 5: Nile cruise -West Bank

Your first visit of the day will be to the Valley of the Kings, the necropolis of the Pharaonic New Kingdom, including the famous tombs of the kings of ancient Egypt. Your next stop will be the amazing temple of Hatshepsut. the first woman who ruled Egypt. This temple was used as a monastery in the Christian era. This is why it is famous for the name “El Deir Al Bahry”, or the Western Monastery.

Your last stop of the day will be at the gigantic Colossi of Memnon. These two 18 meters high statues are the only remaining items of the temple of Amenhotep III. During the roman era, music was heard coming out of one of the statues that were attributed, by the Greeks.

Day 6: Edfu & Komombo temples- Carriage

After breakfast, you will have the chance to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. This temple is the best preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt. The building of the temple lasted about 800 years. The temple includes wonderfully decorated walls and stone capitals.

Your next stop will be to visit the amazing Temple Of Komombo dedicated to two gods; Horus, the falcon god, and Sobek, the crocodile god. Also you will enjoy the crocodile museum.

Enjoy the evening as you continue cruising down the Nile to Aswan, enjoy some entertainments on board.

Day 7: Aswan -High Dam – Isis temple

After breakfast it’s time to have some fun sailing down the Nile in the old styled Felucca.

You will visit the most beautiful temple of Egypt, the Temple of Isis, located on Philae Island on the middle of the Nile. It is truly an amazing temple, after that visit the High Dam in Aswan

Day 8: Aswan -Cairo

After breakfast on your cruise on the cruise check out and fly back to Cairo Upon arrival to Cairo you will be transferred to your hotel for relaxing in Cairo.

Day 9: Alexandria city

After breakfast you will be escorted by your guide to Alexandria the city of Alexander the great Visit the national museum of Alexandria then visit the Catacomb tomb the largest underground tomb In the Greek era. Have lunch at The Mediterranean Sea restaurant then visit the fortress of Qitbay this fortress replaced The old Light house Pharos this was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Then back to Cairo overnight.

Day10 : Final Departure

After breakfast our representative will escort you to the airport for final departure.

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive Athens, Transfer to Port, Embark Aegean Odyssey Piraeus (Athens)

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 1 mile including ship and port corridors and gangways; further walking of about 2 miles; uneven terrain including steps without railings and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.

Transfer from the airport to the Port of Piraeus.

Embark the Aegean Odyssey. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax. Then begin to become familiar with this comfortable ship that will be our floating home for the duration of the program. The ship’s friendly and courteous staff are scrupulous about hygiene and you will find numerous dispensers with hand sanitizer we are encouraged to use. Along with everyone on board, we will meet at muster stations when called for the ship’s safety drill. Orientation: We will gather late afternoon when the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. During succeeding evenings aboard ship, there will be activities to choose from such as a guest speaker, a performance by talented musicians, and opportunities for interaction with fellow Road Scholars. There is also a well-stocked library with daily newspapers received via satellite. Each evening, a briefing memo/daily journal will be placed in our cabins with highlights of the next day’s activities. Most mornings will begin with a group stretch session. On each full day of the program, we will gather with our Group Leader for an informal “port talk” about what’s ahead. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities is according to personal choice. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. The ship will begin our journey from Piraeus to Mykonos

Aboard ship, enjoy a welcome dinner in the venue of your choice: the a la carte Marco Polo restaurant, open for dinner as well as lunch on full days at sea; and the Terrace Café with its extensive buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Chef-prepared meals feature fresh local ingredients in tasty preparations including healthy choices. Both restaurants offer open-seating dining. All meals aboard ship are included as well as afternoon tea and late night snacks. Non-alcoholic beverages and select wines at dinner are included; other beverages are available for purchase upon request.

Day 3 Syros, Ermoupoli, Free Time At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; uneven terrain, steps without railings, cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.

