loading spinner
23520
Italy/France/Monaco/Spain

Odyssey at Sea: From Provence & the French Riviera to Barcelona

The historic and cultural treasures nestled along the quixotic French Riviera are the stars of an epic educational adventure aboard Road Scholar’s favorite ship, the Aegean Odyssey.
Program No. 23520RJ
Length
12 days
Starts at
4,599
Special Offer
Click on Dates & Prices below to see special offer details.
Flights start at
FREE
Italy/France/Monaco/Spain

Odyssey at Sea: From Provence & the French Riviera to Barcelona

The historic and cultural treasures nestled along the quixotic French Riviera are the stars of an epic educational adventure aboard Road Scholar’s favorite ship, the Aegean Odyssey.
Length
12 days
Starts at
4,599
Special Offer
Click on Dates & Prices below to see special offer details.
Flights start at
FREE
Program No. 23520 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

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
airfare
Need airfare?
Our airfare tool can help. Check it out
climate
Plan ahead.
What kind of weather can you expect? Take a look!
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.

Jun 13 - Jun 24, 2022
Ship Inside 4,599
Ship Outside 5,199
Ship Balcony 7,099
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: 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.

Aug 30 - Sep 11, 2022
Ship Inside 4,599
Ship Outside 5,199
Ship Balcony 7,099
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: 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.

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Barcelona and ends in Genoa. 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.

Jun 13 - Jun 24, 2022
SOLD OUT
Ship Inside 5,599
Ship Outside 6,199
Ship Balcony 8,599
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: 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.

Aug 30 - Sep 11, 2022
Ship Inside 5,599
Ship Outside 6,199
Ship Balcony 8,599
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: 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.

Itinerary Note

This departure begins in Barcelona and ends in Genoa. Please see itinerary for details.

At a Glance

The artistic hilltop villages of Provence or the sensational beauty of the Côte d’Azur — why choose? Set off on an educational journey along a dazzling stretch of Mediterranean coast from the unspoiled landscapes of Corsica to glamorous Monte Carlo to elegant Aix-en-Provence, ending in the Catalonian capital of Barcelona. Discover the locales and vistas that inspired such artists as Matisse, Picasso and van Gogh, and soak up local life in bustling marketplaces and seaside villas. What’s more, you’ll experience these coastal gems during lovely moderate temperatures after the peak-season crowds have dispersed. Don’t miss your chance to experience the idyllic south of France on our first-ever floating campus!
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…

  • Explore Nice’s most intriguing neighborhoods, including the markets of the city’s Old Town and medieval St. Paul de Vence.
  • Discover the historic charms of Aix-en-Provence’s Old Town, followed by an exploration of the Château La Coste winery.
  • Discover the Picasso Museum, full of works produced by the artist during his formative years.
  • Sail exclusively with ship mates who are all Road Scholar participants, 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.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Christopher Witcombe
Christopher Witcombe studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in art history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. in art history at Bryn Mawr College. He taught art history for 37 years and was a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University, England, and the American Academy, Rome. He is Emeritus Professor of Art History at Sweet Briar College, Virginia. He has published nine books and is working two new books on art.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Christopher Witcombe
Christopher Witcombe View biography
Christopher Witcombe studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in art history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Ph.D. in art history at Bryn Mawr College. He taught art history for 37 years and was a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University, England, and the American Academy, Rome. He is Emeritus Professor of Art History at Sweet Briar College, Virginia. He has published nine books and is working two new books on art.
Profile Image of Alan O'Cain
Alan O'Cain View biography
Alan O’Cain studied history at Lancaster University, specializing in the development of Western science, art and philosophy, and received a Master’s in education. He is now a professional artist and poet, delivering public talks and performances. Alan has been involved in creative collaborations with Glyndebourne Opera and the Royal Shakespeare Company and produced art and poetry in-residence in a number of historical and international venues, including the preserved studio of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch and the former prison cell of Austrian artist Egon Schiele.
Profile Image of Stella Grace Lyons
Stella Grace Lyons View biography
Stella Grace Lyons is an art history lecturer, speaker, and writer accredited with The Arts Society. She gained her degrees from the University of Bristol and University of Warwick. She studied Renaissance art in Italy at the British Institute of Florence and Venetian art in Venice. Her particular interests include 19th-century British art, the Renaissance, 20th century American figurative artists, and representations of the nude in art. Stella conducts art history lectures in-person and online. She enjoys traveling, theatre, classical music and discovering Scottish whiskeys.
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.
La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z
by Carla Gambescia
La Dolce Vita University (LDVU) is the perfect sampler for anyone curious about (or already in amore with) Italy and its remarkably rich cultural gifts, both past and present.
Four Queens, the Provencal Sisters who Ruled Europe
by Nancy Goldstone
Transporting you back to back to the apogee of independent Provençal power in the Middle Ages, Goldstone captures the drama of 13th-century Europe in this history of the four daughters of the count of Provence -- future queens of France, England, Germany and Sicily.
Antonio Gaudi, Master Architect
by Juan Bassegoda Nonell
This lavish little collection of Gaudi's work captures the evolution, imagination and exuberance of one of the most influential architects of the 20th century.
Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook & Dictionary
by Anna Beltrami, Mirna Cicioni, Karina Coates, Susie Walker
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
by Marie-Helene Girard, Anny Monet
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
Barcelona
by Robert Hughes
A Longitude favorite, this big, thoroughly enjoyable cultural history of the city touches on architecture, art, religion and literature from Roman outpost to the present.
Matisse and Picasso, The Story of their Rivalry and Friendship
by Jack Flam
Jack Flam explores the compelling, competitive, parallel lives of these two artists and their very different attitudes toward the idea of artistic greatness, toward the women they loved and ultimately toward their confrontations with death.
Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook & Dictionary
by Cristina Hernandez Montero
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.





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.