Two performances with Ruth Ann Swenson
Our grand opera will be: Verdi’s “La Traviata” in Venice on May 13, 2010
at the world famous La Fenice Opera House!
I N C L U D E D:
Port Charges & Taxes are ALL-INCLUDED INCLUDED: Cruise Fare, Taxes, Port Charges, Shipboard Gratuities, $150 per person Shipboard Credit and FREE Business Class Air ~ (for all suites and above), FREE Coach Air ~ (Veranda) -- are ALL INCLUDED! You may upgrade from Coach to Business Class for ONLY $1,998 round trip! Cruise fares are per person, based on double occupancy, and along with itineraries, are subject to change.
(Pre-Cruise) Overview of our two-day package in Venice, Italy
Wednesday 12th May 2010 Arrival into Venice Airport. Private Transfer from Airport to our beautiful Hotel Saturnia & International with our Tour Manager. On arrival at Venice Airport please collect your luggage and make your way through customs and into the Arrivals hall where the Tour Manager – who will be staying with the group for the entire trip - will await you with a sign saying your surname. Your Tour Manager will accompany you to the awaiting vehicle to transfer you for a very short journey to the Airport Boat House. Transfer from Venice Airport Boat House to the Hotel will be by Private Water Taxi. (Luggage will be transferred separately) Check into Hotel Saturnia & International where we will have Double Superior Rooms reserved for 2 nights including breakfast, services, and taxes included. This well positioned hotel just a stone’s throw literally from St. Marks Square (located between the Bauer and Europa & Regina Hotel) is partially located in an ancient building which dates back to the 14th century (one of the oldest buildings in Venice) which was once owned by the Pisani Family, whose most illustrious representative, Vittor Pisani (who lived from 1324 – 1380) was appointed Great Admiral of the Mighty Republic of Venice during the various wars against the Genoese Fleet, waged to retain control of the merchant trading in the Mediterranean Sea. The Hotel has a very friendly atmosphere and you feel most welcome from the minute you enter the property. Whether you choose to relax in the upstairs lounge.
Of all the rooms at his hotel are very quiet with private bathrooms, direct dial telephone, mini-bar, mini-safe, television and radio. The rooms are quite comfortable. Breakfast is one of the highlights of this hotel which is served in the ground floor restaurant which is a great place for people watching. During the warm summer months you also have the option of enjoying breakfast in their secluded courtyard full of fresh flowers. Whilst we mention the summer we should also tell you about the hotel’s fourth floor sun terrace which is not only a great place to relax but also a firm favourite with photographers for those wonderful views across the Venetian Rooftops. The staff at this hotel are particularly helpful. Their ground floor restaurant which is also open for Lunch and Dinner is an excellent place in the evening for a romantic or very special meal. Hotel has designated NON SMOKING rooms. Afternoon at Leisure to Enjoy Venice on own. Rising from the waters of the Venetian lagoons like a mirage, Venice, the city of canals is unlike any other. A romantic maze of alleys, waterways, silent squares, beautiful majestic palaces, Venice rarely fails to engage the imagination. Whether you are seeking to follow in the foot steps of Vivaldi, Titian or Marco Polo or enjoy a private art collection, learn all about the gondolas and masks, climb the Campanile for brilliant birds’ eye views or simply explore and enjoy the beautiful shops which line the streets and canals of Venice, there really is something for everyone here.