The South Aegean region of Greece encompasses the Cyclades and Dodecanese groups of islands. The town of Ermoupoli on Syros is the regional capital. After arriving mid-morning, we will set out on an expert-led walking field trip to see the wonderful architecture of old mansions, marble paved streets, grandiose marble squares, imposing churches, monuments, statues, and well-preserved neoclassical buildings. As the first city in what was called the “new Greece” following the revolution of 1821, Ermoupoli (Hermoupolis) became a leading port, center of economic development and cultural capital. Eleftherios Venizelos, a leader of the Greek national liberation movement and later Prime Minister, said Greece was reborn here.

Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship or take advantage of the shuttle bus available for independent exploration.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship and spend time with fellow Road Scholars. The ship will depart for Rhodes.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 4 Rhodes Old City, Lindos Acropolis At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles from motorcoach parking area including an unpaved winding trail with steps, no handrails; uneven, rough footpath; standing up to 2 hours exposed to sun, no shade. Extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Setting off the ship with our Group Leader, we’ll take a shuttle bus to the Acropolis. Lindos is situated 40 miles from the city of Rhodes and “bears” above it the Acropolis of Lindos, with the ancient Temple of Athena, built in 300 BCE. Here and there, we will come across the captains’ mansions, built between the 16th and 18th centuries CE. In the center of the village lives and breathes the Church of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) of Lindos, with frescoes from the 15th century CE. We will ascend to the Acropolis of Lindos. Here stands the Temple of Athena, of Doric order, which was erected on the location of an older monument. The ancient city-state of Lindos was for many centuries the most important on the island. It reached its heyday in the 6th century BCE.

We will start our afternoon exploration of the Old City of Rhodes, one of the rare survivors of the medieval world in Europe. It stands unscathed, in all its vibrant beauty. We will walk through the old town where the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers, has left an indelible mark. With a local expert, we will visit the Palace of the Grand Master, one of the greatest monuments erected in the Middle Ages. It was the administrative center, the residence of the leader of the Knights of Saint John, and the seat of the established ruling class. Back aboard ship, we will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will set sail in the evening.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

In the Rhodes Old City.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 5 Free Time, Lectures at Sea At Sea

Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice.

Free time.

We will gather for a lecture by one of our onboard experts on topics related to the program. We will also meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will continue sailing overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 6 Beirut, Harissa, Byblos Beirut

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2 hours on local roads. Walking up to 2 miles; steps and stairs at museum, walking and standing approximately 2 hours. Extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to Beirut via the coastal road. Upon arrival in the city center, we will see Martyrs’ Square, memorializing Lebanese nationalists executed under Ottoman rule during World War I. Much of the area was destroyed during subsequent warfare and the monument we see today was erected in 1960. Next, we will visit the National Museum. Damaged during the civil war and closed, it reopened in 1999. In addition to prehistoric artifacts, the collection features works from the Mamluk period as well as an overview of Lebanon’s pre-war history. A local expert will provide an introduction to highlights of the collection followed by time for independent exploration to see what interests each of us most.

