Escape the winter with Voyages to Antiquity

Voyages to Antiquity has introduced six brand new culturally immersive itineraries for winter 2018/2019, following a selection of no-fly Northern European trips in the summer

As the name suggests, Voyages to Antiquity began with the aim of bringing to life the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean through a unique blend of culturally immersive itineraries, expertly planned shore excursions and onboard guest lecture programmes. In spring and autumn 2018, Aegean Odyssey will once again be revealing the archaeological highlights of Greece, Italy and Croatia in the company of renowned experts.

But with the introduction of new Northern European cruises in summer 2018 and six brand new itineraries to Africa, India and Southeast Asia in winter 2018/19, there are plenty more opportunities to enjoy trademark Voyages to Antiquity enrichment in even more exotic and enthralling locales.

A selection of no-fly cruises in June, July and August 2018 focus on the natural beauty and rich mythology of Iceland, the Norwegian Fjords and even our own British Isles. Thunderous waterfalls and towering mountains, rugged islands and characterful wildlife, epic sagas and age-old traditions all await discovery.

From December 2018, Aegean Odyssey sets her course east from Athens for enticing far-flung shores. The winter cruise season begins with an unforgettable exploration of the ‘Near East’, a region so packed with millennia-old wonders.

Egypt needs little introduction – but to experience its majesty in the company of Voyages to Antiquity experts is to see it with new eyes. Wonder at the scale of the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, explore the great necropolis of Memphis and Sakkara (with its distinctive ‘step pyramid’) and admire the priceless funerary treasure of the boy-pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Petra, too, is justly famed – the ‘rose red city half as old as time’ cut into the very mountainside of Jordan’s Wadi Musa. The first sight of the Treasury is one of life’s genuinely unforgettable moments. But perhaps Oman is lesser known. The Land of Frankincense is steeped in fable and (having cruised the Red Sea over Christmas) the capital, Muscat, makes a fascinating location in which to see in the new year.

Next, the cruise crosses the Arabian Sea to India, with sightseeing by tuk-tuk in Porbandar, birthplace of Gandhi, an overnight in the vibrant metropolis of Mumbai and an overland tour of the iconic Golden Triangle – Delhi, old and new, the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur and Agra, home to history’s greatest monument to love, the breathtaking Taj Mahal.

The second winter cruise promises sublime relaxation, following the Golden Triangle with visits to India’s more tranquil coastal provinces of Goa and Kerala, attuning you perfectly to the gentler rhythms of island life just as you reach the Maldives, where a ‘desert island’ beach barbecue is included.

From there it is on to Sri Lanka, where the residents of an elephant sanctuary charm visitors, and then to the Andaman Islands and Southeast Asia. This is truly a region of contrasts – on the one hand, rich cultural and colonial histories, ancient traditions and scenes of rural life little changed in centuries; on the other, glittering skyscrapers, technological marvels and a future-setting agenda. This cruise, and particularly the cruise that follows, invite appreciation of both facets in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Yangon.

Voyages to Antiquity’s fourth winter cruise crosses the Indian Ocean once again, but with more stops at those idyllic islands scattered like gold-encircled emeralds across the azure. Appreciate the dreamily soft white sands and castaway charm of the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion as you cross from Colombo to South Africa, where safari game drives in search of the ‘big five’ add a memorable extra dimension to the experience.

Three nights on board in Cape Town concludes this journey and begins the fifth – time enough to make the most of a delightful city, with a cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain and Stellenbosch wine tasting included. Then cruise five proceeds all the way up the coast of Africa, south to north, by way of Namibia’s forbidding Skeleton Coast, the Angolan capital, Luanda, the lovely island groups of São Tomé and Princípe, Cape Verde and the Canaries. The imperial grandeur of Morocco and a short crossing to Malaga concludes an epic adventure.

Then, by way of an epilogue to this remarkable winter’s tale, the sixth cruise returns Aegean Odyssey from Malaga to its home port of Athens, taking in the marvels of Sicily, Malta, Crete and Santorini en route.

Aegean Odyssey – the joy of small ship cruising

There is a particular pleasure that comes with cruising on a smaller ship. Hosting an average of just 350 passengers, Aegean Odyssey is no ‘floating city’, She is small enough to pull in at more characterful ports inaccessible to the mega-ships, the service is more personal and you get plenty of time to interact with the onboard experts.

But it’s large enough to offer a superb selection of amenities, including two dining venues, several comfortable lounges and bars, a spa centre and well-stocked library. Cabins are spacious, modern and intelligently designed, and 36 cabins across a range of categories are dedicated for sole use at low single supplement.

See the full cruise calendar at vtaexpert.com