Dinner at Leisure in one of Venice’s Restaurants
Breakfast at the Hotel… Today we will enjoy and explore some of the more beautiful off the beaten track area’s of this unique city with our local expert guide who is so proud to call this place home. Meeting our guide in the hotel lobby we will begin our tour by exploring the minor canals of Venice as we make our way towards the heart of the historical centre. En route we will visit and enjoy many of the most beautiful, quaint minor canals which is a great introduction to the real Venice, the Venetians, their way of life, culture and industry. After enjoying two hours out on the canals, our final hour and a half will be spent on foot with the guide enjoying the silent squares, the parks, the forgotten churches with some of the cities most beautiful artworks as well as passing the many mask laboratories and gondola making factory. This really is a great introduction to the REAL VENICE and not the one which the majority of people visit. (Tour duration: 3.5 hours)
Afternoon at Leisure to enjoy Venice on your own… Enjoy one of the most unique experiences with an exclusive behind closed doors visit to the beautiful Basilica dedicated to St. Marks in the heart of one of the world’s most famous squares. Enjoy a very exclusive visit of the famous Basilica of San Marco with your personal guide to take in the Highlights of one of the most recognized buildings in Venice. Escape the crowds and enjoy this unique experience with your local expert guide. Enjoy a Very Special Farewell Dinner at Aciugheta Restaurant – (3 course meal with water, wine and coffee included) with your Tour Manager… The Aciugheta, well-known in town for its excellent selection of wines, is also mentioned in all the national and international guides for the great variety of "cicheti" (bite-sized snacks and appetizers such as meat-balls, small stuffed peppers and freshly baked pizzette with anchovies) that can be tasted at the counter. Should you prefer to sit down for a while, you may linger at one of the tables in the open-air terrace and try our pizzas (the one with freshly chopped tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella is really delicious) and many other tempting local speciality. Casual atmosphere. Our (optional) grand opera will be Verdi’s “La Traviata” in Venice on May 13, 2010.
Breakfast at the Hotel… Check out of the hotel and settle incidentals account. Private Group Transfer from Venice Hotel to Venice Port with your Tour Manager – the most leisurely way to transfer. (Luggage will be transferred separately) Buon Viaggio!
(Post-Cruise) Overview of our two-day package in Athens
Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:00AM
We begin our exciting tour with a visit to the glamorous Acropolis, where we admire one of the world's masterpieces, the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics. Continue with the highlights of historical and modern Athens. Enjoy the most famous historical spots in Athens including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the colourful Evzones, the ex-Royal Palace and the Panathenaikon Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, and admire the unique perspective of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian’s' Arch. Continue with a visit to The Ancient Agora. The Ancient Agora, or marketplace, is located to the northwest of the Acropolis and is bounded on the south by the hill of the Areopagus ("Hill of Ares" a.k.a. "Mar's Hill" in Roman times) and on the west by the hill of Colonus Agoraeus. It was the political and administrative center of ancient Athens as well as the place where social, commercial and religious activities concentrated. The site was occupied without interruption in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and burial area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 BCE). Early in the 6th century BCE, in the time of Solon, the Agora became a public area. After a series of repairs and remodeling, it reached its final rectangular form in the 2nd century BCE. Extensive building activity occurred after the serious damage made by the Persians in 480-79 BCE, by the Romans in 89 BCE and by the Heruli in 267 CE. After the Slavic invasion in 580 CE, it was gradually abandoned. Please check out: http://www.grisel.net/ancient_agora.htm Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Psarras Tavern in the Plaka (old part of Athens).
Friday, May 21, 2010 3:00PM Check-in
DIVANI PALACE ACROPOLIS Situated in the shadow of the Acropolis, and only few metres away from the New Museum of Acropolis, lies the deluxe Divani Palace Acropolis hotel. Renovated in 2001, this luxurious offering from the Divani Collection affords guests a unique opportunity to experience all that Athens has to offer. With all the amenities of a modern hotel, a breathtaking backdrop, and a staff renowned for their hospitality, the Divani Palace Acropolis has long been the first choice for discerning travellers in Athens.
A folkloric dinner out at "Geros tou Moria" Traditional Greek Taverna Plaka is the oldest part of Athens and it was the main area of the city till the 19th century. The area of Plaka is renowned by the Athenians and visitors alike for its multitude of dining places. By day, its narrow stone streets are filled with shoppers and sightseers; by night, it is transformed into a humming throbbing place of activity, as people seek entertainment or dinner in one of the many lively Taverns. One of the lively taverns is “Geros tou Moria”. A picturesque tavern located below the shadow of the Acropolis, in a street named after an ancient Greek Architect (who designed the Propylea of Acropolis), Minesikleous street. The owner offers traditional Greek hospitality and delicious cuisine, while a live band entertains guests with Greek Songs and Folklore dancers present a very enjoyable show!
Menu
Starters: Sunday, May 23, 2010 1:00PM Check-out of hotel
Our next Opera Cruise will feature San Francisco Opera's Chauncey Packer, |
