In Transit: Depart US/Canada on international overnight flight.

Morning: Arrival in Rome Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport (FCO). Meet group inside the customs area. Transfer to hotel.

Afternoon: Group Meeting Time: 5:00 PM in the hotel lobby for a 1 hour introductory orientation.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Grand Hotel Beverly Hills

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room.

Morning: Enjoy a guided field trip to the Vatican.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free afternoon to explore Rome on your own. You may wish to explore the Pantheon, or behold stunning views of the city from the top of the Spanish Steps.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Lodging: Grand Hotel Beverly Hills

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room.

Morning: We will enjoy a guided excursion of Rome. Highlights include the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Trevi Fountain. Transfer to Civitavecchia.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a charming farmhouse about 30 minutes from Civitavecchia. Dine on mouth watering regional cuisine while tasting local wines at a farmhouse in the Italian countryside. Absolutely breathtaking!

Afternoon: Embark on the MV Aegean Odyssey and settle in to your cabin. Late afternoon Road Scholar orientation to the ship in the "Observation Lounge."

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: At sea. A relaxing morning to enjoy the late-spring sunshine and the shipboard guest lectures as the ship makes its way to Elba.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Follow the path of Napoleon Bonaparte as you explore the island where he was exiled from 1814 to 1815. The highlight is a walking tour that visits the Emperor's principal residence, an elaborate villa overlooking the city, much of it unchanged from when he lived here. Start your adventure with a scenic drive from Portoferraio, the main town and port, to Golfo Stella. Visit the fishing harbor of Porto Azzuro, dominated by a medieval fortress. Wander the charming streets where shops feature crafts of minerals and crystals mined in Elba's mountains. Continue to Punta delle Grotte, the ruins of a Roman villa, for magnificent views of Portoferraio, which Greek mythology called Argos, port of the Argonauts. Your walking tour of Portoferraio begins in the Old Town and visits sites of Napoleon's exile. While his stay was short, he left a lasting heritage as you'll see in your visit to Villa dei Mulini with its original art, furniture and library filled with the books he loved, or the San Martin Napoleon Museum. Also visit the first-floor apartment where he stayed when he first arrived on Elba. On your walk see such landmarks as the star-shaped Fort Stella designed by Cosimo di Medici, the theater Napoleon built and historic Piazza Cavour.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Discover the town that gave birth to the Italian Renaissance and view the period's outpouring of art in the renowned Uffizi Museum. From the port of Livorno, it is a about an hour and a half drive through the Tuscan hills to Florence where you begin an exploration through the history and art of this timeless city. A highlight of the morning is a visit to the Accademia, Europe's first school of drawing, where Michelangelo's colossal statue of David presides over a rich collection of paintings and sculptures. Enjoy a guided walking excursion past such landmarks as the 10th-century Ponte Vecchio spanning the River Arno. View the Duomo cathedral flanked by Giotto's Bell Tower. So dense is Florence with monuments, every step reveals new marvels. See the Baptistry, where Ghiberti and Donatello competed to design the bronze doors. Admire the Basilica di Santa Croce where Michelangelo and Machiavelli are interred. Pause in Piazza Signoria, in 1497 the site of Fra Savonarola's Bonfire of the Vanities.