We will board the motorcoach and journey along the coastal road to Byblos, known as Jbail from the ancient Phoenician name, Gebal. Scholar estimate that it has been inhabited continuously for more than 7,000 years. It is said that the art of shipbuilding was first perfected here, which led to Phoenicians becoming “princes of the sea” as described in the book of Ezekiel. Today, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “The ruins of many successive civilizations are found at Byblos, one of the oldest Phoenician cities. Inhabited since Neolithic times, it has been closely linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Byblos is also directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet. The origin of our contemporary alphabet was discovered in Byblos with the most ancient Phoenician inscription carved on the sarcophagus of Ahiram.” Ahiram was a king, c. 1000 BCE, whom some scholars suggest might be the biblical King Hiram. A local expert will provide background on structures we will see from the Bronze Age, Persian, Roman Byzantine, and Crusader eras, as well as medieval walled fortifications. On our return to Beirut, we will be able to see some breathtaking panoramas at the coastal city of Jounieh and the statue of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. The 15-ton statue, nearly 30 feet (8.5 meters) tall, is bronze painted white. Returning to the ship, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 7 Baalbek and Anjar At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 120 miles round-trip, approximately 4 hours on local roads. Walking up to 2 miles; unpaved winding trail with steps, no handrails; standing up to 2 hours exposed to sun, no shade. Extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to the archaeological site of Baalbek, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a local expert will lead our exploration. Some estimates suggest that the site was inhabited as early as 9,000 BCE. Baalbek has puzzled archaeologists for generations because the largest stone block construction in the world found here predates the temples that followed. Some of these blocks weigh more than 1,000 tons and no one knows for sure how they were moved, from where, or how they were positioned — feats supposedly beyond the skill of ancient builders. We will learn how Baalbek grew into an important center for the worship of the Phoenician god Baal. There was a temple dedicated to Baal and his goddess wife Astarte. When Alexander the Great conquered the city in 334 BCE, he renamed it Heliopolis — city of the sun. Nearly three centuries later, the region was taken by Pompey the Great and Baalbek became a colony of Rome. Later still, the emperor Septimus Severus ordered construction of the Temple of Jupiter that was the largest religious building in Roman history. Its ruins sit atop the earlier Phoenician structure. We will also see the remarkably well-preserved temple of Bacchus.

We will reboard our motorcoach and ride to the ruins of Anjar about 30 miles (47.2 km) away, a legacy of the Umayyad civilization and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. A local expert will explain how, although it was never completed, the city prospered and declined in a relatively short period as a commercial center at the crossroads of two important routes. The ruins were discovered only in the 1940s. Returning to the ship, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Beirut and begin our journey to Limassol.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant with wine tasting.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 8 Free Time, Limassol, Kourion At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; uneven terrain, steps without railings, cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.

Free time.

We will first drive to the center of Limassol, where we will walk with a local expert in the old city at the medieval fort and marina. The medieval fort was built in the 14th century CE on the site of an earlier Byzantine Castle. It was at this older site where, according to tradition, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. Next, we’ll visit the archaeological park of Kourion by motorcoach. Kourion was an important ancient city-kingdom founded by the Greeks in the 14th century BCE. We will visit the Greco-Roman theatre and the House of Efstolios. The House of Efstolios was originally a private Roman villa that became a public recreation center during the early Christian period. It consists of a complex of baths and a number of rooms with beautiful mosaic floors dating from the 5th century CE. Returning to the ship, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Limassol and begin our journey to Haifa.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 9 Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; uneven terrain, steps without railings, cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours. Please note the dress code in the Church of the Annunciation. Men: no hats, shorts must cover the knees. Women: No tank tops or sleeveless shirts and skirts or pants must cover up to the ankles.

Traveling to nearby Nazareth with our local expert, we will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation where we will see the church where — according to Christian tradition — the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was with child. The modern church is one of the largest in the Middle East. We will continue our journey towards on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, called the Kinneret in Hebrew. It is actually the lowest freshwater lake in the world, with a circumference of nearly 33 miles (53 km). It was here that the Gospels say Jesus walked on water and performed the miraculous catch of fish. Today, however, this is Israel’s only freshwater lake and therefore the source of much of the drinking water as well as where St. Peter’s fish (tilapia) come from. With our local expert, we will visit Kibbutz Degania Bet, explore the history of the Kibbutz movement in Israel, and learn about the early settlers. Traditionally based on agriculture, the kibbutz is a form of communal living that integrates elements of socialism and Zionism.

After transferring to Capernaum (Kfar Nahum), we’ll have an on site lecture given by our local expert about early Christianity and the life of Jesus. Capernaum was a “border” town between the Jewish population on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and the pagan population on the Eastern side. It is also the site of an ancient synagogue where it is probable that Jesus prayed and performed miracles as referenced in the New Testament. A modern church also stands over an archaeological site, which may have been the where some of the homes of the apostles were. Returning to the ship, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Haifa and begin our journey to Ashdod.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 10 Jerusalem, Free Time At Sea

Today's activities include extensive walking in the Old City of Jerusalem which include many steps. Please wear comfortable and sturdy footwear.

