Compare Voyages to Antiquity: Masterworks from London to Lisbon by Road Scholar vs Mediterranean Journey - Start London, Classic Group Start London Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive London, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
London D Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and get your room assignment. The Group Leader will be on hand to provide assistance as needed. Then take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. We will meet in the hotel lobby. 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. In addition to lectures and field trips exclusively for our Road Scholar group, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. All meals aboard ship are included, as well as afternoon tea and late night snacks; non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and select wines included with dinner. Periods in the daily 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. All routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions could affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice.

Dinner: In the hotel dining room, we will enjoy a welcome dinner buffet with coffee, tea, water, and wine included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 3
London, England
London B,L Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: We will board a motorcoach and depart the hotel for a panoramic overview of London's monuments and most famous sights with a local expert.

Lunch: Enjoy an authentic London pub lunch. Pubs — public houses — are an institution hearkening back to the Roman era. Our menu today is traditional fish and chips and dessert. Water, tea or coffee is also included.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we will transfer by coach to discover the Museum of London with our local expert. We will trace the history of London and its people from prehistoric to modern times. We will learn about the capital's turbulent past, see how the city changed under Romans and Saxons, and examine the tumultuous years when London was ravaged by civil wars, plague and fire. In the Galleries of Modern London, we will walk the streets of Victorian London, take a stroll in the recreated pleasure gardens, and marvel at the magnificent Lord Mayor's Coach.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
London; embark the Aegean Odyssey in Tilbury
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1/2 mile, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: After check-out, transfer via private coach to the Tower of London. On this field trip with your local expert, absorb over 1000 years of history and learn about Great Britain's dramatic and fascinating past. Get up close to the Crown Jewels, the symbol of the monarchy's power and status.

Lunch: The ship offers a welcome lunch buffet following embarkation.

Afternoon: After lunch, transfer to the port to embark the Aegean Odyssey. Take some time to settle in to your cabin, freshen up, and relax. Following embarkation there will be a safety briefing provided by the ship’s staff followed by a brief orientation to the ship by your Road Scholar Group Leader. This is preliminarily scheduled for 5:00 PM, but your Group Leader will confirm timings once on board the ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship, Road Scholars are invited to dine together on the first night. Thereafter, you may choose either the Marco Polo Restaurant that serves a variety of á là carte items or the Terrace Café with its buffet. The ship’s chefs use fresh local ingredients to create menus inspired by regional cuisine.

Evening: At leisure. Most evenings aboard ship are free to enjoy as you like whether it’s attending a shipboard guest lecture or listening to live music in the Charleston Lounge.

Day 5
Rouen, France
Rouen B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship, breakfast will be buffet-style and served in the Terrace Café.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards Rouen, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship cruises along the Seine to arrive in Rouen by evening. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Rouen, France
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship to begin our exploration of Rouen with a local expert. It is the capital city of Normandy and port city on the river Seine. This city has enjoyed both prosperity and devastation throughout the ages. Learn about the city's long history while walking the cobblestoned pedestrian center lined with timber homes dating from the medieval period.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities provided in your first Information Packet. The ship’s shore excursion desk as well as your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Honfleur, France
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will disembark the ship and join a local expert for an exploration of Honfleur on foot. One of Honfleur’s major sites is St. Catherine’s Church, which dates from the 15th century and also has the distinction of being France’s largest timber-built church. The separate bell tower is likewise made of oak. We will also see the Salt Warehouses, originally run by the Gabelle (tax on salt) collectors, the Lieutenancy, once the residence of the city governor, and the Old Port. After, we will have some free time to explore the quaint atmosphere of this charming town before returning to Aegean Odyssey.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards La Rochelle, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
La Rochelle, France
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship to begin our panoramic overview of La Rochelle with a local expert. We will explore the city's mercantile and military past. Next, we will transfer by coach to Chateau de La Peraudière. Owned by the Normandin Mercier family, the Chateau was established in 1872 by Jules Normandin, a Cognac brandy broker and landowner. We will visit the cellars and have a tasting of Cognac and Pineau des Charentes, a fortified wine made from lightly fermented grape must and Cognac.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. As we head towards Bordeaux, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: For many years Bordeaux was known as “La Belle au Bois Dormant” (Sleeping Beauty) due to its magnificent buildings being shrouded in centuries of black soot. Then in 2000, the mayor, former Prime Minister Alain Juppé, restored its neoclassical architecture and implemented a high-tech public transport system. In 2007, half of the entire city was UNESCO listed, making it the largest urban World Heritage Site. After breakfast, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach with a local expert for a panoramic overview of Bordeaux including the 13th-century cathedral, the Palais Rohan and the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux. After, we will leave the city via motorcoach and travel to the nearby world-famous vineyards that surround Bordeaux. The history of Bordeaux wine spans almost 2,000 years to Roman times when the first vineyards were planted. Today, Bordeaux wine remains the world’s most popular and sought-after wine. We will stop at one of the prestigious wine estates to visit their cellar, be introduced to the art of wine making and, of course, to enjoy a wine tasting.

