Greek Odyssey

Explore one of the best-preserved cities of antiquity in the world as you walk the length of ancient Kuretes Street. Stroll from Ephesus’s upper gate to its lower gate. Join your guide on a scenic drive through the stunning countryside of Selçuk to the Magnesian Gate, the ancient city entrance at the top of Kuretes Street. Then follow a gently descending route through one of the Roman Empire’s most powerful outposts. Navigate some steps along the way, passing the finely crafted 2nd-century Temple of Hadrian and the spectacular Great Theater, able to host 25,000 spectators. Marvel at the most recognizable building in the city, the Library of Celsus, built to house 12,000 scrolls. Its colonnaded facade is an outstanding example of a typical Roman public building. You will have free time to browse the craft stalls at the lower gate before returning to your ship.

Delve more deeply into Ephesus, combining an overview of key sites with exploration of its impressive Roman houses. At its height, Ephesus was home to more than 250,000 people, but only Roman citizens were allowed to live in the city center. You will join a local guide for a visit to the remarkably preserved homes of successful merchants and prominent city leaders. Because the houses’ remains have been protected from the elements by a roof, their walls are still adorned with fine colorful mosaics and frescoes. Constructed on terraces, they are testament to the highly developed building skills and techniques of the Romans. See the underground heating system and the private courtyards of the wealthy. At the end of the tour, you will have free time to browse the craft stalls outside the ancient city’s gates.

Witness one of Turkey’s great archaeological finds and see many of the finest artifacts of Ephesus. Journey to the edge of Selçuk, where the great Temple of Artemis once stood. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it resembled the famed Parthenon of Athens with its many marble columns. Imagine its former glory with the help of your guide. You will walk to the remains of the Byzantine Basilica of St. John, said to have been built over the burial site of St. John the Apostle, and the impressive 14th-century İsa Bey Mosque. At the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, you can explore some of the ancient city’s relics, including excellent examples of Roman sculpture. The museum was established after an export ban was imposed in the early 20th century to stop the flow of artifacts to the British Museum.

Step back into the Bronze Age as you visit one of ancient Greece’s wealthiest cities and Magnesia on the Maeander. Begin your journey with a drive to the ruined city of Magnesia, once a thriving settlement at the crossroads of Ephesus, Priene and Tralleis. Today, its remains include one of the best-preserved ancient stadiums in the world and the Temple of Artemis Leucophyrene, an Ionian masterpiece. Continue to Miletus to walk in the footsteps of citizens who may have turned to the Didyma Oracle for guidance. Once the wealthiest of all Greek cities and a center of philosophy and trade, Miletus’s streets are lined by a magnificent amphitheater, Roman baths and a palaestra, or Greek wrestling school. Miletus gained its immense wealth as a port town, but its bay silted up, leaving it six miles from the coast. After your visit, return to your awaiting ship.

View the modest abode of the most famous woman in biblical history and see the ancient sites of Ephesus. With your guide, set out on a scenic drive into the rolling terrain past the city, where you will find the House of the Virgin Mary. It is believed that St. John brought Mary, the mother of Jesus, here to live out her final days after the Crucifixion. The simple stone structure is now a chapel visited often by pilgrims, who travel from all over the world to write prayers on the wishing wall. After your visit, enter Ephesus through the upper gate to view its ancient structures. You will see a gymnasium, one of the educational institutions of the day, the massive Great Theater built for 25,000 spectators and the incredible colonnaded facade of the magnificent Library of Celsus—this extraordinary example of a Roman public building was built to store 12,000 scrolls.

Immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine as our Executive Chef leads you on an interactive culinary adventure. Journey by mini-coach to the local market to handpick ingredients under the guidance of our Chef. Later this evening, you will dine on regional dishes prepared by our experienced culinary team, using produce from the market. As you and your fellow guests enjoy this delicious creation at The Kitchen Table, you will also observe the art of plating with each dish. From fresh market fare to cooking techniques and elegant presentation, experience firsthand how your ship’s world-class culinary staff brings distinct, local flavors from the market to your taste buds. It is an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind opportunity to shop, interact and dine with the masters.