We will step off the ship and board a motorcoach for a field trip to the Mount of Olives, where our Group Leader will give us a presentation about Jerusalem’s topography, demographics, and an overview of the Old City. We will then move on to the Old City for an on-site lecture reflecting on life in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. We will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, identified in Christian tradition as comprising the site of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus. After the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the year 312 CE, he ordered the destruction of the Temple of Jupiter above the supposed site and directed that a church be erected there. Over many centuries, it was destroyed, rebuilt, renovated, and restored. Control of the church today is shared among several denominations.

Free time. We will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Ashdod and begin our journey to Port Said.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

We will return to the ship for a late lunch. Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 11 Cairo, Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile; uneven, rough terrain; walking and standing outdoors in hot sun conditions, no shade.

From Port Said, we will transfer to Cairo via air-conditioned vehicles. With a local expert who will provide commentary, we will ride to the Giza Plateau, about 12 miles (19.5 km) outside modern Cairo. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the sole remaining “wonder” of the ancient world. It was the tallest structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years and is still the most massive. How did the ancient Egyptians do it? We really don’t know, though the notion that it was built with the labor of slaves has been soundly rejected. The age of the pyramids at Giza is a subject of scholarly debate. Some archaeologists and scientists say 3200 B.C.E. and others around 2550 B.C.E. The pyramids were originally clad in white limestone that must have shown brilliantly in the sun. These surface stones were taken over centuries for other purposes, leaving the rough exteriors we see today. Even more mysterious is the Great Sphinx that appears to stand (actually sit) guard. For many years, it was estimated that it dated to around 2500 B.C.E. The recent theory of “precipitation-induced weathering” proposes a much older date. Another matter of scholarly dispute! Regardless, the Sphinx and the pyramids challenge our imaginations and ideas of what ancient civilizations could achieve. Next, we will ride to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo with the greatest collection of artifacts from 5,000 years of Egyptian history. Among its highlights are treasures of King Tutankhamun, royal mummies, sculptures, and objects from everyday life.

We will return to the ship in Port Said and meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Port Said and begin our journey to Alexandria.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 12 Alexandria, Eastern Harbor, New Library, National Museum Alexandria

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving around Alexandria approximately 2 hours. Walking up to 1.5 miles; walking, standing up to an hour at a time, and climbing steps at historic sites.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and set out on a field trip to see some of the famous highlights of the Eastern Harbor of Alexandria that has been a crossroads of history and culture for 2,300 years. This is where the Pharos lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — guided people from all nations safely into port, where Queen Cleopatra first laid eyes on Julius Caesar. With a local expert, we will explore the Bibliotheca Alexandrina: the new Library of Alexandria, “reborn” in 2002. The ancient library was renowned as the greatest in antiquity, one of the legacies of Alexander the Great, whose thirst for knowledge was legendary. The new library shares the same goals of openness, scholarship, and the sharing of knowledge as its long lost predecessor.

We will explore the Alexandria National Museum where an Egyptologist will give an overview of the museum followed by time for independent exploration. Situated in an old palace and inaugurated in 2003, the museum is now considered one of Egypt's finest. It contains about 1,800 artifacts that trace the history of Alexandria throughout the ages, from the Pharaonic to Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras. Mummies are shown in a special underground chamber. Some items found during underwater archaeological excavations in Alexandria are on the same floor as Greco-Roman artifacts. There are also more modern pieces including 19th-century glassware, silverware, chinaware, and precious jewels that provide a sense of the richness of the court of Pasha Muhammad Ali (1769-1849) and his descendants. Returning to the ship, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will remain in port overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during the farewell dinner.

Day 13 Alexandria, Kom es-Shouqafa Catacombs, Temple of Serapis At Sea

Walking approximately 2 miles round trip with numerous steps, standing for up to 2 hours in some places there is no shade so hat or umbrella is recommended as protection, good walking shoes are recommended.

