18 Oct 26, from £5,980
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A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece

A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece

  • Itinerary
    Athens to Athens
    Duration
    8 days
  • Dates
    18 Oct 26 to 25 Oct 26
    Prices from
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Come aboard Le Champlain for an unforgettable voyage.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks or performances aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

The towns visited on this voyage through Greece are at the center of cultures that have flourished here since before historical time. Join us aboard Le Champlain as we sail among the Greek Isles of the Aegean Sea, discovering a sense of celebration at the heart of the Greek tradition through specially curated excursions ashore and musical performances aboard ship from a group of world-class musicians led by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart. Your musicians include pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, violinist Wendy Rawls, and violinist Benjamin Sung.

In the southern Aegean Sea, set off from Athens to discover Crete from the capital, Heraklion, built on a hillside overlooking the port and surrounded by impressive Venetian walls. Explore the Bronze age archaeological site of the Palace of Knossos, a major center of Minoan civilization.  Or, in the village of Arolithos, discover Cretan traditions and customs. You may enjoy local snacks while attending a performance of traditional folkloric Cretan & Greek dances

Santorini offers a choice between browsing the sundrenched shops and restaurants of Thira and Oia, perched on cliffs overlooking the caldera of an ancient volcano, or exploring the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, destroyed by a massive eruption of that volcano in the 2nd millennium BC, but preserved in ash and pumice just like Pompeii. Alternatively, at the Symposion Music & Mythology Cultural Center, which is dedicated to the preservation of Greek cultural heritage, take part in an immersive experience of music, art, and mythology, including a musical performance and exhibition of traditional Greek instruments.

Next is the medieval town of Rhodes, whose labyrinthine streets and splendid plazas are the legacy of the Crusader Knights of St. John. Enjoy an exploration of the Acropolis of Lindos, which has been used since the 6th century B.C. as a citadel and place of worship successively by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, the Knights of St. John, and the Ottomans.

Amorgos represents a completely different aspect of life in the Aegean as it brings you face to face with age-old traditions of olive cultivation, herbal medicine, and religious devotion as they are still practiced in small villages in the mountains.

The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks—the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples—a veritable open-air museum. Mykonos, by contrast, is a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques, where you will enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all that this dazzling town has to offer.

Although it has been a retreat for Greek celebrities since the 1950s, when Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis made it famous, Hydra maintains its traditional character—in large part, because no motorized vehicles are allowed. Your walking tour of the island includes the Historical Archives Museum and the Church of the Dormition, but focuses on the Koundouriotis Mansion, a splendid example of traditional local architecture, displaying a variety of artifacts and family heirlooms of the wealthy shipowner who built the house at end of the 18th century.

Your voyage ends back in Athens.

Overview

Your voyage

All-inclusive

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Destination

Destination

Mediterranean

Athens to Athens

Duration

8 days, 7 nights on board

Timeless, Music and Dance

Keith Lockhart

Keith Lockhart, Jihye Chang, Alistair MacRae, Allison Pohl, Scott Rawls, Wendy Rawls, Benjamin Sung

Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included

No single supplement, PONANT Bonus 30%

Ref: AAFJ45US - EC181026

Journey

Your daily itinerary

  • A specially tailored voyage including transfers before and after your cruise and an included excursion in each port of call.
  • A program of musical performances aboard ship featuring Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and six musicians – pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, violinist Wendy Rawls, and violinist Benjamin Sung.
  • Enjoy performances of folkloric dance in Crete and traditional music in Santorini.
  • Stroll the medieval streets of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rhodes Town.
  • Marvel at the sheer number and variety of temples and shrines on tiny Delos, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Discover an earlier, simpler way of life as it is still lived on Amorgos and the quiet elegance of Hydra.
  • Relax and refresh in the cafés and shops for which Mykonos is famous.
A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece null

Customize your journey:

Guests

Sharing your journey with

Keith Lockhart null

Keith Lockhart

Jihye Chang null

Jihye Chang

Alistair MacRae null

Alistair MacRae

Allison Pohl null

Allison Pohl

Scott Rawls null

Scott Rawls

Wendy Rawls null

Wendy Rawls

Benjamin Sung null

Benjamin Sung

Staterooms and suites

Elegance and refinement

*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.

Details

More information

What's Included

Important travel details

In your luggage

A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece

Itinerary

Embarkation 18/10/26 from 16:00 to 17:00 Departure 18/10/26 at 20:00

18 Oct 26 - Athens
18 Oct 26 - Athens

Arrival 19/10/26 midday Departure 19/10/26 evening

19 Oct 26 - Heraklion, Crete
19 Oct 26 - Heraklion, Crete

Arrival 20/10/26 early morning Departure 20/10/26 evening

20 Oct 26 - Santorini
20 Oct 26 - Santorini

Arrival 21/10/26 early morning Departure 21/10/26 late evening

21 Oct 26 - Rhodes
21 Oct 26 - Rhodes

Arrival 22/10/26 midday Departure 22/10/26 evening

22 Oct 26 - Amorgos
22 Oct 26 - Amorgos

Arrival 23/10/26 early morning Departure 23/10/26 midday

23 Oct 26 - Delos
23 Oct 26 - Delos

Arrival 23/10/26 early afternoon Departure 23/10/26 late evening

23 Oct 26 - Mykonos
23 Oct 26 - Mykonos

Arrival 24/10/26 early morning Departure 24/10/26 late afternoon

24 Oct 26 - Hydra
24 Oct 26 - Hydra

Arrival 25/10/26 early morning Disembarkation 25/10/26 at 8:00

25 Oct 26 - Athens
25 Oct 26 - Athens

A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece

Included package

Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included

A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece

Customize your journey

The heart of athens (2 nights)

The heart of Athens (2 Nights)
Details

Athens is the birthplace of democracy and philosophy and home to the most enduring symbol of classical civilization—the Parthenon. Join this specially designed program to explore the incomparably rich legacy of this amazing city.

Day 1 – Athens, Greece

Arrive at Athens International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Grande Bretagne. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and to offer suggestions for dining and independent exploration. Join fellow travelers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2 – Athens        

After breakfast at the hotel, your first visit will be to the Acropolis including the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex, the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens. And of course, there is the Parthenon, the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, designed as a shrine to Athena and at one time housing a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess. Continue to the New Acropolis Museum, opened to the public in 2009 and designed to house and showcase all of the artifacts found on the Acropolis since archaeological work at the site began. The result is the exhibition of some 4,000 objects dating from the Greek Bronze Age through the Roman and Byzantine periods. The balance of the day is at leisure, with independent lunch and dinner.

Day 3 - Athens | Embark

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by an excursion to two of Athen's impressive museums. First, explore the National Archaeological Museum, an incomparable treasure trove of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Classical Greek art. A few of the museum's most important exhibits include the bronze statue of Poseidon, the head of Hygeia (Goddess of Health), the bronze statue of the 'Jockey-boy' of Artemision, the Golden mask of 'Agamemnon,' and the brilliant Minoan-style frescoes from Santorini.

Next, a short drive brings you to the new Maria Callas Museum, dedicated to the legendary Greek soprano. Through interactive exhibits, rare audio clips, and personal artifacts, explore the extraordinary career and life of this artist, who had a profound effect on the opera world.

Following the excursion, enjoy time at leisure to stroll the pedestrian walkways of the Plaka, the ancient neighborhood at the base of the Acropolis. Here you will find a variety of shops and cafés where you can browse and have an independent lunch before boarding your coach for the transfer to the pier to embark your ship.

Your hotel:

Located in historic Syntagma Square, the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne is the perfect venue for a visit to Athens. Within walking distance of exclusive shopping areas, museums, and the business district, the hotel boasts 320 rooms and suites, two restaurants, and a spa. Its views of the city center, from the Parliament building to the Parthenon, are unrivaled.

Your program includes:

·        2 nights at the Hotel Grande Bretagne (or similar)

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day

·        Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day

·        Welcome cocktail reception on Day 1

·        Breakfast on Days 2 and 3

·        Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary

·        Local English-speaking guide

·        Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

·        Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day

·        Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

·        It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.

·        Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.

·        The official currency is the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.

·        This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.

·        Program is offered on a space available basis.

·        Program is subject to change without notice.

Hotel contact information:

Hotel Grande Bretagne

1 Vasileos Georgiou A' str.

Syntagma Square

Athens 105 64, Greece

Telephone: +30 210 333 0000


Total

£1,460/person*

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.