Lunch: Lunch on your own at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: The centerpiece of this excursion is an afternoon visit to the world-renowned Uffizi Museum. The 16th-century palace, built when Cosimo Medici was the First Grand Duke of Tuscany, houses such Renaissance masterpieces as The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci, the exquisite Madonnas of Filippo Lippi, and an entire room of Botticellis, including The Birth of Venus. Foreign artists from Rembrandt to Rubens are also represented.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: At sea. Enjoy the Observation Deck if the weather is nice, or dive into a good book from the ship's library. Attend a talk by your Road Scholar Group Leader.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: Discover the star of Corsica's cliff-lined coast: the medieval town of Bonifacio and its walled citadel, Haute Ville, perched high above the sea. Discover this magnificent town, founded in 828 by Bonifacio, the Marquis of Tuscany, and built on the site of an earlier Roman settlement. Start with a tram ride to upper town that offers panoramic views at every turn (if it's a clear day, you may spot Sardinia). Pass the eerie marine cemetery in the Bosco quarter and the 13th-century church of St Dominique, a rare example of the Corsican Gothic style. Following your ride, enjoy a walking excursion through the heart of the historic district. Stroll along cobblestone streets lined with tall narrow houses, many originally built without doors so residents could enter by ladders they pulled up after themselves to prevent surprise attacks. Bonifacio's architecture reflects its many centuries as a colony of Genoa. Admire the 12th-century cathedral, St Marie Majeure, a mix of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic architectural styles. Visit The Two Emperors Street, where Charles V and Napoleon Bonaparte once stayed, in 1541 and 1793 respectively. See the Place des Armes, the Jardin des Vestiges and an old market that offers sweeping views over the 230-foot cliffs. Pass through the enormous walls of the Porte de Gênes, once the only entrance to Haute Ville, (the drawbridge is a later addition). See the Chapel of St Roch, built where the last plague victim died in 1528. Following the excursion, you can return to the ship with the guide or stay to explore on your own.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: A chance to relax on deck and enjoy the shipboard guest lectures as the ship makes its way to Palma.

Lunch: Lunch on board.

Afternoon: At sea. Enjoy a late afternoon Road Scholar cocktail party.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Get an overview of Mallorca's capital from the sweeping vistas at Bellver Castle to the architectural wonders of La Seu Cathedral. This half-day excursion begins with a drive to 14th century Bellver Castle, poised 500 feet above Palma and unique among Spanish castles for being entirely round. Bellver means "lovely view" and it is the perfect photo stop for a picture of Palma city and the entire bay. Drive along the Maritime Promenade to the oldest part of Palma and La Seu Cathedral, built on the site of a mosque. This Gothic masterpiece was started in 1230 by King James of Aragon and completed over 300 years later. You will be guided through its interior, with its frescoes, paintings and tombs of Mallorcan kings. Above the great nave is a distinctive canopy by Antoni Gaudí, who participated in the 20th-century remodeling. Highlights include the Mayor and Mirador doorways with sculptures by Guillermo Sagrera and the 9-bell tower with its five-ton "N'Eloi" bell. Our field trip continues through the old town's meandering streets past stately mansions. Then on to the area of Palma's bullfighting arena, modeled on Rome's Colosseum, where you'll have free time to shop for such souvenirs as Mallorca's exquisite man-made pearls.

Lunch: Lunch on board or explore local fare on your own in Palma.

Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon to further explore Palma on your own or choose one of the two optional excursion the ship will offer to either Valldemossa or Drach Caves (additional cost, bookable on board). Please see the Optional Excursions page for a full description.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Descend to a unique underground museum for a glimpse of everyday life in Barcino, as Roman Barcelona was called. Hidden under the medieval buildings and squares of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is a town of far greater antiquity. Roman troops arrived here during the Punic Wars (264 to 146BC) and remained for over 600 years, putting their imprint on the language, law and culture. Not all of the ancient colony is underground. Sections of the original walls, towers and gates can be seen en route to Plaza Ramon Berenguer and Plaza Nova, where an aqueduct and main road once connected Barcino with the rest of the Empire. View the Forum with its remains of a 1st century temple to Caesar Augustus. Then take an elevator to get an in-depth look at daily life in Roman times. Visit one of Europe's largest underground archaeological sites at the Barcelona City History Museum. Stroll metal walkways through workaday Barcino with its laundry, dye shop, salted fish factory and wine shop to get a slice of life – 20 centuries ago. Collections of objects found at the digs include Roman portraits, mosaics, Roman and Hebrew inscriptions, as well as the utensils of daily life. Emerge from this excursion with an enriched understanding of Roman influence and appreciation of Barcelona's antiquity.

