Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.

     Arrive in Athens and transfer to Piraeus, the storied port of ancient and modern Athens, to board Corinthian II. In the evening, the Captain will welcome families with a cocktail reception on deck. Overnight aboard docked in Piraeus.

     Spend the day exploring Athens’ ancient monuments. Chief among them is the Acropolis, crowned by the incomparable Parthenon. After lunch at a local taverna, adults will have a choice of touring the ancient Agora or the National Archaeological Museum, with its treasures that span centuries. Young Explorers may participate in a youth-themed exploration of Athens. Reboard the Corinthian II late in the afternoon and sail. In the evening, the ship will cruise by the illuminated Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.

     This morning, relax aboard and attend lectures as the ship cruises the Aegean Sea. Then, arrive in Kusadasi for an excursion to the great ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most important sites in the history of Asia Minor, with extensive ruins from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Visit the large theater in which the Ephesians rioted against St. Paul, the Library of Celsus with its imposing façade, and the Temple of Serapis.

     Founded in 408 B.C., the Crusader Knights of St. John left their architectural mark here during the 14th century. Enjoy a walking tour, and after lunch, continue to picturesque Lindos. Meander through the winding, cobblestone streets either on foot or by donkey. Then, ascend to the acropolis, built on a cliff 400 feet above the sea with views of the village and bay below. Enjoy time at leisure to relax in the town of Lindos or swim at its white-sand beach.

     The bay of Santorini, a flooded volcanic crater, provides dramatic scenery as Corinthian II sails toward the whitewashed village of Phira, perched on the black cliffside high above the bay. Many of the buildings in the ancient town of Akrotiri were preserved when volcanic eruptions shrouded the island in a blanket of pumice and ash. Adults will visit the Archaeological Museum in Phira while Young Explorers board a private sailboat for an excursion to the volcano of Nea Kameni, the island in the center of Santorini’s caldera. After hiking to the top of the volcano and learning about the area’s geology, they will ascend the caldera wall by donkey. Adults and children reunite for lunch and free time to explore Phira.

     Arrive in Crete, the island that was home to the Minoans, Europe’s earliest developed civilization. From lovely Rethymnon, one of Crete’s quaintest towns, travel to Knossos to explore the fabled Minoan Palace, a labyrinth of corridors, stairways, and chambers decorated with frescoes illuminating life as it was 4,000 years ago. Continue to the superb Agreco for lunch, an authentic Cretan organic farm, and then spend the rest of the day at leisure to explore Rethymnon and swim at a nearby beach. Alternatively, walk the rugged and scenic 7-kilometer-long Imbros Gorge. The walk ends at the coast of Crete, near the 14th-century Venetian castle of Frangokastello, where we will enjoy swimming and lunch at a taverna. This nature activity is for children older than 12 years, who must be accompanied by an adult.

     From Gytheion, an excursion for adults departs for Mystra, a fascinating ruined Byzantine city sheltered in a cleft of Mount Taygetos. Its ghostly abandoned buildings and churches contain remarkable medieval frescoes and fine stonework. Meanwhile, Young Explorers explore the haunting stalactite caves of Diros by gondola. The afternoon is at leisure to explore charming Gytheion. Before dinner, enjoy swimming off the ship’s stern in Kotronas Bay.

     Travel to Olympia, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and one of four sites of the Panhellenic (Olympic) games. Follow the footsteps of ancient Olympians with a tour of the temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House, the Treasuries, and the Stadium.

     Taormina offers a breathtaking view out to sea and the cone of Mount Etna. An 8th-century B.C. Greek colony prospered here throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Visit the Greek theater, which offers dramatic views of Etna and the Sicilian coastline, and enjoy time at leisure to admire Taormina’s architecture and gardens. Or, enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the beautiful beaches of Naxos Bay.

     From Sorrento, an excursion leads to Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. No other place so completely captures the character of life in the early Roman Empire. Tour highlights include the Forum, the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Stabian Baths, the best-preserved and most complete in Pompeii.

     Disembark in Civitavecchia. Transfer to the airport in Rome for return flights to the United States.