Voyages to Antiquity Pompeii etc. May31

Hello - I will be taking this cruise and thought I would start a thread to say Hi to anyone else out there. Looking forward to the cruise and trying out the new ship Aegean Odyssey.

What do you know about this cruise line? Can you tell me how old the ships are and what their star rating is? An advertisement they ran in the newspaper had a very inclusive price, so I am curious about this line.

I only know from what I've heard...I've had no personal experience. The ship was the Marco Polo formerly with Orient Line. The head man for the company is highly respected and has been around for years with Orient. The Marco Polo is an older ship which was built for heavy duty and has a very loyal following. They're re-doing the cabins to increase size over what existed on the MP. They're going from over 500 to somewhere around 350. Should be a very interesting experience onboard as it is targeted to the destinations rather than the ship.

I don't think this is the Marco Polo. She is sailing for Cruise & Maritime, at sea between Norway & Tilbury.

There is a CC review of Aegean Odyssey http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=582

I took a chance on this cruise based on reports here on her sister ship the Voyages to discovery vessel. Since I'm travelling solo this time, the price was hard to beat.. no supplement, free airfare, free excursions etc. This cruise will be her second only o here's hoping for a good time. The destinations are the key with this cruise with plenty of time to relax on board but, of course, no "Broadway shows" or casino.. which is fine by me.

I think this ship is the old Aegean One and is not the sister of Voyages of Discovery,although Gerry Herrod who has set this operation up was involved in both Marco Polo and Discovery in the past.

I'm contemplating booking on this line's November 20th sailing -- very unusual itinerary that includes Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Turkey before ending in Athens.

I'd be going solo -- the rate is great due to no single supplement. All told it will be cheaper than my upcoming HAL 12- day cruise for the 14-day cruise + hotel before and after + airfare + all excursions + wine with dinner + gratuities included....

Anyone think it's crazy for a solo woman to do this?

Just back from the MV Discovery and there were many single (older) women on the ship who by all reports had a very good time. Not sure there were any single (unattached) men but they do have several dance hosts.

Just back from the MV Discovery and there were many single (older) women on the ship who by all reports had a very good time. Not sure there were any single (unattached) men but they do have several dance hosts.

Great!

Well, I'm not THAT old and more into the ports than dancing onboard so I should be okay. I was more thinking about the ports (e.g., Lebanon, Syria) and any possible dangers. US State Dept currently has a warning vis-a-vis travel in Lebanon.

Oh, well.....I reserved the cruise today. :D

Hello - I will be taking this cruise and thought I would start a thread to say Hi to anyone else out there. Looking forward to the cruise and trying out the new ship Aegean Odyssey.

Hi

We just book the Aegean Odyssey from Civitavecchia to Venice leaving on May 31. We are so excited. Traveling will be myself and husband and our son and daughter (ages 24 and 26) both history buffs. Anybody else out there on this sailing. Sparky and Colin

Hi

We just book the Aegean Odyssey from Civitavecchia to Venice leaving on May 31. We are so excited. Traveling will be myself and husband and our son and daughter (ages 24 and 26) both history buffs. Anybody else out there on this sailing. Sparky and Colin

HI there! I'm so glad I finally found someone else for this cruise. I did set up a rollcall under Other cruise lines too. I'm travelling as a single and am really looking forward to the historical aspects of the trip. See you on board.

Hi Onteriotrekler,

Glad to find someone who is going. The cruise sounds fascinating. I like the history and education part. When are you flying to Rome? Sparky

Flying to Rome on the 31st out of Toronto, landing at 11:40 a.m.. I got a direct flight going and have to do a very quick connect in Frankfurt on the way back from Venice.

So, I'll ask you. Are you buying Kunas for the Croatia part of the trip? There's no indication that we'll need money for lunch etc. but I do buy souvenirs for the grandkids.

The new Aegean Odyssey was once the Aegean Dolphin and then the Aegean I but has since been totally refurbished as it now only has 350 +/- cabins which is about 1/2 of what it had when it did charters.

The new Aegean Odyssey was once the Aegean Dolphin and then the Aegean I but has since been totally refurbished as it now only has 350 +/- cabins which is about 1/2 of what it had when it did charters.

I'm hoping that they upgrade their website to show more of the interior of the ship. Maybe someone who is on the first cruises will share pictures:)

As I get them I'll post them.

I am guessing they may have some pre-inaugural events onboard for travel agents, travel press, etc. Perhaps we'll see some articles and photos from that soon......

