voyages to antiquity problems

A fortnight of ancient history aboard the Aegean Odyssey

By robert w. bone- special to allthingscruise.

As a travel writer and a veteran of dozens of ocean cruises, I usually don’t get overly excited about another one. But this cruise was different.

The Aegean Odyssey , the only ship operated by a three-year-old company called Voyages to Antiquity, is a relatively small vessel, and that’s part of its charm. It carries a maximum of about 340 guests, in contrast to the industry trend which keeps launching massive ships carrying thousands.

The ship began life as a ferry back in the 70s.  It has been successfully converted to a modern though modest cruise ship catering especially to us history nuts who find ourselves living in the 21 st century, whether we like it or not.

Several features considered standard on large ships are not offered on this one. There is no casino with constantly ringing slot machines, no theater offering a “Salute to Broadway,” no amusement park stuff like rock walls and tube slides, no frivolous classes in napkin folding or the creation of towel animals, and most thankfully, no deceptive “champagne art auction.”

The raison d’être of the Aegean Odyssey is adult education, especially in the form of stimulating experiences for the history, culture, or archeology buff, categories in which I cast myself. On my trip, the ship provided two academic lecturers talking about the ancient world. The average intellectual level of the passengers was high, and the median age was also. This is not a cruise for the kiddies, and none were on board during our trip. One group, the Road Scholars (formerly Elderhostel),  was also booked on this trip.

My wife and I signed on for a standard two week itinerary in April, 2012. It included a dozen ports beginning with Venice, Italy, and finished with an overnight experience in Istanbul, the major city of Turkey. The pi è ce de r é sistance for me and many others was that nearly all of the shore excursions were included in the fare. Our only demure is that we took this trip in the early spring, which meant the weather was not always as cooperative as we would have preferred.

Pula, Croatia . Roman ruins are sprinkled liberally throughout the city, including one inspired by the Coliseum in Rome. This one is still used for some public events, albeit considerably milder ones than the gladiator contests for which it was built 2000 years ago.

Split, Croatia. A prominent feature is a palace built by the Roman emperor Diocletion, so that he could spend his golden years back in his home town. The palace has now been cleverly incorporated into the grid pattern of the city’s streets, and anyone can go to the open market or even rent an apartment in the ancient structure.

Korcula , Croatia. This medieval village occupies a steep hill at the end of a peninsula. An old house there purports to be the birthplace of Marco Polo.

Dubrovnik, Croatia and Kotor Bay . Dubrovnik, known far and wide as the “Pearl of the Aegean” is the perfect example of an ancient walled city. Following our half-day visit, the ship spent the afternoon cruising the lovely Kotor Bay, in Montenegro.

Corfu, Greece. One of the most popular of Greek holiday islands today, its praises were also sung by no less a poet than Homer. The fort at the harbor was built by the Venetians and later finished by the British.

Rethimon, Crete. Heavy waves prevented our landing in Rethimon, too, but the captain sailed around to the other side of the island to put in to the city of Heraklion, instead. The top experience for me was the included tour to the Palace of Knossos – the seat of the Minoan civilization which flourished around 1000 BC. I was fascinated to read about this place as a youth more than 50 years ago.

Santorini, Greece. Because we lost that included half-day trip in Monembasia, , the ship provided an included all-day tour here in Santorini, instead of the half-day originally scheduled. The whitewashed towns cling to the top of sea cliffs which are remnants of an ancient volcano.

Naxos, Greece. Like Santorini, it’s an island with very vertical community, but unlike Santorini, this one begins down at the waterfront. With several beaches, the island is also a popular holiday destination for Europeans during the summer. But we explored it on a fine day in April, when the crowds were absent.

Lemnos, Greece. The charm of this small island is that it is relatively undiscovered by the summertime hordes which descend on some other Aegean islands. The ruins of an ancient castle overlook the town.

Istanbul, Turkey. The cruise ended in the major city of Turkey. With more than 13 million people, it is established on both sides of the Bosporus, meaning it exists both in Europe  and Asia. The main included tour from the ship took in the major sights, including Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and the Topkapi Palace Museum in a single morning.

Fares for the two-week cruise range from $4595 per person double occupancy in inside cabins to $7650 for accommodations in the balcony staterooms. Round-trip air fares from the U.S. are $595 per person, inclusive of all taxes, fees, and surcharges.

For day-to-day detail on our own experiences on the Aegean Odyssey , see https://allthingscruise.com/ tags/travelwriter .

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Voyages to Antiquity to Cease Operations

Small-ship cruise line Voyages to Antiquity announced that it will cease operations at the end of next month.

The company’s lone ship, Aegean Odyssey recently experienced engine problems that forced the cruise line, which specializes in historical and cultural voyages to Europe, to cancel at least 10 summer sailings.

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“Whilst we are pleased to advise that the ship has now been fully repaired and that the final four cruises of the 2019 season will go ahead as scheduled, the serious issue has had an impact on the future plans for Voyages to Antiquity and repairing the ship has been the absolute priority for management and the focus of the company during this difficult period,” managing director Jos Dewing said in a statement.

“It is therefore with regret that we have taken the difficult decision to close Voyages to Antiquity at the end of October 2019, at which point our office in Oxford (U.K.) will close.”

Dewing added that it will be “business as normal” over the next two months. “We will have staff answering calls and supporting those passengers still traveling with us in 2019.”

After October, customers will be directed to the company’s U.S. office.

Voyages to Antiquity joined the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) just last year.

This post was published by our news partner: TravelPulse.com | Article Source |

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Voyages to Antiquity update: Aegean Odyssey in ‘excellent’ shape, confirms Road Scholar boss

The company chartering Aegean Odyssey has confirmed to Cruise Trade News that the ship is in “tip-top shape”.

Voyages to Antiquity revealed on Wednesday (11 September 2019) that it will cease operations at the end of October. The line was forced to cancel 10 cruises on Aegean Odyssey  due to engine problems earlier this year.

In a letter, Voyages to Antiquity MD Jos Dewing said: “While we are pleased to advise that the ship has now been fully repaired and that the final four cruises of the 2019 season will go ahead as scheduled, this serious issue has had an impact on the future plans for Voyages to Antiquity and repairing the ship has been the absolute priority for management and the focus of the company during this difficult period.”

In a statement sent to Cruise Trade News following release of the news, Road Scholar president and chief executive officer James Moses said: “Road Scholar is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting array of upcoming learning adventures aboard the Aegean Odyssey .

“The ship is in excellent working order and Road Scholar’s educational experiences aboard the Aegean Odyssey will be even more enriching as the vessel becomes Road Scholar’s exclusive floating campus for the coming three years.

“Beginning in April 2020, a three-year agreement with the vessel’s owner gives Road Scholar exclusive rights to operate its learning adventures aboard the ship. Once the contract was signed, the ship underwent a major renovation along with the repair of an engine malfunction that occurred early this year. Today, the ship is in tip-top shape and currently at sea.

“[People can] contact us directly at 800-454-5768 should they have any questions. Road Scholar’s unique learning experiences aboard the Aegean Odyssey are open for enrolment and all are welcome.”

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10 things to expect when you cruise with Voyages to Antiquity on the Aegean Odyssey

If you love to dip into the history of the Mediterranean, to understand the cultures and landscapes that create the countries we see today, then I’d highly recommend the cruise we took on the Aegean Odyssey through Titan Travel .

Our cruise took us from Rome, to the islands of the Mediterranean; Corsica, Sardinia and Elba. There were stops to explore the heritage of Renaissance Italy at Lucca, Pisa and Florence. We ended our cruise at Marseille on the French Riviera with further opportunities to explore Avignon, Cannes and Aix-en-Provence as the ship sailed on to Nice.

