Overview

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Sail to lands that inspired the mythic tales of gods, heroes, and adventurers: Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Begin in Rome, cruise to Crete, Santorini, and Rhodes, and view the magnificent ruins at Ephesus before concluding in Athens. This is a perfect way to introduce children or grandchildren to classical antiquity while creating vacation memories to last a lifetime.




In Rome, visit the iconic sites of the Colosseum, Pantheon, and the Forum. Frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the ruins of Pompeii completely capture the character of life in the early Roman Empire. After a day at sea, Olympia is next: the vast sanctuary of Zeus and the site of the Panhellenic games for over a thousand years.

Witness the brilliance and refinement of Minoan civilization in the palace at Knossos with its maze of frescoed corridors and chambers. Adults visit the Archaeological Museum in Santorini while Young Explorers board a sailboat to Nea Kameni, the island in the center of the caldera. Discover winding streets and splendid plazas of Rhodes, known in antiquity for its schools of philosophy, rhetoric, and sculpture.

Families may explore Lindos or swim in the crystal waters of the Aegean. Travel to Ephesus, the center of worship of the mother-goddess Cybele, later known as Artemis. Excavations continue today as archaeologists restore the Terrace Houses, offering a glimpse of daily Ephesian life. In Athens, explore the Acropolis with its famed Parthenon and Erectheion.

Youth education counselors will lead the Young Explorers Program, a series of educational and recreational activities developed to enhance children’s appreciation of the sites we visit while adults attend lectures about the Greco-Roman world. In Olympia’s ancient stadium, children compete in Olympic-style games. At Nea Kameni on Santorini, kids learn about the area’s geology while ascending the volcano by donkey. Finally, a treasure hunt helps youth discover Athens.