Ancient Civilisations of the Eastern Mediterranean

Highlights

Le Champlain

Vessel Type: Luxury

Length: 127 metres

Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins

Built: 2017/2018

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.

As the first ship in a new series, Le Champlain will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.

Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.

Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.

RESTAURANTS

As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Champlain will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism.

In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts.

To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals.

PUBLIC AREAS

Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Champlain has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger.

A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.

A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding.

A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas.

A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening.

Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Phaestos Palace (100.00 EUR)

From the pier, board your coach and drive across Crete and towards the Libyan Sea to Phaestos. One of the most important centres of the Minoan civilization, Phaestos was the wealthiest and most powerful city in Southern Crete. It was inhabited from the Neolithic Age until the development of the Minoan palaces in the 15th century BC. Upon arrival, proceed to a visit of the Phaestos Palace, also known as the ‘Phaistos Palace’, and commence your guided walking tour. The Phaestos Palace’s superb architectural design and near-perfect construction is one of the finest and most typical of all Minoan palaces. The ruins of the Old and New Palace are both preserved; the Old Palace is protected under a shed, with some remains dating back to Neolithic times. The New Palace consists of a central peristyle court flanked by storerooms and shrines on the west side, the royal quarters on the north and the workshops on the east. The ‘theatral area’ with the ‘processional ways’ is situated west of the storerooms, and the granaries of the Old Palace are located in the lower strata. The West Propylon, the palace’s monumental entrance, is the most impressive known structure of its kind. The artefacts from the palace are now exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Following your guided tour, depart the archaeological site of Phaestos for the drive back to the pier. This excursion involves approximately 2,4 km (1 ½ miles) of walking on uneven ground and several steps. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour is not recommended to guests with limited mobility.

Minoan Palace & archaeological museum (100.00 EUR)

Crete’s fertile soil and towering peaks witnessed the development of one of the earliest recorded civilizations on earth: the Minoan. Knossos is the most important of the Minoan palaces and the most famous Cretan site since its discovery in 1878. Occupied for 9,000 years before present and associated with the legend of the palace of King Minos, the site was the capital of Crete during the Minoan period. It was the court of the legendary King Minos, whose wife Pasiphae gave birth to the Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. The excavations on the site were begun in 1893 by the English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans and his team and lasted 35 years. From the pier, you will board your coach for the 30-minute drive to Knossos. During this tour, you will discover the Great Palace through the West Court, where one can easily understand why the legend of the labyrinth grew up here. It takes about one hour and a half to walk around the site and explore all the parts of the Palace. See the Royal Quarters’ Throne room with its antechamber and main throne, as well as the Queen’s Quarters, whose wall above the entrance door is decorated with a copy of the famous dolphin frescos. Your guide will also tell about the Minotaur legend. You will continue your journey with a visit of the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. The museum houses archaeological finds from all over Crete, covering over 5,500 years of the island's history. With its twenty halls, the museum presents the finds from the Minoan era, including the frescoes from the Royal Palace of Knossos. After your visit of the museum, you will board your coach and join your ship after a 15-minute drive. This excursion involves 1,5 km (1 mile) of walking with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Ephesus & the house of Mary (50.00 EUR)

From the pier, you will embark your coach for a 30-minute drive through a picturesque winding road lined with pine trees to reach the House of Virgin Mary, a protected pilgrimage site. Clinging to the side of Bulbul Mountain outside of Ephesus, this house is believed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary. According to the Vatican, Mary came here towards the end of her life in the company of St. John around 40 AD. Nowadays, every year, Christians and Muslims (who honour “Meryemana” as the mother of a great Prophet), make religious pilgrimages to the site. Below the house you will find a fountain, where a sacred spring feeds three fonts, each bestowing a unique blessing upon visitors. From the house of the Virgin Mary, you will continue on to nearby Ephesus. Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, during the prehistoric times, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later to Diana by the Romans. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the whole Mediterranean. Excavated since 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and opened for visitors. Everything is here: town hall, dwellings, shops and even public toilets. A town of white marble dazzling in the sunshine, Ephesus is like a stone history book recounting the story of what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans. During your tour, you will discover the Roman Ephesus. Most of the monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Due to its location, the city was developed into two sections: the upper part of the city was the administrative sector with the town hall, a civil basilica and the Odeon aligned on the north side of the State Agora. The lower section facing the port houses religious, commercial and cultural buildings, such as the famous Celsius Library, Roman Villas, commercial agora and its theatre, which accommodated up to 24,000 spectators, and the stadium. Residences of the town’s nobility are grouped on the slopes of Mount Pion and Mount Coressos on either side of Couretes Street, which links the town’s two districts. The site is also famous for its Hercules Gate, the ancient Scholastikia baths, the Marble Street and Hadrian’s temple. This tour involves 2 ½ hours of walking on uneven ground with some steps. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Ephesus & Roman Villas (100.00 EUR)