This article may contain affiliate links that provide commission on purchases you make at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Note: We travelled with Voyages to Antiquity which has now closed but other similar cruises are available through Titan travel.

With the Titan VIP door-to-door travel service , excursions with knowledgable local guides and relaxed atmosphere on board, it was a stress-free opportunity to visit many places but only unpack once. But you should be aware that not all Mediterranean cruises are created equal. So, if you’re thinking of cruising, here’s what to expect on board their ship, Aegean Odyssey.

Table of Contents

Aegean Odyssey reviews

1. elegant decor in your cabin and around the ship.

With the emphasis on history and culture I was half expecting that the decor on Aegean Odyssey would not be terribly exciting. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that the ship was both elegant and modern.

In our cabin the colour scheme was fresh and inviting in greens and yellows, with pale wood furniture giving an airy feel. Our cabin number 750 on the upper deck had a small balcony with two easy chairs, but when I peeped into some of the inside cabins they also looked very pleasant.

You may also enjoy: A guide to luxury cruising on Azamara Pursuit – with Azamara Club Cruises

Our bathroom had marble effect tiles and flooring with a large sink area and walk in shower. There were plenty of delicious Molton Brown toiletries to spoil us too. Storage was plentiful in the double wardrobe and drawers, with space for our cases under the beds and a fridge to keep drinks cool.

Around the ship was colourful artwork with an abstract feel and our favourite place on the whole ship was the Terrace Café where we ate almost all our meals. With the scrubbed wooden deck and white safari chairs, we almost felt as if we were in a harbourside café with an uninterrupted view of the ocean.

Read more: A Mediterranean cruise for culture lovers

2. The joy of small ship cruising

Having taken a few cruises, I’ve found there’s a cruise ship to suit every taste and interest. Some travellers love the bigger ships with a range of on board restaurants and buzz of activity, while others prefer the more intimate feel of a small ship. So what does small ship cruising mean for your holiday experience?

Firstly a ship that holds only 350 passengers never feels crowded. You don’t feel that you have to fight for a sunbed, even on a day at sea. Let’s think of it as the difference between staying in a small boutique hotel, compared to a larger holiday resort. You’ll get to know your fellow passengers and make friends easily, while the staff quickly get to know you and your tastes.

Small ship cruising does tend to be more expensive as there are not the economies of scale that you get on a ship with thousands of passengers. We found our fellow guests were affluent and well educated. Most were more interested in the places they were visiting than in having a climbing wall, nightclub and three swimming pools.

As one guest told me ” We don’t want a cruise that’s all eat, eat eat, drink, drink, drink. We want a cruise where we go home feeling that we’ve learned something.” With Titan Travel it’s more about the enrichment you get from visiting fascinating historical sights than the entertainment on board, which is fairly low key.

Read More: Delicious Mediterranean foods to try on your cruise (and where to find them)

Visiting ports with smaller crowds

Smaller ships are also able to visit ports that would not be suitable for the mega-ships holding thousands of passengers. We especially appreciated this when we visited some of the Mediterranean islands like Corsica, Sardinia and Elba, where although there were other ships in port, none of them were especially large.

In Marseilles we docked in the Vieux Port, a short stroll from the sights, rather than a mile down the road in the new port that’s designed for larger ships.

Small ship cruising works well for those who don’t want to fight their way through the crowds that can flood a destination from a larger ship. When you have to take the ship’s tender into port, as we did at Bonifacio, it’s a relatively quick process to disembark 350 guests compared to the long waits you can get on larger ships with ten times as many passengers.

3. Excursions for those who love history and culture

On our cruise, our excellent local guides at each destination gave us insights on Napoleon’s life on Elba. They explained how the Medici family came to dominate Florence and told us why the campanile in Pisa began to lean.

We were provided with QuietVox headsets with built in earpieces. This made it easy to hear the guide explain everything, even while wandering off to take a million photographs (as one does as a blogger).

We enjoyed the balance of guided tours and free time on most excursions. A guided walking tour provided plenty of information. it was generally combined with some time to stroll around town, window shop, buy local specialities or find a shady café for lunch.

In some places like Bonifacio the visit was entirely self-guided. We wandered on our own using the maps and information provided by the ship. In other places such as Pisa, where time was limited, and the crowds more intense, our tour was mainly with a guide.

As a history graduate, I found it fascinating to learn about Napoleon’s life on Elba. We visited Villa dei Mulini, his home on the island. In 1814 he entertained the local nobility and governed the island, making his escape from exile only a year later.

Almost all the excursions like this one were included in the cruise price. This was a real benefit, since the cost of excursions on some cruises can be substantial. There were only a couple of extra excursions that incurred an additional cos. We preferred to use this time to explore on our own or relax on board.

4. Expert speakers for an enriching experience

Titan Travel are known for the programme of on-board talks given by expert lecturers. And when they say Expert , these really are leading academics in their field of history, art, antiquity or geology.

On our cruise we enjoyed the lectures from Jeremy Boudreau of the British Institute of Florence, in preparation to our visits to Lucca, Pisa and Florence. He shared his in depth knowledge of the art and culture of Renaissance Florence.

We could look out for the development of perspective when visiting the Uffizi and understand why the Baptistry was so significant when visiting Florence or Pisa. We learned why the famous David statue was “the stars and stripes of Republican Florence” , representing the city state’s struggle for independence in the face of a threat from more powerful Rome.

The second lecturer, Dr David Price-Williams of the University of London was equally entertaining. He made us see how the geology and geography the region of the Mediterranean had impacted the history of places we would be visiting.

Once thriving ports such as Pisa were now miles from the sea. Other ancient cities were now underwater following earth tremors that had caused them to sink below the waves.

According to Dr Price-Williams, cities like Venice that are also built on precarious foundations of sediment may in time face a similar fate. We also learned about the great nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, who as an ambitious young soldier, had been killed by Zulus in South Africa. This ended all hope of a Napoleonic dynasty.

5. It’s all about the destination

Another benefit of small ship cruising is that the spotlight is firmly on the destinations you visit. In the Mediterranean most of the ports are close together, so you visit a new place almost every day.

We usually arrived into port at breakfast time and stayed until dinner time, giving us a full day for sightseeing. Each evening of our cruise, there was a talk about the next day’s destination. So, we would know what to expect and we were given a printed guide on the key things to look out for.

For those who wanted to explore independently, information was provided on what to see in and around the port area. I never felt the lack of a guidebook or map, as further information was often available as we got off the ship or in a nearby tourism information office.

Our local guides gave us an excellent overview of the culture and history of each destination, as well as the individual places we saw on each tour. Although the time in each destination was quite limited, I came away with a much better understanding about each place. I mentally earmarked a few that I’d love to return to and explore in more depth.

On our cruise, we boarded in Rome and visited Olbia (Sardinia), Bonifacio (Corsica), Elba, Florence, Lucca and Pisa. We would have finished with some visits on the French Riviera, had we not disembarked a day early in Marseille. It was fascinating to visit these Mediterranean islands so close together whose history had given them such a different flavour.

Read more: A Mediterranean cruise for culture lovers with Voyages to Antiquity

6. A lot is included in your cruise price

If you’re new to cruising you may not realise that there’s a lot of variation in what different cruise lines include in their holiday price. The key items that can seriously dent your budget are excursions, gratuities and drinks, These are often charged separately, on top of your cruise price.

You’ll be pleased to know that on a cruise these big ticket items are mostly included. In fact there’s little need to spend much on top of your cruise price.

There was an included excursion most days and sometimes a second optional second excursion which was moderately priced. We only took the included excursions and were very happy with them.

