Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
30% Ponant Bonus
19 m²
2
A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece
Athens - Athens
Dates:
18/10/2026
to
25/10/2026
days
nights on board
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
The towns visited on this voyage through Greece are at the center of cultures that have flourished here since before historical time. Join us aboard Le Champlain as we sail among the Greek Isles of the Aegean Sea, discovering a sense of celebration at the heart of the Greek tradition through specially curated excursions ashore and musical performances aboard ship from a group of world-class musicians led by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart. Your musicians include pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, violinist Wendy Rawls, and violinist Benjamin Sung.
In the southern Aegean Sea, set off from Athens to discover Crete from the capital, Heraklion, built on a hillside overlooking the port and surrounded by impressive Venetian walls. Explore the Bronze age archaeological site of the Palace of Knossos, a major center of Minoan civilization. Or, in the village of Arolithos, discover Cretan traditions and customs. You may enjoy local snacks while attending a performance of traditional folkloric Cretan & Greek dances
Santorini offers a choice between browsing the sundrenched shops and restaurants of Thira and Oia, perched on cliffs overlooking the caldera of an ancient volcano, or exploring the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, destroyed by a massive eruption of that volcano in the 2nd millennium BC, but preserved in ash and pumice just like Pompeii. Alternatively, at the Symposion Music & Mythology Cultural Center, which is dedicated to the preservation of Greek cultural heritage, take part in an immersive experience of music, art, and mythology, including a musical performance and exhibition of traditional Greek instruments.
Next is the medieval town of Rhodes, whose labyrinthine streets and splendid plazas are the legacy of the Crusader Knights of St. John. Enjoy an exploration of the Acropolis of Lindos, which has been used since the 6th century B.C. as a citadel and place of worship successively by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, the Knights of St. John, and the Ottomans.
Amorgos represents a completely different aspect of life in the Aegean as it brings you face to face with age-old traditions of olive cultivation, herbal medicine, and religious devotion as they are still practiced in small villages in the mountains.
The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks—the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples—a veritable open-air museum. Mykonos, by contrast, is a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques, where you will enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all that this dazzling town has to offer.
Although it has been a retreat for Greek celebrities since the 1950s, when Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis made it famous, Hydra maintains its traditional character—in large part, because no motorized vehicles are allowed. Your walking tour of the island includes the Historical Archives Museum and the Church of the Dormition, but focuses on the Koundouriotis Mansion, a splendid example of traditional local architecture, displaying a variety of artifacts and family heirlooms of the wealthy shipowner who built the house at end of the 18th century.
Your voyage ends back in Athens.
Ref : AAFJ45US - EC181026
Your itinerary
A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call. A program of musical...
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Your trip in detail
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Included in your cruise
For more peace of mind, PONANT organizes your trip before or after the cruise. This package is included in the price of your cruise.
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LE LYRIAL
LE BORÉAL
L'AUSTRAL
LE CHAMPLAIN
26/05/2025 to the 03/06/2025
LE BOUGAINVILLE
10/06/2025 to the 18/06/2025
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Discover all destinations
Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Diptyque Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Keith Lockhart
Keith Lockhart is Conductor of the Boston Pops, Chief Guest Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Artistic Director of the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina (USA).
Now in his twenty-fourth season, he has served as Conductor of the Boston Pops since 1995, a tenure that includes over two thousand performances, forty-three national tours to more than 150 cities, and four international tours. He and the Pops have made seventy-nine television shows and participated in such high-profile sporting events as Super Bowl XXXVI, the 2008 NBA finals, the 2013 Boston Red Sox Ring Ceremony, and, most recently, Game 2 of the 2018 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. The annual July 4 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular draws a live audience of over half a million with millions more who watch on television or live webcast.
From 2010-2018 Keith served as the seventh Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra. Highlights of his tenure include three critically acclaimed North American tours, conducting annual performances at The Proms, and celebrating the orchestra’s 60th year in 2012. In June of that same year, Keith Lockhart conducted the orchestra during Queen Elizabeth II’s gala Diamond Jubilee Concert, which was broadcast around the world.
In addition, he has conducted nearly every major orchestra in North America, as well as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the NHK Symphony in Tokyo, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic. From 1998-2009 he was the Music Director of the Utah Symphony, and led the orchestra during Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He has also served as Associate Conductor of both the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the Music Director of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, Maestro Lockhart began his musical studies on piano at the age of 7, and holds degrees from Furman University and Carnegie Mellon University.
Language spoken: English
Photo credit: Marco Borggreve
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.
- A program of musical performances aboard ship featuring Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and six musicians – pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, violinist Wendy Rawls, and violinist Benjamin Sung.
- Enjoy performances of folkloric dance in Crete and traditional music in Santorini.
- Stroll the medieval streets of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rhodes Town.
- Marvel at the sheer number and variety of temples and shrines on tiny Delos, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Discover an earlier, simpler way of life as it is still lived on Amorgos and the quiet elegance of Hydra.
- Relax and refresh in the cafés and shops for which Mykonos is famous.
Ports of Call & Excursions
18 October 2026 - Athens
Embarkation 18/10/2026 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 18/10/2026 at 20:00
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.