Ontariotrekker, I hope you'll come back and post how your cruise was!

Hi - I'm booked on the August 9th sailing with the same itinerary as the May 31. I also took advantage of the waived single supplement. I look forward to you posting information about the ship, and the ports and tours. Thanks in advance, and I'll keep poking around for someone on my trip!

Hey Patseacruiser, let us know if/when you hear from your friend on the inaugural voyage. I'm sure some little things were probably not yet worked out, but I'm very curious overall about their opinion on the ship, service, lecturers, etc.

Hi,

I have booked this ship for the Cairo-Amman trip leaving November 13. Looks to be a fascinating voyage with a wonderful itinerary and I am so looking forward to it. I will be interested to see what those of you who are going earlier have to say about the ship, etc.

Thanks in advance and cheers,

Lorna

Aranui 3

MV Fram

Spirit of Oceanus

Nautica

Looking forward to hearing from the current passengers. They had a rocky start, but hope the problems have been left behind them and we will hear some news and perhaps see some pictures of the interior of the ship. Anyone else going on the Oct. 4 Rome to Venice trip?

Yes they had a rocky start but I think they are okay now. I have some texts from my friend. I have been sending UK election reports as their internet has been out and there are a lot of brits on board so this is what she replied yesterday: I am greatful but the ship's internet is now working so no need to send further. Thank you however for to date. They are still awfully disorganized here but everyone is by now laughing and not screaming. Shows what free booze will do

Some texts in no particular order really: Okay food is making everyone happy in spite of the problems. I jumped ship tonight to eat real greek food at a restaurant overlooking the ocean alone but you understand I am not your average tourist. Best part about the service is the student guides. They are great but poor things are exhausted.

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I guess I should first tell you weather his is fantastic 60 at night 75-80 during the day with a slight breeze. We spent most of today at sail. We were 2 hrs late into Delos so had to rush thru which was too bad. This is a whole city 2000 years ago n they haven't ruined it by reconstuction. It is just empty on a barren piece of rock but marble coluns n the remains of buildings everywhere. They just disovered it 10 years ago n it is one of the most sacred cities in ancient greece where appollo n his sister artemis (diana in roman) whom I was named after was born of hera and zuess. The lake hera bathed in was filled because of a malaria outbreak.

So my contribution to the sea line is that first aid kits are carried by the student guides for every group on every excursion. I think I should get a discount for that!

Poor cooking staff. The ordered up an early sitting as we are sailing to another island n shortened the serve time. Now we are 2 hrs late n technically they should have closed before half the people get back to the boat. There's 265 people all wanting to eat at once. N then they change the hours.

Me i am going to enjoy the sunset n cruise into myknos n walk around there. If I get hungry I'll grab something but I didn't come for the food.

Email out is by satellite n sometimes iffy. As frequently happens on these trips you become your own groups. Ours is bus #3, even when we don't have a bus. Includes beechlys, hsu student with their dad, radiologist, a typical NY couple, n of course the millionaire. The candians are in bus #2 with a retired physics prof? From Oxford.

We sail at midnite for turkey where we have to pay for toilets, like egypt. It will be a very full day am n pm in kusadasi (2 days here before moving to istanbul or constantinople.

One more week to go. Love me

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My email has been down since arriving at rhodes. Hence no replys but looks like working now so I will quickly resend what I wrote to some of you n todays log.

Today did another acropolis plus the mideval city of rhodes. Acropolis are built on the highest peaks. My heart has had a good workout going up. N today my bruised canadian patient n I took the donkey down. Usually it is up that most people use the donkey so we once again created amusement.

Mideval city is a recreation of the italians before ww2 so only of so so interest to me but the museum was wonderful. More pots! We went to a ceramics place cheap junk not authentic at all but I got some clay n a sponge. They had many other artifacts there that I had heard about in my lectures n got to see for real.

A very busy day going from 8 to 7 with about an hour off. Tomorrow we sail around all morning n don't hike until the afternoon so I am going to sleep late. Love me

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Unfortunately my friends blackberry can't send pictures on roaming - she can only text.

One of the VTA staff I have become friendly with I will email and beg for some pics. If I get I will post.

Hello everyone. Has anyone on this site heard from the current passengers? Another site has a passenger reporting things are going well and minor finishing touches to ship almost completed.

Obviously my previous post was made before I read the report from the passenger on board. Sorry