When it comes to drinks, you are offered unlimited table wine with your evening meal. But, you need to pay for drinks at lunchtime or when served in the Charleston Lounge before or after dinner. Gratuities for restaurant and cabin staff are also included in your cruise.

What’s included with a Titan Travel cruise

So to give you the full picture, here’s what’s included in the price of a cruise with Titan Travel;

• All meals on board with a choice of buffet style and a la carte in two different restaurants.
• Red or white house wine with your evening meal
• Most excursions, which usually included a coach transfer and a local guide to show us the sights, with some free time to wander on our own.
• Some but not all exercise classes
• Gratuities for cabin and restaurant staff are included in your cruise price although 12.5% service is automatically charged on drinks.
• Depending on the package you book, scheduled flights and transfers to the ship on arrival are included unless you opt out.
• When you book through Titan Travel you get the additional benefit of their VIP door-to-door service. You’ll have a driver to take you from your home to the airport and back home on your return.

You need to budget for the following, which are extra charges;

• There were a few optional excursions which were reasonably priced, for instance including a wine tasting.
• You need to pay for alcoholic and soft drinks at lunch and drinks other than the table wine at dinner.
• Cocktails, post or pre-dinner drinks, speciality coffee in the Charleston lounge or pool bar were extra.
• Exercise classes such as Yoga and Pilates were extra however some classes were included.
• Laundry and pressing are charged and there was no self service laundry on board. We understood that the laundry service was free with some superior cabins.

7. A relaxed atmosphere on board

We found that the atmosphere was very relaxed and informal, with free seating at dinner and no fixed dinner sittings. During restaurant opening times we could wander down to whichever of the two restaurants we preferred.

We could be seated at our own table or join some of our newly made friends at a larger table. The service was excellent, with plenty of smiling staff ready to bring what we required, open a door or carry a tray from the hot station back to the table.

The dress code was also relaxed on board. While guests would tend to dress more smartly at dinner, there were no formal nights requiring a tuxedo or evening dress.

Even though Guy had packed a jacket, he only wore it a couple of times in the Marco Polo restaurant. Here it was all waiter service from an a la carte menu.

Most days we preferred to sit outside in the less formal Terrace Café, enjoying the warmth of the Mediterranean evening and views of the ocean or port.

Plenty time for relaxation

There was plenty of time after a morning excursion to relax by the pool on the lido deck. Or, we could find a quiet corner of the ship where other sun loungers had been placed.

Tea and coffee were readily available from the drinks station in the shady area at the end of the pool. Many guests would sit here reading a book from the well stocked on-board library.

The food on board was excellent, with a wide choice at all meals and delicious fruits and salads as well as hot dishes. Guy sometimes preferred the Marco Polo Restaurant with more formal service. I must admit that I enjoyed sitting outside on the Terrace Café and choosing from the buffet where there was plenty of choice.

In addition to the hot buffet choices available, we could also order from the a la carte menu. Or, we could go to the pasta station for a bowl of freshly made pasta. On our day at sea we really enjoyed the curry lunch with plenty of different curries and chutneys, salads and side dishes.

I don’t think I would ever pass a member of staff without without them wishing me a good afternoon or good morning. Our cabin was kept immaculate by our cabin steward.

8. Good deals for solo travellers

We noticed quite a few solo travellers on board our cruise, who were all having lots of fun mingling with other guests. The ship seemed ideal for those travelling on their own.

With around 350 passengers on board it was easy to make friends with other guests, both couples and singles. As one friend commented “ It’s small enough to meet the people you want but big enough to avoid those you don’t “.

The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly and at dinner in the Marco Polo Restaurant we had the option to join a table of six or to be seated on our own. This gave us plenty of opportunity to meet different people if we wanted.

Many cruise lines are expensive for solo travellers. If you want a room on your own you will need to pay a single supplement. However, the Aegean Odyssey has 26 single occupancy cabins with low or no single supplements, rising to 39 in 2018.

This makes it an excellent value choice for solo travellers. It’s also worth getting on their mailing list so that you hear about special offers where the single supplement is either waived or reduced.

9. Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service

Our cruise was booked through Titan Travel, one of the UK’s leading travel companies. They are specialists in luxury holidays, escorted tours and cruises.

One of the joys of travelling with Titan is that you get a VIP door-to-door travel service . This provides transfers from your home to the airport if you live on the UK mainland.

What a pleasure it was to be picked up by a smartly dressed driver in a large, comfortable people-carrier to take us to the airport for our early morning fligh. No worries about driving when we were half asleep!

Even better to be greeted as we arrived back at the airport by someone to take us home after a day of travelling. It really means trip becomes hassle free and extends that relaxed holiday feeling for as long as possible.

10. Who is a Voyages to Antiquity cruise best for?

We found that a cruise booked through Titan Travel is well suited to 50+ travellers who enjoy exploring new destinations and discovering the history and culture of the places they visit. While there is some entertainment on board, things are fairly low key and relaxed. If you are looking for a party atmosphere and lots to do on the ship, this may not be the cruise for you.

The other guests on our cruise tended to be well educated retired travellers. They were mainly from the UK with a smaller proportion from the US, Canada and Australia. Most were in their 60s and 70s with a few younger passengers who were accompanying older relatives. We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and would certainly recommend it to those looking for an enriching travel experience.

Read more from this cruise

A Mediterranean cruise for culture lovers Delicious Mediterranean foods to try on your cruise (and where to find them)

Book your cruise with Titan Travel and Voyages to Antiquity

You can book your cruise through Titan Travel who specialise in luxury holidays, escorted tours and cruises. When you book through Titan Travel you enjoy their VIP door-to-door travel service which is included in your holiday, to transfer from your home to your departure airport and back in one of Titan’s own vehicles.

Heather and Guy travelled through Titan Travel on a 13 day cruise from Rome to Nice. Note that Voyages to Antiquity no longer operate cruises but there are many other similar cruise options bookable through Titan Travel.

Thanks to Titan Travel and for hosting* our cruise.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Steven @ marine speaker Reviewer

Wednesday 20th of September 2017

Wow! Amazing article!

I’ve never considered attending a cruise before (they typically make me think of a floating casino). Sounds like I need to realign my thinking and set sail for Central America ?

Claire Robinson

Sunday 25th of June 2017

Ah, it sounds very much like a Silverseas Cruise - a smaller capacity, so much included and onboard enrichment. I must say I loved the Silversea experience so I imagine I'd enjoy this too. I don't think I could do big cruise ships when you have this as an alternative.

Heather Cowper

@Claire I think I'd enjoy a Silversea cruise too

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 24th of June 2017

I've been on some of some of the big cruise ships but would love to try a more intimate style of cruise on a boutique ship like this. I love that there are talks on the places that the ship visits, it must enable guests to get so much more from their visit. That salad looks really good too!

@Suzanne This cruise was great for those who are travelling for the destination

Friday 23rd of June 2017

Looks like a lovely ship – my only concern about small ships is do you feel more motion from the sea if it's rough as they're not so big (a bit like small vs large planes?).

@Lucy I think the smaller ships are still very stable - I certainly didn't have any problems and typically you sail at night when you won't notice it as much

Jaillan Yehia

This will sound like a cliche but I have always had preconceptions about cruises - but the decor on this looks really boutiquey in style, the food looks fresh and healthy and not your usual buffet and all in all I'd be delighted to see some of my favourite parts of the world again from this boat!

@Jaillan - I always think there's a cruise for every taste and a lot of first time cruisers get hooked once they try it

Take a Tour of the Aegean Odyssey of Voyages to Antiquity

Do you love small ship cruising and educational trips to Europe? If so, you might enjoy the Aegean Odyssey, a 378-passenger ship owned by Voyages to Antiquity. This cruise line only has the one ship, and it specializes in cruises with an emphasis on archaeology, history, and culture. It's an excellent destination-oriented cruise ship with an almost all-inclusive fare.

