CATANIA TO VENICE ABOARD SEA CLOUD II THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION A DR I AT IC ODYSSEY SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 6, 2013

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1 THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION A DR I AT IC ODYSSEY CATANIA TO VENICE ABOARD SEA CLOUD II SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 6, 2013

2 THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION Dear Members and Friends of Royal Oak, When Venice ruled the Adriatic and the coastal cities prospered, a new civilization was born. It was made of local traditions artistic and architectural but also reflected the influence of the Most Serene Republic. Then there were the surviving monuments testifying to Ancient Rome s greatness. Today, the Adriatic coast has revived; once again it offers the pleasures for which it was long famous. We are delighted that Olivier Bernier, author, scholar and lecturer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will accompany us on this voyage. He has planned a series of visual presentations to enhance this cruise experience and our evenings will be enriched by onboard musical performances. We begin in Sicily, a fascinating blend of Roman, Greek, Byzantine and Arab cultures, and continue our look at ancient Rome as we visit the ruins of that great empire in Albania. Then come the medieval highlights, from Kotor to charming Dubrovnik. Returning to Italy, the dazzling mosaics of Ravenna will take us back to the time of Theodora of Byzantium, one of Rome s last empresses, before our journey concludes in La Serenissima herself. An all-day sail adds to the many pleasures of this voyage. From the broad decks of the majestic Sea Cloud II, we will see the enchanting Adriatic coast as well as great art in every port of call. The ship s friendly staff, luxurious accommodations and fine dining create an onboard ambiance of relaxed elegance. Life aboard Sea Cloud II has no comparison. When the wind rises, watch the energetic crew practice the age-old art of setting the sails by hand. Venice Ravenna ITALY Tyrrhenian Sea Gulf of Venice Adriatic Sea CROATIA Dubrovnik MONTENEGRO Kotor ALBANIA Butrint An optional prelude in Sicily will take us to the glorious Riace Bronzes, those great masterpieces retrieved from the bottom of the sea. If you wish to spend more time in Venice, an optional postlude will highlight the dazzling collections of the Accademia. I hope you will join us on what promises to be an exceptional program. Sincerely, Sean E. Sawyer, Ph.D. SICILY Catania Ionian Sea Executive Director The Royal Oak Foundation

3 ADRIATIC ODYSSEY CATANIA TO VENICE ABOARD SEA CLOUD II SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 6, 2013 NEW YORK Saturday, September 28 Depart New York on an overnight flight to Catania via Rome. CATANIA (SICILY), ITALY Sunday, September 29 Arrive in Catania and transfer to the awaiting Sea Cloud ll. Enjoy dinner on board as we cruise from Sicily. AT SEA Monday, September 30 Experience the thrill of sailing during a leisurely day at sea. Watch as the crew sets the sails and attend an onboard lecture titled, Rising from the Sea: The Birth of Venice. This evening join the captain for a welcome reception followed by dinner. Our Lady of the Rocks Church near Perast. KOTOR 1 PERAST, MONTENEGRO Wednesday, October 2 Montenegro, for centuries a nest of brigands and where Lord Byron was once kidnapped, is today both peaceful and scenic. Kotor is still girded by its original walls. Its monuments date back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance, while its Romanesque churches are perfect examples of that simple but majestic style. On an excursion by small boat, visit Our Lady of the Rocks Church with its 17th-century frescoes, located on a tiny island off the coast of Perast. photo by Daniel Kukla. photo by Davor Lovincic. Ancient Roman decoration on ruins, Butrint. BUTRINT, ALBANIA Tuesday, October 1 Albania, once home to tribes even the Ottoman Empire could not subdue, and for a long time closed to the rest of the world, can now be seen in its untamed beauty. Situated on the Straits of Corfu, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint was once the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city, a Byzantine bishopric and a Venetian trading post. This morning view some of the archaeological findings and ruins which represent various periods in Butrint s development. Gulf of Kotor and Sea Cloud II. photo by Daniel Kukla.

