Alumni Travel Program 2010: Greece, Oct. 2-11
In this, the fourth installment of the Stonehill College Alumni Travel Program, we will travel to Greece.
The Learning Experience
What sets the Stonehill College Alumni Travel Program apart from other travel experiences is the participation of a Stonehill faculty member willing to share his/her knowledge and expertise throughout the trip.
Our Faculty Guide
We are delighted that Associate Professor of Religious Studies Mary Joan Leith has agreed to be our guide. Not only will we learn from her research and expertise; but we have included educational components to the itinerary with her assistance.
Prof. Leith has been teaching at Stonehill since 1993. She teaches courses on the Bible and religion, history and culture of the Ancient Near East and Greece, and offers a popular course on the Virgin Mary. She is the 2009 recipient of the Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Itinerary
Day 1: Boston-Zurich-Istanbul
Depart Boston's Logan Airport on our transatlantic Swiss flight to Istanbul (via Zurich). Dinner and breakfast will be served in flight.
Day 2: Istanbul
We will be transported from the airport for a city tour OR visit the Hagia Sophia prior to heading to the port to meet our ship, the Louis Cristal, for embarkation. Depart Istanbul.
Day 3: Mykonos
Arrive in Mykonos. We will have plenty of time to roam this beautiful mountainous island, known for its windmills and dazzling whitewashed houses. Wander through the narrow, winding streets lined with trendy boutiques and friendly taverns on your own or join one of the ship's excursions.
Day 4: Patmos-Kasudasi
Our first port-of-call is Patmos, where we will visit the grotto and monastery where St. John the Divine is said to have written Revelation. The 11th century monastery, known for its rare manuscript collection, is well worth the visit. Our second stop on today's agenda is Kasudasi, Turkey, with an included excursion to visit nearby Greek, Roman and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus.
Day 5: Rhodes
Drive along the picturesque coastline to Lindos, a city guarded by medieval walls constructed by the knights of St. John in the 13th century. Within them stands the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, on the brink of a precipice 400 ft above the sea. From the Acropolis, marvel at the breathtaking views covering the great expanse of the Agean Sea.
Enjoy some free time in Lindos before returning to Rhodes with a panoramic drive through the new part of the city before continuing to Mount Smith to see the ruins of ancient Rhodes, the Temple of Apollo and Diagoras Stadium.
Afterward we'll follow our guide on a walking tour through the medieval city of Rhodes, viewing the Palace of the Knights, Chevaliers Road and the Marine Gate before returning back to our ship.
Day 6: Heraklion (Crete)-Santorini
Our morning port-of-call is on Crete, the Greek island made famous in Homer's epic poems. Heraklion, the capitol of Crete and its principal commercial port, is just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos, which we will visit. This afternoon we will visit Santorini, "the Black Pearl of the Agean" and possibly the most beautiful of all the Greek islands. In Santorini you can enjoy free time or join one of the excursions offered by the cruise ship.
Day 7: Piraeus-Athens
Arrive in the port of Piraeus and disembark. We will enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring many of its most important sights: the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Acropolis (including the famous Parthenon and Temple of Athena), the Acropolis Museum and the Presidential Palace. The afternoon is free for shopping, relaxation or touring on your own. We will check-in at our hotel and enjoy a night of leisure in Athens.
Day 8: Athens
Today is completely at leisure to enjoy as you wish. There will be optional excursions added for all/part of the day depending on faculty guide and interest from participants.
Day 9: Delphi
We will board our motorcoach in the morning for a full day tour to Delphi on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Here we will walk on the ancient sacred way of the Temple of Apollo and then on to the Museum where we can see, among many archaeological treasures, the unique bronze statue of the Charioteer. Next, we will visit the Athenian Treasury and Castilia Springs. Lunch will be in Delphi. We will return for our Farewell Dinner in Athens.
Day 10: Athens-Zurich-Boston
After breakfast we will be transported to the airport where we will board for our return to Boston (via Zurich) with full meal and beverage service available in flight.
About the cruise ship
Louis Cruises' Cristal features 9 passenger decks with a maximum capacity of 1200 in 480 cabins, fully air-conditioned, sun deck, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, salon, wellness center, restaurant, dining rooms, lounges, bars, disco, casino, duty free shops, internet corner and a doctor on board.
Small ship cruising allows our group to have private receptions and lectures while at sea and more time in many ports of call than large ships. Group identity is still able to be formed and we have already included many of the excursions as part of our itinerary (included in the costs). Louis Cruise Lines is one of the few lines whose ships can begin and/or end in Athens, a highlight of our itinerary.
Costs:
- $2559 for Inside Cabin and payment by cash/check
- $2626 for Inside Cabin and credit card payment
- $2659 for Outside Cabin and payment by cash/check
- $2729 for Outside Cabin and credit card payment
All rates are per person, twin occupancy, plus $636 in air and port taxes and fees and fuels surcharge.
Join us for a specially priced package tour to Greece featuring a 5-night cruise aboard Louis Cruises' Cristal and 3 nights in Athens. After flying in to Istanbul, Turkey, we'll board our cruise ship for a magnificent tour of the picturesque Greek Isles with several shore excursions included. While in Athens, we will stay at the 4-star Divani Palace (or similar). Breakfast is included every morning during the trip. All other meals are included during the cruise portion and the Farewell Dinner in Athens is also included in the price of the trip.
Registration Details
This trip is open to Stonehill Alumni and friends. The trip is expected to sell out. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@stonehill.edu or (508) 565-1343 to request a registration form and additional details. A completed registration form and a $250 deposit per person are required to reserve space.