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To make your experience as safe as possible, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated. See our Safety Roadmap
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
DATES & PRICES
| Ship Inside | Ship Outside | Ship Balcony |
|---|---|---|
Accommodation DetailsA cabin with no window, porthole or balcony. |
Accommodation DetailsA cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside. |
Accommodation DetailsA cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck. |
DATES & PRICES
| Ship Inside | Ship Outside | Ship Balcony |
|---|---|---|
Accommodation DetailsA cabin with no window, porthole or balcony. |
Accommodation DetailsA cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside. |
Accommodation DetailsA cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck. |
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking about 1 mile including ship and port corridors and gangways; further walking of about 2 miles; uneven terrain including steps without railings and cobblestones; standing up to 2 hours.
Morning: Transfer from the airport to the port in Tilbury. Meals aboard ship will begin with dinner; a light lunch will be available for those who arrive in time.
Afternoon: Embark the Aegean Odyssey. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax. Then begin to become familiar with this comfortable ship that will be our floating home for the duration of the program. The ship’s friendly and courteous 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. 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. Please note that lecture times and dates may vary due to time in port. Check your briefing memo for the most up to date lecture schedule. There is also a well-stocked library with daily newspapers received via satellite. Each evening, a briefing memo/daily journal will be placed in our cabins with highlights of the next day’s activities. Most mornings will begin with a group stretch session. On each full day of the program, we will gather for an informal “port talk” about what’s ahead. 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 most ports, we will have shuttle busses, or tender boats, 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 are always dependent 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 your first dinner on board in either the Marco Polo restaurant or the Terrace Café. Chef-prepared meals feature fresh ingredients in tasty preparations including healthy choices. Both restaurants offer open-seating dining. All meals aboard ship are included as well as afternoon tea and late night snacks. Non-alcoholic beverages and select wines at dinner are included; other beverages are available for purchase upon request.
Evening: We will gather in the Ambassador Lounge for a welcome briefing by the Cruise Director. As well as welcoming you to your floating campus, the Cruise Director will discuss some general ship policies and review any updated Covid-19 regulations. The rest of the evening will be 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: Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — there are 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 ingredients in tasty preparations.
Morning: Orientation:We will gather this morning with the Group Leader, who 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. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program After the orientation session, enjoy free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard the ship.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: We’ll gather in the Ambassador Lounge for a lecture on topics relevant to our program. The ship will leave Tilbury on our journey to Cherbourg. At the end of the afternoon, we’ll gather together with our Group Leader for our first daily port talk.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 34 miles (54 km) each way. Walking up to 3 miles, uneven, rocky terrain at Utah Beach; standing about an hour at a time.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: We will depart by motorcoach to Utah Beach where a local expert will give us an on-site presentation about the American landing here on D-Day: June 6, 1944. As our expert takes us through the stages of the landing at the site, we will learn about the ferocity of the battle from a number of perspectives, the larger Allied invasion on D-Day, and its impact on France and World War II.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We will continue to explore Utah Beach. Once back onboard, we will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk at the end of the afternoon.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Cherbourg on our journey to St. Malo.
Activity note: Getting on and off a motorcoach; driving about 35 miles (56 km), approximately 1 hour each way. Walking 2 miles over the course of the day. Climbing approximately 350 steep, narrow stairs at Mont St. Michel. The motorcoach will arrive at a designated parking lot and local shuttle busses will bring the group to the village. Note: The “Relaxed” activity level group will not climb the stairs and will walk to a nearby café with a view of Mont St. Michel to learn about its history and culture.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: We will depart by motorcoach for an expert-led field trip to explore a place locals call “le Mont” — better known as Mont St. Michel, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. This is the second-most visited monument in France after the Eiffel Tower. Little has changed here for centuries. From the UNESCO inscription: “Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stand the 'Wonder of the West', a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site.” Tradition says that in the year 708 CE, the local bishop had visions of St. Michael the Archangel who instructed him to found a religious sanctuary. The development of such an extraordinary architectural achievement may itself be regarded as something akin to a miracle.
Lunch: At a farmhouse restaurant featuring local products.
Afternoon: Free time in St. Malo to explore at your own pace. At the end of the afternoon, we will return to the ship and gather with our Group Leader for a port talk
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave St. Malo.
