Greece
Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean
Program No. 22869RJ
Discover the wonders of the Aegean Sea aboard an elegant small ship. Sail from one idyllic island to the next as you learn the secrets of ancient Greece and explore scenic villages.
Participant Reviews
Based on 113 Reviews
SHOWING
This was a terrific first experience of a Road Scholar small ship tour. The ship had about 40 people (two tour groups of 20) but there was enough room for 60, so it seemed very spacious (rooms were small but we exited that to be the case). The crew were fantastic, always there anticipating our next possible needs. The itinerary was just what we wanted, mostly sailing over night so that we spent plenty of time on the various islands on the tour. Lots of history-laden outings plus extra lectures on board. We had a wonderful group of co-travelers, very simpatico. The food on board was creative and delicious. But the best feature of the trip was our guide, Niki Stavroulaki. She was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history and geography we encountered, and just great fun to be around.
— Review left November 5, 2025
Program was great. Food poisoning on board ship was not.
— Review left October 26, 2025
This program includes a lot of Ancient Greek history with visits to several archaeological sites and museums. The amount of historical information provided is overwhelming. It is a great way to see many of the islands, but the boat used needs to be updated and the food needs improvement.
— Review left October 25, 2025
I would not recommend this trip to anyone if it is not improved in many areas. I got food poisoning on the ship and lost an entire day along with half the other participant.
— Review left October 25, 2025
We just returned from the Classical Greece tour of the Greek Islands. It was our first Road Scholar trip. Much of our other travel has been biking trips with Backroads, so this more educational, history-focused trip was new and different for us. We enjoyed it very much thanks largely to a wonderful guide, Myrto, and the great variety of interesting sites and beautiful scenery on the itinerary.
— Review left October 18, 2025
If you ever wanted to see Greece and experience the Greek culture and history this trip was a wonderful was to explore this fascinating country
— Review left October 14, 2025
This was a very well planned and considered program. The sequence from Athens to Delos to Knossos to Mycenae followed the ancient time sequence, making the world of the Ancient Greeks much clearer. The Voyager was not only convenient for this sequence, but a very comfortable boat with excellent meals and other facilities.
Our group leader, Niki, was a highlight and critical facet to making this trip worthwhile and fun.
— Review left October 13, 2025
Greece was beautiful! Every single island we visited was charming and filled with history. Our guide, "Niki", was proud of her Greek heritage, very knowledgeable, and eager to help us more fully understand and appreciate her extraordinary "home."
— Review left October 12, 2025
Fun, active overview of significant Greek Islands. The ship was small enough to access smaller islands, and with great food and staff. In large part, we enjoyed the company of our fellow travelers, who came from a variety of backgrounds and shared our love of learning.
— Review left September 23, 2025
This program exceeded expectations. Our group leader, Stefania was one of the best I have ever had! The itinerary on the trip was a good blend of large and small Greek islands. The trip is heavy on Ancient Greek sights with much knowledge given on Greek history and Mythology. The boat, Voyager V by Variety Cruises was super clean and offered some of the best Greek food I've eater with wonderful breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Each evening at a served meal, they offered a 3 choices for entrees so you never went hungry. Overall this trip is a Road Scholar winner.
— Review left September 20, 2025
This is a great way to experience Athens and the Greek Islands. The MV Harmony V has a great crew and the service and food are exceptionally good. As we have come to expect Road Scholar picks only the BEST trip leaders.
— Review left September 20, 2025
Who knew that meals on small boat/yacht would be better than on a cruise ship?
— Review left September 15, 2025
This trip was fantastic. When you start with excellent sites in Greece selected by Road Scholar and add Chrysa Peritogianni as your Group Leader, what can go wrong? Nothing. Chrysa is the consummate professional as a Group Leader. She has an absolute command of the educational facts of all the sites but also is genuinely concerned that all guests are engaged. I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to the Captain and his great crew. Bravo Chrysa, Captain, and crew. What a great trip! Thank you!
— Review left June 22, 2025
The tour was educational, delicious, and fun. Photos don't capture the beauty of the islands we visited, but are reminders of a wonderful experience.
