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24219
Greece/Ukraine/Romania/Bulgaria

Grand Odyssey: Istanbul, the Black Sea & Greek Isles

Join us for a grand voyage on the Aegean Odyssey as we sail from Istanbul, through the Bosporus to the great port cities of the Black Sea and back to ancient islands of Greece.
Program No. 24219RJ
Length
22 days
Starts at
6,999
Special Offer
Click on Dates & Prices below to see special offer details.
Flights start at
FREE
Greece/Ukraine/Romania/Bulgaria

Grand Odyssey: Istanbul, the Black Sea & Greek Isles

Join us for a grand voyage on the Aegean Odyssey as we sail from Istanbul, through the Bosporus to the great port cities of the Black Sea and back to ancient islands of Greece.
Length
22 days
Starts at
6,999
Special Offer
Click on Dates & Prices below to see special offer details.
Flights start at
FREE
Program No. 24219 RJ

Your well-being is our #1 priority

To make your experience as safe as possible, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated. See our Safety Roadmap

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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itinerary
Please Note:
The itinerary for this program is different on certain dates.
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Inside Ship Outside Ship Balcony
A representative picture of a cabin in this category.
Accommodation Details

A cabin with no window, porthole or balcony.

A representative picture of a cabin in this category.
Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

A representative picture of a cabin in this category.
Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

Apr 24 - May 15, 2022
Ship Inside 6,999
Ship Outside 8,199
Ship Balcony 11,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 13, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,399 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Athens and ends in Istanbul. Please see itinerary for details.

May 4 - May 25, 2022
Ship Inside 6,999
Ship Outside 8,199
Ship Balcony 11,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 23, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,599 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Istanbul and ends in Athens. Please see itinerary for details.

Sep 29 - Oct 20, 2022
Ship Inside 6,999
Ship Outside 8,199
Ship Balcony 11,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 31, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,799 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Athens and ends in Istanbul. Please see itinerary for details.

Oct 9 - Oct 30, 2022
Ship Inside 6,999
Ship Outside 8,199
Ship Balcony 11,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 31, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,799 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Istanbul and ends in Athens. Please see itinerary for details.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Inside Ship Outside Ship Balcony
A representative picture of a cabin in this category.
Accommodation Details

A cabin with no window, porthole or balcony.

A representative picture of a cabin in this category.
Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

A representative picture of a cabin in this category.
Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

Apr 24 - May 15, 2022
SOLD OUT
Ship Inside 8,999
Ship Outside 10,199
Ship Balcony 14,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 13, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,399 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Athens and ends in Istanbul. Please see itinerary for details.

May 4 - May 25, 2022
Ship Inside 8,999
Ship Outside 10,199
Ship Balcony 14,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 23, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,599 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Istanbul and ends in Athens. Please see itinerary for details.

Sep 29 - Oct 20, 2022
SOLD OUT
Ship Inside 8,999
Ship Outside 10,199
Ship Balcony 14,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 31, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,799 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Athens and ends in Istanbul. Please see itinerary for details.

Oct 9 - Oct 30, 2022
SOLD OUT
Ship Inside 8,999
Ship Outside 10,199
Ship Balcony 14,999
Special Offer

COMBINE & SAVE! Enroll by March 31, 2022 for free air from many cities. Airfare availability may vary by date. Ask about low-cost air from other cities. The prices shown reflect a savings of $1,799 (compared to purchasing corresponding dates of programs 23587 & 23513 separately.)

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Istanbul and ends in Athens. Please see itinerary for details.

At a Glance

On this extraordinary three-week voyage, transit the famed Bosporus Strait at Istanbul and explore the history-rich countries on the shores of the Black Sea — Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Investigate ancient civilizations and Cold War intrigue in port cities like Odessa and Varna, before passing back through the Bosporus to discover countless treasures across the Aegean — both ancient and modern — from the dazzling charms of Mykonos to the romantic vistas of Santorini, ending in the historic capital of Athens. Throughout your journey, take in the private ambiance of the Aegean Odyssey, as you attend expert-led lectures and presentations and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow Road Scholars.
Activity Level
Choose Your Pace
This program offers two activity levels to choose from on every departure date: one that has less walking and fewer stairs and another at a more active pace.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Discover two Istanbul gems with a local expert, the breathtaking Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
  • Explore historic Black Sea port cities such as Odessa and Varna, including its museum that showcases the world’s oldest manufactured gold.
  • Discover the storied past behind the ruins of Ephesus, the jewel of Greek-Roman cities, during your time in Turkey.
  • Experience authentic local life and time-honored treasures on two of the most popular Greek Isles, Mykonos and Santorini.
  • Sail exclusively with ship mates who are all Road Scholar participants, like-minded travelers who are as dedicated to learning as you are.

General Notes

We’ll have up to 350 Road Scholar participants on the ship, divided into groups of 35 for shore excursions.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution
by Marci Shore
Exploring the winter of 2013-2014 this intimate book gives a first hand look at the Ukrainian Revolution. Collections of true stories from soldiers who fought to children who lived through it, Shore looks to the past to understand the revolution and also the future as they had hoped to make it.
Istanbul: The Imperial City
by John Freely
Whether you call it Byzantium, Constantinople, or Istanbul, the “old Turkish hand” John Freely tells the story of each creation and decline up to today’s Istanbul under the Turkish Republic. Spirited and colorful, Freely gives his readers a lively account of the turmoil each incarnation brought. In addition to “page turning history”, Freely gives a complete listing of monuments & museums in the city - he has lived there for decades. This is the one to read on Istanbul if you have a short list of books and limited time to get into its history.
The Museum of Abandoned Secrets
by Oksana Zabuzhko
Following 60 years of Ukrainian history, Zabuzhko weaves a dramatic tale of multiple generations and the secrets that refused to remain hidden. Though fiction, the story helps those who read it better understand the dim days of World War II up until the eve of the Orange Revolution.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.