Compare Voyages to Antiquity: Splendors of Italy and Croatia by Road Scholar vs Best of Italy - Classic Group, Summer Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1
In transit
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive Rome, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Rome D NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento
Activity note: Hotel check-in is available from 2:00 PM.

Afternoon: Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and get your room assignment. Then take some time to freshen up and relax before orientation. At 6:00 PM, meet in the hotel lobby for the program orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. 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
Rome, Italy / Colosseum
Rome B,L NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, stairs, and standing in an archaeological site. Limited shade.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will be buffet-style with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee and tea. Water will be served at every meal on this program.

Morning: This morning, we will board a motorcoach for a panoramic overview of Rome’s most significant sites. Traffic permitting, we will drive by Roman piazzas as well as the Vatican to admire some of the most famous buildings that have endured in Eternal Rome. Next, join a local expert to explore the archaeological wonders of the Rome. The Colosseum was the largest, most sophisticated arena in the known world when it opened in AD 80 with room for upwards of 50,000 spectators. About 2,000 years later and in grandiose ruins, it is the iconic symbol of Rome. The Forum was the heart of ancient Rome, with a concentration of temples and structures for public meetings and spectacles, religious ceremonies, courts of law, markets, business enterprises, and more.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Rome.

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: 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.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out.

Day 4
Rome, Italy; Embark the Aegean Odyssey
Rome B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: This morning, we will transfer by coach to explore the Palazzo dei Conservatori with a local expert. We will see the archaeological finds in the Roman Garden before surveying the outstanding collections of art housed in the Musei Capitolini.

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

Afternoon: After lunch, we will transfer by coach to the port in Civitavecchia and embark the Aegean Odyssey. After getting your cabin, take some time to freshen up and relax. We will gather late afternoon in the Observation Lounge for our Road Scholar orientation to the ship. Along with everyone on board, we will participate in the ship’s mandatory safety drill when announced.

Dinner: Aboard ship, you may choose from either the Marco Polo Restaurant or the Terrace Café. The former serves a variety of á là carte items while the café is buffet-style. Menus are inspired by fresh local ingredients. Wine is complimentary with dinner in both dining areas.

Evening: 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
Sorrento, Italy / Pompeii
Sorrento B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain, stairs, and standing in an archaeological site. Limited shade.

Breakfast: Aboard ship, breakfast will be buffet-style and served in the Terrace Café.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer to Pompeii, considered the world's finest example of an ancient Roman town. The city, buried for centuries by hot ashes in 79AD, is a virtual time capsule of that era. With a local expert, we will explore the patrician mansions, baths and temples at the site. Step inside to admire the brilliant Pompeian Red walls, elaborate frescoes and gardens adorned with sculptures. View the sobering ash replicas of the citizens caught in their final moments.

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

Afternoon: After lunch, we will transfer back to Sorrento to explore the charming port town on your own. Stroll along Marina Piccolo or find your way to the lift that will take you up to the city center, perched high above the sea. Enjoy the bustle along the Corso Italia and perhaps sample the famous local limoncello at the Piazza Tasso. 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. The ship overnights in Sorrento so there is ample time to enjoy this charming port city.

Day 6
Sorrento, Italy / Free Time
Sorrento B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: 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.

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.

Evening: At leisure. The ship will overnight in Sorrento.

Day 7
Salerno, Italy
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: At sea. As we head towards Salerno along the Amalfi Coast, 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. The ship will present a guest lecture.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer from Salerno to Paestum, one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Italy, where we will explore with a local expert. We will also visit the museum on site with some of world’s rare surviving examples of ancient Greek painting.

