Depart From: Flights depart from North America

Arrive To: Arrive in Rome, Italy and transfer to the program hotel.

Afternoon: Program Welcome and Orientation: Review program details with your group leader.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel

Lodging: Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Depart the hotel by coach, for a panoramic overview of Rome. Highlights will include the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. Transfer to the Port of Civitavecchia, approximately 1 hour northwest of Rome.

Lunch: Lunch will be served enroute at a charming farmhouse approximately 30 mintues from the Port of Civitavecchia.

Afternoon: Embark the Crystal Serenity for 13 nights. Settle into your stateroom and familiarize yourself with the ship.

Dinner: Road Scholar participants are invited to eat as a group every night in the Crystal Dining room. Tables have been reserved for the first dinner seating which begins at 6:15 pm.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Today's field trip is included in your program price. Please do not book an Independent Crystal Shore Excursion today if you intend on joining the group.

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: EXCLUSIVE ROAD SCHOLAR FIELD TRIP: Travel from the port in Livorno to Florence. Learn about this Tuscan capital through an in-depth exploration with your group leader, a Florence resident and art historian

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon: Continue exploring Florence before transferring back to the Crystal Serenity

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Porto Venere independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. Porto Venere, Italy, has all the essentials of an idyllic medieval town. It boasts two ancient churches, a 16th-century fortified castle, a bell tower built on the ruins of a Roman temple, even a wistful tale of English writers Lord Byron and Mary Shelley. Lord Byron, the story goes, had a favorite spot on the rocks at the base of the church of San Pietro where he would pause to find his muse; it was also the place from which he would launch his swim across the bay to San Terenzo, where Shelley would be waiting. While the legend is certainly romantic, Porto Venere's breathtaking natural beauty is enough to put it at the top of any traveler's list. Poised on the tip of the small peninsula that extends from the celebrated Italian Riviera, Porto Venere is the southernmost town on the walking trails connecting the five villages that make up the famous Cinque Terre, or five lands. Though not officially a part of the Cinque Terre, Porto Venere should be, and perhaps it would be if it weren't for its slightly removed location. With its sweeping views, brightly-colored houses, terraced gardens and three small islands — Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto — sitting prettily just off its rocky promontory, Porto Venere is so lovely, one wonders why Shelley did not instead make the swim to Byron.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Porto Venere

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: Monaco is an ancient principality steeped in rich and colorful history. Its proud monarchy is presided over by Prince Albert, who assumed the throne after his famed father Prince Rainier died in 2005. Today when gazing on its modern skyline, it is hard to imagine that Monaco endured a turbulent past. Once a Greek settlement conquered by the Romans, it was bought from the Genoese in 1309 by the Grimaldis, who still rule as the world's oldest monarchy. Monaco covers less than one square mile and is known primarily for its Grand Casino.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue exploring Monte Carlo before transferring back to the Crystal Serenity.

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Evening: The ship will be docked in port overnight.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Continue to explore Monte Carlo by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Monte Carlo. Upon returning to the ship, join your study leader for a presentation on art and culture in the Mediterranean.

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Palamos independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. Dating back to the 13th century, Palamos is one of Spain’s most beautiful coastal towns, retaining much of its historical architecture and charm while embracing modern times with gusto. Life in this fishing village revolves around water. Swimming, sailing, and windsurfing are among the most popular daytime activities, along with sunbathing and some of the best people-watching in Europe. When the sun sets, the city pulsates with a hopping bar and nightclub scene. For foodies, Palamos is famous for its delectable, giant-sized prawns, hauled in by the boatload by local fishermen.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Palamos

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Today's field trip is included in your program price. Please do not book an Independent Crystal Shore Excursion today if you intend on joining the group.

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: EXCLUSIVE ROAD SCHOLAR FIELD TRIP: Join your study leader and Guided city drive / field trip Sagrada Familia: This morning your local expert will discuss Barcelona’s beautiful landmarks, architecture and history during a panoramic city drive. Stop at the "Templo Expiatiorio de La Sagrada Familia" for a look at the interior of this remarkable cathedral. Originally conceived in a modest orthodox neo-Gothic style, the project changed direction and scale under Gaudi, who used the opportunity to reflect his own spiritual and nationalist feelings, spending most of the rest of his working life in the project.

Lunch: Enjoy a tapas lunch at a local Barcelona restaurant.

Afternoon: Picasso Museum: This afternoon enjoy a field trip to view the Picasso Museum collections, which testify to the artist's strong ties with the city where he spent his artistic formative years. Gain an understanding of the artist's development by examining some of the 3,500 works that make up the museum's permanent collection. Upon returning to the ship, join your study leader for a presentation on art and culture in the Mediterranean.