Lunch: Aboard ship or explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The ship’s shore excursion desk will tell you what is available and the cost involved.

Dinner: Aboard ship on your own to explore in Bordeaux.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
At Sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards San Sebastián, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard the ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
San Sebastián, Spain
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards San Sebastián, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Early afternoon arrival into San Sebastián. Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The ship’s shore excursion desk will tell you what is available and the cost involved.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
At Sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards La Coruña, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
La Coruña, Spain (Santiago de Compostela)
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: From the port of La Coruña, we will transfer via motorcoach for a field trip to Santiago de Compostela, famous for its magnificent cathedral which is a destination for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James. Tradition says that St. James the Apostle visited Galicia and that his body was brought here after his death in the Holy Land. His supposed relics are kept in a silver coffer beneath the high altar of the great church built on this site. We will explore the cathedral and its crypt, where we can see the St. James reliquary, as well as the museum and the charming medieval town, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will continue exploring Santiago de Compostela. Late afternoon return to the ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15
Oporto, Portugal
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea as we sail towards Portugal. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: In the early afternoon, we will arrive in Oporto to explore Portugal's second largest city with a local expert. Its varied history spans over 2,000 years. On foot, we will discover the different quarters along the Douro River. We will see the tiles at São Bento Station, walk in the Ribeira old quarter, and lastly visit the home and gardens of a Portuguese family and taste their family estate-produced wine.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation.

Day 16
Disembarkation, Lisbon
Lisbon B,D Hotel Mundial
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: After disembarking the Aegean Odyssey, we will board a motorcoach for an exploration of Lisbon with a local expert. Our first stop is Alfama. This is the city’s oldest quarter, with narrow streets and crooked lanes steeped in history. Next, we will continue to the Portuguese National Tile Museum, housed at the former "Madre de Deus" Convent. Here we will discover the old decorative art of ceramic tiles.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader can provide suggestions.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, we will continue to Belém neighborhood, from where the Portuguese navigators left on their "discovery" of India. We will stop to admire the Belem Tower and Monument to the Discoveries. Our final stop is to discover Jeronimos Monastery where Vasco da Gama and Camões are buried as well as King Manuel I. Late afternoon, we will transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Dinner: Enjoy a 3-course meal at a traditional Fado house. Discover this traditional Portuguese song and music, classified World Heritage by the Unesco.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 17
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon B,D Hotel Mundial
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, cobblestones, and uphill segments.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: After breakfast, we will transfer by coach from Lisbon to Queluz, the summer palace of Portuguese royalty for an exploration with a local expert. Next, we will travel by coach along the coast of Cascais through the Sintra Mountains on our way back to Lisbon.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader can provide suggestions.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departures.

Day 18
Program Concludes, In Transit from Program
In Flight B
Activity note: See your program’s travel details regarding transfers

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room depending on transfer times.

Morning: Transfer to Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) for departures. 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.

Day 1: Welcome to London

Welcome to London. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy a city that is famous for its pomp and pageantry. Perhaps relax with a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park or window shop in the elegant boutiques of Knightsbridge? Alternatively, you may want to stroll along the Thames to the iconic Tower Bridge and Tower of London.

Day 2: London to Paris by Eurostar

Meet your Travel Director at 07:30 and after a warm welcome, transfer to London’s St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar. Your comfortable rail journey takes you via the Channel Tunnel to Paris where you can spend the afternoon as you please. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. Discover the banks of the River Seine with its many romantic bridges, see the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Later, join your Travel Director at a local restaurant in the heart of Paris for a fabulous Welcome Dinner.

Day 3: Paris, the City of Light

Your exploration of Paris today begins with an Insight Choice. Choose between exploring aristocratic Marais district with your Local Expert, including a visit to beautiful Sully's Mansion garden, or alternatively join a Local Expert who is an avid foodie, to explore the local market and sample local treats and delicacies. With the afternoon free, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city.

Day 4: Amboise and on to Bordeaux

Head southwards towards Châteaux Country. Take a scenic drive along the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is known as the Jardins de France for the beautifully maintained gardens that were created on vast estates as outdoor living areas. Visit the majestic Chenoneau Castle, an elegant French château spanning the River Cher. Continue on to the bustling seaport of Bordeaux with its unique 18th century character.

