Worldwide Educational Tours, Small Group Tours, Small Ship River Cruises and Ocean-Adventure Cruises


	Family Friendly Italy *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Family Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* NA Rome, Florence and Venice—each designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites—invite you to walk into the panorama of history. Visit the Colosseum. See the Sistine Chapel and the Renaissance masterworks in the Uffizi Gallery. Ride a gondola. On this family journey you and the children who travel with you will encounter Italy’s three greatest cities, each with a distinct history and flavor. Besides delving into history and art, you’ll ride a horse-drawn carriage, sample the pure flavors of Florentine gelato and make a carnival mask. The trip is paced for children and adults, and the travel between cities is by high-speed train. Join other alumni and their families for a journey that promises enlightenment and treasured experiences. It may spark a life-long love for history, art, a cuisine, a language, and a country. More...	*Rates from:* 2895.00
	Venice, Versilia & Lake Maggiore *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 9/23/2008 This tour takes in some of the most gorgeous spots in Northern Italy, including a few that may surprise you! Spend two nights in Venice, where a morning tour takes you into opulent St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Then set out for the Tuscan area known as the Versilia, with a stop in Ravenna. Range out on excursions to the beautiful coastal towns called Cinque Terre, to ancient Lucca and the Tower of Pisa, and to the port city of Genoa—each of them a distinctive corner of Italy—and return each night to the Versilia’s beaches, pinewoods and lakes. End this leisurely tour by the shores of deep-blue Lake Maggiore near the Swiss border. More...	*Rates from:* 2995.00
	Sojourn in Southern Italy *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 9/6/2008 Experience the history and stunning beauty of Southern Italy as you journey through the region. Visit the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, buried by the volcanic ash that preserved the lifestyles of 2000 years ago. Explore romantic Sorrento, and take the ferry to the magical Isle of Capri, set like a jewel in the Bay of Naples. Then drive along the Amalfi Coast between the mountains and the sea, enjoying the breathtaking views at every turn. Stop to visit Amalfi’s 9^th-century Cathedral, and climb the winding road to mountaintop Ravello to visit the Palazzo Rufolo and its fabled gardens high above the sea. More...	*Rates from:* 3095.00
	Sicily - Cultural Crossroads of the Mediterranean *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 8/29/2008 Centuries of diverse histories are preserved on—and within—the island of Sicily. The cities of this rocky volcanic island hug the coastline and are extraordinarily beautiful. Palermo, the capital, bears traces of Moorish and baroque Spain, the Arab-Norman fusion, and the Roman and Byzantine empires. See Palermo, the delightful village of Taormina, and a villa with magnificent Roman mosaics. Along with the tumultuous history, you’ll enjoy a Norman folk tale told with traditional Sicilian puppets, sample many regional specialties, and take in the beauty of this sparse land with its panoramic views of the seas that surround it. More...	*Rates from:* 3595.00
	Treasures of Rome, Florence & Venice *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 9/13/2008 Come to know the three worlds within three beloved cities: Rome, with its wealth of art and history, Florence, the city that embodies the beauty of the Renaissance, and romantic, mysterious Venice. You’ll tour Imperial Rome, see St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, and take in the elegant ambience of the city’s famed squares. Journey through Umbria and the Tuscan hills to Florence, where the Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s famed duomo sits surrounded by other Renaissance masterworks. Continue north to Venice, for visits to glittering St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, and your opportunity to stroll the canals. Throughout the journey, stay at well-located and well-appointed hotels overlooking these historic cities, and enjoy three distinct Italian cuisines. More...	*Rates from:* 4495.00
	Exploring Rome's Great Heritage *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Cultural Tours & Journeys *Departure Dates:* 10/3/2008 What’s better than spending nine days in Rome? Spending nine days in Rome with John Varriano, Professor of Art History at Mount Holyoke College and specialist in the art and architecture of 17^th-century Rome, and Nancy De Concilis, a professional guide who is a wealth of knowledge about things Roman. They will illuminate your daily encounters with Ancient Rome, the great artists of the Italian Renaissance, and the powerful baroque works of Bernini and Borromini whose vision permeates the city to this day. Visit ancient ruins, museums, piazzas and fountains, the Vatican, and several of the villas that grace Rome’s environs. Sample some of Rome’s delightful restaurants, and spend several afternoons exploring on your own or sketching with John Varriano. More...	*Rates from:* 4995.00
	Sicily: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 9/24/2008 On this circumnavigation of Sicily aboard the all-suite Corinthian II, we discover more than 3,000 years of diverse cultural innovation—wave after wave of new peoples, new ideas, and new artistic techniques sweeping the island of Etna, leaving in their wake sublime temples, great cities, captivating villages, and extraordinary works of art. Our journey includes a treasure trove of riches, from the Doric temples of the ancient Greeks to the colossal works of the Romans and the spectacular artistic achievements of the Byzantine era. Also discover Sicily’s inviting towns, including medieval Erice and historic Monreale, with its Norman Cathedral. Late September is an ideal time to explore this storied island. The temperature is ideal for touring the sites, and the summer crowds of visitors are gone. More...	*Rates from:* 5495.00
