From Rome to Nice: A Voyage on the World Traveller

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date programs schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. 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: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach, 2-4 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles on uneven terrain. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: 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. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon we will visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum was the greatest in the Roman Empire and could hold more than 50,000 spectators. Historical records, as well as popular culture in our time, have made it an iconic symbol of gladiatorial combat and the sacrifice of untold numbers of slaves, prisoners of war, condemned criminals, and animals from throughout the empire. The Roman Forum was the civic, religious, and political hub of ancient Rome. We will see the two remaining triumphal arches of Septemius Severus and Titus. The Arch of Constantine contains friezes and bas-relief sculptures recycled from other arches and monuments.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and embarkation tomorrow.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach, 2-4 steps up/down; approximately 1 hour riding time to Civitavecchia. Walking up to 2 miles on uneven terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and ride to visit the Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia on the way to Civitavecchia. These two large Etruscan cemeteries reflect different types of burial practices from the 9th to the 1st centuries BCE.

Lunch: At a local restaurant en route to Civitavecchia.

Afternoon: We’ll arrive in Civitavecchia and board the ship. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, relax, and start becoming familiar with the ship. There will be a mandatory passenger briefing and safety drill. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. Port stops are subject to change as weather and ocean conditions could affect the progress of the vessel. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The time in each port is set by the cruise line. The cruise line reserves the right to change the itinerary without prior notice.

Dinner: Aboard ship. Chef-prepared meals feature fresh ingredients in tasty preparations. Non-alcoholic beverages and select wines, cocktails, and beer at dinner are included; other beverages are available for purchase upon request.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach, 2-4 steps up/down. Walking up to 2 miles in the morning. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will board our motorcoach and visit Villa San Martino which was the summer residence of Napoleon Bonaparte. Next, we will drive to the village of Porto Azzurro, a delightful town, dominated by an ancient medieval fortress and a picturesque fisherman’s harbor. On the way back to the port, we will stop at the old country wine-farm beautifully nestled in a vineyard overlooking the ocean; here we will experience an interesting visit of the estate’s cellar to learn how the wine is handled and produced. We will enjoy a delicious sampling of the local wine served with tasty light snacks (assorted “bruschettas,” Tuscan salami, cheese, and “cantuccini,” the typical almond cookies).

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration or enjoy activities aboard ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; 2-4 steps up/down; driving 3 hours total riding time. Walking up to 3 miles.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will board our motorcoach for our ride through the Tuscan hills to Florence. Upon arrival, we will discover the city that gave birth to the Italian Renaissance on a walking exploration through the history and art of Florence. We will walk past such landmarks as the 10th-century Ponte Vecchio spanning the River Arno. From the outside, we’ll view the Duomo cathedral flanked by Giotto's Bell Tower. See the Baptistry, where Ghiberti and Donatello competed to design the bronze doors. We’ll also admire the exterior of Basilica di Santa Croce where Michelangelo and Machiavelli are interred. We’ll then pause in Piazza della Signoria, the site of Fra Savonarola’s Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we will visit the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery. 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. After our visit, we will board our motorcoach for our 1 1/2 ride back to the ship in Livorno.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles on cobblestones, uneven terrain, narrow/steep paths. Extent and duration of activities aboard ship according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are the names of the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) that comprise this region on the Italian Riviera. We’ll enjoy the beauty of the region from the comfort of a chartered boat and a walking field trip to explore some of what the five villages have to offer. You’ll be immersed in the beauty of the region, and perhaps driven to follow in the footsteps of Lord Byron and pen your own ode to Italy, “the garden of the world, the home of all art yields.”

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration or enjoy activities aboard ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Extent and duration of activities in Portofino and aboard ship according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Free time while the ship is in port in Portofino. Sitting on a peninsula in the Tigullio Gulf east of Genoa is the picturesque, half-moon shaped seaside village of Portofino. Originally founded by the Romans, today it is known as a resort of the rich and famous, and is filled with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and luxury hotels including the world-famous Hotel Splendido, situated high up on the a cliff with spectacular views. At sea level, beautiful pastel houses line the shores of the harbor, making it one of the most perfect, most photogenic fishing ports in the Mediterranean.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Continue exploring Portofino on your own or enjoy activities aboard ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Extent and duration of activities aboard ship according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship as we sail to Monte Carlo.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; 2-4 steps up/down. Walking up to 2 miles on cobblestones, uneven terrain, narrow/steep paths. Extent and duration of activities aboard ship according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: After arriving into the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo, we’ll head for the hills to the ancient village of Eze, with its fabulous views over Saint Jean-Cap Ferrat. Perched on rock 1,400 feet above sea level, the village centers on the ruins of a 12th-century castle – a testament to centuries of occupation, from Romans and Moors to the House of Savoy – that offers scenic views and photo opportunities. We will visit the quaint cobblestone streets filled with craftsmen’s boutiques and pass bougainvillea-wrapped villas that lead down the hillside to the Mediterranean. Next, we will make our way to Monaco Rock where elevators and escalators will take us up to the Old City and the Palace Square for an exterior view at Prince Rainier's magnificent residence palace. We’ll stroll through the Old Town and see the Cathedral, where Princes and Princesses of Monaco are buried.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration or enjoy activities aboard ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation in the morning.

Activity note: Disembarking the ship. Getting on/off a motorcoach, 2-4 steps up/down. Walking up to 2 miles on cobblestones, uneven terrain, narrow/steep paths.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: After completing disembarkation procedures, we will board our motorcoach and 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 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. Upon arrival at the hotel, we will check in.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: 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!