Athens History and Culture Pre-Voyage Extension

After arriving in Athens, transfer to our hotel, located in the shadow of the Acropolis, and have lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Acropolis Museum, which displays some of the finest sculptures and other art of Ancient Greece. Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the hotel’s rooftop this evening, and meet your fellow passengers. Dinner is on your own in one of Athens's numerous restaurants. (L)

Our morning is devoted to the Acropolis, the spiritual heart of Athens and much of the ancient world. This incredibly rich site not only houses the Parthenon, which was built in 438 B.C., but also a host of monuments from both earlier and later in the city’s prolific history. On a city tour, you will see the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the “Panathenian” Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. Enjoy lunch and a cooking class in a traditional taverna at the foot of the Acropolis, followed by a walking tour of the Plaka, the old area of Athens. (B,L,D)

This morning, travel to the Temple of Poseidon, perched at the edge of windswept Cape Sounion with stunning views of the Aegean Sea. Begin your journey to the Cape with a leisurely drive down the Saronic coast, past the beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. As you approach Cape Sounion, it rises like a sheer cliff out of the sea. The beauty of the surviving Doric columns has inspired many poets, including Lord Byron, who even carved his name on one of them. Enjoy lunch and a tasting at a winery before embarking National Geographic Orion. (B,L)