FROM SICILY TO VENICE JOURNEYS Beyond the ordinary Exploring the Historic Cities and Art Treasures of the Ionian & Adriatic Seas Aboard the 48-Guest Yacht Elysium May 21 – 31, 2022 Mosaic from Basilica of Euphrasius in Porec CROATIA SCHEDULE OUTLINE May 21 Depart the US May 22 Arrive in Palermo, Sicily. Transfer to the . Hotel Villa Igiea May 23 Tour Palermo in the morning. Board the Elysium in the afternoon Adriatic MONTENEGRO and sail. Sea ITALY May 24 Giardini Naxos for Taormina, Sicily. Tyrrhenian May 25 Crotone, Calabria. Excursion to Santa Severina. Sea May 26 Monopoli, Puglia, for the trulli village of Alberobello. May 27 Kotor, Montenegro. Tour the walled town. May 28 Dubrovnik, Croatia. Explore the medieval city. May 29 Split, Croatia. Tour Diocletian’s Palace. Ionian Sea May 30 Rovinj, Istria, Croatia. Tour the old town and Porec. Motor route Ship route Sicily May 31 Venice. Disembark and transfer to the airport. Air route Note: A 2-day optional Venice extension will be offered. Mediterranean Sea PROGRAM NARRATIVE Few places in the world offer a travel experience as culturally diverse as the central Mediterranean. Set at the crossroads of East and West, this strategic region has been settled by a steady succession of civilizations – from the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines to the Normans, Saracens and Venetians. Each group left its own distinct mark on the region, imbuing these lands with a rich and varied cultural and artistic her- itage. Our journey begins in Sicily’s Palermo, founded by the Phoenicians in 827 BC. Under the Normans, this stunning city became one of Europe’s greatest centers. In Taormina, perched high above the sea, we will see the magnificent Greek Theater, renowned for its perfect acoustics and breath- taking views of the sea and Mt. Etna. Sailing along the coast of Calabria, we will call at Crotone, the ancient city of Croton, where, in the 6th century BC, Pythagoras set up his school of philosophy. Entering the Adriatic Sea, we will make a landing at the port town of Puglia’sMonopoli to visit the village of Alberobello, famed for its trulli, remarkable white-washed dwellings. Crossing the Adriatic, the ship will navigate Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, a scenic waterway, to call atKotor, a beautiful medieval walled town, built against a towering mountain. Continue along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik, one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities, and Split, which is dominated by the incredible Place of Diocletian. Cruising among the Croatian islands, we reach Istria, a large peninsula that projects into the Adriatic, to call at the picture-perfecttown of Rovinj, where we will have time to explore the town and also visit nearby Porec, an ancient town of grand stone houses, and home to the Basilica of Euphrasius, a 6th-century Byzantine basilica that contains exquisite mosaics. Across from Istria in the northern Adriatic is Venice, where the Elysium will enter the Venetian Lagoon and navigate the San Marco Canal, ending the voyage in the fabled “Queen of the Adriatic.” Uncovering the many layers of civilization that have shaped the central Mediterranean makes for one of the most fascinating and rewarding travel experiences in this ancient sea. THE ELYSIUM Deck Plan Sun Deck 411 409 407 405 403 401 402 400 404 410 408 406 Boat Deck RESTAURANT GYM Lounge Boat Deck Stateroom Promenade Deck 209 207 205 203 215 211 212 210 208 206 204 202 Main Deck E D C B A Library Al Fresco Dining In an era of mega cruise ships that carry thousands features expansive open deck areas that include a 24 seasoned officers and crew. of passengers, Elysium is a delightful alternative. Jacuzzi, a promenade that wraps around the deck, Elysium provides a style of cruising that is rarely More like an elegant private yacht than a cruise an elegant restaurant that accommodates all found today. More than a cruise, each voyage is ship, Elysium accommodates only 48 guests in 24 guests in an open, unassigned seating, an outdoor custom-crafted to provide a comprehensive spacious cabins that face outside, about half the dining area, a lounge that is surrounded with win- experience that reveals the singular aspects of number usually found on a ship this size. Large dows, a library and gym. A fleet of kayaks provide the destinations. enough to navigate in comfort and safety, small opportunities for kayaking in the protected blue enough to access small ports with agility, Elysium waters of the Mediterranean. The ship is served by Welcome aboard the yacht Elysium. PROGRAM INCLUSIONS ■ One night at the Hotel Villa Igiea, Palermo. ■ Open bar aboard ship throughout the voyage. ■ Welcome dinner in Palermo at a local restaurant. ■ Port, embarkation, and all other local taxes. ■ Full breakfast at the hotel. ■ Gratuities to guides, drivers and porters. ■ Cruise aboard the Elysium, as described in the itinerary. ■ Experienced Thalassa Journeys trip director. ■ Complete program of tours and excursions and other activities ashore, ■ Comprehensive pre-departure material. with professional English-speaking guides. ■ Program of lectures by accompanying professor or expert. NOT INCLUDED: Airfare; travel insurance; expenses of a personal nature; ■ Airport/hotel/pier transfers and handling of luggage abroad. gratuities to shipboard personnel; any items not mentioned in the ■ All meals aboard ship, including wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch Program Inclusions. and dinner. FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT JOURNEYS Margaret Devlin 917-583-2331 • [email protected] Beyond the ordinary or 8815 Conroy-Windermere Road, Suite 406, Orlando, FL 32835 Carolyn Blackmar 845-300-2162 • [email protected] TOLL-FREE 866-633-3611 .