Antiquity to Byzantium Cruise (Panorama)

Description

A cruise voyage unraveling the world famous Corinth Canal and the most important monuments and historic sites of Greece.

A voyage through history dedicated to the Golden Age of Greek civilization and beyond, this cruise comes complete with a guest lecturer, Eugenia Alexiou. Eugenia has a Master’s degree in Byzantine Art, is an expert historian and, as a graduate of the Athens’ Tour Guide Academy, is the perfect tutor through all the classical sites and sights we visit. This journey to off-the-beaten track locales in the Peloponnese peninsula is a masterclass on the journey through classical antiquity and the Roman conquest, ending with the transition to the Christian empire of Byzantium. Transit the amazing engineering feat that is the Corinth Canal, cut though solid rock in the 1880’s to join the Gulf of Corinth with the Aegean Sea.

Trip Name

Antiquity to Byzantium Cruise (Panorama)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Yacht Length: 53 metres Passenger Capacity: 49 Built / refurbished: 1993 / 2009 Imagine a place far from home that feels just like home, where the borders are delineated by the golden shores of the sea; and home is wherever the anchors drop. Imagine 173 feet of comfort, sleek beauty, and safety classified by the latest International “Safety of Life at Sea” (SOLAS) standards. Imagine your floating home on board the sleek, classic design Mega Yacht as she spreads her white sails through the seas under the name PANORAMA, waving her Greek flag through the wind. Discover the world by sea at 11 knots per hour, in her un-rushed pace, one island or seashore at a time on board the ultimate 3 masted motor sailer cruiser. Panorama loves to seduce her select 49 guests with her classic lines and wood paneled lounges redefining what yachting was meant to be. A spacious lounge with ample space, dining areas decorated with warm colors, rich library and two decks for sunbathing, shaded areas and outdoor bar and loungers are just some of the elements that define her essence. 360° views of unobstructed ocean are your eyes’ canvas painted with ocean blue and deep green mountains. Embrace freedom as the Panorama sets her white sails seduced by the clear winds of the sea. Mingle with likeminded travelers in our public areas, enjoy a moment to yourself in our ample deck space, or retreat to one of our 25 ocean view cabin-sanctuaries all offering windows or portholes connecting you with mother nature’s wonders. Panorama’s experienced crew of 18 is trained with hospitality at heart to pamper her guests and guarantee the ultimate home away from home experience.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1: Friday - Marina Zea

Embarkation between 2-3 pm. Enjoy a welcome drink and meet your crew and fellow passengers. Sail forPalaia (old) Epidaurus. Evening arrival and dinner on board.

Day 2 - Day 2: Saturday - Palaia Epidaurus (optional excursion)

We leave our ship early in the morning to drive to Ancient Epidaurus for our optional excursion. Epidaurus wasknown throughout the Greek world as a healing sanctuary. It was reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo’s sonAsclepius - and for its theater, which is once again in use today. The sanctuary was looted by the Romangeneral Sulla by pirates and later by Goths in 395 A.D. and very little remains of it today. The prosperitybrought by the Asclepieion enabled the residents of Epidaurus to construct civic monuments, including a hugetheater (approximately 300 B.C.) renowned for its symmetry and beauty. Lunch on ship and afternoon sailingto Nafplion. Overnight at port.

Day 3 - Day 3: Sunday - Nafplion/Mycenae (optional excursion)

After a short walking tour of Nafplion, drive through the colorful city and the beautiful countryside of Argolistowards Mycenae for an optional excursion. The importance of the city, which Homer calls “rich in gold”begins in 1650 B.C and ceases around 1100 B.C with the fall of the civilization to which it gives name. Visit theremains of the ancient glorious city including the Lion’s Gate, the Palace, the so called Agamemnon Tomb andthe museum. Lunch on ship and afternoon sailing to Monemvassia. Overnight sailing to Gythion.

Day 4 - Day 4: Monday - Gythion (optional excursion)

Early morning arrival to Gythion. Optional Excursion to Mani peninsula and Cape Tenaro plus the spectacularDirou Caves with their stalactites and stalagmites. Ancient Gythion was inhabited during prehistoric times andlater the Spartans used as a port, enlarging the natural harbor they made Gythion their naval base. LeavingGythion we will cross the scenic Mani Peninsula to reach Diros and visit the spectacular caves, discoveredaround the 60s, which are perhaps among the most important natural sites of Greece. After visiting the cavewe will drive to nearby Areopolis for a short stroll through the town. Mani is at the tip of the Peloponnese, adistinctive area unlike any other area in Greece. A desolate region of underground lakes and rivers, windsweptlandscapes and towers who is strangely beautiful. Overnight at sea to Pylos.