We will set out on an expert-led field trip to explore more of Alexandria’s great historic sites. The catacombs of Kom es-Shouqafa were tunneled into the bedrock in the age of the Antonine emperors (2nd century CE) for a single wealthy family still practicing the ancient religion. As a privately financed project, it is an engineering feat of some magnitude. These tombs represent the last existing major construction for the sake of the old Egyptian religion. Though the funerary motifs are pure ancient Egyptian, the architects and artists were schooled in the Greco-Roman style. Applied to the themes of ancient Egyptian religion, it has resulted in an amazing integrated art, quite unlike anything else in the world.

We will continue our exploration of Alexandria’s rich past and will reflect at the Temple of Serapis dating back to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods and admire the 25-meter high granite pillar constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletian in 297 CE. Returning to the ship, we will have a presentation led by a leading professor/lecturer on the archaeological work being done to rediscover the destroyed lighthouse of Alexandria. We will also meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Alexandria in the evening.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

At a local restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during the farewell dinner.

Day 14 Free Time, Lectures at Sea At Sea

Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice.

Free time.

We will gather for a lecture by one of our onboard experts on topics related to the program. We will also meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will continue sailing overnight.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Day 15 Elounda, Spinalonga, Free Time At Sea

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; uneven terrain, steps without railings, cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and drive to the small resort of Elounda, from where we will take small boats to cross to Spinalonga to learn from our local expert the history and local legends as described in the award-winning novel ‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop. Spinalonga, a former lepers’ colony and the subject of Hislop’s book, is characterized by its imposing Venetian fortress.

Free time. You may wish to explore the town of Agios Nikolaos where the ship is docked today. We will also meet with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Agios Nikolaos and return to Athens. Prepare for disembarkation in the morning.

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during the farewell dinner.

Day 16 Athens, Acropolis, Acropolis Museum Piraeus (Athens)

Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 2 miles up/down a winding trail with many well-worn steps to Acropolis; no handrails; uneven, rocky, sometimes slippery surfaces; standing up to 2 hours. At Acropolis Museum, walking and standing for more than an hour. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods. Note: The “Moderate” activity level group will not climb to the Acropolis and will see it from the motorcoach followed by a slower paced visit to the museum.

We will step off the ship with our Group Leader and walk to our waiting motorcoach for a field trip to the city’s most iconic symbol, the Acropolis. From the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: “The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world.” We will climb to the top of the rocky crag and stand in awe before ruins of the Parthenon and other temples. Built between 447-432 BCE, the Parthenon — named for the city’s patron goddess, Athena Parthenos — has been called “the supreme effort of genius in pursuit of beauty” and “the most perfect Doric temple ever built.” Its architectural proportions symbolize the ideals of Greek thought at the height of Greek civilization.

The long-awaited Acropolis Museum was completed in 2007. During an expert-led exploration in the dramatic Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis, we will ascend floors of glass that seem to float above the excavations for an extraordinary perspective of the layers of Greek history that lie below. In addition to irreplaceable masterpieces, the exceptional collection includes items from everyday life and all historic periods. A recreation of the Parthenon’s frieze was based on existing original blocks as well as copies from museums in London and Paris. We will return to the ship by motorcoach with time to freshen up, relax and pack.

At leisure. Prepare for your journey home tomorrow.

In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — there are freshly made hot and cold dishes to choose from such as eggs, breakfast meats, cereals, fruits, breads, pastries, and a variety of healthy choices as well as milk, juice, coffee, tea, water. Meals feature fresh local ingredients in tasty preparations.

Lunch at a local restaurant at the foot of the Acropolis.

Join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner on board.

Day 17 Port of Piraeus, Disembarkation, Program Concludes In Flight

Disembarkation begins at early at 5:00 am or earlier depending on local schedules. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

After completing disembarkation procedures, we will transfer to the airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.