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Evening: The ship will be docked in port overnight.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Barcelona independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, is a celebration of history and heir to Greek, Phoenician, Roman, Carthaginian, Gothic and Arab cultural legacies. Since it is nearly as close to Rome, Geneva and Munich as it is to Madrid, Barcelona has long been the Spanish link to Western Europe. It was the home of Picasso, Miró, Dali, Casals and Gaudí and has been described as a Mediterranean Manhattan, a cosmopolitan experimental center for political ideas and artistic movements. In addition to its abundance of artistic and architectural treasures, Barcelona serves as the gateway to one of the world's most impressive mountainside enclaves at Montserrat. Discover the secret legends of the Black Virgin and the alluring chants of monastic life high atop the Catalonian plains. Barcelona's ancient city walls and the narrow crooked streets of the town's old section are laid out for your discovery. You will find that Barcelona has something for everybody.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Barcelona

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Castellon de la Plana independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. This gem of a city is located between the sea and the Desert de les Palmas mountain range, thus connecting ocean scenery with the sleepy villages and old-time crafts of the hills. Castellón de la Plana also bridges the distance between historic and modern, with plazas dating to medieval times and a bustling avenue called “Avenida Rey Don Jaime” lined with contemporary buildings and shops. Must-sees are numerous. El Fadri is a 16th-century, 190-foot bell tower—a symbol of the city and nicely positioned between the Cathedral and Abbey. The Town Hall is an 18th-century, Tuscan-style marvel with gorgeous arched windows. The Basilica was renovated in the 16th and 18th centuries and boasts an ancient statue of the Virgin Mary and old canvas paintings. Then there are the many museums and gardens revealing beautiful works in ceramic, paint, textiles and nature.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Castellon de la Plana

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Cartagena independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. Thanks to its strategic position on the Mediterranean, Cartagena has long been one of the most important naval ports in Spain. Its maritime history can be appreciated with visits to the naval museum and naval buildings, including the Naval Headquarters, Dockyard Gate and Midshipman School. Cartagena also boasts an interesting Roman history. The city's bullring sits atop a Roman amphitheater, and the Old Cathedral was built over the stalls of the Roman Theater. Discovered in 1987 and still being excavated, the theater dates to the first century BC. While its landmarks from antiquity certainly are intriguing, Cartagena's lively streets and attractive squares reveal chapters from more recent centuries as well. The magnificent Concepción Castle, perched above the city in Torres Park, dates to the 14th century. Even closer to present day are the early 19th-century modernist buildings lining Calle Mayor, and beautiful City Hall, which was built in 1907.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Cartagena.

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Gibraltar independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. Like a crouching lion, the Rock of Gibraltar's imposing presence supports the legend that it is one of the two Pillars of Hercules. Dramatically soaring to almost 1,400 feet, it boasts one of the world's most recognizable silhouettes. Over 140 caves have been discovered within its limestone mass. Although linked by land to Spain, the self-governing British colony of Gibraltar maintains a strong allegiance to Britain. Shop the compact commercial center for tax-free treats, or perch atop the summit for thrilling views encompassing Europe and Africa.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Gibraltar

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Cadiz and Seville independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. On a low-lying peninsula extending into the crescent-shaped bay stands 3,000-year-old Cádiz, the Western world's oldest continuously inhabited city. Neat houses huddle within high walls, while the surrounding countryside is lush with olive groves. The Puertas de Tierra divides the city in two. Modern Cádiz lies on the isthmus, while the romantic, historical section is located on the other side. The old districts of El Pópulo and Santa Maria, adorned with narrow streets and ancient stone walls, are in sharp contrast to the parks, gardens, wide roads and plazas of the bustling commercial area.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Afternoon: Continue independent exploration of Cadiz.

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: Explore Lisbon independently by choosing from a variety of shore excursions offered by Crystal Cruises. Excursions will vary in length from a couple of hours to a full day with different activity levels. Cosmopolitan Lisbon was the center of the world's last great colonial empire. Today the city nostalgically reveres its imperial past while adapting to Portugal's role as a member of the European Economic Community. Although located on the Atlantic coast, Lisbon has the soul of a Mediterranean city with Moorish castles, pastel and white buildings, orange-tiled roofs and luminous blue skies. Set amid the hills and valleys of the northern shore of the River Tagus, it is one of the loveliest capitals in the world.

Lunch: Lunch at leisure on board the ship in the Crystal Dining Room, the Lido Café, or the Trident Grill, or you may choose to eat independently ashore. Some Crystal shore excursions will include lunch (depending on the length).

Dinner: Join your study leader for a group dinner in the Crystal Dining Room

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at leisure on board in the Crystal Dining Room (open seating) or the more casual Lido Café. Room Service is also available 24 hours a day.

Morning: Disembark the ship and transfer to the Lisbon airport.

Lodging: Crystal Serenity

Meals Included: Breakfast