The family voyage · December 2026
Ten days from the Bosphorus to the Acropolis — the four of us, at sea, in the oldest waters in the world.
December 20 – 29, 2026 · Istanbul → Athens · Viking Neptune
A note before we sail
“Thanks so much, Grandpa. These are some of the coolest places anywhere, and all of us are so excited to spend Christmas doing this. We're going to make it a great trip — and appreciate every second of it.”
With love, Shawn, Erica & Andrew
The whole crossing
Six ports, ten days, one sea — from the Bosphorus down to the Aegean and across to Athens. Tap any star to open that chapter.
Chapter I · Where it begins
Three empires kept their capital here, and we get four days in it. A mansion-hotel in the old city, two days among domes and bazaars — then we step aboard the Viking Neptune and watch the minarets light up from the water.
Enter Constantinople→
Chapter II · Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve at the walls Homer sang about. Nine cities stacked three thousand years deep, a horse with a famous secret, and a museum that turns rubble back into legend.
Enter Troy→
Chapter III · Christmas Day
Christmas morning on the marble main street of the Roman East. The Library of Celsus still stands two stories proud — and the bazaar by the harbor is on Grandpa's list.
Enter Ephesus→
Chapter IV · The island fortress
An island the Knights of St. John held for two centuries behind walls that never fell to siege. We walk up the Street of the Knights to the Grand Master's palace — winter keeps it nearly to ourselves.
Enter Rhodes→
Chapter V · The oldest stop
Europe's first civilization left its palace at Knossos and its bull-leapers in the museum at Heraklion. The oldest stop on the voyage — by about a thousand years.
Enter Crete→
Chapter VI · The finale
An overnight in the city that invented the point of all this. The Acropolis after dark, dinner late like locals, loukoumades by Grandpa's decree — then home, carrying the whole ancient world with us.
Enter Athens→
Until we leave
The Neptune is waiting at Galataport. The old city is waiting across the water.