From the pier, you will embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to the Ephesus site, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean basin. Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, during the prehistoric times, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later to Diana by the Romans. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the whole Mediterranean. Excavated since 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and opened for visitors. Everything is here: town hall, dwellings, shops and even public toilets. A town of white marble dazzling in the sunshine, Ephesus is like a stone history book recounting the story of what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans. During your tour, you will discover the Roman Ephesus. Most of the monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Due to its location, the city was developed into two sections: the upper part of the city was the administrative sector with the town hall, a civil basilica and the Odeon aligned on the north side of the State Agora. The lower section facing the port houses religious, commercial and cultural buildings, such as the famous Celsius Library, Roman Villas, commercial agora and its theatre, which accommodated up to 24,000 spectators, and the stadium. You will start your tour at the upper gate of Ephesus, which is also known as the Magnesium Gate. Your guide will lead you on a leisurely downhill walking tour through Ephesus’ marble streets, passing and pointing out all the historically important buildings on the way. You will move on to the recently excavated Terrace Houses complex which are also known as the houses of the rich Ephesians. Located on the northern slope of Bulbul Mountain next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian, these houses were built in the peristyle form with a courtyard surrounded by Ionic colonnades. They are finely decorated with mosaics and frescoes. Built in the period of Augustus, they were inhabited until the 7th century AD according to evidence from excavations. Then, you will visit one of the most impressive sites of Ephesus, the Library of Celsus. Built in 135 BC by a son in homage to his father, this library is finely decorated with columns and sculptures. Finally, after just a short walk away, you will join the Grand theatre where St Paul preached to the Ephesians, imploring them to give up their worship of Artemis and embrace the Christian faith. This tour involves 2 ½ hours of walking on uneven ground with steps. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The visit of the Roman Villas will be guided by the archaeologist who leads the excavations. This tour is limited to 40 participants.

Walking tour of Rhodes (50.00 EUR)

From the ship, discover the Knights City on a guided walking tour. Follow your guide through the cobbled streets to the impressive Palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of Hospitallers, which dates from the 14th century and contains some Greek and Roman mosaics originating from the island of Kos. After visiting the palace, you will walk along the famous Avenue of the Knights lined with the old Knights’ inns from the Order’s various nationalities. It is unusually straight for a medieval street, and its sombre buildings present a majestic and forbidding face to the world, with their 15th century Gothic walls and arcades worn smooth over the centuries. Retracing an ancient route, the straight line of this street cuts through the maze of winding alleyways surrounding it. After your guided tour, you can return directly to your ship with your guide or wander around the streets and shops at your leisure. This tour is only on foot and involves walking on cobblestone streets, so we advise you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Panoramic views of Rhodes (100.00 EUR)

From the pier, board your coach for a scenic drive around the east coast of Rhodes island. You will drive along the walls surrounding the city before heading up Mount Smith (named after the English Admiral Sydney Smith, who kept an eye on the Napoleonic fleet from here). From this point, you can enjoy panoramic views over Rhodes and the castles. If the weather is good, you may even catch a glimpse of the Turkish coast and the neighbouring islands. You will reach Lindos by a route passing through the hinterland. From one promontory, you can see the whole of the famous Acropolis. Built between the 7th and 6th century BC, the Lindos Acropolis is a sprawling complex of structures from various historic periods, perched dramatically above the town. A place of worship from the Mycenaean age, it was enlarged in the Hellenistic period before the Knights of the Order of Hospitallers established a fortress here, a role it retained until the Ottoman era. Following the panoramic route, you will arrive at Kolymbia, a traditional fishermen village where you will enjoy some local snacks with a glass of Greece's trademark Ouzo. The road back to your ship goes through the typical villages of Faliraki and Kalithea. This tour is a panoramic tour and involves few walking times. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Lindos & medieval Rhodes (100.00 EUR)

From the pier, board your coach for the one-hour drive to Lindos. The scenic drive will take you through small villages with their white-washed houses scattered amongst orchards and olive groves. Built between the 7th and 6th century BC, the Lindos Acropolis is a sprawling complex of structures from various historic periods, perched dramatically above the town. A place of worship from the Mycenaean age, it was enlarged in the Hellenistic period before the Knights of the Order of Hospitallers established a fortress here, a role it retained until the Ottoman era. As in ancient times, access is via a rough-hewn path with many stairs. The first medieval gate, with steps down to the Knights’ building, is cut into the rock face. To one side, you will observe an antic relief of a warship’s stern, sculpted into the same rock. The acropolis’ most sacred building is the Athena Lindia sanctuary, sited on the highest terrace, offers panoramic views. At the end of your visit, you will have some free time to stroll the streets of the lower city before boarding your coach to reach Rhodes where a typical Greek lunch will be served. After lunch, discover the old city of Rhodes and visit the most imposing building of medieval Rhodes: the Palace of the Grand Masters. Built in the 14th century, it contains priceless mosaics from Kos island. At the end of the walking tour, you may choose to stroll the colourful shopping streets and return to the ship on foot or join your coach and return directly to the ship. This tour involves 4 hours of walking on uneven and cobblestone streets. To reach the Lindos Acropolis, you need to walk up a steep road for about 20 minutes and then climb 250 steps. The climb to Lindos is quite steep you can ride part of the way on a donkey by paying a supplement. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Memphis & Sakkara (150.00 EUR)