— Review left June 21, 2025
Although it was disappointing that we didn't have the best weather for our boat trip (high winds) and didn't do a lot of island hopping as advertised, we went to some islands (especially Crete) and visited some wonderful museums and archeological sites. The crew did their best to make up for the change in itinerary with great food and nice wine. The group leader was excellent.
— Review left June 18, 2025
Visiting the Greek Islands was fabulous! The guide, the education, the boat and the other participants made this a trip of a lifetime!
— Review left June 15, 2025
Great small group adventure and knowledgeable guide . Leaders and crew handled itinerary adjustments - due to weather - seamlessly. On ship - enjoyed congenial captain and crew, 3 entree choices with evening meals AND having a pastry chef!
— Review left June 13, 2025
If you want to experience several Greek Islands in a relatively short time a Road Scholar adventure in the Aegean is the trip for you.
— Review left June 11, 2025
The trip was great. Our guide was very accommodating and knowledgeable. Seeing all the Greek islands by water really added to the trip. Beautiful country. RS definitely was very organized and made sure our needs were met. I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left June 11, 2025
A great trip with beautiful sites, wonderful companionship, and a great study leader.
— Review left June 11, 2025
Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean was my first Road Scholar trip, and it exceeded all my expectations. I cannot imagine how it could have been any better! I look forward to choosing my next Road Scholar adventure!
— Review left June 9, 2025
If you want to take a trip back in time to Ancient Greece with its trade, wars, myths and fascinating people, then Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean is the trip you will want to take. And you may get to swim in the Aegean off the back of your boat!
— Review left June 9, 2025
The cruise of the Greek islands allowed me to explore, experience and learn about a part of the world that I would not have visited on my own, since I don’t speak Greek.
— Review left June 8, 2025
This is a fantastic program. The archeological sites visited are beautiful. Life on board ship was an added bonus: great food, great staff. I highly recommend this trip to anyone with the slightest interest in ancient Greece.
— Review left June 7, 2025
This was a wonderful way to see the highlights of Greece and the setting of the classical history which we all have learned about. The decorative arts in particular are stunning to see in person! Our guide, Averkios, did a wonderful job of sharing his knowledge and affection for his homeland.
— Review left June 2, 2025
If you are looking to learn more about Greek Mythology, Ancient Greece, see some beautiful islands or eat authentic Greek food then this is the trip for you! Your Road Scholar leaders will bring all of the ancient sites to life in a way that no books or lectures possibly can. This is the way to see and learn about Greece and its importance as a strategic location to trade and politics for all of its existence.
— Review left May 26, 2025
This was a great trip for those who want to learn the true history of Democracy, engineering and social structure of a great people. But, it's much more than just learning the details, it's the passion and excitement that was demonstrated by our tour guide.
The various sites that we were brought to was amazing. The care taken to preserve these relics for us and future generations to see was nothing short of miraculous.
The yacht accommodations were clean, comfortable and relaxing. The crew was outstanding. The food was always of the Greek cuisine as well as other options. The wine flowed with a delightful variety of Red, White and Rose'.
I highly recommend this trip to anyone who would be interested in the Greek history as well as the Venetian influence of the Islands of Greece.
A side note: Our tour guide went above and beyond to keep us safe and comfortable, but also was willing to chat after tours one on one about what we saw as well as modern social information about Greece as a country.
— Review left May 20, 2025
An absolutely wonderful experience. It was an immersion in the beginnings of the great Greek civilization that has touched us all in some way. Amazing.
— Review left May 16, 2025
The trip was exceptional. Our guide, Laura, was personable and knowledgeable. She went out of her way to solve a problem I had and I can't thank her enough for find a way to get my cell phone from the bus in Athens to Mykonos the next day! Everything about this adventure was a pleasure.
— Review left May 15, 2025
My tour of the Greek islands was well planned with carefully chosen sites. I enjoyed the tour leaders and the other participants. I highly recommend this tour and Road Scholar tours in general.
— Review left May 12, 2025
The Aegean Islands were everything one expected: whitewashed buildings, blue sky, bluer waters.
Smaro, our guide exceeded these expectations in the value plus that she brings to wherever we visited. She passionately provided the historical context as well as the current importance of all of the sites. She is Greek thru and thru and has a remarkable mental access to unending facts and figures. She was amazing.