Lunch: Lunch on board or explore local fare on your own in Barcelona.

Afternoon: A free afternoon allows you to see more of Barcelona according to your own interests and pace. Perhaps visit extraordinary Sagrada Familia, the massive Catalan church designed by the visionary architect Antoni Gaudí. Or, choose from one of the two optional excursions being offered by the ship (additional cost, bookable on board). Please see the Optional Excursions page for a full description.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Relive centuries of history when you visit two cities with Roman roots: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carcassonne, an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, and landlocked Narbonne, once a leading port celebrated by the troubadour Bertrand de Bar. Your adventure starts from Sete with a drive through the wild Languedoc countryside to Carcassonne, a site continuously occupied for over 2,500 years. Encircled by double walls, this stronghold stands exactly as it did in the Middle Ages with miles of battlements, 52 towers and a castle. View the mighty gate with its chains, portcullis and intricate access system. Stroll the lists between the double walls and savor the atmosphere as you get an education in military architecture. The round towers built by the Romans to guard the passage to Spain had to be adapted for medieval weaponry and the guards' walk was designed to be taken apart and re-assembled in an early example of pre-fabricated design. Also see the fine Gothic Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and enjoy some time for shopping before continuing to Narbonne.

Lunch: En route, enjoy lunch and wine amid the vineyard covered hills. It is said the Romans planted the first grape vines here, after they founded Narbonne in 118BC.

Afternoon: After lunch we will continue our excursion to Narbonne. When the town was on the sea, it was a maritime crossroads. In the 5th century Narbonne was a Visigoth capital and in the Middle Ages an important Episcopal center, as can be seen in several superbly preserved monuments. Meanwhile the vines grew steadily. By the middle of the 18th century, wine was key to the area's prosperity until the crisis of 1907, an event from which the town never fully recovered. Today the region is considered one of the best in France for the production of quality wines, as well as a cultural center of indisputable historic wealth.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture as the ship sails toward Marseilles.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Explore the Provençal countryside and two ancient towns on this full-day excursion that visits Avignon with its papal legacies and Arles, once a crossroads of the Roman Empire. Your adventure starts with a 90- minute drive to Avignon which rose to glory in the Middle Ages, when a series of Frenchborn Popes fled Rome and made the town a base from which they ruled Christendom until 1407. Enjoy views of the Rhone River and Avignon's much-sung-about bridge, Pont St Benezet. The highlight of your visit is a guided excursion of the Pope's Palace with its long, echoing Great Audience Hall, 14th-century wall paintings and Great Chapel. Also enjoy a walking excursion through Palace Square and Horloge Square.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant in Arles.

Afternoon: After lunch, though a mere 25 miles from Avignon, the town of Arles seems centuries removed with its well-preserved Roman monuments. You'll see many of them on this afternoon's walking excursion which passes Cafe de Forum, Republic Square and the 17th-century Town Hall. Enjoy a brief stop at the Church of St Trophime, noted for its magnificent doors. See the Roman Theater and enjoy a guided excursion inside the Amphitheater, the largest in Roman Gaul. On your return, you'll understand why Vincent van Gogh spent two years in Arles, enraptured by the color and light of this amazing region.

Dinner: Dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: A day at leisure to enjoy the pleasures of the French Riviera. The ship is moored a short distance from La Croisette, the waterfront avenue with its palm trees, picturesque beaches, cafes, and boutiques.

Lunch: Lunch on board or at a local restaurant on your own.

Afternoon: Continue your day at leisure or choose one of the two optional excursions offered by the ship to Grasse & St Paul de Vence or Monaco & Monte Carlo (additional cost, bookable on board). Please see the Optional Excursions page for a full description.

Dinner: Farewell dinner on board.

Lodging: MV Aegean Odyssey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board.

Morning: Disembark the MV Aegean Odyssey and depart for the airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast