A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece

<p>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.<p></p>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.<p></p>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 &amp; Greek dances<p></p>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 &amp; 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.<p></p>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.<p></p>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.<p></p>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.<p></p>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.<p></p>Your voyage ends back in Athens.</p>