Sailing primarily in the coastal waters of the eastern and central Mediterranean, the Aegean Odyssey offers cruise tours of 12 to 17 days, many of which have pre- or post-cruise hotel stays included. In addition, shore excursions are included in the fare, as are soft drinks, wine, or beer with dinner, and tips for the staff. The small ship also overnights in many ports, allowing more time for exploring or dining ashore. Solo travelers will like the Aegean Odyssey since the cruise line waives the single supplement for some cruises.

You can sail the cruise-only portion of an Aegean Odyssey "Isles of Greece" itinerary, which sails between Athens and Istanbul, stopping over at some popular ports such as Mykonos , Nafplio, and Kusadasi, and some off-the-beaten-path ports like Samos, Rethymno, Delos, and Canakkale. It's a busy cruise, with morning and afternoon tours included most days. In the evenings, you can enjoy informational lectures and light musical entertainment.

Who Will Enjoy and Appreciate This Cruise? 

The informality, onboard activities, and attentive staff are somewhat reminiscent of a river cruise experience , so anyone who likes river cruises will probably enjoy the ship. The Aegean Odyssey is well-suited for those who crave lifelong learning and don't expect a casino or production shows for evening entertainment.

The ship is not a good choice for those in wheelchairs or who have walking difficulties since many of the tour operators do not have wheelchair-accessible buses, and the tours are often over uneven surfaces and require lots of walking. However, most of the guests are retirees or seniors traveling with their adult children, so the tours aren't super-strenuous and the walking pace is slow.

Since the focus is on educational touring ashore and the onboard activities are limited, young children will not enjoy the Aegean Odyssey experience as much as they would a larger ship with youth programs.

Dining and Cuisine

The Aegean Odyssey of Voyages to Antiquity has two main dining options--the Terrace Cafe and the Marco Polo Restaurant. Both dining venues feature complimentary local wines, beer, or soft drinks for dinner.

The Terrace Cafe & Grill has both indoor and outdoor seating and offers casual buffet dining at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menus are primarily geared towards North American and British travelers, with a wide selection of breakfast favorites, nice salads and hot dishes for lunch, and many of the same items for dinner that are offered in the main Marco Polo Restaurant. Guests can get omelets to order at the outdoor grill for breakfast, and delicious pizza, hot dogs, and hamburgers are available each day at lunch along with the other specials. Many of the dishes had a Mediterranean flair. Watching the sunset over the Mediterranean while dining outdoors is a memorable cruise vacation experience.​

The Marco Polo Dining Room has open seating menu dining for dinner and most days for lunch for those who don't like buffet dining. The menus included a selection of appetizers, soups, salads, main courses, and desserts. Dinners in the Marco Polo are elegant and leisurely. Open seating, large tables, complimentary wine, and interesting travelers add to the good dinners in both restaurants.

The dress code onboard the Aegean Odyssey is casual and relaxed during the day. In the evening, the suggested dress is "smart casual", which means a polo shirt and slacks for men and coordinated sets, dresses, or slacks for women. Many of the men wore a sports jacket (with or without a tie) to dinner on some nights to dinner. Dress at the Terrace Cafe in the evening is more casual, especially for those dining outside.

In addition to the two dining rooms, the Aegean Odyssey has afternoon tea and late night snacks.

The Aegean Odyssey carries 378 passengers in 198 cabins and suites, 45 of which are inside cabins and 153 are outside cabins. Eighteen of the cabins are singles, two are wheelchair accessible, and 42 have a private balcony. The cabins are in several different price grades, and the bathroom configuration varies even within the categories. Many cabins only have a shower, while others have a tub/shower combination. All cabins have a small flatscreen TV, safe, and hairdryer. The air conditioning can be adjusted by opening/closing the cabin vents, but the cabins do not have individual thermostats. The cabins are bright and have good storage space in the closets, drawers, shelves, and in the bathroom. The decor is clean and modern, and the electrical outlets are 220-volt, so those from the USA will need to carry along an adapter and converter. The television gets a selection of news channels along with a few movies that change daily.

The cruise ship has two Owner's Suites and four Junior Suites on Lido Deck 8. These Category A and B suites and the Category C cabins on the Bridge Deck 7 and the Category D cabins on Belvedere Deck 5 are considered Concierge Class. These cabins have a private balcony, a welcome bottle of champagne, refrigerated mini-bar, complimentary bottled water, robe and slippers, premium bath amenities, and personal concierge service. Guests in these Concierge Class cabins and suites also are in the "priority" bus group, which is always the first bus to leave on shore excursions. The other tour buses are spaced at about five-minute intervals, so the departure times vary by a maximum of only about 20-30 minutes.

The Aegean Odyssey was significantly refurbished after it was acquired by Voyages to Antiquity. The ship re-entered service in May 2010 with fewer cabins, teak decks outdoors, and more space per passenger. The interiors are generally bright and contemporary.

The ship has three main lounges--the windowed Observation Lounge forward on deck 9 and the Charleston Lounge and Ambassador Lounge on Promenade deck 6.

The Observation Lounge is used for private group parties and by individuals who like to have a quiet space indoors to read, play cards, or watch the ocean.

The Charleston Lounge is busy with afternoon tea dances, evening cocktails, musical entertainment, and dancing. It's the hub of recreational indoor activity, with many guests meeting there for pre- or post-dinner drinks in the evening.

The largest lounge is the Ambassador Lounge, which features seating for the nightly shore excursion briefings and evening enrichment lectures by experts in the history or culture of the destinations.

The Aegean Odyssey has a very nice library with a great selection of travel and history books, along with novels, games, and maps.

Although the Aegean Odyssey does not offer WiFi, it does have an Internet lounge with six computers.

The ship also has a small gift shop, a modern fitness center, beauty salon, and a small spa featuring massages, facials, and other spa treatments.

Exteriors and Outdoor Decks

One of the best parts of the Aegean Odyssey refurbishment was the expansion of the outdoor deck space, which is all covered in teak. The Lido Deck, which has the swimming pool and whirlpool, has a spacious feel, along with plenty of padded deck chairs for sun worshipers, along with shaded seating for those who are looking for fresh air.

In addition to the indoor lounges discussed on the previous page, the Aegean Odyssey also has an outdoor bar, the Lido Bar, which overlooks the swimming pool deck.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, TripSavvy believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our  Ethics Policy .

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mv Aegean Odyssey

Former names: aegean i, dolphin, aegean dolphin, alkyon, narcis.

Cruise line Road Scholar Cruises (Small Cruise Lines)

mv Aegean Odyssey last position

mv Aegean Odyssey last location was at Aegean Sea (coordinates 37.70712 N / 24.06453 E) cruising en route to GRLAV. The AIS position was reported 1 month ago.

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The 1973-built MV Aegean Odyssey cruise ship was last operated/chartered by Voyages to Antiquity (2009-founded one-ship company). The liner was originally built as a ferry (Zim ro-ro ferry Narcis) and in 1988 converted to a cruise vessel. Its second major drydock refit/reconstruction was in 2010.

NEWS: In late-August 2019 was announced that Aegean Odyssey will be 3-year chartered to Road Scholar (fka Elderhostel). The 1975-founded, Boston MA -headquartered nonprofit organization specializes in study tours (throughout Canada and USA) with 5500+ educational programs which are geared mainly to older travellers. The ship is currently under charter by Road Scholar for cruises (educational voyages) scheduled between March 2020 and March 2023.

