Cruising the Aegean: Turkey and the Greek Isles – with Smithsonian Journeys

Athens is the birthplace of democracy and philosophy and home to the most enduring symbol of classical civilization—the Parthenon. Join this specially designed program to explore the incomparably rich legacy of this amazing city.

Day 1 – Athens, Greece

Arrive at Athens International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Grande Bretagne. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and to offer suggestions for dining and independent exploration. Join fellow travelers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2 – Athens

        

After breakfast at the hotel, your first visit will be to the Acropolis including the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex, the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens. And of course, there is the Parthenon, the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, designed as a shrine to Athena and at one time housing a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess. Continue to the New Acropolis Museum, opened to the public in 2009 and designed to house and showcase all of the artifacts found on the Acropolis since archaeological work at the site began. The result is the exhibition of some 4,000 objects dating from the Greek Bronze Age through the Roman and Byzantine periods. The balance of the day is at leisure, with independent lunch and dinner.

Day 3 - Athens | Embark

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by an excursion to two of Athen's most important sites. First, explore the National Archaeological Museum, an incomparable treasure trove of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Classical Greek art. A few of the museum's most important exhibits include the bronze statue of Poseidon, the head of Hygeia (Goddess of Health), the bronze statue of the 'Jockey-boy' of Artemision, the Golden mask of 'Agamemnon,' and the brilliant Minoan-style frescoes from Santorini.

Next, a short drive brings you to the Ancient Agora, which once served as the political, cultural and religious center of the city. Athenians would gather to buy and sell goods, but also to learn the news, to debate issues, or simply to gossip. This is where Socrates could be found daily posing his questions to fellow citizens.

Following the excursion, enjoy time at leisure to stroll the pedestrian walkways of the Plaka, the ancient neighborhood at the base of the Acropolis. Here you will find a variety of shops and cafés where you can browse and have an independent lunch before boarding your coach for the transfer to the pier to embark your ship.

Your hotel:

Located in historic Syntagma Square, the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne is the perfect venue for a visit to Athens. Within walking distance of exclusive shopping areas, museums, and the business district, the hotel boasts 320 rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a spa. Its views of the city center, from the Parliament building to the Parthenon, are unrivaled.

Your program includes:

·        2 nights at the Hotel Grande Bretagne (or similar)

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day

·        Welcome cocktail reception on Day 1

·        Breakfast on Days 2 and 3

·        Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary

·        Local English-speaking guide

·        Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

·        Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day

·        Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

·        It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.

·        Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.

·        The official currency is the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

·        This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.

·        Program is offered on a space available basis.

·        Program is subject to change without notice.

Hotel contact information:

Hotel Grande Bretagne

1 Vasileos Georgiou A' str.

Syntagma Square

Athens 105 64, Greece

Telephone: +30 210 333 0000

This program offers the opportunity to experience some of the very best that Istanbul has to offer. One of the world's great cities, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul is home to iconic religious monuments like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque as well as the massive headquarters of Ottoman sultans, Topkapi Palace. It is a shopping paradise—from the boutiques of the Balat district to the bustling Grand Bazaar. And it is a center of culinary creativity, blending European and Asian cuisines in interesting and delicious ways. Perhaps most compelling, however, is that you will discover all of this from a home base in one of the world's most celebrated hotels.

Day 1 – Disembarkation | Istanbul, Turkey

Disembark in Istanbul, meet your guide and driver and head to Topkapi Palace, the opulent residence of Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the early 20th century, and the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Your guided tour includes the rooms where the business of state was conducted, as well as the inner sanctum of the Harem, the residential core of the palace from where the Queen Mother wielded extensive power. Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by a visit to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. End the afternoon at the historic Pera Palace Hotel in the center of the city, your home for the next three nights. Dinner is independent.

Day 2 – Istanbul

Begin the day with a walking tour of Istanbul's Fener-Balat District, the old Greek and Jewish quarter that retains much of its original character and cosmopolitan charm. Its colorful streets, lined with churches, synagogues, and upscale design shops, are home to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and Stefi Stefan Church ("Bulgarian Iron Church") among many others. Your tour ends with a visit to the Rustem Pasha Mosque, built in 1560 for the Grand Vizier under Suleiman I, followed by a private boat ride on the Bosporus. The balance of the day is at leisure with independent lunch and dinner.

Day 3 – Istanbul

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a morning full of discovery: the Blue Mosque and Byzantine Hippodrome; a visit to Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, subsequently used as a mosque, and now a UNESCO Heritage Site; and a stop at the Basilica Cistern. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at leisure in the fascinating Grand Bazaar, a collection of vendors offering goods of every description. Dinner is independent.

Day 4 - Istanbul

Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for return flights.

Your hotel:

Originally built as a hotel for passengers on the Orient Express, the Pera Palace, is proud of its tradition of luxury accommodations and bespoke service. Among its many evocations of this history are the Agatha Christie Room, where the novelist is said to have written Murder on the Orient Express, and the hotel's Room 101, which has been converted to a museum to Ataturk, who stayed here often in the early 20th century. The Palace contains five restaurants and bars, offering a variety of cuisines, and its state-of-the-art fitness center and spa are available for your enjoyment.

Your program includes:

·        3 nights at the Pera Palace Hotel

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the ship to the hotel on disembarkation day

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the airport on the scheduled program departure day

·        Breakfast on Days 2, 3, and 4

·        Lunch on Days 1 and 3

·        Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary

·        Local English-speaking guide

·        Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

·        Transfer from the hotel to the airport on any day other than the scheduled program departure day

·        Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

·        It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the hotel to the airport.

·        Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.

·        The official currency is the Turkish Lira. Euros and US dollars may be accepted in some places. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

·        This post-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.

·        Program is offered on a space available basis.

·        Program is subject to change without notice.

Hotel contact information:

Pera Palace Hotel

Mesrutiyet Cad. No:52

Tepebasi 34430

Istanbul, Turkey

Telephone: + 90 (0212) 377 40 00