Ship: Corinthian II
Itinerary: Between Two Seas: Exploring the Ancient Cities of the Aegean and Black Seas
* Great Discounts! [click here] * click to enlarge
Istanbul, Turkey
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | ISTANBUL, Turkey |
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| Day 2 : | ISTANBUL | EMBARK |
| Day 3 : | THASOS, Northern Aegean, Greece |
| Day 4 : | THESSALONIKI | VERGINA, Macedonia |
| Day 5 : | VOLOS | PELION or METEORA | VOLOS, Thessaly |
| Day 6 : | CANAKKALE | TROY, Turkey |
| Day 7 : | MUDANYA | BURSA |
| Day 8 : | AMASRA, Turkey’s Black Sea Coast |
| Day 9 : | NESSEBUR, Bulgaria |
| Day 10 : | ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| Cat E | Cat D | Cat C | Cat B | Cat A | Cat AA | Cat VS | Cat PHS | ||
| 10 | Sep 28, 2010 | $8,495 | $9,495 | $10,495 | $11,495 | $12,495 | $13,495 | $15,995 | $16,995 |
| Destinations : Bulgaria, Europe, Greece, Mediterranean, Turkey |
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| Savings | Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| $4000 | Sep 28, 10 |
Contact us for less expensive triple occupancy rates on any program!
Single travelers can opt to pay a single supplement for a private cabin or opt for a willing to share triple space at LESS than double occupancy rates!!
This is a voyage to the homelands of Achilles, Hector, and Alexander the Great, to the birthplaces of the Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations, to the point where Europe and Asia meet. This exceptional program takes us from the Northern Aegean Sea, through the breathtaking Bosphorus with its spectacular views of Istanbul, and into the Black Sea, a fascinating region that very few travelers have explored. This is an itinerary for travelers who have seen the classic sites of the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean and are ready for something new. From Istanbul we journey to the lovely island of Thasos and to the dense forest of Mount Pelion where Centaurs trained the young Achilles as a warrior. Below the slopes of Mount Uludag, we will discover extraordinary 14th- and 15th-century Ottoman monuments—they are among the finest in the world, yet are rarely seen by visitors from the West. In addition to rare sites, we will also see the vast remains of Troy on Turkey’s wind-swept plains, and the magnificent Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of Istanbul. Then we’ll sail into the Black Sea, an immense inland ocean that has been a crossroads of culture and commerce since ancient times. Amasra is one of the Black Sea’s loveliest towns, that reveals the influence of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Byzantines, and the Ottomans. With 57 suites accommodating only 114 guests, Corinthian II is the ideal ship for this splendid itinerary.
Day 1 : ISTANBUL, Turkey
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the Hotel Hilton. Built on a stunning location on the Bosphorus, the narrow waterway that separates Asia from Europe, Istanbul was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and resplendent with monuments that represent 25 centuries of uninterrupted history.
Day 2 : ISTANBUL | EMBARK
The battle for control of the Mediterranean between the Muslim Ottoman and Christian Europe is one of the world’s epic struggles. Explore the principal Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of Istanbul, former Constantinople, including the basilica of Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, the seat of Ottoman sultans, and the Sultan Ahmet Camii (or Blue Mosque). Embark Corinthian II and sail.
Day 3 : THASOS, Northern Aegean, Greece
After a morning at sea, arrive in Thasos, an island noted for its beautiful landscape and pure-white marble, highly prized since antiquity. Just across the port where we land stand the substantial remains of Thasos’s ancient town, founded by settlers from the island of Paros. Near the port is the Agora, the civic center of the ancient town, while further up on a gentle slope are the remains of the Acropolis, which was dominated by the 5th-century B.C. Temple of Athena. An alternative excursion will explore Thasos’s lovely interior, including the traditional villages of Panayia and Potamia as well as Alyki.
Day 4 : THESSALONIKI | VERGINA, Macedonia
Arrive in Thessaloniki this morning for an excursion to Vergina to visit the royal tombs and museum. Return to Thessaloniki for an afternoon tour, including visits to several Byzantine churches as well as the Jewish History Museum and a synagogue.
Day 5 : VOLOS | PELION or METEORA | VOLOS, Thessaly
Call at Volos, a port city at the head of spacious Pagasitic Gulf, and spend the day exploring the mountainous country of Pelion, one of the most alluring regions of Greece. The mythological home of Centaurs—wild half-man, half-horse creatures—Pelion is dotted with picturesque villages and set amidst lush vegetation. Visit several of the villages, including Portaria, with its running streams and glorious main square; Makrynitsa, whose imposing old stone mansions are built on the slopes of the mountain; and Zagora, with its church of St. George containing 18th-century art. Alternatively, travel for the day to Meteora (“monasteries in mid-air”), a group of monasteries built (starting in the 14th century) on a series of huge rocks rising precipitously from the plain of Thessaly. Visit several of the monasteries and return to Volos to reboard the ship.
Day 6 : CANAKKALE | TROY, Turkey
Guarding the strategic narrows of the Hellespont, or Dardanelles, Canakkale is our gateway for Troy, where ongoing archaeological excavations have revealed nine different layers of cities superimposed in rings on a massive mound rising above the “windswept” Plain of Ilium. It was to one of these cities, as legend has it, that the Greeks fought the Trojans as told by Homer in his Illiad. The city of King Priam finally fell to Odysseus’s ruse of the Trojan Horse.
Day 7 : MUDANYA | BURSA
From Mudanya, on the Sea of Marmara, drive to Bursa, the capital of ancient Bithynia, spread across the green slopes of a mountain. A spa since ancient times and an important silk center since the Byzantine period, in 1376 Bursa became the first capital of the new Ottoman Empire, and is noted today for its outstanding Ottoman monuments, which we will explore. Among them is the Green Mosque (14th-century), considered one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture; the 15th-century tomb of Mehmet I; the Great Mosque (15th century), with its 20 domes; and the Muradiye Complex, built between 1421-1451. We will also visit the Archaeological Museum, and explore the silk market, which dates from 1451.
Day 8 : AMASRA, Turkey’s Black Sea Coast
Be on deck in the evening as the ship navigates by Istanbul and the Bosphorus, seeing many of the old buildings and monuments beautifully illuminated. Relax aboard in the morning as we cruise alongside ancient Paphlagonia, a country that hosted Greek colonies until the Romans conquered the area in 63 B.C. Upon arriving at the small town of Bartin, drive to Amasra (the Iliad’s Sesamus), which is poised atop a headland sheltering two bays and known as one of the Black Sea’s most beautiful towns. Founded by Milesians in the 6th century B.C., it later became an important possession of both Byzantium and Genoa. Explore the Genoese citadel, which crowns one of the promontories with a constellation of towers, battlements, and gates.
Day 9 : NESSEBUR, Bulgaria
Arrive this afternoon in Nessebur, a city known in ancient times as Messembria, or “town amid the sea” according to Herodotus. Enjoy a walking tour of the main town and its old timbered houses— architecture typical of the Black Sea region. Visit the Byzantine churches of St. Stephen and St. John the Baptist—the latter of which is decorated with hundreds of shells, crosses, and ceramic panels. Continue to the Archaeological Museum and view the city’s ancient remains, which date mostly from the Hellenistic period and include an Acropolis, a Temple of Apollo, and an Agora. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at leisure to explore Nessebur’s charming streets on your own.
Day 10 : ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK
Disembark and transfer to the Istanbul airport for return flights.
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 |