From the pier, board your coach and start your day with a drive for around two hours and half to Dahshur area, located in South Sakkara where stand the pyramids of Dahshur: The Red and the Bent Pyramids. The constructor of these pyramids is thought to have been Snofru (2575-2551 BC), who was the first ruler of the 4th Dynasty. He is also thought to have built the pyramid at Maidoun. The Red Pyramid is thought to be older, and the Bent Pyramid was built out of limestone which was quarried locally. Following the visit of Dahshur you will drive toward Memphis, the Capital of ancient Egypt. Founded in 3100 BC by Menes of Tanis, Memphis was once considered the largest city in the world with a population of over 30,000. At its zenith, the city had many temples, palaces and gardens. Once arriving, you will see the enormous limestone statue, Colossus of Ramses. Over 33 feet (10 metres) long, this giant lying statue depicts Ramses II, the Egyptian pharaoh from 1290 to 1224 BC. The Alabaster Sphinx and the ruins of the temple of Ptah can also be viewed during your visit. From Memphis, you will proceed to the restaurant for lunch. Then, you will be taken to Sakkara, the necropolis of ancient Memphis. You will be visiting the famous step Pyramid of Zoser built 5,000 years ago by the engineer Imhotep, the pyramid and its surrounding complex was designed to be as grand as it was unique and revolutionary. At the “cemetery city” of Sakkara, experience an inside visit to one of the mastabas or funerary chambers. Finally, a quick visit will be made at a carpet school before driving back to join your ship for approximate another two hours and half. This excursion involves approximately 1.5 mile (2 km) of walking on sandy and flat ways with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The lunch is included on your tour.

Timna park & panoramic Eilat (100.00 EUR)

From the pier, you will board your coach and start your 30-minute drive to Timna park. On the way, your guide will give you information about the Rabin border, between Israel and Jordan. A stop en route will be made at an observation point to admire the neighbouring city of Aqaba. The Timna park is located approximately 25 kilometres north of Eilat, in the middle of the Red Sea Desert. The horseshoe-shaped park was created by tectonic plate movement tens of millions of years ago. This extraordinary locale contains within it an astonishing "window" to the geology of the region. Timna boasts the world's earliest copper mine. Copper mining began more than 6,000 years ago, at the end of the fifth millennium BC, when Egyptians established their copper mine. During your 3-hour visit, you will discover: - "Mines of Time" - a multimedia presentation on a revolving stage takes you on a journey to ancient Egypt. The stories of a bygone age include the origin of the copper serpent and the significance of the Egyptian Gods to the copper cult. - The Mushroom - a natural rock formation of a perfect mushroom created from red sandstone, situated next to the work camp where the copper ore was smelted in special ovens. - The Arches - a natural phenomenon, the stone Arch. From here, you can climb a few steps for a panoramic view of the valley. - Solomon's Pillars and the Temple of the Goddess Hathor - incredible 50-metre-high pillars from Timna's sandstone. To the right of the pillars, stone stairs lead to an Egyptian rock carving in which we see Pharaoh Ramses III presenting an offering to the Goddess of mines and turquoise, Hathor. From the viewing platform, you can see the remains of the temple dedicated to the Goddess. You will continue to the Timna Lake and discover the coloured sand. After a day steeped in history, you will return to Eilat and enjoy a panoramic drive of the town before reaching your ship. This tour involves approximately 0.7 mile (1 km) of walking with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Masada & Dead Sea (150.00 EUR)

From the pier, boarding your coach and travel through the Negev Desert, a 2 ½-hour drive before descending 3,600 feet (over 1,000 metres) toward the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth, over 1,300 feet (over 300 metres) below sea level. A refreshment stop will be made en-route. Before arriving at the Dead Sea, enjoy a visit to Masada Fortress, the most spectacular ancient archaeological site in Israel. Perched on the tip of a titanic rock face, this Jewish shrine was the last stronghold of the zealots back in the days of King Herod. A cable car will carry you to the top where you will explore the ancient ruins which include King Herod’s three-tiered palace, the synagogue, the baths, the defending walls and the water cisterns. Your Masada exploration complete, you will rejoin your coach for a 25-minute drive to the hotel resort where you will enjoy lunch. After lunch, you will have the opportunity of a lifetime: to experience the sensation of floating effortlessly upon the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. With more salt and minerals than any other body of water in the world, the Dead Sea is claimed to be a natural health and beauty spa. Finally, you will get back to your ship after a 2 ½-hour drive. This tour involves approximately 1 mile (1,5 km) on uneven and cobblestone paths with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes, swimsuit under your clothes, bring a towel from the ship and to protect yourself from the sun. There are changing rooms in the hotel. The lunch is included on your tour. Your beverage package includes a bottle of water and a glass of wine.

Inclusions

Exclusions