Odyssey at Sea: From Provence & the French Riviera to Barcelona

Morning: Transfer from the airport to the port of Genoa. Meals aboard ship will begin with dinner; a light lunch will be available from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for those who arrive in time.

Afternoon: Embark the Aegean Odyssey. Complete boarding procedures, get your cabin, unpack, and freshen up. Then begin to explore this comfortable ship that will be our floating home. The ship’s courteous and friendly staff are scrupulous about hygiene and you will find numerous dispensers with hand-sanitizer we are encouraged to use. Along with everyone on board, we will meet at muster stations when called for the ship’s safety drill. Orientation: We will gather late afternoon when the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. During succeeding evenings aboard ship, there will be activities to choose from such as a guest speaker, a performance by talented musicians, and opportunities for interaction with fellow Road Scholars. There is also a well-stocked library with daily newspapers received via satellite. Most mornings will begin with a group stretch session. On each full day, the Group Leader will give a “port talk” about what’s ahead. Each evening, we’ll get a briefing memo in our cabins with highlights of the next day’s activities. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. In each port, we will have shuttle busses running from/to the ship during the day for your convenience if you wish to explore independently. The extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities depends on personal choice. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: Aboard ship, enjoy a welcome dinner in the venue of your choice: the a la carte Marco Polo restaurant, open for dinner as well as lunch on full days at sea; and the Terrace Café with its extensive buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals feature fresh local ingredients in tasty preparations including healthy choices. Both restaurants offer open-seating dining. All meals aboard ship — as well as afternoon tea and late night snacks — are included. Non-alcoholic beverages and select wines at dinner are included; other beverages are available for purchase upon request.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. The ship will leave for Ajaccio, Corsica this evening.

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestones, uneven terrain, stairs without railings; standing up to 2 hours at a time.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: After arriving in Ajaccio, Corsica, we will set out on a walking field trip to explore this imperial city and cultural capital of the French island. Led by a local expert we will walk through the old Genoese and Corsican districts, the harbor, and the historic Sanguinaires road. We’ll view a 16th-century Genoese defensive tower as well as the beautiful shoreline. During our exploration, we will stop for a visit at the Fesch Museum, a fine arts gallery housed in the grand 19th-century Palais Fesch. This former residency was the birthplace of the museum’s founder cardinal Joseph Fesch. Fresch's vision was to bring an institute of arts and sciences to Ajaccio, and in that pursuit, he donated a great number of artworks from his own enormous collection to the museum. We will have the opportunity to discover the museum’s masterpieces at our own pace or with an expert to learn about specifically about the floors dedicated to Napoleon, contemporary artists, and 14th- to 18th-century art. Some of the more famed pieces include works by Botticelli and Titian.br> We’ll return to the ship for lunch.

Lunch: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Afternoon: We will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Ajaccio to Monte Carlo as we continue our journey along the French Rivera.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 3 miles including ship and port corridors and gangways; uneven terrain, steps without railings, cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — there are freshly made hot and cold dishes to choose from such as eggs, breakfast meats, cereals, fruits, breads, pastries, and a variety of healthy choices as well as milk, juice, coffee, tea, water. Meals feature fresh local ingredients in tasty preparations.

Morning: Upon our arrival in Monte Carlo (Monaco), we will walk to the Prince's Palace and view the Changing of the Guard and explore the beautiful city further on foot.

Lunch: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we will ride to Cap Ferrat and the exquisitely beautiful Villa Ephrussi-de-Rothschild. Using audio guides, we will learn about of Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild (1864-1934) and hear tales of her life and passions. We will enter the villa and see some of the more than 5,000 fine art treasures she collected including paintings, tapestries, antique furniture, and rare porcelain. The villa is surrounded by magnificent gardens. Returning to the ship, we will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during the farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Monaco on our journey to Nice.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking about 3 miles; uneven pavement, cobblestones; standing up to 1.5 hours at a time.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: We will set out by motorcoach and later on foot with a local expert to see and explore some of the sites of Nice. We will drive past the Russian Orthodox Church, stop at Castle Hill for a panoramic view of the city, and drive along the Promenade des Anglais before reaching the Old Town. As we walk, we will visit the local flower market and savor flavors at famed local food markets and artisan shops featuring local specialties.