History - construction and ownership

The 388-passenger liner Aegean Odyssey is a classically elegant vessel offering its passengers a relaxed travel atmosphere and high level of personalized service.

In early-August 2019, the ship charterer Voyages to Antiquity (one of the industry's small cruise lines ) officially announced that the company ceases operations at the end of October (2019). Earlier in 2019, Voyages to Antiquity was forced to cancel ten Aegean Odyssey cruises due to engine problems . 2019's final 4 voyages remained on schedule. In a letter, Jos Dewing (company's Managing Director) said:

“Since the announcement [of chartering the ship] was made, the executive management at Voyages to Antiquity has been looking at various alternative options to continue the company and serve our loyal clients. However, this process was severely impacted by the unforeseeable engine failure that occurred in April this year, forcing the company to cancel most of our remaining 2019 summer cruises. While we are pleased to advise that the ship has now been fully repaired and that the final four cruises of the 2019 season will go ahead as scheduled, this serious issue has had an impact on the future plans for Voyages to Antiquity and repairing the ship has been the absolute priority for management and the focus of the company during this difficult period. It is therefore with regret that we have taken the difficult decision to close Voyages to Antiquity at the end of October 2019, at which point our office in Oxford will also close. It is very much business as normal until this point and we have staff answering calls and supporting those passengers still traveling with us in 2019."

Decks and Cabins

MV Aegean Odyssey staterooms (198 total) are in 14 grades, of which 6x are Suites, 42x Balconies, and 41x Inside cabins. During drydock 2013 were created 18 new outside cabins (on Lido Deck). Of the existing staterooms, 57 were rebuilt, and 80 more were reconfigured into 40 balcony cabins.

The boat has 9 decks , of which 7 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The open-seating Marco Polo Restaurant is the main dining room aboard Aegean Odyssey. The Terrace Café features a combination of outdoor and indoor seating, with Mediterranean sophisticated interior design, as well as cooking on the open grill. In the evenings, the Tapas recreates the informal atmosphere of a bistro with delicious seafood paella and a wide range of Italian pizzas.

The Observation Lounge and Piano Bar are situated on the Observation Deck and feature unforgettable views on all sides. In this area, wireless Internet connection is offered. During the 2013 refit, the Athena Health Spa was moved several levels lower. Other amenities include the Lido Bar (2-deck), Ambassador Lounge, Charleston Lounge, Fitness Studio & Gym (featuring free daily sunrise classes), Beauty Salon, library, boutique, pool and Internet Centre.

Itineraries

Aegean Odyssey itinerary program is based on the Canary Islands and Mediterranean cruises departing from Civitavecchia-Rome , Venice , Athens , Istanbul , as well as Asia cruises sailing out of Singapore . Aegean Odyssey is perfectly suited for cruising to the smallest Mediterranean inlets that larger cruise ships can’t reach. She also navigates the great Asian rivers, including Saigon and Yangon, as well as Guadalquivir River in Spain.

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Voyages to Antiquity announced that it had been forced to cancel 10 cruises onboard mv Aegean Odyssey during the upcoming season because the ship is...

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mv Aegean Odyssey Wiki

MS Aegean Odyssey was the only liner operated by Voyages to Antiquity (2009-founded small cruise company ). The vessel was originally built as Ro-Ro cruiseferry Narcis (converted to a cruise ship in 1988). It was built under yard number 617. Its construction started on June 18, 1971. The vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) on June 18, 1972, and delivered to Zim Navigation on August 22, 1973.

In 2010, the ship was renamed "Aegean Odyssey" following an extensive drydock-refit project done in Ermoupoli (on Syros Island, Greece) . Vessel's passenger capacity was reduced from 570 to 400, in order to provide larger cruise staterooms. During the refurbishment, the cinema was replaced with a lecture hall and also new dining venues were added. The inaugural cruise for Voyages to Antiquity departed on April 30, 2010. As shipowner was registered the Piraeus -based company Samos Maritime Co Ltd (later changed to The Aegean Experience Maritime Co Ltd).

Fun fact is, that the cruise ship can pass through Corinth Canal (only 70 ft / 21,4 m wide at its base). On all Aegean Odyssey cruises is complimentary provided an expert lecture program led by renown guest speakers.

During its service, the vessel was operated under the names Narcis ferry (1973-1985, by Zim Navigation), Alkyon (1985-1986, by Dolphin Hellas Shipping), Aegean Dolphin (1986-1996, by Dolphin Hellas Shipping), Aegean I (1996-2010, by Golden Sun Cruises) and Aegean Odyssey (since 2010, by Aegean Experience Maritime Co Ltd, in 2016 renamed to "Aegean Odyssey Maritime Co Ltd").

Aegean Odyssey's last Voyages to Antiquity cruises

Next tables show ship's last itineraries for Voyages to Antiquity (defunct since October 2019).

24-day London to Rome

22-day Rome to Athens

8-day "Classical Greece and Islands of the Aegean"

Voyages to Antiquity

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“Choosing a holiday is a big decision” And sadly it’s one we got wrong. In April 2010, three of us booked their third ever cruise (the maiden voyage was May 4, 2010) and our excuses are that there were no reviews at the time, and that we were seduced by the itinerary, the included package of excursions, and the fact that “house wines from countries we will visit” were included with dinner. That the ship had been “entirely rebuilt” immediately prior to our holiday seemed a bonus, since the ship would be, in many respects, brand new. Now nobody likes to admit they have mucked up, but we feel we owe it to our fellow cruisers (especially those that have cruised before on a ‘proper’ cruise line) to warn them. OK, the holiday was cheap, but if you see their brochure, it seems fairly upscale, thus the company is not positioning itself at the cheap end of the market and you might therefore assume that these early cheap prices are to gain market share, rather than because the ship is old and deficient and because the catering, admin etc were all below par. Now you could argue that much of this is subjective, but what is not subjective are the Paris MOU Inspection Reports the ship received first on 10 May 2010, six days after it set sail on its inaugural cruise, which revealed 27 ‘deficiencies’, then 11 weeks later on 27 July 2010 which revealed ‘only’ 8. (NB you might not wish to read these reports if you’re booked to travel and are of a nervous disposition.) Three questions: 1. Why was it not held in port in May until these things were put right? 2. Was this first inspection triggered by the fact that ownership of the ship changed on 30 April 2010? 3. Why was its registration switched from Greece to Malta on 1 April 2010?

“A good night’s sleep” But as well as the muck from the funnel there was the incessant din and vibration throughout the ship — particularly if you were aft and on deck 4 and below. The brochure heading above then bangs on about fine bedlinen, however the highest threadcount in the world is useless if your cabin is so noisy that you can’t get the aforementioned good night’s sleep. I reckon that you can gauge the quality of a cruise ship by whether its cheaper cabins are nevertheless tolerably quiet and comfortable, in which case I reckon these guys will struggle to fill the ship. Web poster Boronia on the 27 July cruise said that “there were only 161 guests and a total of 179 crew” — a load factor of not much over 40%. That doesn’t of course stop them trying to get forward bookings, but I doubt many people who follow the web will hand over their balance until the current torrent of bad publicity dries up.

The Aegean Odyssey “provides the best features of a mid-size ship such as passenger space” Now one of the things you learn when you discover cruising is that not all cruise ships are created equal, not even those with same number of passengers. The passenger :  space ratio † is an indication of how spacious a cruise ship is, and is derived by dividing the number of passengers into a ship’s tonnage. So with a PSR of only 30.6 (well below that of any premium class ship) any suggestion that the Aegean Odyssey is particularly spacious is not credible.

† This has nothing to do with cabin size; that’s largely a case of you get what you pay for. However if they were talking about the cabins then I need to point out that neither of the mock-ups of the Inside and Outside cabins shown on p69 of the brochure matches the cabins we had, nor do they match the floor plans on p67. There is no room for the stool shown and we had to ask for it to be removed; basically there is insufficient room to swing a kitten, let alone a cat. Incidentally, the reason we had two cabins is that while we were at dinner one night the bathroom leaked water (at least we hope it was just water) onto the carpet under the bed and in front of the bathroom door (moral: don’t leave any clothes on the floor). Housekeeping came and took a look, and promised to fix the problem, dry out the carpet etc in the morning. However, come the dawn, the leak was all the way out into the corridor, hence we got moved. The good news was that the new cabin was merely noisy, rather than deafening.

“Wonderful food, good wine” is a boast of the brochure, which then refers to the Mediterranean’s “gastronomic culture of using the very best fresh local ingredients cooked in a simple but delicious and healthy style [being] the inspiration for the restaurants on the Aegean Odyssey” Web poster Seebaer says that “…Gerry Herrod is on top, meaning he dictates pretty much to the Caterer what he likes and dislikes” . Hello? GH was not on board, but was shadowing the cruise on his yacht for some of the time, and I seriously doubt that he joined his customers for what was frankly works canteen food, much of it tasting frozen and anything but fresh. To make matters worse, the food put in front of you often bore little resemblance to the courses described on the utterly pretentious menus (check out the brochure for an example, which sounds as if the aforementioned copywriter popped out and borrowed one from some swanky Soho restaurant).

But think of the Italian/Sicilian/Croatian house wine… “As we are in the Mediterranean, we do not think it is appropriate to serve dinner without wine. House wines are from countries we will visit and are included. Other vintages are available at reasonable prices.” This is obviously aimed at people who enjoy decent wine with their meals at home (eg, me), and who wish to continue to do so onboard. The (chargeable) winelist was pathetic, with a nondescript rosé at nearly $30, including the 12.5% automatically-added service charge, while a Chianti (and presumably the rest of their wines) was supplied by a merchant in Piraeus. The house wines were supposed to have been “carefully sourced from Italy, Croatia, Sicily and Greece” but this care clearly had more to do with cost and availability than with quality and topicality; the house wine was 90% Greek [ Kretikos , from Crete]; drinkable, but basically plonk. Not one wine from Sicily or Croatia was available on a cruise that circumnavigated Sicily and travelled the length of the Croatian coast.

“Meticulous planning” The brochure trumpets this but it became obvious within 24 hours of embarkation that the catering and excursion teams were not 'joined-up' (it turns out the Cruise Director had legged it a week or so previously and would not be replaced during our cruise). Meals were served at ludicrous times, although they probably seem normal to anyone living in a care home for the elderly. For example, dinner was often served 18:00-20:00 (they are obviously not planning on attracting any Spanish customers!) Meal times were emphatically not “arranged to suit the shore excursion programme” or other events. For example: an excursion didn’t get back on the ship until 18:30 whereas the Captain’s cocktail party started at 17:45 (but at least they had the good sense to re-run this a week or so later).

Chaotic administration This was exacerbated by the hectic schedule, however much of this chaos was made worse by an almost pathological inability of the staff to communicate effectively with passengers. As a tiny example, in Palermo we took advantage of the “frequent nighttime stays in port [with] the opportunity of going ashore to enjoy an after-dinner stroll” . We therefore sauntered out of the gates of the port to enjoy some espresso and grappa [at $3.50 for an espresso on the ship we weren't prepared to risk this being as rubbish as the ordinary coffee, and we seriously doubt the bar stocked any grappa]. An hour later, at 21:30, we are confronted by locked gates. Luckily a member of the crew with some bottled water on his shoulder‡ happened by who knew that the gate was shut at 21:00 and he escorted us to the alternative entrance a hundred or so metres away. So why weren't we told about this when they swiped our card as we left the ship?

“The Aegean Odyssey has been designed to offer the sophisticated traveller every comfort at sea” Oh, really? According to Chambers, one definition of sophisticated is ‘someone accustomed to an elegant lifestyle’ . Well on our cruise such people were either thin on the ground or were seething with frustration, like us. If you’ve travelled extensively throughout Europe, and stayed in some pretty sophisticated hotels, enjoying gourmet food, fine local wines, real coffee etc then this ship is as far removed from that type of sophistication as you can get. The food is mediocre, the wines cheap, the coffee tasteless and the breakfasts typical of a cheap motel. As for comfort, I feel sure that the travel press guys in the Owners Suite may have been reasonably comfortable but down in steerage (Deck 4) in your 2'6"-wide bed the situation is a tad different. However, even they can’t avoid the sometimes stifling conditions in the main dining room or the lounge (for a lecture or cocktail party) when the air conditioning goes on the blink.

But the lectures will be good, won’t they? Regarding the lectures and how these were organised, the Ambassador Lounge had poor acoustics yet faulty mikes, a small screen, and an old music stand as a lectern. It was badly laid out, since you entered the room near where the speaker was located (rather than as usual, at the back), and it was often flooded with light (making visual aids a nightmare). Leaving part way through a lecture therefore tended to disrupt the proceedings somewhat. The scheduling of the lectures, as with so many other things, was poor. NB there is no  cinema .

Are you P.O.S.H.? All of us are different, but there was one rather petty feature that set our teeth on edge. Now I fully appreciate that if you travel with Cunard, P&O etc they make a big thing out of segregating the various classes of passenger as much as possible, in order to rub the noses of the hoi-polloi in the fact that they are a bunch of cheapskates. It was almost amusing to watch the various unsubtle attempts to give priority to Concierge Class passengers (eg. on tendering and excursion coaches), even though this often resulted in slowing down many processes (which were pathetically slow to start with). Basically if you want to dig deep and have a swanky suite from which you only need to emerge when you leave the ship, I have no problem with that, but otherwise Titanic -style segregation and other manifestations of being P.O.S.H. [Port Out, Starboard Home] belong firmly in the distant past.

In a nutshell There are a whole load of things about Voyages to Antiquity that are flawed, too many to outweigh the positives of the itinerary and the excursions. On the one hand, some of the problems could be fixed with a) better training (or more experienced crew), b) a whole new approach to food and wine, and c) more joined-up and enlightened thinking on the general management side; on the other hand are problems that can't be fixed so easily, such as the engine/soot/noise/vibration, stair lips, pool layout/depth. But costs would undoubtedly have to rise (if only to pay for a higher standard of cuisine and better quality table wines) if they implemented the former, and this would make the offering even less attractive, given the difficulties of implementing the latter.

CruisingTalk Manager Neil said “From your report it looks as if there is some major problems with the management on this ship.” I think that is only part of the story. Basically Mr Herrod should have stayed retired if this is the best he can do. He bought an ‘antiquated’ ship (somewhat ironic really), knocked a few pairs of cabins into one, messed about with funnel (and apparently made the soot problem worse!), gave it a lick of paint, bought some nice sunloungers and orange cushions, and then (according to what we were hearing on the ship) ran out of money. And probably also time, since it was still being refurbished during our cruise (among other things we gained a shelf under our sink about a week in). Reports on the web and other sources since we disembarked have detailed a steady stream of things that are being worked on. The last thing you need while you’re sunbathing is some guy taking a cutting torch to a stair lip!

So did we complain while we were on board? Well, when we (like many other people on the cruise) expressed our dissatisfaction at numerous issues to reception, we were mostly fobbed off and/or told that there was nothing they could do. But let's imagine some hypothetical questions and answers:

Q. When we arrived on the ship from the flight that your company arranged for us, we discovered that the safety drill¶ had taken place hours before while we were waiting for our bags to arrive on the luggage carousel. To add insult to injury you put a letter under our door telling us that our names were called but that we failed to respond, despite the fact that you knew we could not possibly be aboard, as you had not processed us for embarkation. What do you intend to do about appraising us of the safety drill? A. Late arrivals will have their own drill tomorrow [as if that was ever likely to happen with the hectic excursion schedule, and it was never mentioned again]

¶ this cavalier attitude to safety, plus the unbelievably inept way they carried out tendering, left us with no confidence whatever that people would all have been fine had there been a real evacuation of the ship.

** I did in fact send a pair of white shorts to be laundered, at my expense, but when they returned they were still grubby and I asked not be charged. They said they would launder them again but I said No, I wished to wear them the following day. They laundered them again anyway, and it was only when I came to wear them that I discovered they had written my cabin number on the pocket in indelible ink. What would possess anyone to do this; have they never heard of safety pins?

Q. Our cabin is so noisy with the throbbing engine and deafening A/C that we can barely get a wink of sleep, and the beds are far too narrow, at about 2'6" wide. A. You chose one of our cheap cabins, which are noisier, and there's no room for bigger beds.

Q. The pool is too deep to stand in, being over six feet deep at its shallowest, plus there are only 3 tiny steps to climb down, no rail, and I should have expected to see a lifebelt [of which there are very few around the ship] A. That's the way it was originally built and it wasn't changed as a result of the refit.

Q. Your brochure says that “meal times will be arranged to suit the shore excursion programme” , so can you explain how we are supposed to eat breakfast, return to our cabin to clean our teeth and be ready to disembark by 07:30, when a) you don't start serving breakfast until 07:00 and b) the serving queues are a mile long? A. The wait staff don’t come on duty until 07:00 [some not until 07:30 like the 2nd ‘egg man’] , staff rotas were planned before we knew the excursion times and it is difficult to change them…blah blah blah

‡ These gutters have soot in them each morning, presumably as a result of hosing down the decks at dawn; see right. By the end of the day the decks are filthy again, as I found out when I walked along the deck barefoot, not to mention moving a piece of furniture to reveal a build-up of sooty debris — so you wouldn't want to accidentally drop your light-coloured top.

Q. We're not happy with being served almost exclusively Greek wine on a cruise that is almost exclusively in Italy, and does not feature Greece. A. The ship is provisioned in Piraeus and we have loads of this stuff to use up before we can buy any more.

Q. The dishes we have just been served either do not match their description on the menu and/or were of poor quality. For example the bruschetta with beef, came with beetroot (not beef) and the Key Lime pie tasted like rubber. A. The bruschetta got lost in translation between Indonesian and Greek (or whatever) and the chef has never been to the Keys and thinks that Key Lime pie should taste like that.

A disregard for safety Self-evident from the above is that there was a dangerous disregard for safety. I have to mention here the lift doors. Normally, when you enter a lift as the doors are closing they spring back (using a magic eye). Not here, they feel like a power press. Apparently some elderly gentleman was quite badly hurt as a result, and he probably wasn’t alone. Then there’s the stair lips, the absence of sufficient lifebelts, the glass round the pool, before you get to the substandard tender safety, which has the potential to lead to serious injury. On 27 June one web poster said: “We wrote a six page letter of complaint on 31st May to V2A and are still awaiting a response…we had serious concerns about health & safety after our tender ran into the side of the ship throwing five people on to the floor of the tender. The same day there were two other incidents… when the tender ran into a rather sleek private yacht on leaving Skiathos harbour and yet another incident of the tender running into the Odyssey. The seas were not rough and there was no wind. We wrote a formal letter of complaint on the same day to the Captain suggesting that a Health & Safety investigation should be held immediately.”

Customer service This is also dysfunctional, both at HQ and on the ship. As a specific example, our flights (out of Heathrow) were relayed to us via our cruise consolidator, as a result of which we agreed to proceed and paid the full balance, due to the late date. Almost immediately the company came back saying that there were no seats left out of Heathrow, we’d therefore have to fly out of Gatwick. We refused to accept this, saying that we had just been offered and had accepted a firm itinerary, and if they couldn’t resolve this we wished to cancel, whereupon seats out of Heathrow were miraculously obtained. In common with many other people’s experience, there was never any hint of an apology, merely a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ attitude. Complaints on the ship were batted away and mostly not addressed, and we filled in a final questionnaire but unsurprisingly we have not been contacted by them as a result. When it comes to ignoring hostile correspondence, according to the cruisingtalk web forum, David Yellow, their MD, has ‘form’.

But don’t just take our word for it There is now a lot of comment on Voyages to Antiquity on the web and some fairly hair-raising stuff appears on a number of web forums. For a collection of reviews by other people, click here .

Voyages to Antiquity ship chartered from 2020

Voyages to Antiquity’s ship Aegean Odyssey has been been chartered by a United States-based tour operator from 2020 through to 2023.

Road Scholar – an operator which specialises in educational tours for the over 50s – has in the past put its own instructors and groups on other ships. Last year it took more than 13,000 people away on holiday.

Aegean Odyssey will sail itineraries in Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Spain and the British Isles. It is currently unclear what will happen to the team in the UK, although a statement from Voyages to Antiquity said: “We are currently exploring options that allow the tour operator Voyages to Antiquity to continue to evolve the award-winning cruise tour programme we are renowned for into 2020 and beyond.”

James Moses, president and CEO of Road Scholar, said: “With exclusive use of the Aegean Odyssey, we are creating the world’s first campus at sea for older adults.”

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Voyages To Antiquity: Cultural And Historical Voyages To The Mediterranean And Beyond

Voyages to Antiquity is a unique form of travel that combines cultural and historical exploration with luxury cruising. The company offers unforgettable journeys to some of the world’s most intriguing destinations, taking guests on a journey through time to the Mediterranean and beyond.

Voyages to Antiquity offer a unique and memorable experience, combining the comfort of a luxury cruise with the ability to explore and discover the rich cultural heritage of the Mediterranean and beyond. Guests can enjoy the beauty of the region’s ancient sites, learn about its history and culture, and explore its many natural wonders.

Voyages to Antiquity’s cruises depart from ports around the world and explore some of the most fascinating ancient sites in the Mediterranean and beyond. From the ruins of Pompeii and the Acropolis of Athens to the stunning island of Santorini and the stunning beaches of the Greek islands, guests can explore the region’s fascinating history and culture.

On the cruises, guests can visit some of the world’s most renowned archaeological sites, learn about the cultures and religions of the region, and discover its unique local customs. The cruise also includes a variety of shore excursions, allowing guests to explore the region’s culture and history in greater detail.

Guests can also enjoy the luxury and comfort of the cruise, with a range of amenities and services including fine dining, a variety of entertainment options, and an array of spa treatments. This makes Voyages to Antiquity cruises an ideal holiday destination for those looking to experience the region’s culture and history in style.

Voyages to Antiquity offers something for everyone, from those looking to explore the region’s history and culture to those seeking a luxurious and comfortable holiday experience. Whether you’re a culture vulture or a luxury lover, Voyages to Antiquity has something for you.

Exploring the Antiquity of the Mediterranean: A Voyage with Voyages to Antiquity

Exploring the Antiquity of the Mediterranean with Voyages to Antiquit

For those wishing to explore the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, Voyages to Antiquity is an excellent way to experience the best of what the region has to offer. This cruise line offers a unique and immersive journey through the history and culture of the Mediterranean.

Voyages to Antiquity offers a wide range of itineraries that take travelers on a trip back in time. From the ruins of Pompeii to the art and architecture of the Acropolis, there are plenty of historical sites to explore. Guests will be able to experience the ancient wonders of Greece, Italy, Malta and other destinations. Along the way, guests will be able to explore the vibrant cities, charming villages and stunning landscapes of the Mediterranean.

On board, guests will be able to enjoy a wealth of amenities and activities. The ships have a variety of restaurants, bars and lounges, as well as a spa, fitness center and pool. Guests can also take part in lectures and guided tours that explore the history, culture and art of the destination.

Voyages to Antiquity also offers a unique experience with its unique shore excursions. These excursions allow guests to get close to the culture and experience the sights and sounds of the Mediterranean in a more intimate way. From archaeological sites to local markets and festivals, the shore excursions offer a unique experience that is sure to be remembered.

For those looking for a truly unforgettable experience, Voyages to Antiquity provides an opportunity to explore the Mediterranean in a way that few others can. With its unique itineraries and shore excursions, it is a great way to experience the culture and history of the region. With Voyages to Antiquity, travelers can explore the antiquity of the Mediterranean and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Voyages to Antiquity: Discovering Ancient Cultures and Histories

Voyages to Antiquity is a unique and exciting travel experience that allows travelers to explore some of the world's most influential and ancient civilizations. Through this type of journey, participants are able to gain an in-depth understanding of the cultures, histories, and stories of the people who lived in these societies thousands of years ago.

The Voyages to Antiquity program offers a diverse selection of itineraries that allow participants to visit some of the world's oldest and most historical sites. Whether it's exploring the ruins of Pompeii in Italy, the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey, or the Great Pyramids in Egypt, travelers can immerse themselves in the culture and history of these civilizations.

The itineraries are designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the region, while giving travelers plenty of opportunities to explore the sites on their own. Tour guides are available to offer insight and information about the sites, and to provide an additional layer of learning and understanding to the experience.

In addition to the traditional sightseeing tours, Voyages to Antiquity also offers a variety of cultural activities, such as cooking classes, workshops, lectures, and even performances. These activities help participants gain an appreciation of the culture and customs of the region, while also giving them an opportunity to interact with locals.

For travelers who are looking for something a little bit different, Voyages to Antiquity also offers a variety of unique excursions, such as walking tours, river cruises, or even boat trips. These excursions allow travelers to get up close and personal with the ancient sites, allowing them to explore and appreciate them in a much more intimate setting.

Overall, Voyages to Antiquity is an amazing way to explore the world's oldest civilizations, learn about the culture and history, and appreciate the beauty of these ancient sites. It is an experience that is sure to leave travelers with a lasting impression and a greater appreciation for the past.

Experience the Wonders of the Mediterranean with Voyages to Antiquity

The Mediterranean is a captivating region of the world, with a rich and vibrant history stretching back thousands of years. The region is home to some of the most iconic cities in the world, such as Athens, Rome, Istanbul, and Barcelona. The Mediterranean is also home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and its many islands provide an idyllic setting for a relaxing holiday.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience in the Mediterranean, then look no further than Voyages to Antiquity. Voyages to Antiquity is a cruise line that provides cruises around the Mediterranean, allowing visitors to explore the region’s ancient ruins, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture.

Voyages to Antiquity cruises provide guests with the opportunity to explore some of the world’s most famous historical sites, from the Acropolis in Athens to the Colosseum in Rome. Guests can also enjoy visits to world-class museums, including the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London. The ships also offer a variety of shore excursions, giving guests the chance to explore the local culture, sample the local cuisine, and visit the many charming villages along the way.

Voyages to Antiquity also offers a unique onboard experience, with luxurious accommodation, delicious cuisine, and a range of activities to keep guests entertained. The ships also provide lectures and presentations from historians, archeologists, and other experts, allowing guests to gain an in-depth understanding of the region’s history and culture.

So if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, why not consider a Voyages to Antiquity cruise? You’ll be able to explore some of the world’s most iconic sites, enjoy a luxurious onboard experience, and gain a deeper understanding of the Mediterranean’s long and rich history.

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Voyages to Antiquity

Voyages to Antiquity offers boutique-style cruising to explore the origins and genius of western civilisation, as well as the fascinating culture of the Orient. The meticulously planned itineraries, expert guest speakers, and included shore excursions will bring to life the history and awe-inspiring sites of the ancient world. Our journeys, however, are not only about history. As well as visiting breathtaking archaeological treasures, you will also see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and experience the magnificent food of the Mediterranean and The Orient.

The Aegean Odyssey visits smaller, less crowded harbours and sails closer to the coast, enabling you to really appreciate the magical views.

Founded: 2010

2012/13 Fleet

• Aegean Odyssey – approx 350 guests

• People who wish to understand the history, art, myths and culture of the ancient world
• People who enjoy small ship cruising

Language & Onboard Currency

• Language: English
• Currency: £UK or US$ or Euro

Destinations

• Mediterranean
• India & The Far East

Accommodation

• Generously sized cabins
• All suites, staterooms and cabins with bath and/ or shower, flat screen TV, safe, hair-dryer, plush bedding and fully air-conditioned

Dining & Beverages

• Complimentary choice of wine, beer or soft drinks with your evening meal on board
• Choice of restaurant and open-seating dining

Entertainment

• Experienced team of guest lecturers who speak on subjects relevant to each itinerary

Ship Facilities

• 2 restaurants
• Lecture theatre
• Internet centre
• Beauty salon
• Outdoor pool
• Medical centre
• E-mail via satellite

Cruise Price Inclusions

• Selected beer, wine and soft drinks with dinner
• Comprehensive shore excursion program
• All on-board gratuities
• Expert team of guest speakers
• Transfer between airports on specified tour dates
• Pre and/or Post cruise accommodation

Guest Loyalty Program

• Past guests receive an additional 5% savings

• Why Use Platinum Cruising? Customer Testimonials
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• Privacy Policy

Quick Links

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• Expedia Hotel Booking Search

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StarTribune

Minneapolis announces plan to flag police officer problems early.

Minneapolis leaders on Monday announced they had selected a company to build a database designed to flag problems with police officers — before they become problematic.

The idea is a technological approach — an "early intervention system" — to both support officers in need of say, mental health services, while also preventing cops with patterns of potential misconduct from ascending the ranks unchecked.

The latter was arguably the case for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who had pressed his knee against the necks of at least two men before he did the same maneuver to George Floyd in 2020. Floyd's murder by Chauvin was the impetus for state and federal legal interventions that will lead to years of court-approved police oversight. City officials see an early intervention system as satisfying one of a litany of changes mandated by those legal cases.

"People say all the time, 'How could they not know that this officer would do that?'" Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a news conference Monday. "This is the answer to that."

On Monday, Mayor Jacob Frey, O'Hara and other officials announced that after a national bidding process, they had selected Benchmark Analytics, a Chicago-based firm that includes researchers at the University of Chicago and has implemented similar systems in several other major cities, to build the Minneapolis system.

"It is not going to solve all our problems," O'Hara said. He emphasized that the system "is not discipline" but rather an "early-warning system" that can identify potential concerns for officers that go beyond traditional complaints around misconduct.

O'Hara said the database will analyze information — such as overtime, patterns of calling in sick, arrest records and off-duty work — in search of outliers. The program can assist supervisors, who can intervene in an attempt to "correct officers' behavior" before actual problems arise, he said.

Nick Barkley, a civilian member of a team implementing the program, said officer wellness was an essential part of it. "Happy, healthy humans produce the best work," he said.

The five-year contract for $2.375 million needs approval from the City Council, which could take up the measure as soon as Thursday.

The money would be paid in part by a $500,000 grant from the Pohlad Foundation. The rest of the funding would come from general fund spending from the city's police and information technology budgets.

Dave Orrick covers Minneapolis city government for the Star Tribune. 

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