Activity note: Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: We will gather for a lecture on topics relevant to our program. In the late afternoon, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will continue on our journey to Le Verdon.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Driving approximately 4 hours including stops. Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestone walkways, stairs without railings; standing up to 2 hours at a time.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: We will depart by motorcoach to explore the Médoc wine region. En route, we will learn about the history of Bordeaux wines and their economic impact on the region. We will arrive at a Médoc chateau, where we’ll have more information and enjoy a wine tasting.
Lunch: In either 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: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Le Verdon on our journey to Bilbao.
Activity note: Getting on and off a motorcoach; driving about 9 miles (14 km), approximately 1/2 hour to/from Bilbao. Walking 2 miles indoors and out; cobblestones, uneven terrain; standing in museum.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: After arrival in Bilbao, we will board a motorcoach and ride to the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum for a docent-led exploration of the exterior and interior architecture. We’ll also have some time to see museum exhibits independently. We’ll then reboard the motorcoach for an overview of Bilbao city, to learn about its aesthetic rejuvenation with commentary by a local expert as we ride. The motorcoach will return to the ship for lunch.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard the ship. We will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk in the late afternoon.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Bilbao on our journey to Porto.
Activity note: Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: We will gather for a lecture on topics relevant to our program. In the late afternoon, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will continue on our journey to Porto.
Activity note: Getting on and off a motorcoach. Pedestrian-only areas with very restricted motorcoach drop off points. Walking 3-4 miles over the course of the day; cobblestones, uneven terrain, some steep slopes; standing up to 2 hours at a time.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city, with a history dating back to its days as a Roman trading outpost. We will set out with a local expert to explore Porto’s highlights by motorcoach. We will continue our exploration with a local expert on a walking field trip in the historic city center, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “The city of Oporto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro river, is an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year history. Its continuous growth, linked to the sea (the Romans gave it the name Portus, or port), can be seen in the many and varied monuments, from the cathedral with its Romanesque choir, to the neoclassical Stock Exchange and the typically Portuguese Manueline-style Church of Santa Clara.”
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.
Afternoon: Free time in Porto. Take advantage of the Road Scholar shuttle to explore Porto at your own pace. At the end of the afternoon, we will return to the ship and gather with our Group Leader for a port talk. We will also have a chance to taste a glass of Port and a local pastry.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Porto on our journey to Tangier.
Activity note: Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: We will gather for a lecture on topics relevant to our program. In the late afternoon, we will meet with our Group Leader for a port talk.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will continue on our journey to Tangier.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Driving under 1/2 hour per field trip. 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 — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: During our time in Tangier, we will have the option to set out by motorcoach with a local expert on a panoramic drive to learn about Cap Spartel and Hercules Grotto, or to explore Medina, including St Andrew’s Church, with a local expert and independently discover the Kasbah Museum. We'll also have an opportunity to enjoy some tea and Moroccan delicacies.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will leave Tangier on our journey to Barcelona.
Activity note: Extent and duration of free time activities dependent on personal preference.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Afternoon: We will gather for a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner: In either 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 placed in our cabins with highlights for tomorrow. The ship will continue on our journey to Barcelona.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles and standing during field trip; cobblestones, uneven terrain. La Sagrada Familia tickets cannot be secured in advance and entrance times are strictly regulated and subject to change. There is no guarantee of 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 — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
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 visit a market where we will taste some of the local produce. NOTE: The “Relaxed” activity level group will not walk down Las Ramblas or go to the local markets.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.
Afternoon: Continuing by motorcoach, we will see highlights of Gaudí’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. At the end of the afternoon, we will gather with our Group Leader for a port talk.
Dinner: In either 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 — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
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 his 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.
Lunch: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant, or you may choose to stay on shore and dine on your own.
Afternoon: Free time in Barcelona. Take advantage of the Road Scholar shuttle to explore Barcelona at your own pace.
Dinner: In either the Terrace Café or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Disembarkation begins at early at 5:00 am or earlier depending on local schedules. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.
Breakfast: In the Terrace Café — and on the Lido Deck in nice weather — or Marco Polo Restaurant.
Morning: After completing disembarkation procedures, we will transfer to the 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!
JOOOB