The Harmony V and its crew were excellent and did everything to provide us with a comfortable voyage and excellent cuisine throughout.
— Review left May 12, 2025
I was amazed that people living hundreds of years BC were trading with other countries, were exchanging goods, had a centralized economy, a highly stratified society with commercial and manufacturing centers, and paid in-kind "taxes" from their storage centers just as we do.
— Review left April 27, 2025
Prior to this program, I knew less about Greece than any of the other Western European countries. The program generated an interest and has provided me a background that encourages me to deepen my understanding of Greece, its history and its people on my own.
— Review left April 26, 2025
Excellent & knowledgeable tour guides who are very proud of their culture. Enjoyed swimming in October! Chef was terrific on board - My Harmony is a great sized vessel allowing for exploring ports that are not equipped for oversized vessels -rooms could use some updating.
— Review left February 17, 2025
The trip was great. There was a change in the itinerary due to weather. I thought the way the staff handled the change was very professional.
Our guide was wonderful. She was well informed, personable, flexible and had wonderful sense of humor.
The visible staff on the boat was extremely friendly. They made sure all our needs were met as soon as possible.
The invisible staff was also great at meeting all our needs.
A special shout out to the kitchen staff. Remarkable food and service at every meal.
To everyone at RS for another well executed learning adventure. You are the best!!
— Review left November 9, 2024
Stefani guided the Green Group like a good shepherdess tends to her flock. She has a quietly efficient assertiveness that fits perfectly into the Road Scholar program. Occasionally her eyes would light up when she got into some important part of a topic. Her knowledge was obvious regardless where she was taking us. A quality asset for RS.
— Review left November 6, 2024
This is an amazing experience with a deep dig (pun intended) into the art and archaeology of Ancient Greece. We saw legendary sites with a guide who has outstanding expertise in the field. The activity level was exactly as described, the food and service on the ship were wonderful and everything was planned with Road Scholar's exceptional attention to detail and comfort of the participants.
— Review left October 19, 2024
Excellent trip on a lovely small boat. The weather wasn't ideal so we had to stay in Crete a bit longer than planned. The guide regrouped quickly and found wonderful things for us to do in spite of the wind! Anastasia was kind and very knowledgeable. The ship was older but very nice and food was outstanding. We were able to go to some ports that a bigger ship couldn't have reached. And Anastasia timed things so we were not stuck in large crowds.
— Review left October 3, 2024
I have wanted to visit Greece for many years, and this trip did not disappoint. This program is structured to primarily explore Bronze Age Greece by visiting ancient sites representing the Minoan, Mycenaean, and Cycladic cultures, along with viewing associated artifacts housed in local museums. And of course we visited the Acropolis! Looking up at the lit-up Parthenon from our restaurant one evening is one of my favorite memories. The small-ship cruise experience on the Harmony V was a delightful change from the experience of sailing on traditional mega-size cruise ships, and it allowed us to visit some smaller, slower-paced Greek islands. Quiet times while sailing between islands can be spent with your favorite reading materials or other activities (you can even borrow a book from the ship's mini library), lounging on the sundeck, visiting with fellow RS guests, or enjoying the view with a cocktail in the lounge. (Just be aware that these small ships do not provide entertainment). Also be prepared for considerable walking and climbing on uneven ground as you visit the various ancient sites, as well as prolonged walking and standing during museum tours. But the effort is worth it! Finally, the Aegean Sea could be surprisingly rough at times, so plan accordingly if you are prone to sea sickness. Oh, and bring your bathing suit for the delightful opportunity to swim in the deep blue Aegean!
— Review left October 1, 2024
My wife and I very much enjoyed the small boat experience and could not imagine having the same type of experience on a ship with thousands of other passengers.
— Review left October 1, 2024
the Greek program was absolutely fascinating and highly educational. What made the program even more knowledge/educational base was the Roula Skoula, the group leader, and her incredible knowledge of the Greek History.
— Review left September 23, 2024
The trip to the Greek Isles trip was exceptional. The visual sights were spectacular, the culture and history is fascinating, and the group leaders were highly knowledgeable and welcoming.
— Review left September 21, 2024
We used Custom Flights and enjoyed the Welcome Lounge during the 3 hour layover in Frankfurt.
Athens;
The organization meeting in Athens Hotel went well even though our Group Leader was delayed. Dinner on the restaurant rooftop gave us a spectacular view of the Parthenon all lighted up!
We hiked up to tour the formidable Acropolis to really explore antiquity. The weather was great and the skies were so blue. The National Archeological Museum has to be seen to be appreciated. The floor is see-through to see the actual site below. We enjoyed dinner on our own at the Patio Greco to achieve a bucket list item (Greek salad in Greece).
Delos ;
Board the yacht Harmony V and left Athens and had a nice sail to Delos. Hiking around the actual World Heritage Archeological Site was impressive.
Mykonos;
Had plenty of free time to walk around and see iconic windmills up close.
Athinos;
Bus ride to Akrotiri historical site was amazingly preserved. We also went into the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. The Thera wall paintings showed a high-level of art and incite into daily life.
Santorini and Rethymno;
Bus to ancient Minoan capital of Knossos. Hearing and seeing the home of King Minos and other legends was a thrill. Lunch at Aykaetos a local restaurant in Knossos includes drinking Raki. We were impressed with the Neolithic figurines at the Herculean Museum.
There was traditional Greek dancing onboard which was fun
Due to bad seas we stayed on Crete longer than expected which just fine. Our Guides knew all the great places to visit. Self explore the Old town Rethymno, a special demo of rolling out phyllo dough, and a walk to Fortezza castle.
Another day we witnessed how pottery has been made at Tsikalario ceramic workshop.
Ermioni;
Bus to Mycenae citadel world heritage site to walk under The Lions Gate entrance and see well preserved treasures of Atrus.
Hydra;
So beautiful and fun to explore and shop.
Cruise to Athens,
Enjoyed the Captains dinner onboard HarmonyV
— Review left September 6, 2024
This was a wonderful program. The intense heat made walking thru the archeological sites very challenging. The accommodations were fine, but we would have enjoyed having more authentic Greek food, especially native fish, for dinners.
— Review left June 26, 2024
A wonderful way to learn something of the origins of our western civilization - intellectually stimulating and fun way to travel.
— Review left June 24, 2024
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and available.
The other participants were widely traveled and interesting.
Locations were well chosen.
— Review left June 13, 2024
We loved out trip. Everything was outstanding
— Review left June 9, 2024
The program was fascinating and I learned much. But previous Road Scholar trips included less free time (much of which I spent in the tiny room of my boat!) and had lectures, which added significantly to my enjoyment.
— Review left June 4, 2024
The tour of the Greek Islands was all I had hoped for and more because of the tour guides, the Captain and crew, the beautiful yacht, and the island choices. The others were "lifelong learners" and we enjoyed mealtime conversations with strangers who became friends. I learned so much and will now continue to learn about Greece through readings and films. LOIS PHILLIPS
— Review left June 3, 2024
Greece has an amazing history over 3000 years. This program introduces participants to main parts of that history while you travel through the delightful sea and landscape of the Greek islands.
— Review left May 30, 2024
Excellent trip & beautiful boat. Guides were well informed & did a great job leading us thru & educating us about the many historical sites we visited. Highly reccommend this trip.
— Review left May 27, 2024
This is an outstanding trip! A great combination of educational and being in beautiful nature, extremely well organized, excellent tour guides and ship staff. Very highly recommended!
— Review left May 27, 2024
What an outstanding trip full of great scenery, interesting sites and historical knowledge. This is a must for anyone interested in our past.
— Review left May 25, 2024
The Islands of the Aegean trip was an excellent blend of classic archeology and history, visits to different islands, walking tours of small towns, and physical activity levels. Sailing from island to island on the motor yacht Harmony V was the perfect way to travel!
— Review left May 25, 2024
This Program was an excellent overview of Greek History -- highlighting visits to the major archaeological sites, both on the mainland and on the islands. By using a small ship to get to the sites, the tour was able to visit ports where large cruise ships cannot go. I could not have put together a better trip. Kudos to Road Scholar!
— Review left May 25, 2024
very good guide, very lousy boat, very good staff on boat, especially the captain.
