Mind’s Eye Travel
Enriching the lives of people who are visually impaired or blind
The Ancient Mediterranean
A deep dive into classical Greek and Roman history
15 days, three countries
from Rome to Athens to Istanbul
aboard Viking Jupiter
May 20th - June 1st, 2025
Introduction
Travel back in time on this enriching cruise to three fascinating countries that combine Viking’s Ancient Mediterranean Treasures and Journey to Antiquities itineraries. En route to the fabled Ionian Sea, we’ll discover the cultural splendors of southern Italy and Sicily, marvel at the well-preserved ruins of ancient Troy and enjoy two nights in iconic Athens. Finally we’ll overnight in historic Istanbul, where East meets West along the Bosporus Strait.
This is a 15-day cruise. Please also note that an optional three-day extension is available in Rome beginning on April 6 and leading up to the cruise. The details are below, after the cruise itinerary.
Please Call 207-542-4438 to check availability for this trip.
Itinerary
DAY 1 — April 8
Rome
Viking staff will meet us at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, retrieve our luggage, whisk us aboard the Jupiter and settle us into our staterooms. This evening we will gather in the dining room for our traditional meet & greet dinner while the ship sets sail for Naples.
DAY 2 — April 9
Naples
The stunning seaside city of Naples has long been a center of culture. As the seat of a powerful independent kingdom for 500 years, the city was home to the region’s finest architects and artists. In the grand Piazza del Plebiscito, the San Francesco di Paola Church’s colonnaded facade recalls the Pantheon in Rome, and at the Royal Palace statues of the kings of Naples peer out from their alcoves. If you like to shop, make sure to allow time for retail therapy.
Day 3 — April 10
Messina, Sicily
Mountainous Sicily has been shaped by civilizations ranging from Greek to Byzantine to Roman. Under Spanish rule, in the 17th Century, Messina was celebrated as one of Europe’s 10 great cities. During World War II, the city was the finish line of the “Race to Messina” between US General Patton and British Field Marshall Montgomery—Patton arriving just hours before his British comrade-in-arms and thereby receiving credit for liberating Sicily from Nazi rule.
Day 4 — April 11
the Ionian Sea
Today we’ll sail across the gateway to the Adriatic, from the sole of Italy’s boot to the western coasts of Albania and Greece. This is a good day to enjoy the amenities of our ship, perhaps taking in the sea air on a brisk walk around the Promenade deck or enjoying a workout in the well-equipped Fitness Center.
day 5 — April 12
Souda Bay, Crete
Souda Bay is picturesquely sited between Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula and Cape Drapano. Historic fortifications, vestiges of the island’s days under Venetian rule, greet ships at the mouth of the long bay, one of the deepest natural harbors in the Mediterranean. Beyond lie Crete’s gorgeous beaches and soaring mountains. Be warned: Mantinades—couplets of love accompanied by Cretan instruments—could break out at any number of cafés where patrons sip tsikoudia, grape brandy distilled up in the hills.
day 6 — April 13
Ephesus Bay, Turkey
Ancient Ephesus was one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, a trading hub filled with travelers, sailors and merchants. Wine and spices would have entered the city along Harbor Street, a colonnaded thoroughfare lined with temples and public baths that led to the Great Theatre. Ephesus’s fortunes eventually dried up as its harbor silted in, but Harbor Street can still be walked today, where we can marvel at the echoes of its grand past.
day 7, 8, 9 — April 14-16
Athens
The capital of Greece, Athens is one of the world’s oldest and most culturally important cities. Continuously inhabited since at least 3,000 BC, Athen has gone through many periods of independence and occupation, including rule by the Romans, Crusaders and the Ottoman Empire. Following the War of Independence, Athens became the capital of the new state of Greece in 1834. Today, ancient monuments from the city’s time as the cradle of early Western civilization still stand, protected from the pace of modern life in this cosmopolitan metropolis.
day 10 — April 17
Return to CRete
We return to Crete, once home to the people of Minos, the legendary Bronze Age king, and Europe’s earliest recorded civilization. Centuries later the Cretan capital, Heraklion, grew from the riches of the Venetian Empire, which held sway here for 400 years. During the Renaissance, Crete enjoyed a building boom that helped make Heraklion the region’s most strongly fortified city.
day 11 — April 18
Rhodes
The historic quarter of Rhodes is Europe’s largest active medieval town and the home of the remarkable Palace of the Grand Masters. The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem conquered the island in the 14th Century, bringing great wealth from the Holy Land. Many of the buildings from this era remain and make for rewarding strolls. Outside the city, forests of pine and cypress blanket the mountain slopes, and vineyards and citrus and olive groves soak up the Aegean sun.
day 12 — April 19
Return to Ephesus
One of antiquity’s best-preserved cities, Ephesus offers an unparalleled look into the lives of the ancients. Archeological excavations reach back to the 10th Century BC, when this city boasted one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Temple of
Artemis. Ephesus is still full of wonders, including residences adorned with frescoes and the towering facade of the Library of Celsus, the massive amphitheater that once sat 25,000 spectators.
day 13 — April 20
Troy
In the time of Classical Greece, fabled Troy, near the modern Turkish city of Çanakkale, was a powerhouse of Asia Minor. Today, the ruins of ancient Troy are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The remarkably preserved structures offer hints of life in the days of Alexander the Great and, later, the Roman Emperor Augustus. The mythical Trojan Horse, in Homer’s Iliad, gave Greek troops entry to the city during the Trojan War, and its legend is still very much alive today.
day 14 — April 21
Istanbul
Straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosporus Strait, no other city bridges two continents. Istanbul’s history is evident on every corner, from the cascading domes of the Blue Mosque to the courtyards of the Topkapi Palace. Visitors and locals alike flock to the European districts of Karaköy and Galata to shop and visit galleries, while across the strait lie the fashionable areas of Kadıköy and Moda. At night, the Old Town’s buildings illuminate the skies and across the Sea of Marmara the twinkling lights of ships show the way to Asia.
day 14 — April 22
Istanbul; Departure
Viking staff and our wonderful guides will see us to the airport in plenty of time for our flights home.
Pre-Cruise Rome Add-on
These extensions are very popular and book up quickly.
They often sell out, so if you wish to go, make your reservations ASAP.
DAY 1 — April 6
Rome
Discover beautiful Rome, the Eternal City. You will be met at the airport by a Viking Representative and taken by motor coach to your hotel. After checking in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure or meet with Viking staff to plan a schedule that makes the most of your Roman holiday. (You will also have the option to book your Roman tours online prior to arrival.)
DAY 3 — April 8
Rome
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer by motor coach to our awaiting ship, where the cruise itinerary begins.
DAY 2 — April 7
Rome
After a leisurely breakfast, you have a full day to explore Rome on your own and with your Mind’s Eye sighted guide. You may wish to soak up the city’s unique history by visiting landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, the Arch of Constantine, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps or the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built. Or you may prefer a trip to the Vatican, the city within the city and home to the Pope. You will be free for lunch and dinner; most restaurants in Rome have English-speaking staff.
DAY 3 — April 8
Rome
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer by motor coach to our awaiting ship, where the cruise itinerary begins.
Prices per person double, occupancy
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Veranda State Room $13,990
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Deluxe Veranda $14,990
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Penthouse Veranda $16,990
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Suites $22,990
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Airfares $1,490 and up
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Pre-Cruise Rome Add-on
A $2,000 deposit is required to reserve space; the balance will be due by June 15, 2025, after which fees will no longer be refundable. There is a $100 cancellation fee.
Please Note
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One sighted guide provided per two clients
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If you’d like to have your own sighted guide from Mind’s Eye, please add $4,000.
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If you prefer to bring your own sighted guide, please call for discounts.
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Mind’s Eye Travel recommends trip insurance.
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Our trips are non-smoking and not combinable with any other offer.