This fall Louis Cruises is presenting a new enrichment themed cruise program to Greece and Turkey featuring an expert-led, interactive lecture series “Ancient Empires to Modern Metropolises” included as part of the  7-day cruise itinerary.

The fall sailings that will feature the new themed cruise lecture series will depart on September 21st and September 28th, 2012 from Athens/Lavrion, and visit Istanbul, Izmir, Patmos, Santorini, Mykonos, Heraklion (Crete), and Rhodes. Additional themed cruise programs and departure dates will be announced in the upcoming months for 2013.

“Travelers will feel like insiders as they explore each city’s background even before they actually visit each of the famous places of worship, magnificent historical monuments, and era-defining neighborhoods they will enjoy on our 7-day cruise,” said Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Louis Cruises.

Historian, Author and Lecturer, Angelos F. Vlachos – acclaimed for his work with University of Peloponnese, Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts – will guide travelers through time during hour-long, interactive seminars each day onboard the cruise, providing  details about the history and culture of each place to be visited.

Each port-of-call will be showcased in a seminar to give travelers an insider’s perspective into the destinations. The lecture series events include:

• Istanbul-Izmir: Throughout this interactive talk, travelers will hear fascinating details of Turkish history from the Byzantine glory to the Ottoman Empire, featuring historical leaders from Constantine the Great to Mohamed the Conqueror. Participants will delve-into the milestones and monuments of major urban centers that have formed the history of nations in the region. Guests will hear stories from the Byzantine, Ottoman and contemporary times regarding public sphere, administration, entertainment, and everyday life. Focused on Greece and Turkey, this seminar will highlight the region’s significant civilizations from ancient times to now including: the ancient Greek civilization in Asia Minor (from Troy to the classical and Hellenistic monuments of Izmir); the Ottoman dovlet (state) to the modern nation-state; on through to Greek-Turkish relations in 19^th and 20^th century.

• Patmos-Mykonos-Santorini: During this seminar, travelers will learn about the dawn of civilization in the Aegean region, discover the “mysteries of the Orient” exploring religion and society in the archipelago; examine the impact of orthodox culture and how it continues shaping local communities in Greece; and understand how the communities have transformed over the years from more isolated societies to popular tourism destinations.

• Rhodes-Heraklion: This seminar will take travelers on a journey of enlightenment starting thousands of years ago with The Minoans and featuring the birth of this kingdom in the Mediterranean islands. As Vlachos unveils the details of history, participants will learn about the western presence in the south Aegean, including Venetian ruling in Crete; the Knights of St. John the Divine in Rhodes; and Crete in the 20^th century – from World War II to society and economy at the crossroads of cultures.

The seminar series will be held only on these two departures this fall. Travel agents and travelers should book now to see the region’s heritage this September.

Louis Cruises, 877.568.4787; cruising@louiscruises.com; www.louiscruises.com