— Review left May 25, 2024
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the ship, crew and food were great.
sailing to the islands was a pleqsant experience, Seeing the giant cruise ships and ferry loads of people get off on the islands reminded me why this expeerience was special
— Review left May 24, 2024
Classical Greece is the perfect match for Road Scholar's emphasis on learning about the place and it's history. The guides are superb. The travelers who are attracted to Road Scholar programs are great traveling companions, and the groups are small enough to get to know each other.
— Review left May 18, 2024
Road Scholar treated us to a wonderful and in-depth educational experience. The guides, staff and other participants added so much to our exploration of ancient Greece. Rich, rewarding and memorable, education was never so much fun!
— Review left May 17, 2024
Greece, with all of its history and natural beauty, is perfect for a Road Scholar trip! Our guide and group leader, Laura, was fantastic. As a licensed tour guide, she led us through all of Greece’s ancient history in a way that wasn't overwhelming. She tended to the needs of all 20+ of us in her group and was a joy to be around. The ship’s staff was great; always there to help and take care of us. I also appreciated meeting and traveling with a great group of like minded people. This is my second RS trip, and like the first one, it exceeded my expectations in every way . I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who can walk at a good pace up a bit of an incline.
— Review left May 16, 2024
April in Greece is a most wonderful time. Travel with Roads Scholar tour was to some of the best and most beautiful places, with great food great leadership and companionship.Our Ship was very comfortable, and the crew most attentive. Loved seeing their smiles each morning.
— Review left May 14, 2024
We have been on several Road Scholar trips and they do not disappoint. Even with several modifications in itinerary due to the weather in the Aegean, our group leaders provided great alternatives on Crete. The Greek Islands were as beautiful as we anticipated, but what truly made the trip were the wonderful people, from the staff and group leaders to our fellow travelers. Our time with like-minded people who enjoy traveling, learning, and having a good time helped make this a very memorable trip.
— Review left May 12, 2024
Well worth the cost. The educational value cannot be overstated. The staff was exceptional.
— Review left May 11, 2024
Exploring Athens and the Greek Islands on the Harmony V exceeded our expectations! Although we missed Kythera a because of bad weather (it would have been dangerous to dock), the group leaders and Captain later surprised us with a stop at a beautiful beach for a swim in the Agean! I would enthusiastically recommend this program if you have an interest in visiting Greece!
— Review left May 11, 2024
The country and islands are beautiful, the food delicious and the leaders well informed and informative. As the program states the final itinerary is dependent on the weather and our trip had to be modified but, without missing a beat, wonderful alternatives were provided. All of the people involved, from the leaders to the ship's crew to the staff of places we visited, were friendly, efficient and supportive.I wholeheartedly recommend this trip.
— Review left May 8, 2024
I just completed my first Road Scholar trip exploring Greece and some of its islands. I don't think I could have had a more enjoyable experience and look forward to my next Road Scholar trip....I just have to pick a destination!
— Review left May 6, 2024
This was our first road scholar trip which surpassed our expectations but was more physically strenuous than expected. My husband who has some mobility issues that he shared with Athina ahead of time, so she could help by directing him to the elevator on the acropolis. While he was slower than some of the participants, he kept up well. One thing we learned was that he was stronger than he thought. Travel stretching you in wonderful ways.
— Review left May 5, 2024
The Islands of the Aegean trip provides a tour of some of the major ancient sites in Greece with the convenience of traveling by small ship. We did have some schedule changes due to weather but our incredible guides found high value alternate activities. The country is beautiful, food was great on board the ship and off and the guides could not have been better. Bravo!
— Review left May 4, 2024
Amazing trip in the Greek isles headed by an exceptional leader & educator. The other passengers ( only 42 )enhanced my enjoyment. The meals ( particularly the soups )on board were excellent & the crew of the ship were a delight.
— Review left May 2, 2024
Considering every aspect of the trip. I found this one to be outstanding!
