The Greek Isles & Ephesus — A Small Ship Voyage

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

ITINERARY NOTE: All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line. This may mean that free time in port is limited. Regardless of the time in port, Road Scholar delivers a robust educational program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on September 2, 2026

Meet the group at Divani Palace Acropolis in Athens

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in, 6:00 p.m. Orientation at hotel followed by Welcome Dinner

Getting to the site: Participants that have arranged their airfare through Road Scholar, and are arriving on the designated arrival date of the program will receive an arrival transfer. Please note, if you did not book your air through Road Scholar, you will NOT be able to join a transfer. Taxis are readily available outside the ATH Athens Airport to help you reach your program hotel. The journey should take approximately 30 – 45 minutes and cost you between 40 – 60 USD (35 – 55 €). For a public transportation alternative to your hotel, you may board Line 3 (blue) of the metro line at the Athens International Airport and ride for fifteen stops to the Syntagma station. Here you should transfer to Line 2 (red) of the metro and ride for one more stop to the Akropoli station. From here, your program hotel is a short ten minute walk away. This journey should take you approximately one hour and cost you 12 USD (10 €) per person.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Public transportation available from the Athens airport to the hotel.

Your trip ends on: Friday, September 11, 2026 in Athens at Variety Voyager

End of Trip: Disembarkation after breakfast, all participants must be off the ship by 9:00 a.m.

Getting to the airport: Participants that arranged their airfare through Road Scholar, and are departing on the designated departure date of the program will receive a departure transfer. Please note, if you did not book your air through Road Scholar, you will NOT be able to join a transfer. Taxis to the ATH Athens Airport are available from the Marina Zeas. The journey should take approximately 30 – 45 minutes and cost you between 40 – 60 USD (35 – 55 €). For a public transportation alternative to the airport, you may take a short thirty minute walk to the Dimotiko Theatro station of Line 3 (blue) of the metro and ride for 27 stops to the Athens International Airport. This journey should take you approximately an hour and cost you 12 USD (10 €) per person. Please note that the metro does not open until 5 AM, so we do not recommend this option if you have an early morning flight.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.