Dinner: Aboard the ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Taormina, Sicily
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: At sea. As we head towards Taormina, 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. En route the Aegean Odyssey will pass through the Straits of Messina and take you past the living volcano of Stromboli. The ship will present a guest lecture.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we will disembark the ship and tender ashore for a short, scenic transfer by coach to the idyllic hilltop of Taormina with its mountainous backdrop, lemonblossom-scented air and narrow, medieval alleys. Led by a local expert, we will begin our overview walking past the Cathedral and the 15th-century Palazzo Corvaja with its black and white lava decoration. With our local expert, we will explore the theater. Originally built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC and rebuilt by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, the site offers views of the sea and Mount Etna. You will have time to explore the Corso Umberto, a pedestrian walkway.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards Corfu, 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 lecture.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Corfu, Greece / Sarande, Albania (Butrint)
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile; some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer to Corfu's historic Campielo quarter. With our local expert, explore a 15th-century church which houses one of Greece's most extensive collections of Byzantine art. After exploring the museum, walk to Corfu’s center to visit 16th-century rococo church dedicated to St. Spiridon, Corfu's patron saint, whose bones are preserved in a gleaming casket. You will have time to explore the maze of narrow streets where little has changed for centuries.

Lunch: Aboard ship as we continue sailing towards Sarande, Albania.

Afternoon: Disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer to the Albanian archaeological site of Butrint to explore with a local expert. The approximately 50 square mile site is an Albanian National Park and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Walk along the winding paths to discover layers of civilization: Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian. Complete the visit with a view from Butrint's acropolis and a short visit to the museum.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Brindisi, Italy (Lecce)
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles; some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer to Lecce, a historic city of the Salentine Peninsula of Puglia. On foot, we will explore the city with our local expert with stops Piazza St Oronzo, the Roman Column, Santa Croce Basilica, the Governor's Palace, and Piazza Duomo.

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.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile; some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship for a walking overview of the city with our local expert. We will explore both the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, the former housing a fine collection of Renaissance paintings, as well as the Cathedral of our Lady which boasts Titian's Assumption over the main altar.

Lunch: Aboard the 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.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Split, Croatia
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile; some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer to explore the Palace of Diocletian with a local expert. Diocletian became Emperor of Rome in 284AD. To ensure a comfortable retirement, Diocletian commissioned the construction of a massive limestone and marble palace in the town of Split. His palace complex included three temples as well as Diocletian’s massive mausoleum (now the Cathedral of St. Dominus), and could house around 9,000 people. Today, the palace contains bustling houses, shops and cafés.

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.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
Ancona, Italy
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles; some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to transfer to Urbino. Led by a local expert, we will first explore the childhood home of the artist Raphael. The home contains memoirs and artistic furniture of that period, and there is a small mural attributed to the painter in one room. The house is a very good example of a 15th-century home/workshop. Next, we will transfer by coach to Palazzo Ducale, Italy’s most beautiful Renaissance palace built for Duke Federico da Montefeltro, who ruled Urbino between 1444 and 1482. Today the palace is enriched with a comprehensive library, famous paintings including works by Piero della Francesca, Raphael and Titian and refined architecture. Finally, we will visit the Duomo, built in 1789 on top of a 6th century sacred site

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: We will continue our exploration to Urbino before returning by coach to the ship in the late afternoon.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15
Venice, Italy
Venice B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a boat. Walking up to 1 mile; some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, disembark the ship and board a smaller boat to begin our visits to the islands of Murano and Burano with a local expert. Our first stop will be to Murano, "the island of glass." By the 15th century, this was the leading glass producing center in Europe, noted especially for its chandeliers. To this day glass-making is the heart of the local economy. You'll have the opportunity to watch a master at work. Next, we will transfer by boat to Burano, which is an archipelago of islands connected by bridges. With our local expert, we will stroll along canals lined with brightly painted boats and colorful houses while learning about the lace trade of the 16th century.

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.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation.

Day 16
Disembarkation, Program Concludes, In Transit from Program
In Flight B
Activity note: See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Aboard ship depending on departure times. This concludes our program.