— Review left April 29, 2024
This was our second Road Scholar (RS) trip and we were not disappointed. Although both groups are lumped together for this evaluation (and both leaders), I will speak specifically for the Blue Group and the Blue Group leader, Laura Giannola. If anyone has found their life calling of careers it is Laura and Road Scholar is lucky to have her. Her knowledge of Greece, Greek Mythology, Greek antiquity including ruins, religions, wars, and unique qualities of the various Greek islands. She is pleasant, patient, humourous and a joy to be around. She had some considerable challenges with 4 of her guests in the blue group as they did not meet the "Let's Go" criteria set by Road Scholar for this trip. Three or four times these folks were unable to meet the walking demands of the prescribed activity for the day. Several times it was as if she was leading two different groups and she gracefully met the needs of both with a smile on her face. In addition, she was creative and nimble when weather changes made our ship stay two extra days in port. We had extra days on Crete and she filled them with great experiences that everyone seemed to enjoy. We were disappointed to miss two stops but we had been warned by RS that this might happen.
The food on the ship was delicious most of the time and all of the crew and Captain were delightful. We had a second floor accommodation that was comfortable and clean. Our transportation was seamless despite a one day mass transit strike 4/17/24 in Greece. I can say that I would not change a thing about the experience. Thank you, Laura and thank you RS for another great trip.
B&E, Columbia, SC USA
— Review left April 28, 2024
I loved the smaller ship; we were able to see places that the mega-cruise ships could never near. Swimming in the Aegean was very special.
— Review left March 22, 2024
Classical Greece was a delight... and it provided the opportunity we've been hoping to find. We didn't want to visit the Aegean islands on a huge ship with thousands of other people. We wanted to visit these islands to experience their rich history in a small group with a high-quality small ship and a high-quality group leader. This tour delivered!
— Review left November 17, 2023
Classical Greece:Islands of the Aegean is a wonderful program true to its catalog description with just the right amount of guided tours and free time to explore on your own. We enjoyed having the boat to ourselves, to relax and get to know our fellow passengers. Onboard, we had a great Captain, crew,
hospitality staff, and chef. Our guide Chrysa was exceptional and added so much to the overall quality of the program. What a wonderful trip!
— Review left November 8, 2023
Anyone with an interest in the formative years of Western civilization will find lots to learn by this wonderful exploration of both the Classical Greece period and the earlier phases of the Minoans and the Mycenaeans.
— Review left November 6, 2023
My wife Page and I enjoyed this trip to the "Cradle of Democracy" very much, and highly recommend it to others.
— Review left October 30, 2023
What an experience of a lifetime to climb the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. A dream come true. Our tour guide lead us through the history, mythology & relics of Greece. Thanks to Chrysa Peritogianni for making this trip even better than I could have imagined.
— Review left October 29, 2023
An outstanding program with lovely onboard experience and a fantastic tour guide.
— Review left October 28, 2023
Democracy began in Greece. Here is an opportunity to see how this began, fostered by cooperation among the various island states and their cultures.
— Review left October 26, 2023
Road Scholar provides an immensely well-organized small-group opportunity to visit hundreds of important sites and places around the planet, and to come to understand their roles in the advance of civilization and the health and beauty of the planet. Everything is included, and is of the highest quality: travel, food, education, companionship, the list is endless. You will make new friends, perhaps for a lifetime. Truly an outstanding experience!
— Review left October 18, 2023
I love Greece and I loved our group leader. I have to add that I was very disappointed on the size of the group(s). Way too crazy when doing our tours. This was not the experience I have enjoyed in the past. The leaders did their best but it was to much to ask of them. Putting 2 groups of these sizes visiting the same sites at the same time was not a good plan. When eating at the local restaurants the restaurant staff had a hard time taking care of 2 road scalar groups on the same schedule. Lunch one day took 3 hours. Again this was not up to Road Scholar standards.
The boat was beautiful and the food and staff was amazing. I shared a room with Wendy Zinn. We paid for the room upgrade and it was not worth what we were asked to pay. Others that paid the same had much more space in their rooms while others that paid a 1000 less had more room plus the size of the windows were not that much smaller than what we upgraded for. We upgraded for lager windows because the substitute boat change us to porthole windows.
Over all this trip was not worth the money I paid. Sorry for this review but I must be honest. I completed a bike and boat trip in Germany just before joining this trip in Greece. The food was excellent and comparable. The room on the Germany boat was much better and I paid 1/2 the coast of this Road Scholar Trip. Bummer,
— Review left September 30, 2023
Going to Greece was a major trip on my bucket list and it totally lived up to my wishes and desires! Thank you Road Scholar!
— Review left September 25, 2023
Great trip!! Accommodations and food were excellent. Elysium was a perfect sailing vessel and the staff and crew were exceptional.
Our guide, Georgia, was one of the most knowledgeable and experienced people I've ever met. I felt like I was back in college taking a course with one of my favorite professors. She sparked an interest in me to further research Greece and it's history.
My criticism would be that the trip was a little to fast paced, with information overload. I would like more time to absorb what I learned and rest my brain. Maybe a few more non-educational breaks.
Thank you Road Scholar for providing an outstanding experience.
— Review left July 7, 2023
This was a great trip! Excellent group leader, the food was interesting and delicious, and traveling on a small ship was delightful. Seeing the archaeological sites in Greece was a unique experience for me.
— Review left June 4, 2023
Sailing the incredibly blue Aegean from island to island while learning about the complex history of Greece was an experience of a lifetime!
— Review left May 27, 2023
The Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean program with Group Leader Chrysa Peritogianni was phenomenal offering a rich perspective of the iconic elements of Greek architecture and society. The tour gave context for the images associated with this culture that I have studied in my life as an architect. This trip was simply wonderful and the spring weather perfect!
— Review left May 22, 2023
We liked: traveling in the "shoulder season", getting a bigger ship and $500 credits, adjustments by ship admin. for weather so we could do the itinerary backwards, and an incredible RS Guide. Tina Griva provided a window to Greece with her encyclopedic knowledge of archeology and history, people skills, problem solving, accessibility, and adaptability. We had time between disembarking the ship and our flight in Pyraeus and she recommended a local museum that made the last day a delightful bonus experience.
We did NOT like: the Hotel Divani breakfast experience, not having free wifi on the ship, the last full day schedule being so busy that packing minimized sleep.
— Review left May 21, 2023
A most pleasant and interesting program
— Review left May 7, 2023
For folks "our age," Greece can be intimidating, all that scrambling over rocks and ruins. But Road Scholar makes it do-able for us. Do it--or wish you had!
— Review left May 6, 2023
This is an amazing trip and covers everything you want to learn about Greece. We had perfect weather in April. Wonderful experience.
— Review left May 1, 2023
I can't say enough good things about our leader Dionysis. He cares about the program providing interesting content and exciting experiences. He cares that the group is safe and inclusive and that everyone is enjoying the trip. The program in well organized and amazing!
— Review left April 29, 2023
I went with my sister on this trip. It was well executed, and our leader, Alexandros, was so incredibly knowledgeable and personable! He is a huge asset for Road Scholar. This is what I would call a pretty active vacation; expect a lot of walking! The big disappointment was that due to a weather event in the Aegean, we were unable to visit Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete - which were major attractions to booking this particular cruise. That was a big disappointment. RoadScholar has given me (and other passengers on this cruise, I assume) a minor credit (considering the overall cost, that is) for future travels,. Looking ahead, I probably will go back to Greece to "finish the trip" on my own.
— Review left November 27, 2022
I had always dreamed of visiting the Acropolis. I chose this trip because of COVID for its small group size. I was very comfortable with the small boat experience, it felt very safe. Our tour guide was very informative. She made the trip for me. Definitely recommend this trip.
— Review left November 14, 2022
This was our third RS trip and was by far the best (the first two were also quite good). If you are worried about the number of meals provided on the ship, don't! The food on board was wonderful and at least as good as food at local restaurants.
— Review left November 7, 2022
Please sign up for this experience. So much fun to see Athens and then board the small ship to head to various islands. End of October weather was great and crowds were decreasing. Greek gods were on our side and tour leader, Laura, was fantastic. Overall, another wonderful Road Scholar experience. Our group was so nice as was the ship’s crew. Food was beyond excellent. Thanks to all involved.
— Review left November 1, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable educational experience about the history )dating back to the bronze age), the mythology, arts and ideas from the cradle of western civilization, Greece.
— Review left October 29, 2022
This trip was quite disappointing. Due to weather, we were unable to visit most of the planned destinations. Specifically, we did not visit Santorini, Mykonos, Knossos, Delos or Hydra. These destinations were the reason I chose this trip in the first place. Our trip leader Alex, who was wonderful, did everything he could to keep us entertained, but the islands to which we were re-routed weren't remotely comparable to what we missed. I feel that Road Scholar should provide some compensation in situations like this, but they have not (nor even responded to our emails or post-trip surveys). Buyer beware, I guess.
— Review left October 18, 2022
Classical Greece is a great trip, the small ship experience is perfect for the Aegean, and our guide was spectacularly good.
— Review left October 3, 2022
An excellent trip. Chrysa was great and was able to re-arrange things as needed.
— Review left October 2, 2022
Fun and fascinating tour. If you are lucky enough to get Chrysa P as a group leader you will learn a great deal!
— Review left October 1, 2022
Great post pandemic trip, sailing the Greek Islands on a small ship. The Greeks were genuinely happy to have us visit their country. Their hospitality said it all.
— Review left June 7, 2022
This is a marvelous program for those interested in the history of Western Civilization who want to see actual sites from various centuries BC and who will be blown away by the advancements of mankind going back to 2800BC.
— Review left May 31, 2022
This program exceeded my expectations by a long way. I cannot imagine a better way to see the Greek islands than on this ship with our guide. I only wish it had been longer.
— Review left May 30, 2022
A magical experience. Expertly planned and vibrantly guided, it was a look back in time as well a beautiful present-day feast not to be missed.
— Review left October 25, 2021
This trip was exactly what I hoped it would be! Our visits to some of the most important archaeological sites in the history of western civilization were greatly enhanced by our guide, Chrysa Peritogianni, whose depth of knowledge was impressive. Chrysa’s passion was contagious as she helped us imagine the ancient cultures and people. Chrysa was also very helpful in working with the ship’s captain to adjust our itinerary to avoid unfavorable weather conditions and follow the sun - including a stop at a wonderful beach and opportunity to swim in the Aegean. The cruise staff was wonderful as well and very attentive to the needs to the passengers. I highly recommend this program!
— Review left October 25, 2021
The Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean trip was a phenomenal success. The round trip through the Aegean exposed us to classical Greek history at every stop along with the local Greek culture and lifestyle at every stop. Our group leader, Chrysa Peritogianni, was exceptionally knowledgeable and made the trip extraordinary. She expanded our knowledge of Greece and made the trip very enjoyable. Being on a small motor yacht with a superb crew only enhanced the experience. The captain and crew were very accommodating and able to flex our schedule due to inclement weather. While one stop was missed, the replacement was just as noteworthy and our group leader shared fascinating stories on our new destination.
— Review left October 17, 2021
In visiting Greece one must realize the significant geology that has affected the area...earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. In the unlocking of Greece one must realize how deeply the civilizations are covered, one upon the other.
— Review left November 18, 2019
Greek mythology came to life as we visited the archeological sites, walking on stone cobbled streets beside crumbling walls of antiquity and looked in awe at statues of gods and goddesses.
— Review left November 12, 2019
If you have ever wanted to visit the Greek Islands, this is the program for you. The guide, Maria, was excellent and had an encyclopedic knowledge of Greece. Although the boat, Callisto, needs updating, the service and food were excellent. There was little to complain about!
— Review left May 25, 2019
Fantastic program! A must for any lover of ancient Greek. Great for anyone who wants to learn about ancient Greece. All while enjoying current day Greece and all it has to offer. Top notch accommodation: travel, lodging and FOOD! My 1st Road Scholar experience and hopefully not my last.
— Review left May 13, 2019
Excellent in all respects.
— Review left May 11, 2019
This program is immensely interesting, historically and archeologically.
— Review left April 28, 2019
This program is a good introduction to Greece with its visits to historical sites and ruins and the amount of history covered, including mythological history. Maria was a knowledgeable program leader and lecturer. The scenery is gorgeous. Road Scholar participants tend to be interesting, engaged, people who are fun travel companions. The only warning would be to be flexible because the weather can make it necessary to change the itinerary and experiences.
— Review left April 16, 2019