Lunch: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Afternoon: We will have an opportunity to enjoy the Chagall Museum. The permanent collection is the biggest public collection of works by Marc Chagall. It is organized around the set of works produced by the painter on the Old Testament themes.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow.At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. The ship will remain in port overnight.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 3 miles; uneven terrain, gravel paths.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: We will continue to explore Nice by motorcoach. We will ride to the hill town of St. Paul de Vence. One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, it is notable for its picturesque winding streets, modern and contemporary art museums, and galleries.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will continue on to Antibes, where we will visit the Picasso Museum (formerly known as Château Grimaldi) to learn about Picasso, his work, and his time in France.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Nice on our journey to Toulon.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 1 hour each way. Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestones, uneven pavement; standing up to an hour at a time.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: We will board a motorcoach for a field trip to the heart of Provence. On foot with our local expert we will explore the center of Aix-en-Provence. Here we will have a chance to see many historical sites such as the Saint Sauveur Cathedral, the Museum of Old Aix, the Archbishops' Palace, Town Hall, Albertas Square and the Palace of Justice. We'll walk along medieval streets and discover the city's architectural heritage ranging from the 5th to the 18th century. We will also see the Cours Mirabeau, Aix's elegant tree-lined main street, dotted with fountains of fresh spring water discovered by the Romans. We will also visit the Mazarin district with its discretely ornate 17th century private town-houses.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue your exploration of Provence with a visit to the Chateau la Coste Winery and Vineyard, before returning to the ship via motorcoach. We will then gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Toulon on our journey to Marseilles.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach, in/out of small boats. Walking up to 4 miles; cobblestone and uneven terrain, steep steps to ascend Montée des Accoules; standing up to 1.5 hours at a time.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: Set out by motor coach to explore Arles. In Arles, we will discover its ancient history, which goes back more than 2,000 years. We will visit the historic city center as well as the Roman amphitheater. Return to the ship for lunch.

Lunch: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue your exploration of Marseille with an expert-led field trip and encounter the rich diversity of this city, a designated Cultural Capital of Europe. We will see highlights including the fishing village of Vallon des Auffes, the majestic seaside drive Corniche Kennedy, and the city's Old Port founded in 600 BCE by the Greeks. We'll continue exploring Marseille and venture through the winding, narrow streets of the city's oldest district, Le Panier. We will see the Town Hall overlooking the Old Port and climb the steep steps of the Montée des Accoules. We’ll also examine the austere splendor of the galleries, inner courtyard, and chapel of La Vieille Charité, a former almshouse that is now a museum before returning to the ship.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Marseilles on our journey to Sete.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 85 miles (136.5 km), approximately 1.5 hours each way, Walking 3 miles during the day; cobblestone and uneven terrain; standing up to 1 hour at a time.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: Travel to Narbonne via motor coach. On foot, we'll explore the historic sites and visit the halles. The halles is an indoor market featuring stalls for bakers, pastries, butchers, caterers, fishmongers, greengrocers, poultry merchants, delicatessens, and bars and wine merchants.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Carcassonne.

Afternoon: We will go motorcoach to visit the fortified city of Carcassone. After learning about the history of this site, you'll have some free time to explore at your own pace. Return to the ship and gather for our port talk in the late afternoon.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Sete on our journey to Barcelona.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; some pedestrian-only areas with restricted motorcoach drop off points. Walking up 2 miles and standing in Gothic quarter; cobblestones, uneven terrain. La Sagrada Familia tickets cannot be secured in advance and entrance times are strictly regulated or subject to change. We cannot guarantee entrance, so this visit may be substituted for another Modernist site. Time spent inside the Sagrada Familia is restricted. Due to mobility concerns, we do not visit the towers.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: We will set out from the ship by motorcoach with a local expert, then take a walking field trip through the Barri Gòtic — Gothic Quarter — that still has traces of its ancient Roman heritage. We will also walk down Las Ramblas, a colorful boulevard that runs through the heart of the city, and local markets where we will taste some of the local produce.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Continuing by motorcoach, we will see highlights of Gaudi’s “Modernist Route” with a local expert. Modernism was the Catalan version of Art Nouveau and its most important exponent was the visionary architect and designer Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). We will stop to view the renowned towers of the Sagrada Familia church that remains Gaudí’s most famous legacy. The first stone was laid in 1882 and Gaudí took over design responsibilities the next year. Work continues to this day following his plans and is expected to be completed around 2026. It has become an internationally recognized symbol of Barcelona. We will also see emblematic sites including the famous Passeig de Gràcia with idiosyncratic buildings designed by Gaudí and other Modernists before returning to ship for the evening. We will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, and be sure to check the briefing memo/daily bulletin placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will remain in port overnight.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; some pedestrian-only areas with restricted motorcoach drop off points. Walking up to 2 miles in Gothic quarter; cobblestones, uneven terrain; standing up to 1 hour at a time. Picasso Museum entrance times are strictly regulated and subject to change or substitution with another monument.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: We will be joined by an art historian for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture on Barcelona’s Modernist movement and artists. We will then depart by motorcoach for a field trip to the Picasso Museum — Fundació Museu Picasso de Barcelona — where an expert will lead our exploration as we see works produced by the artist during the artist’s formative years. Opened in 1963, the museum occupies five large houses dating from the 13th-15th centuries and has a permanent collection of more than 4,000 works displaying the genius of young Pablo Picasso. The motorcoach will return to the ship for those who wish to have lunch aboard. Those who wish to remain downtown are welcome to do so and return independently.

Lunch: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant. You are welcome to remain ashore and dine out on your own if you like.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There will be a motorcoach transfer back to the ship in the late afternoon, followed by our daily port talk.

Dinner: Your choice of the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. The ship will remain in port overnight.

Activity note: Disembarkation may begin as early as 6:00 a.m. depending on local schedules. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Café or on the Lido Deck in nice weather.

Morning: After completing disembarkation procedures, we will transfer to the Barcelona airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!