Day 5: Bordeaux and San Sebastián

Join a Local Expert for a guided tour of France's best 18th century architecture. The facades of the quaysides, the Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or and magnificent Esplanade des Quinconces all contribured to Bordeaux earn inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Next, continue to picturesque San Sebastián where you will have the chance to dine with the locals in the evening. In small groups, wander through the Old Town for a progressive dinner, as you enjoy the gastronomic Basque tradition of pintxos. Similar to tapas, enjoy a variety of snack-sized treats to make your meal and be sure to try some of the local Txakoli wine.

Day 6: On to Madrid Relaxed Start

Continue along the Guadarrama Mountains to the plateau of New Castile and Spain's elegant capital of Madrid. In the evening, why not see the city lit up it all its glory, with a drive along the grand avenues and past the spectacular fountains?

Day 7: Madrid

Join your Local Expert for a sightseeing tour of the Old Town as well as, along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana and past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles. Explore Madrid with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Reina Sofia Museum with an art historian to see Picasso's Guernica.  Alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on a neighbourhood walking tour to learn about the history of women's movements in Spain.

Day 8: Madrid and beautiful Barcelona

Cross the Castilian plain, past Zaragoza, and continue to the vibrant port of Barcelona. In the evening, why not try delicious local Catalan cuisine and as night descends, view the city from the heights of Montjuic, with lights sparkling below from the mountains to sea.

Day 9: Barcelona, City of Gaudi

Join your Local Expert to explore the heart of the Gothic Quarter. See the cathedral and walk through the Roman gate to tour the narrow lanes and old squares. Travel by the Ramblas and along the Passeig de Gràcia. Continue through the Eixample district to see Gaudi’s extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Família.

Day 10: Avignon, the City of Popes

Journey to Avignon to see the famous Pont d'Avignon, once spanning the Rhône and immortalised in songs. Walk within the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to stand in the shadow of the old Palais des Papes, resembling a fortress. Learn about olive oil and enjoy a tasting of the freshest produce. After, indulge in a Farm-to-Table dinner, a delicious insight into traditional French home-style cuisine.

Day 11: On the shores of Nice

Journey along the French Riviera to the elegant town of Nice, where the rest of the day is at your leisure to stroll along the fabled Promenade des Anglais or relax on the beach.

Day 12: Monaco and Pisa

Travel to Monaco where you are driven along part of the Grand Prix circuit, before walking with your Travel Director through the old town. See the Royal Palace where the Grimaldi family live, the yacht-filled harbour and visit the cathedral, housing the tombs of the late Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Cross into Italy and follow the arc of the Italian Riviera before arriving in Pisa. In the Square of Miracles, stop to see the incredible Leaning Tower of Pisa with a Local Expert, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. Also see the splendid 11th century cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble.

Day 13: Florence Sightseeing Relaxed Start

Walk with your Local Expert to the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. The next stop is Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and David along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The area around Santa Croce Basilica is famous for the quality of its luxury goods of gold and leather and there's free time to shop or continue exploring.

Day 14: The Eternal City of Rome

Relax and enjoy the grand landscapes of the Chianti hills and Umbria, before passing the Apennine Mountains to arrive at the Eternal City, filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. In the evening, what better way to toast the culmination of your Mediterranean journey, than with delicious Italian cuisine and wine.

Day 15: Exploring Papal Rome

A Local Expert introduces the grandeur of the city, starting with the Vatican State, the richest community on the world. Visit the Vatican Museums, full of priceless treasures collected by the Popes. Insight provides special, fast-tracked entry to avoid the crowds, together with behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase - a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally off-limits to the general public. Once inside the Sistine Chapel, admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling. Next door, visit St. Peter’s Basilica to admire Michelangelo's emotive 'Pieta' and see Bernini's intricately carved Papal Altar. The rest of the day is yours to shop in the trendy boutiques or relax at a sidewalk cafe. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to visit the Colosseum, the scene of many gladiatorial contests, and see the Roman Forum?

Day 16: Rome at Leisure Relaxed Start

The day is yours to enjoy Rome at your own pace. Perhaps take an optional experience to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was engulfed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Alternatively, spend some time in the boutiques of the Via del Corso, the Via Nazionale or the elegant designer stores near the Spanish Steps? As night falls, why not sip on prosecco at a sidewalk cafe in Piazza Navona - the Living Room of Rome - and enjoy life's pageantry pass by?

Day 17: Arrivederci Roma

Bid farewell to the glories of Italy. Departure transfers arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 and 09:30.