Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean

This is an amazing experience with a deep dig (pun intended) into the art and archaeology of Ancient Greece. We saw legendary sites with a guide who has outstanding expertise in the field. The activity level was exactly as described, the food and service on the ship were wonderful and everything was planned with Road Scholar's exceptional attention to detail and comfort of the participants.

Excellent trip on a lovely small boat. The weather wasn't ideal so we had to stay in Crete a bit longer than planned. The guide regrouped quickly and found wonderful things for us to do in spite of the wind! Anastasia was kind and very knowledgeable. The ship was older but very nice and food was outstanding. We were able to go to some ports that a bigger ship couldn't have reached. And Anastasia timed things so we were not stuck in large crowds.

My wife and I very much enjoyed the small boat experience and could not imagine having the same type of experience on a ship with thousands of other passengers.

I have wanted to visit Greece for many years, and this trip did not disappoint. This program is structured to primarily explore Bronze Age Greece by visiting ancient sites representing the Minoan, Mycenaean, and Cycladic cultures, along with viewing associated artifacts housed in local museums. And of course we visited the Acropolis! Looking up at the lit-up Parthenon from our restaurant one evening is one of my favorite memories. The small-ship cruise experience on the Harmony V was a delightful change from the experience of sailing on traditional mega-size cruise ships, and it allowed us to visit some smaller, slower-paced Greek islands. Quiet times while sailing between islands can be spent with your favorite reading materials or other activities (you can even borrow a book from the ship's mini library), lounging on the sundeck, visiting with fellow RS guests, or enjoying the view with a cocktail in the lounge. (Just be aware that these small ships do not provide entertainment). Also be prepared for considerable walking and climbing on uneven ground as you visit the various ancient sites, as well as prolonged walking and standing during museum tours. But the effort is worth it! Finally, the Aegean Sea could be surprisingly rough at times, so plan accordingly if you are prone to sea sickness. Oh, and bring your bathing suit for the delightful opportunity to swim in the deep blue Aegean!

the Greek program was absolutely fascinating and highly educational. What made the program even more knowledge/educational base was the Roula Skoula, the group leader, and her incredible knowledge of the Greek History.

An excellent educational experience in the home of democracy. A very good way to sail the Aegean!

The trip to the Greek Isles trip was exceptional. The visual sights were spectacular, the culture and history is fascinating, and the group leaders were highly knowledgeable and welcoming.

We used Custom Flights and enjoyed the Welcome Lounge during the 3 hour layover in Frankfurt. Athens; The organization meeting in Athens Hotel went well even though our Group Leader was delayed. Dinner on the restaurant rooftop gave us a spectacular view of the Parthenon all lighted up! We hiked up to tour the formidable Acropolis to really explore antiquity. The weather was great and the skies were so blue. The National Archeological Museum has to be seen to be appreciated. The floor is see-through to see the actual site below. We enjoyed dinner on our own at the Patio Greco to achieve a bucket list item (Greek salad in Greece). Delos ; Board the yacht Harmony V and left Athens and had a nice sail to Delos. Hiking around the actual World Heritage Archeological Site was impressive. Mykonos; Had plenty of free time to walk around and see iconic windmills up close. Athinos; Bus ride to Akrotiri historical site was amazingly preserved. We also went into the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. The Thera wall paintings showed a high-level of art and incite into daily life. Santorini and Rethymno; Bus to ancient Minoan capital of Knossos. Hearing and seeing the home of King Minos and other legends was a thrill. Lunch at Aykaetos a local restaurant in Knossos includes drinking Raki. We were impressed with the Neolithic figurines at the Herculean Museum. There was traditional Greek dancing onboard which was fun Due to bad seas we stayed on Crete longer than expected which just fine. Our Guides knew all the great places to visit. Self explore the Old town Rethymno, a special demo of rolling out phyllo dough, and a walk to Fortezza castle. Another day we witnessed how pottery has been made at Tsikalario ceramic workshop. Ermioni; Bus to Mycenae citadel world heritage site to walk under The Lions Gate entrance and see well preserved treasures of Atrus. Hydra; So beautiful and fun to explore and shop. Cruise to Athens, Enjoyed the Captains dinner onboard HarmonyV

This was a wonderful program. The intense heat made walking thru the archeological sites very challenging. The accommodations were fine, but we would have enjoyed having more authentic Greek food, especially native fish, for dinners.

A wonderful way to learn something of the origins of our western civilization - intellectually stimulating and fun way to travel.

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and available. The other participants were widely traveled and interesting. Locations were well chosen.

We loved out trip. Everything was outstanding

The program was fascinating and I learned much. But previous Road Scholar trips included less free time (much of which I spent in the tiny room of my boat!) and had lectures, which added significantly to my enjoyment.

The tour of the Greek Islands was all I had hoped for and more because of the tour guides, the Captain and crew, the beautiful yacht, and the island choices. The others were "lifelong learners" and we enjoyed mealtime conversations with strangers who became friends. I learned so much and will now continue to learn about Greece through readings and films. LOIS PHILLIPS

Greece has an amazing history over 3000 years. This program introduces participants to main parts of that history while you travel through the delightful sea and landscape of the Greek islands.

This is an outstanding trip! A great combination of educational and being in beautiful nature, extremely well organized, excellent tour guides and ship staff. Very highly recommended!

Excellent trip & beautiful boat. Guides were well informed & did a great job leading us thru & educating us about the many historical sites we visited. Highly reccommend this trip.

very good guide, very lousy boat, very good staff on boat, especially the captain.

This Program was an excellent overview of Greek History -- highlighting visits to the major archaeological sites, both on the mainland and on the islands. By using a small ship to get to the sites, the tour was able to visit ports where large cruise ships cannot go. I could not have put together a better trip. Kudos to Road Scholar!

The Islands of the Aegean trip was an excellent blend of classic archeology and history, visits to different islands, walking tours of small towns, and physical activity levels. Sailing from island to island on the motor yacht Harmony V was the perfect way to travel!

What an outstanding trip full of great scenery, interesting sites and historical knowledge. This is a must for anyone interested in our past.

T the ship, crew and food were great. sailing to the islands was a pleqsant experience, Seeing the giant cruise ships and ferry loads of people get off on the islands reminded me why this expeerience was special

Classical Greece is the perfect match for Road Scholar's emphasis on learning about the place and it's history. The guides are superb. The travelers who are attracted to Road Scholar programs are great traveling companions, and the groups are small enough to get to know each other.

Road Scholar treated us to a wonderful and in-depth educational experience. The guides, staff and other participants added so much to our exploration of ancient Greece. Rich, rewarding and memorable, education was never so much fun!

Greece, with all of its history and natural beauty, is perfect for a Road Scholar trip! Our guide and group leader, Laura, was fantastic. As a licensed tour guide, she led us through all of Greece’s ancient history in a way that wasn't overwhelming. She tended to the needs of all 20+ of us in her group and was a joy to be around. The ship’s staff was great; always there to help and take care of us. I also appreciated meeting and traveling with a great group of like minded people. This is my second RS trip, and like the first one, it exceeded my expectations in every way . I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who can walk at a good pace up a bit of an incline.

April in Greece is a most wonderful time. Travel with Roads Scholar tour was to some of the best and most beautiful places, with great food great leadership and companionship.Our Ship was very comfortable, and the crew most attentive. Loved seeing their smiles each morning.

We have been on several Road Scholar trips and they do not disappoint. Even with several modifications in itinerary due to the weather in the Aegean, our group leaders provided great alternatives on Crete. The Greek Islands were as beautiful as we anticipated, but what truly made the trip were the wonderful people, from the staff and group leaders to our fellow travelers. Our time with like-minded people who enjoy traveling, learning, and having a good time helped make this a very memorable trip.

Exploring Athens and the Greek Islands on the Harmony V exceeded our expectations! Although we missed Kythera a because of bad weather (it would have been dangerous to dock), the group leaders and Captain later surprised us with a stop at a beautiful beach for a swim in the Agean! I would enthusiastically recommend this program if you have an interest in visiting Greece!

Well worth the cost. The educational value cannot be overstated. The staff was exceptional.

The country and islands are beautiful, the food delicious and the leaders well informed and informative. As the program states the final itinerary is dependent on the weather and our trip had to be modified but, without missing a beat, wonderful alternatives were provided. All of the people involved, from the leaders to the ship's crew to the staff of places we visited, were friendly, efficient and supportive.I wholeheartedly recommend this trip.

I just completed my first Road Scholar trip exploring Greece and some of its islands. I don't think I could have had a more enjoyable experience and look forward to my next Road Scholar trip....I just have to pick a destination!

This was our first road scholar trip which surpassed our expectations but was more physically strenuous than expected. My husband who has some mobility issues that he shared with Athina ahead of time, so she could help by directing him to the elevator on the acropolis. While he was slower than some of the participants, he kept up well. One thing we learned was that he was stronger than he thought. Travel stretching you in wonderful ways.

The Islands of the Aegean trip provides a tour of some of the major ancient sites in Greece with the convenience of traveling by small ship. We did have some schedule changes due to weather but our incredible guides found high value alternate activities. The country is beautiful, food was great on board the ship and off and the guides could not have been better. Bravo!

Amazing trip in the Greek isles headed by an exceptional leader & educator. The other passengers ( only 42 )enhanced my enjoyment. The meals ( particularly the soups )on board were excellent & the crew of the ship were a delight.

Considering every aspect of the trip. I found this one to be outstanding!

This was our second Road Scholar (RS) trip and we were not disappointed. Although both groups are lumped together for this evaluation (and both leaders), I will speak specifically for the Blue Group and the Blue Group leader, Laura Giannola. If anyone has found their life calling of careers it is Laura and Road Scholar is lucky to have her. Her knowledge of Greece, Greek Mythology, Greek antiquity including ruins, religions, wars, and unique qualities of the various Greek islands. She is pleasant, patient, humourous and a joy to be around. She had some considerable challenges with 4 of her guests in the blue group as they did not meet the "Let's Go" criteria set by Road Scholar for this trip. Three or four times these folks were unable to meet the walking demands of the prescribed activity for the day. Several times it was as if she was leading two different groups and she gracefully met the needs of both with a smile on her face. In addition, she was creative and nimble when weather changes made our ship stay two extra days in port. We had extra days on Crete and she filled them with great experiences that everyone seemed to enjoy. We were disappointed to miss two stops but we had been warned by RS that this might happen. The food on the ship was delicious most of the time and all of the crew and Captain were delightful. We had a second floor accommodation that was comfortable and clean. Our transportation was seamless despite a one day mass transit strike 4/17/24 in Greece. I can say that I would not change a thing about the experience. Thank you, Laura and thank you RS for another great trip. B&E, Columbia, SC USA

I loved the smaller ship; we were able to see places that the mega-cruise ships could never near. Swimming in the Aegean was very special.

Classical Greece was a delight... and it provided the opportunity we've been hoping to find. We didn't want to visit the Aegean islands on a huge ship with thousands of other people. We wanted to visit these islands to experience their rich history in a small group with a high-quality small ship and a high-quality group leader. This tour delivered!

Classical Greece:Islands of the Aegean is a wonderful program true to its catalog description with just the right amount of guided tours and free time to explore on your own. We enjoyed having the boat to ourselves, to relax and get to know our fellow passengers. Onboard, we had a great Captain, crew, hospitality staff, and chef. Our guide Chrysa was exceptional and added so much to the overall quality of the program. What a wonderful trip!

Anyone with an interest in the formative years of Western civilization will find lots to learn by this wonderful exploration of both the Classical Greece period and the earlier phases of the Minoans and the Mycenaeans.

My wife Page and I enjoyed this trip to the "Cradle of Democracy" very much, and highly recommend it to others.

What an experience of a lifetime to climb the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. A dream come true. Our tour guide lead us through the history, mythology & relics of Greece. Thanks to Chrysa Peritogianni for making this trip even better than I could have imagined.

An outstanding program with lovely onboard experience and a fantastic tour guide.

Democracy began in Greece. Here is an opportunity to see how this began, fostered by cooperation among the various island states and their cultures.

Road Scholar provides an immensely well-organized small-group opportunity to visit hundreds of important sites and places around the planet, and to come to understand their roles in the advance of civilization and the health and beauty of the planet. Everything is included, and is of the highest quality: travel, food, education, companionship, the list is endless. You will make new friends, perhaps for a lifetime. Truly an outstanding experience!

I love Greece and I loved our group leader. I have to add that I was very disappointed on the size of the group(s). Way too crazy when doing our tours. This was not the experience I have enjoyed in the past. The leaders did their best but it was to much to ask of them. Putting 2 groups of these sizes visiting the same sites at the same time was not a good plan. When eating at the local restaurants the restaurant staff had a hard time taking care of 2 road scalar groups on the same schedule. Lunch one day took 3 hours. Again this was not up to Road Scholar standards. The boat was beautiful and the food and staff was amazing. I shared a room with Wendy Zinn. We paid for the room upgrade and it was not worth what we were asked to pay. Others that paid the same had much more space in their rooms while others that paid a 1000 less had more room plus the size of the windows were not that much smaller than what we upgraded for. We upgraded for lager windows because the substitute boat change us to porthole windows. Over all this trip was not worth the money I paid. Sorry for this review but I must be honest. I completed a bike and boat trip in Germany just before joining this trip in Greece. The food was excellent and comparable. The room on the Germany boat was much better and I paid 1/2 the coast of this Road Scholar Trip. Bummer,

Going to Greece was a major trip on my bucket list and it totally lived up to my wishes and desires! Thank you Road Scholar!

Great trip!! Accommodations and food were excellent. Elysium was a perfect sailing vessel and the staff and crew were exceptional. Our guide, Georgia, was one of the most knowledgeable and experienced people I've ever met. I felt like I was back in college taking a course with one of my favorite professors. She sparked an interest in me to further research Greece and it's history. My criticism would be that the trip was a little to fast paced, with information overload. I would like more time to absorb what I learned and rest my brain. Maybe a few more non-educational breaks. Thank you Road Scholar for providing an outstanding experience.

This was a great trip! Excellent group leader, the food was interesting and delicious, and traveling on a small ship was delightful. Seeing the archaeological sites in Greece was a unique experience for me.

Sailing the incredibly blue Aegean from island to island while learning about the complex history of Greece was an experience of a lifetime!

The Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean program with Group Leader Chrysa Peritogianni was phenomenal offering a rich perspective of the iconic elements of Greek architecture and society. The tour gave context for the images associated with this culture that I have studied in my life as an architect. This trip was simply wonderful and the spring weather perfect!

We liked: traveling in the "shoulder season", getting a bigger ship and $500 credits, adjustments by ship admin. for weather so we could do the itinerary backwards, and an incredible RS Guide. Tina Griva provided a window to Greece with her encyclopedic knowledge of archeology and history, people skills, problem solving, accessibility, and adaptability. We had time between disembarking the ship and our flight in Pyraeus and she recommended a local museum that made the last day a delightful bonus experience. We did NOT like: the Hotel Divani breakfast experience, not having free wifi on the ship, the last full day schedule being so busy that packing minimized sleep.

A most pleasant and interesting program

For folks "our age," Greece can be intimidating, all that scrambling over rocks and ruins. But Road Scholar makes it do-able for us. Do it--or wish you had!

This is an amazing trip and covers everything you want to learn about Greece. We had perfect weather in April. Wonderful experience.

I can't say enough good things about our leader Dionysis. He cares about the program providing interesting content and exciting experiences. He cares that the group is safe and inclusive and that everyone is enjoying the trip. The program in well organized and amazing!

I went with my sister on this trip. It was well executed, and our leader, Alexandros, was so incredibly knowledgeable and personable! He is a huge asset for Road Scholar. This is what I would call a pretty active vacation; expect a lot of walking! The big disappointment was that due to a weather event in the Aegean, we were unable to visit Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete - which were major attractions to booking this particular cruise. That was a big disappointment. RoadScholar has given me (and other passengers on this cruise, I assume) a minor credit (considering the overall cost, that is) for future travels,. Looking ahead, I probably will go back to Greece to "finish the trip" on my own.

I had always dreamed of visiting the Acropolis. I chose this trip because of COVID for its small group size. I was very comfortable with the small boat experience, it felt very safe. Our tour guide was very informative. She made the trip for me. Definitely recommend this trip.

We loved our guide, Sophia. Her knowledge of Greek history and archaeology was amazing. Despite our island tour being disrupted by high winds, she was still able to give us memorable experiences in and around Naphlio and on the islands of Hydra and Aegina. The only draw back of the trip were the cabins on the Harmony G ship. We had one of the largest cabins on the ship and it was substandard compared to what we expected, particularly after our small boat cruise along the Croatian coast. The Harmony G cabin had only enough room for a double bed and one small nightstand.

This was our third RS trip and was by far the best (the first two were also quite good). If you are worried about the number of meals provided on the ship, don't! The food on board was wonderful and at least as good as food at local restaurants.

Please sign up for this experience. So much fun to see Athens and then board the small ship to head to various islands. End of October weather was great and crowds were decreasing. Greek gods were on our side and tour leader, Laura, was fantastic. Overall, another wonderful Road Scholar experience. Our group was so nice as was the ship’s crew. Food was beyond excellent. Thanks to all involved.

A thoroughly enjoyable educational experience about the history )dating back to the bronze age), the mythology, arts and ideas from the cradle of western civilization, Greece.

This trip was quite disappointing. Due to weather, we were unable to visit most of the planned destinations. Specifically, we did not visit Santorini, Mykonos, Knossos, Delos or Hydra. These destinations were the reason I chose this trip in the first place. Our trip leader Alex, who was wonderful, did everything he could to keep us entertained, but the islands to which we were re-routed weren't remotely comparable to what we missed. I feel that Road Scholar should provide some compensation in situations like this, but they have not (nor even responded to our emails or post-trip surveys). Buyer beware, I guess.

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Classical Greece is a great trip, the small ship experience is perfect for the Aegean, and our guide was spectacularly good.

An excellent trip. Chrysa was great and was able to re-arrange things as needed.

Fun and fascinating tour. If you are lucky enough to get Chrysa P as a group leader you will learn a great deal!

Great post pandemic trip, sailing the Greek Islands on a small ship. The Greeks were genuinely happy to have us visit their country. Their hospitality said it all.

This is a marvelous program for those interested in the history of Western Civilization who want to see actual sites from various centuries BC and who will be blown away by the advancements of mankind going back to 2800BC.

This program exceeded my expectations by a long way. I cannot imagine a better way to see the Greek islands than on this ship with our guide. I only wish it had been longer.

A magical experience. Expertly planned and vibrantly guided, it was a look back in time as well a beautiful present-day feast not to be missed.

This trip was exactly what I hoped it would be! Our visits to some of the most important archaeological sites in the history of western civilization were greatly enhanced by our guide, Chrysa Peritogianni, whose depth of knowledge was impressive. Chrysa’s passion was contagious as she helped us imagine the ancient cultures and people. Chrysa was also very helpful in working with the ship’s captain to adjust our itinerary to avoid unfavorable weather conditions and follow the sun - including a stop at a wonderful beach and opportunity to swim in the Aegean. The cruise staff was wonderful as well and very attentive to the needs to the passengers. I highly recommend this program!

The Classical Greece: Islands of the Aegean trip was a phenomenal success. The round trip through the Aegean exposed us to classical Greek history at every stop along with the local Greek culture and lifestyle at every stop. Our group leader, Chrysa Peritogianni, was exceptionally knowledgeable and made the trip extraordinary. She expanded our knowledge of Greece and made the trip very enjoyable. Being on a small motor yacht with a superb crew only enhanced the experience. The captain and crew were very accommodating and able to flex our schedule due to inclement weather. While one stop was missed, the replacement was just as noteworthy and our group leader shared fascinating stories on our new destination.

In visiting Greece one must realize the significant geology that has affected the area...earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. In the unlocking of Greece one must realize how deeply the civilizations are covered, one upon the other.

Greek mythology came to life as we visited the archeological sites, walking on stone cobbled streets beside crumbling walls of antiquity and looked in awe at statues of gods and goddesses.

If you have ever wanted to visit the Greek Islands, this is the program for you. The guide, Maria, was excellent and had an encyclopedic knowledge of Greece. Although the boat, Callisto, needs updating, the service and food were excellent. There was little to complain about!

Fantastic program! A must for any lover of ancient Greek. Great for anyone who wants to learn about ancient Greece. All while enjoying current day Greece and all it has to offer. Top notch accommodation: travel, lodging and FOOD! My 1st Road Scholar experience and hopefully not my last.

Excellent in all respects.

This program is immensely interesting, historically and archeologically.

This program is a good introduction to Greece with its visits to historical sites and ruins and the amount of history covered, including mythological history. Maria was a knowledgeable program leader and lecturer. The scenery is gorgeous. Road Scholar participants tend to be interesting, engaged, people who are fun travel companions. The only warning would be to be flexible because the weather can make it necessary to change the itinerary and experiences.