Our inaugural Pillars of Pride cruise to ancient Greece and Turkey, developed in partnership with the American LGBTQ+ Museum in New York City, features tours of historic sites from a more enlightened perspective. This all-inclusive, deluxe cruise round-trip Athens also features a full-day tour of Santorini with an afternoon at leisure, a special visit to the ruins of Ephesus, and a full overnight docked at Mykonos with opportunities to enjoy nightlife at this legendary destination.
Eric Marcus, a founding board member of the museum and the founder and host of the award-winning Making Gay History podcast, will also speak on board about the history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement in the U.S. Join us as we see this part of the world from a different lens, honoring voices from the past and creating meaningful connections for a brighter future. Extend your journey with the Athens Pre-Program and/or Delphi Post-Program Options.
Program Details
- Discover multicultural Chania, located on the western coast of Crete.
- Be on deck as the ship cruises into the port of Santorini, beneath which some believe to be the legendary lost city of Atlantis, to tour the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri and more.
- Dock in Rhodes at the wall of Rhodes Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the 14th-century Palace of the Grand Masters.
- Arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey, and drive to Ephesus, a vast archaeological site of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine ruins.
- Visit UNESCO-inscribed of Delos—legendary birthplace of Artemis and Apollo—and walk along the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo.
- Explore the island of Mykonos—where according to ancient legend, its craggy hills and clefts were formed from the petrified bodies of giants defeated by Hercules—with the option to experience its legendary nightlife at leisure.
- Cruise the Aegean Sea en route to Athens with a day at leisure to enjoy special onboard lectures and activities.
Day 1 - Depart home city
Day 2 - Athens, Greece/Embark Le Bougainville
Day 3 - Chania, Crete
Day 4 - Santorini, Greece
Day 5 - Kusadasi, Turkey for Ephesus
Day 6 - Rhodes/Lindos, Greece
Day 7 - Delos/Mykonos
Day 8 - Day at Sea
Day 9 - Athens/Disembark ship/Return to home city
Le Bougainville
Exclusively Chartered, Five-Star Luxury Small Ship
Le Bougainville, launched in 2019, ushers in a new generation of 5-star small ships, combining revolutionary design and a new standard of luxury for unparalleled cruising. Dock in smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships, where authentic cultural experiences and majestic scenery await you.
Athens Pre-Program Option
Begin your journey with an immersive experience in the ancient city of Athens. Explore the monumental Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its perfectly proportioned Parthenon, a graceful example of Doric architecture. Tour the archaeological treasures of the Acropolis Museum and enjoy the colorful neighborhood of Plaka, the oldest section of Athens. Discover the idyllic coves and sparkling Aegean waters of Cape Sounion and follow the ancient route of Pericles to the Temple of Poseidon—where 15 of the original 34 Doric columns are remarkably still standing. Accommodations are for two nights in the five-star Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Delphi Post-Program Option
Extend your journey with a two-night itinerary exploring Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Thiva, or Thebes—featuring a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Thebes, where exhibits span from the Neolithic era to the end of the Ottoman rule. Tour Delphi and visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum. Walk on the Sacred Way to see the Treasury of Athens, the Temple of Apollo, the theater, and the impressive stadium. Spend one night in the Domotel Anemolia Hotel and one night in the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel.
The Pre- and Post-Program Options are available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
Eric Marcus
Three-and-a-half decades ago, Eric Marcus left his job at CBS Morning News to pursue a passion project that would change his life and countless others who have been affected by his work. Having been commissioned to bring the history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement to life through the voices of the people who lived it in an oral history book, Marcus began interviewing both known and long forgotten people who contributed in some way to the movement. His conversation with activist Barbara Gittings became part of the original 1992 edition of Making Gay History, which has evolved into a podcast and a nonprofit educational organization of the same name. Today, Marcus serves as Executive Director and uses his podcast platform to ensure these firsthand stories of struggle and triumph are shared with future generations. He is also the author of ten other books, and is a founding board member of the new American LGBTQ+ Museum in New York City.