Day 5 - Day 5: Tuesday - Pylos (optional excursion)

Pylos is a picture-perfect seaside town on the southwest corner of the Peloponnese. In 1827 a fleet ofVenetians and other city states defeated an Ottoman fleet in one of the most important naval battles in history. This defeat led to the independence of Greece, which occurred in 1829. During our optional excursionand after stopping to admire the scenery, we will continue up the road to Nestor’s Palace. The remains of theprehistoric Palace occupy a scenic hilltop setting north of Pylos. The palace at Pylos belonged to Nestor andwas discovered in 1939 by the American archaeologist Carl Blegen. Highlights include the well-preserved royalapartments and a bathtub that archaeologists have speculated belonged to the old king himself. The palace,with its central courtyard, was originally two stories high and richly decorated with frescoes. Following our visitto the remains of the palace, we will make the short trip to the town of Hora where a superb archaeologicalmuseum holds thousands of artifacts recovered from the site. Overnight sailing to Katakolon.

Day 6 - Day 6: Wednesday - Katakolon/Olympia (optional excursion)

Early morning arrival in Katakolon. We will disembark the ship around 7:00 a.m. in the port town of Katakoloand an optional excursion takes us by bus to Olympia, one of the most famous and important sites in theancient world. Olympia is revered as the birthplace of the Olympic Games. In the ancient Greek world, it wasalso the greatest Pan-Hellenic sanctuary for the worship of Zeus. Olympia persisted well into Roman timesuntil its demise in the 3rd century A.D. when fires, earthquakes and invading tribes from the north left theancient site in ruins. From 1875 onward excavation work, spearheaded primarily by the German government,revealed the fantastic treasures from antiquity that sit today in the marvelous archaeological museum. Themost thrilling site at Olympia is the stadium, which looks much like it did more than 2,000 years ago. You willalso explore the Temple of Hera, the magnificent temple of Zeus the Philippeion – lodging place for theathletes who participated in the games. We later visit the Olympia Museum, one of the most beautifulmuseums in the world. Following lunch in the town of Olympia, we’ll visit the museum of the History of theOlympic Games of Antiquity. Unlike the main archaeological museum, this building houses statuary and a hostof artifacts specifically related to the ancient Olympic Games. After having time at leisure we will traveloverland to Patras on the north coast of the peninsula, where we will re-board our ship and depart for Itea inthe Gulf of Corinth. Overnight at Itea.

Day 7 - Day 7: Thursday - Itea/Delphi (optional excursion)

Morning optional excursion to Delphi, one of the most revered sites from the ancient world. We will disembarkthe ship early this morning and proceed to the ruins complex. Unlike other archaeological sites in Greece,Delphi is built on the side of a mountain. First time visitors are awed as much for the stunning natural beautythat surround the ruins as for the ancient buildings themselves. In its prime, Delphi was revered for its wealthand reputation, attributes which grew from the site’s location as hosting the most important oracle in theclassical world. Indeed, because everything in Greece is connected to mythology, Delphi became the premiersite for the worship of the god Apollo. The oracle had the ability to prophecy the future and give advice.Visitors from across the Greek world traveled here to consult with the oracle, and responded by offeringthanks to Apollo in the form of treasure. We will have a half day to walk around the ruins complex and visitthe adjoining museum. Return to the ship and cross the Corinth Canal. Later in the evening we sail to MarinaZea. Overnight in Marina Zea.

Day 8 - Day 8: Friday - Marina Zea (disembarkation)

Disembarkation after breakfast.

Day 9 - Please Note:

Itineraries can be changed at the discretion of Variety Cruises and of the Vessel's Captain in case of adverse weatherconditions - winds of 6/7 beaufort or more depending on the vessel- on port authorities not allowing a vessel to leaveport or in case of other extraordinary conditions.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Discover Mycenae, Delphi, Olympia
Enjoy Corinth Canal Crossing
Explore Ancient Epidaurus, Nafplion, Pylos