Herrod, who singles out the Mediterranean as his favorite part of the world, tapped John Julius Norwich, author of ‘The Middle Sea,’ to help craft nine 14-night itineraries that trace the region’s great civilizations. Excursions are included in each port, and among the special events that pepper the programs is an exclusive evening visit to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice with special lighting illuminating the mosaics.

Noted experts like Lord Norwich will bring the history of Mediterranean civilizations to life, Herrod said, adding that the guest speakers on ship and ashore will be assisted by a team of young and keen classical history graduates.

Voyages to Antiquity, which will open sales in September, plans to source half its customers from the UK office in Oxford, led by md David Yellow, and half from the US/Canada, where Mitchell Schlesinger is responsible for sales development and Andrea Corman is heading passenger services from the Fort Lauderdale office.

Travel agents who supported Herrod’s Orient Lines, and those who focus on groups, are targeted for sales efforts, Schlesinger told Seatrade Insider, adding that initial agent contacts have been excited about a new small-ship alternative for their upper-end clients. Free or low cost air from scores of gateways is available from the US and Canada.

A website and dedicated brochures for the US and UK markets will be ready in several weeks. Expect rich destination information, a timeline of Mediterranean history and insights from Herrod himself, who explains the concept as if he’s talking to a friend. For example, he tells that the ship is ideal for ‘those who dislike traveling around with hordes of people’ and gives plugs for the seldom-visited Sicily and Syria.

Herrod is fully refurbishing the former Aegean I in Greece, enlarging upper-level accommodations and adding 42 balcony staterooms and an extra restaurant. Passenger capacity for the 11,500gt ship is reduced from 500 to 382, including 16 single cabins.

There will be open-seating dining in the main restaurant, with the Terrace Cafe and Tapas on the Terrace as alternative venues. Mediterranean wines will be included at dinner. Also included are gratuities for cabin stewards and restaurant staff.

The style on board will be casual, with a focus on enrichment. There will be a string trio, pianist, dancing and an occasional visiting cabaret act or vocalist, but no casino or disco.

This would appear to be the same person who was the Managing Director for Voyages of Discovery when their ship mv Discovery had engine problems last year.

The first some passengers learnt of these problems was a notice in their cabins about itinerary changes, after they had boarded, which led to a number of complaints !

[ 08-13-2009: Message edited by: cruisemole ]

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Originally posted by dougnewman:
This is, for me, very long awaited and I am thrilled that it has finally been launched.

I can't wait to see what the ship looks like when her refit is completed.

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from the few images in the new brochure, the ship will look very nice in that AMK vein.

Many large staterooms, two restaurants and three lounges.

Gerry did a nice job with the conversion.

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Originally posted by cruisemole:
but with this ship they wont have years of P&O engineering incompetence and neglect to overcome

[ 08-13-2009: Message edited by: cruisemole ]

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Cruisemole

What have you in the way of proof to back up this statement ?

[ 08-15-2009: Message edited by: Neil - Ex P. & O. S. N. Company. ]

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Originally posted by Neil - Ex P. & O. S. N. Company.:
A new picture of the ship, taken in August 2009, has been posted on my other website.

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Here's a photo from August 23, courtesy of "Ship Friends Online".

Tim

[ 09-01-2009: Message edited by: Thad ]