	Rediscovering the Classical World: A Voyage from Rome to Constantinople *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy, Greece, Turkey *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 10/2/2008 On this special voyage from Rome to Istanbul, the city founded by Emperor Constantine as the “New Rome,” we will explore some of the most important aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman societies and how elements of these two cultures became the foundations for our Western civilization. From Civitavecchia, Rome’s port, we will sail to Campania, home of some of the most important Greek and Roman sites in Italy, and then to Sicily, the island that has witnessed the rise and fall of every major civilization in the Mediterranean. We will then sail across the Ionian Sea to Greece, continuing along Turkey’s Aegean coast to Istanbul. Fall is the ideal time of the year to cruise these ancient shores, and the landmark sites we visit, combined with the educational opportunities offered, make for a memorable experience. More...	*Rates from:* 5995.00
	Rome and Greece: Cradles of Western Culture *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy, Greece *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 6/22/2009 On this fascinating voyage from Rome to Athens, we will explore myriad facets of ancient Greek and Roman society and consider how elements of these two cultures formed the crucible of our Western civilization. From Civitavecchia, Rome’s port, we will sail to Campania—home to some of the most important Greek and Roman sites in Italy—and then to Sicily, the island that has witnessed the rise and fall of every major civilization in the Mediterranean. We will then cross the Ionian Sea to the Greek island of Crete, Zeus’ birthplace and home to the Labyrinth of the Minotaur. Then it’s on to medieval Rhodes and Santorini as we continue to examine the layering of centuries and ideas in this seminal corner of cultural flourishing. Our journey to these ancient shores takes place aboard Corinthian II, an ideal vessel for a rewarding return to our intellectual origins. More...	*Rates from:* 5995.00
	Sicily: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilization *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 4/19/2009, 4/26/2009 On this circumnavigation of Sicily aboard the private yacht Callisto, we discover more than 3,000 years of diverse cultural innovation—wave after wave of new peoples, new ideas and new artistic techniques sweeping this island of Etna, leaving in their wake sublime temples, great cities, captivating villages and extraordinary works of art. Our journey includes a treasure trove of riches, from the Doric temples of the ancient Greeks to the colossal works of the Romans and the spectacular artistic achievements of the Byzantine era. Also discover Sicily’s inviting towns, including medieval Erice and historic Monreale, with its Norman Cathedral. The timing for this Mediterranean trip could not be better. The wildflowers of spring add a profusion of color to the pastoral countryside, the air is fresh and clear, and the influx of summer tourists has not yet begun. In addition, our voyage includes a wealth of special visits and unique events unavailable anywhere else. More...	*Rates from:* 7695.00
	Mediterranean Music Festival: A Voyage from Venice to Athens with Classical Music Performances at Historic Sites *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 9/29/2009 “Architecture,” Goethe said, “is frozen music.” And when exquisite music is heard in majestic surroundings, one is immersed in a universe of wonder. It is our pleasure to present perhaps the most splendid traveling music festival ever considered—a voyage, aboard Corinthian II, from “La Serenissima,” Venice, to Piraeus, the historic port of Athens, with special concerts in ancient, medieval and Renaissance settings, as well as chamber ensembles on board for moonlight recitals as the ship sails. Virtually every day features a musical performance. Have your spirit enlightened by an evening concert in a Venetian church, wandering outside afterward to the quiet slap of water upon the canal quaysides. We will enjoy splendid performances at Dubrovnik’s 16th-century Sponza Palace, Kotor’s Romanesque church of St. Tryphon, Butrint’s 3rd-century B.C. theater, Sami’s Dhrogarati Cave, with its perfect acoustics, and Santorini’s Nomikos Foundation, surrounded by frescoes of Minoan bull-leapers. Together with a marvelous gastronomic luncheon at an organic, 17th-century Cretan farmhouse, this is a celebration of senses you will not want to miss. More...	*Rates from:* 7995.00
	Mediterranean Music Festival: Classical Music Performances from Venice to Barcelona *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy, Croatia, France, Spain *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 5/17/2009 What could be more delightful than a springtime voyage that married the transcendent joy of music with visits to some of the most splendid centers of Mediterranean history and culture? Aboard the 114-guest Corinthian II, all this and more await the privileged. travelers who sail from the romantic waterways of Venice to the dynamic city of Barcelona during the gentle days of May. En route, a roster of distinguished musicians will regale travelers with concerts and recitals aboard ship as well as in exclusive venues. ashore including Dubrovnik’s Sponza Palace and the private Palazzo Raffadali in Sicily. Among the highlights of our voyage are visits to Croatia’s magnificent coast, explorations of two of Italy’s most compelling and oft overlooked cities, Palermo and Naples; the verdant island of Elba; and the timeless treasures of Provence. Sailing to the lands that inspired Vivaldi, Puccini, Ravel and Debussy, this is a celebration of music and culture that will inspire the mind and delight the senses. More...	*Rates from:* 7995.00
	The Islands of Italy and Cinque Terre *Destination:* Europe *Countries:* Italy *Travel Style:* Small Ship Ocean & Adventure Cruises *Departure Dates:* 5/26/2009 The natural and cultural treasures of Italy's enthralling islands are the stuff of legends. And for excellent reason. For 3,000 years, wave after wave of new cultures, new ideas and new artistic techniques have swept over this scintillating swath of the Mediterranean, leaving in their wake sublime temples, great cities, captivating villages and extraordinary works of art. Our sunsoaked voyage around The Islands of Italy and Cinque Terre will explore the awe-inspiring places where ideas and civilizations converged and flourished. We will discover Sicily’s inviting towns, starting with grand Palermo and the famous Norman Cathedral at nearby Monreale, and the volcanic lunarscape of Stromboli and Capri, the fabled home of the Sirens. Witness the prodigious achievements of Sardinia’s Nuraghic culture amidst stunning nature as our 34-guest yacht Callisto navigates the waters of this idyllic part of the world.We round off our journey with a visit to Cinque Terre and its five quaint fishing villages situated on remote, cliff-bound islets that comprise a World Heritage Site. More...	*Rates from:* 7995.00