Morning: Transfer to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) 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. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1: Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome

Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Transfers depart from Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport for your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director at 17:30, and get to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Vatican City and Rome with a Local

The day is devoted to The Eternal City. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Insight has arranged special priority entry to avoid the lines and gain behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of Renaissance architecture, normally off-limits to visitors. Visit the Sistine Chapel, where the Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, to wonder at another of his works, the emotive ‘Pietà,’ and stand beneath the dome completed after his death. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus. Come up close and personal with the beautifully preserved Arch of Constantine, walking on the ancient pavement. Discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum as you stroll around the exterior of this amazing structure. Later, perhaps continue your exploration of Rome to see the Pantheon, toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain and enjoy free time around Piazza Navona?

Day 3: The Chianti Hills to Florence

Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. On arrival, you will be privy to the secrets of traditional Florentine leatherwork and see a gold demonstration. This evening, indulge in a delicious meal at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Florence, Birthplace of the Renaissance

Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo's David. Alternatively, wander through the market stalls on a guided shopping tour, enjoying all the Italian treats and finery on offer. Walk on to the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. Visit 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 as well as Hercules and Cacus, along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio.  In the afternoon, perhaps visit medieval San Gimignano?

Day 5: Pisa to Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic

Journey to the coastal town of Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles, as well as the baptistery and colonnaded bell tower behind the cathedral. Relax and enjoy the scenery as you cross the spectacular Apennine Mountains, through the Emilia-Romagna region - one of Europe's most intensely farmed and fertile plains. Continue through the marshes of the Venetian Lagoon before crossing the causeway into the floating city of Venice. As evening falls, day-trippers desert the city to return to the mainland. Appreciate the peace and tranquility of Venice from your centrally located hotel.This evening, indulge in a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6: Venice and the Magic of La Serenissima Relaxed Start

Your private boat takes you past historic churches and 13th century palaces to St. Mark's Square. The first sight is the glided regalia of St. Mark's Basilica. Turn the corner, and view the pink marble of the Doge's Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape. Afterwards, board a traditional gondola for a serenade along the romantic canals. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts centre. See how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills.

Day 7: Assisi

Journey to the peaceful town of Assisi, dotted with medieval churches, colourful frescoes and shady courtyards.In the valley, see the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, much venerated as the place of St. Francis' death, then continue up Mount Subasio to the upper town. With your Local Expert, step inside the huge Basilica of St. Francis, built in the 13th century. The frescoes painted by Giotto here heralded a new era in Italian art.Arrive at your hotel, located in the heart of the medieval Old Town. Enjoy the tranquility of the historic old town during free time.

Day 8: Sorrento on the coast

Travel south passing Cassino, the scene of a fierce battle during World War II. Follow the spectacular clifftop road to the picturesque resort of Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples to Mount Vesuvius. After checking in to your hotel, spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 9: Capri, the Isle of Dreams

Cross the Bay of Naples to reach the beautiful Isle of Capri, a rock rising sheer from the Mediterranean! For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Tiberius Caesar to Gracie Fields. Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, ascend to Capri town by one of the island's iconic open-top taxis. A Local Expert joins you for an exploration of the narrow alleyways. Browse in deluxe boutiques and wonder at the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Descend to the port by funicular railway and return to Sorrento, where you are at leisure for the rest of the day. Perhaps head to Positano for an exploration of the colourful Amalfi Coast?

Day 10: Pompeii, frozen in time and on to Rome

Continue to Pompeii, the opulent Roman town which was preserved by layers of ash from the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. A walk with your Local Expert through the cobbled streets and extensive excavations reveals the daily life of ancient Roman civilisation. Visit the Forum and peer into shops and patrician villas, decorated with colourful wall paintings. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Vesuvius National Park and visit Casa Barone. This small family run farm on the slopes of the volcano is one of the world’s only producers of Piennolo tomatoes, an endangered fruit that only thrives in the fertile volcanic soil. Each harvest is sustainably farmed and cared for by the extended Barone family, who all work here. Be sure to savour the unique flavours of this rare tomato during a truly unique Farm-to-Table lunch. Your journey continues to Rome. In the evening, enjoy an elegant four-course Celebration Dinner with local wine at a Roman restaurant. As you dine, enjoy a private performance of popular songs and arias from some of Italy's best-loved operas.

Day 11: 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.