19 October 2026 - Heraklion, Crete
Arrival 19/10/2026 midday
Departure 19/10/2026 evening
Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is the island’s most populous city. The hustle and bustle of this seaport is an integral part of its charm. It is built on a hillside overlooking the port and is encircled by impressive Venetian walls. From the top of these, you will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city. The old town is teeming with small shops, squares, cafés and vibrant architectural evidence of the city’s long history. The Palace of Knossos illustrates the wealth and power of its legendary sovereign, King Minos. The archaeological museum houses one of the largest collections of Minoan artefacts and is worth a visit.
20 October 2026 - Santorini
Arrival 20/10/2026 early morning
Departure 20/10/2026 evening
The spectacular volcanic island of Santorini stands out proud in the Cyclades. Its basalt cliffs offer particularly expansive views of the Aegean. To enjoy these views, you can head for the capital, Fira. Its floral belvederes of bougainvillea provide a bird’s-eye view of several thousand metres of coastline. Further away, the gorgeous village of Oia looks like a stairway of blue and white houses on the slopes of the volcano. In the south of the island, you will be able to visit the stunning ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient city destroyed by an eruption and covered with a thick layer of lava stone.
21 October 2026 - Rhodes
Arrival 21/10/2026 early morning
Departure 21/10/2026 late evening
With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites you to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes we find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches and its large walkways, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
22 October 2026 - Amorgos
Arrival 22/10/2026 midday
Departure 22/10/2026 evening
It’s no accident that the island of Amorgos was chosen as a shooting location for Luc Besson’s film, The Big Blue. You too will fall under the charm of this island as your ship edges closer. Amorgos is the most easterly island in the Cyclades and stands out for its rocky inlets with crystal-clear water and its small, picturesque villages. This port of call will be your chance to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades, Chora, and discover its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses overlooked by a castle. Byzantine churches, windmills and courtyards brimming with flowers complete this typical tableau of timeless Greece.
22 October 2026 - Delos
Arrival 22/10/2026 early morning
Departure 22/10/2026 midday
This legendary Cyclades island of Delos stands just a few miles southwest of Mykonos. The ceremonial solemnity of this ancient holy sanctuary will not leave you indifferent. The sheer size and importance of this UNESCO World Heritage site which covers over half of the island is thrilling in itself. From the Stoa of Antigonos, the Terrace of the Lions, to the carved marble animal statues, you will make discovery after discovery, against a backdrop of the Aegean stretching to the horizon. The theatre steps on the hillside are a particularly good place from which to enjoy the expansive view.
23 October 2026 - Mykonos
Arrival 23/10/2026 early afternoon
Departure 23/10/2026 late evening
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
24 October 2026 - Hydra
Arrival 24/10/2026 early morning
Departure 24/10/2026 late afternoon
This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïques along the quays. Further along the shore, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.
25 October 2026 - Athens
Arrival 25/10/2026 early morning
Disembarkation 25/10/2026 at 08:00
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.
Le Champlain
Like the rest of the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Champlain successfully manages to subtly combine the desire to explore the remotest regions of the planet with the comfort and privacy of a cosily intimate ship.
To the innovative and environmentally friendly equipment are added elegant design and a unique atmosphere in keeping with the whole PONANT universe. Your dream of a cruise onboard a cosily intimate ship is thus made possible through the combination of an authentically genuine voyage experience together with discreet luxury.
Decks
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
PONANT has organized the following included program for you, which starts the day of embarkation.
Included Features:
- A program of musical performances aboard ship featuring Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and six musicians – pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, violinist Wendy Rawls, and violinist Benjamin Sung
- Transfers and luggage handling from the airport in Athens to the ship on the day of embarkation
- Comprehensive 7-night cruise aboard the deluxe Le Champlain, with all the amenities for which PONANT ships are famous
- One included shore excursion in each port of call (see “Itinerary” for more information and choice of excursions, if applicable)
- Gratuities for ship crew and for guides and drivers on excursions
- Transfer from the ship to the airport in Athens at the end of the cruise on the morning of disembarkation
Not included:
- Independent meals and beverages ashore
- Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, etc.)
Notes:
- This voyage is offered on a space available basis
- Program is subject to change without notice
Quintessential Collection
PONANT Quintessential Collection voyages are designed for travelers who want to engage with the world in order to understand it.
In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, these voyages include lectures and performances aboard ship by world class experts and musicians and one or two exceptional activities ashore that encourage guests to embrace the sights and sounds, tastes and smells of the local culture. They also offer pre- or post-cruise stay with excursions relevant to the theme. We believe that travel approached in this way has the power ato transform us and to make us better citizens of the world.
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Music
Set sail on a musical journey! If you have a passion for classical instrumental music or opera, if you love Celtic melodies or jazz, treat yourself to a different and exclusive experience aboard a PONANT ship. On board or ashore, our guests of honour, including renowned artists, talented musicians and brilliant virtuosos, share their knowledge and their passion in an intimate and accessible manner during concerts or talks.
No single supplement
FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT *
*The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories.