E-mail a friendShip: Corinthian II
Itinerary: Journey of Odysseus: Retracing the Odyssey Through the Ancient Mediterranean 2009
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Delos
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| Cat E | Cat D | Cat C | Cat B | Cat A | Cat AA | Cat VS | Cat PHS | ||
| 11 | Sep 1, 2009 | $7,595 | $8,595 | $9,595 | $10,595 | $11,595 | $12,395 | $13,795 | $14,795 |
| A limited number of cabins have been designated for single travelers in Categories D - A at a supplement of $2,995 | |||||||||
| Destinations : Europe, Greece, Italy, Malta, Mediterranean, Sicily, Turkey Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Modern History, Photography |
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“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns / driven time and again off course, once he had plundered / the hallowed heights of Troy.” Homer’s epic is the definitive sea saga, reiterated and re-interpreted in every conceivable way, from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” to Joyce’s Ulysses to O Brother, Where Art Thou? Its theme of returning home, as spouse, as hero, after the defeat of monsters, is just as contemporary as it is ancient. Sail to the Mediterranean realms Homer used as a map of the Greek mind: from the crucible of Troy to the Palace of Nestor, where Telemachus sought word of his father; Malta, the seductive isle of Calypso; Sicily of the Laestrygonians; the Phlegrean Fields of the Cyclops; Taormina, home to the Oxen of the Sun; and finally, Ithaca: home to Penelope, and the marriage bed that grows from the ancestral tree.
Day 1 : ISTANBUL, TURKEY | EMBARK
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to embark on Corinthian II. Set sail in the late afternoon.
Day 2 : CANAKKALE | TROY: Priam’s Kingdom | CANAKKALE, Turkey
Call at Canakkale for an excursion to famed Troy, site of Odysseus' embarkation. Troy consists of nine cities superimposed in rings upon the "windswept" Plain of Ilium. This is where Paris abducted the beautiful half-goddess Helen, igniting the mythological Trojan War, and where the city of King Priam finally fell to Odysseus' clever ruse of the Trojan Horse. This evening, enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner hosted by the captain.
Day 3 : DELOS, Greece
In the heart of the Aegean, tiny uninhabited Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Legend identifies the pristine island as the birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis. A walking tour leads to the excavations of the main shrines dedicated to these gods, and to the Terrace of the Lions, whose deftly carved archaic figures were originally constructed to overlook and protect the Sacred Lake.
Day 4 : PYLOS
In the morning, Corinthian II enters spacious Navarino Bay, which is fronted by the uninhabited isle of Sphakteria. Land at the picturesque village of Pylos, situated at the headof the bay, and drive to the Palace of Nestor, dating from the 13th century B.C. Even in ruins, the structure gives a vivid picture of the grandeur of the Mycenaeans.
Day 5 : AT SEA | VALLETTA, Malta: Calypso’s Island
As Corinthian II plies the blue Ionian waters, attend lectures by our expert study leaders, and enjoy the ship's amenities. In the evening, dock in the Grand Harbor of Valletta, the fortified bastion of the Knights of Malta. Ruled successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, Valletta's 320 monuments make it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
Day 6 : VALLETTA or GOZO | VALLETTA
Today, choose between sightseeing Malta or the nearby island of Gozo. On the cliffs overlooking Ramla Bay on Gozo, retrace Odysseus' footsteps to the smooth-walled cave where the nymph Calypso is said to have kept him for seven years. Visit the underground Alabaster Caves in the tiny town of Xaghra and the spectacular Ggantija temple complex. Alternatively, on Malta, wander the narrow streets of Valletta, exploring the picturesque squares surrounded by medieval palaces, and St. John's Co-Cathedral, an opulent repository for Malta's finest art treasures. A short scenic drive takes you to the remarkable Neolithic Tarxien Temples, which date back to 2800 B.C., and onto Hagar Qim, an even older temple that stands atop a hill on the southern edge of the island overlooking the sea.
Day 7 : TRAPANI, SICILY, ITALY: LAND OF THE LAESTRYGONIANS
Call this morning at Trapani on Sicily’s west coast, where legend has it the cannibal Laestrygonians attacked Odysseus and his companions. Visit the picturesque medieval mountain town of Erice, built on ancient Carthaginian and Roman remains, and the superb Doric temple of Segesta, one of the grandest monuments of antiquity.
Day 8 : NNAPLES: LAND OF THE CYCLOPS OR POMPEII
Call at Naples and drive to the Phlegrean Fields, where Odysseus and his men confronted and were captured by Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Drive by Lago d’Averno, the ancient Avernus Lake, home of the Cimmerians in The Odyssey, and Lago di Fusaro, the ancient Archerusian Lake, where Odysseus entered Hades. Continue to Monte di Cuma and the cave of the Sibyl of Cumae, who prophesied the future. Alternatively, visit Pompeii, the fabled city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. After lunch, visit the Archaeological Museum in Naples.
Day 9 : MESSINA | TAORMINA: The Kingdom of Helios | MESSINA, Sicily
Cross the Strait of Messina, the site of the legendary jaws of Scylla, a terrifying six-headed monster, and Charybdis, a treacherous whirlpool. Odysseus was cast ashore in the Kingdom of Helios, modern Taormina, where his companions slaughtered and ate the sacred oxen. To avenge the death of his beloved oxen, Helios sent a lightning bolt that destroyed their ship, drowning all aboard except Odysseus. Picturesque Taormina is poised on a mountainside affording magnificent views of Mount Etna. Visit the superbly situated Greek theater, built in the 3rd century B.C. Afterwards, stroll the town's cobblestoned lanes, lined with shops, cafés and gardens.
Day 10 : ITHACA, Greece: The Home of Odysseus | CORINTH CANAL
Ithaca, the legendary home of Odysseus, is a stunning island of pristine beaches and verdant forest. Visit the bay of Dexia, Homer's harbor of Phorkys, where the Phaeacians left the sleeping Odysseus on the beach. Admire the Cyclopean Walls (Alalkomenai), a ruined site known locally as Odysseus' Castle, and stand atop the Plateau of Marathia, where Odysseus' loyal servant Eumaeus kept his swine. At dusk, sail along the Corinth Canal.
Day 11 : PIRAEUS | DISEMBARK | ATHENS
Disembark Corinthian II and transfer to the Athens airport for return flights home.
-Please note the following fuel surcharge information:
*$180/person for departures from Sept-Oct 11, 2008
*$250/person for departures from Oct 11-Dec 22, 2008
*$275/person for all Antarctic departures, Dec 2008 - March 2009.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.
- A limited number of cabins have been designated for single travelers in Categories D - A. Supplement depends on particular voyage; contact us for details. Singles in categories AA - PHS are available at double the per person, double occupancy rates.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Corinthian II
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Corinthian II Ship
The distinguished 114-guest Corinthian II offers a classic yacht-like atmosphere and fine accommodations. Corinthian II is ice-strengthened for voyages into Antarctic waters, and is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac inflatable craft for forays ashore. Originally built in 1992 and refurbished in 2005, Corinthian II accommodates all guests in 57 outside suites, each affording sea views and elegantly appointed with a sitting area, TV, mini-refrigerator, safe, and other amenities as well as a marble bathroom. Several suites include private balconies accessed via sliding glass doors. Spacious and finely decorated public areas include a library stocked with books related to the itinerary and other volumes, and four computer terminals for e-mail access; an elegant lounge; and The Club, a space for convivial relaxation, with picture windows for panoramic views. The restaurant, serving fine cuisine prepared by European chefs, accommodates all guests at a single unassigned seating. The ship also includes a gym, beauty salon, a sun deck with Jacuzzi, and an outdoor café and bar, where meals may be served al fresco. Corinthian II is served by 70 experienced European officers and crew. There is also an elevator offering access to all decks.
Cabin Categories & Descriptions
All accommodations aboard Corinthian II are suites. They face outside, affording sea views, and several have balconies with sliding doors. All suites include a bedroom with twin or queen-size beds, sitting area, ample closet space, mini-refrigerator, TV, marble-appointed bathroom with shower, and other amenities.
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Cat E Deluxe suites on Magellan Deck with portholes and sitting area. 225 sq. ft. Suites 250 - 252 |
Cat D Deluxe suites on Columbus Deck with window and sitting area. 225 sq. ft. Suites 329-332 |
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Cat C Deluxe suites on Magellan Deck with portholes and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 254 - 262 |
Cat B Deluxe suites on Columbus Deck with window and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 333 - 348 |
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Cat A Deluxe suites on Marco Polo Deck with window and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 416 - 428 |
Cat AA Deluxe suites on Marco Polo Deck with forward and side windows and sitting area. 265 sq. ft. Suites 414 - 415 |
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Cat VS Deluxe Veranda Suites on Erickson Deck with private balcony and sitting area. 300 sq. ft. (including balcony) Suites 505 - 512 |
Cat PHS Deluxe Penthouse Suites on Explorer Deck with private balcony and sitting area. 400 sq. ft. (including balcony) Suites 601 - 604 |
