Program

10.May.2008 - Saturday - Rome (Civitavecchia)/Italy -- 5:00 PM
2,500 years of history are woven into the fabric of modern Rome. You can feel it in the glory of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Or as you wander sidestreets that open onto piazzas, fountains, Bernini sculpture, and elegant courtyards. Famous treasures are legion in Rome: the Colosseum…the Forum…St. Peter’s Cathedral…the Trevi Fountain…the Spanish Steps. Take time out between sights to do as the Romans do: enjoy a three-hour lunch, shop, people-watch, or savor the best gelati in the world.

11.May.2008 - Sunday - Capri/Italy 10:00 AM 5:00 PM
Geologically Capri is limestone; its dolomite cliffs, which at many points tower perpendicularly out of the sea, have been chiseled and tunneled by time into fantastic shapes and marvelous caves (grottoes). There are two main massifs: on the east Monte Tiberio (1095ft) and on the west Monte Solaro (452ft). The town of Capri (from which the island takes its name) at 452ft is located between them, in a position, which has Marina Grande to its north and Marina Piccola on its southern side.

12.May.2008 - Monday - Cruising Strait Of Messina -- --
Your Sicilian odyssey begins, with dazzling blue waters and smoldering Mt. Etna in the distance.
Messina/Sicily 11:00 AM 6:00 PM
This ancient city of cobblestone streets and friendly people is the gateway to the sunny island of Sicily, a mountainous and rugged place which remains in the shadow of its still-active volcano, Mt. Etna. In addition to its own enchanting landscape, Messina is the launching point for visits to the classical ruins at Taormina and the Church of the Black Madonna in Tindari.

13.May.2008 - Tuesday - May 13 Tuesday At Sea -- --
At Sea

14.May.2008 - Wednesday Gythion/Greece 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
Truly one of the world’s original great urban centers, the port city of Gythion was founded by the ancient Phoenicians prior to 400 B.C. Gracing the isolated southern edge of the Peloponnese, the city has a rich political and cultural heritage which is still in evidence today. The castle of Mistras, with its elaborate Byzantine frescos, carved throne and majestic cathedrals will impress even the most seasoned traveler. Or visit the beautiful Caves of Diros, with their incredible underground lakes and fossils dating back 2 million years.

15.May.2008 - Thursday - Navplion/Greece 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
Once a powerful city-state ruled by Agamemnon, the conqueror of Troy, this hilly village now offers you a chance to soak up some history over a glass of retsina in one of its many waterfront cafés.

16.May.2008 - Friday Ermoupolis/Greece 10:00 AM 5:00 PM
The Cyclades: mystical islands of mountainous beauty, picturesque fishing villages, fertile valleys and sandy beaches surrounded by a pristine sea. At the center of it all lies the island of Syros and its capital city of Ermoupolis. The captivating neoclassical architecture of Ermoupolis stands out from the other Cyclades and is reminiscent of the island’s former splendor and power. This rocky, mountainous land offers many natural gulfs, as well as prehistoric ruins that have been fascinating visitors for centuries.

17.May.2008 - Saturday - Athens/Greece 7:00 AM --
Above the city, looking out towards the blue Aegean, stands the Acropolis. Here lie the ruins of a culture 2,500 years old: the Propylaea; the Temple of Athena Nike; the Erechtheum temple, and, most famous of all, the Parthenon.
Meanwhile, modern Athens buzzes busily below, a city of chic restaurants, lively bazaars, sophisticated banking, historical museums, and the sights and smells of the Plaka district.

Sail Ends

For all information including prices, availability, and early booking discounts, please email any questions, and tell us the dates that suit your travel plans.

(The e-mail address is info@encountertours.net. )
You can also call us at +971-322-3915 PST.

As soon as we get your e-mail we will respond with any information you need.

Encounter Tours also provides services such as Rome or Athens hotel bookings, daily private tours, airport transfers, rental cars, as well as everything related to travel in all of the cities where the cruise takes place.