4 AT SEA Friday, October 4 Relax today as we sail across the Adriatic toward Italy. In the morning, attend a lecture on The Pleasures of Life: Venice in the 18th Century. This afternoon a lecture on Ravenna: Gold, Mosaics and Emperors will introduce us to that wondrous city. Clock tower at Cavtat Harbor, Croatia. photo by Daniel Kukla. DUBROVNIK, CROATIA Thursday, October 3 Today we focus on the spectacular walled city of Dubrovnik where the influence of the Venetian architects is apparent in its busy, main artery, Placa. See the collections in the Franciscan and Dominican Monasteries, and the Rector s Palace, and visit the city s ancient synagogue, now a museum. An alternate excursion to the vibrant seaside town of Cavtat is also offered. Touring will include the gracious waterfront Church of St. Nicholas; the home of 19th- and 20thcentury Croatian painter, Vlaho Bukovac, with its pastel friezes and gallery; and the 15th-century Franciscan Monastery. There will be time at leisure to enjoy the village s small shops, stalls, market and cafes before returning to Dubrovnik. Lunch is on board as we sail up the Croatian coast. This afternoon a lecture on Venice Transformed: The Coming of the Renaissance will enhance our voyage. Rooftops of Dubrovnik. Mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian, Sant Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. RAVENNA, ITALY Saturday, October 5 Arrive in Ravenna, capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 to 476, and one of the highlights of our trip. The rich images in the mosaics at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and at the churches of San Vitale and Sant Apollinare Nuovo are extraordinary examples of this Roman and Byzantine art form. There are both religious and lay images, the most splendid of which depict Justinian, Theodora and their court. As we sail on to Venice, celebrate a memorable voyage at the captain s farewell dinner. VENICE, ITALY 1 NEW YORK Sunday, October 6 Disembark for the return flight home, or continue on the Venice postlude. n

5 SEA CLOUD II n DECK PLAN LIDO DECK LIDO BAR LOUNGE LIBRARY PROMENADE DECK DINING ROOM BOUTIQUE RECEPTION CABIN DECK GYM SAUNA DOCTOR WATER-SPORTS PLATFORM Owner s Suite (top) and a Deluxe Cabin on Cabin Deck (above). CRUISE RATES (Per Person, Double Occupancy) Cabins Decks Rates Cabins 204 to 206 Cabin Deck $5,995 State Rooms. Upper/lower twin berths, shower. Cabins 207 to 210 Cabin Deck $7,495 Superior Cabins. Twin beds, shower. Cabins 211 to 217 & 224 to 231 Cabin Deck $8,995 Deluxe Cabins. Twin beds, shower. Cabins 218 to 223 Cabin Deck $9,995 Deluxe Cabins. Twin beds, shower. Cabins 301 & 302 Promenade Deck $10,995 Deluxe Cabins. Twin beds, shower. Cabins 303 to 319 Promenade Deck $11,495 Junior Suites. Twin beds, bathtub with shower. Cabins 401 & 402 Lido Deck $11,995 Owner s Suites. Queen-size bed, bathtub, and separate shower. Cabins are available at no single supplement. A very limited number of cabins are available for single occupancy at a supplement ranging from 30 to 100 percent of the cruise rate. Rates Include n Seven nights cabin accommodations aboard Sea Cloud II n All meals during the cruise. Wine with lunches and dinners. n Enrichment program of lectures and special events n Escorted sightseeing by motorcoach and entrance fees for visits n Airport / pier / airport group transfers and porterage n Taxes and service charges; gratuities to guides and drivers Not Included in Rates International airfare; passport fees; customary shipboard gratuities; alcoholic beverages other than wine at lunches and dinners; personal items and expenses; airport transfers for those not on group flights; baggage in excess of one suitcase; trip insurance; optional Sicily prelude; optional Venice postlude; any other items not specifically mentioned as included. Optional Sicily Prelude $2,295 per person. Single supplement $495. Includes two nights at the San Domenico Palace Hotel. Breakfast daily, two lunches and one dinner. Sightseeing as noted. Optional Venice Postlude $1,795 per person. Single supplement $385. Includes two nights at Hotel Europa & Regina. Breakfast daily, one lunch and one dinner. Sightseeing as noted. THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION 1 RESERVATION APPLICATION To reserve a place, please complete and return this form with your deposit of $2,500 per person (of which $350 is non-refundable for administrative fees) payable to Academic Arrangements Abroad. Mail to: Academic Arrangements Abroad, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY NAME IN FULL AS ON PASSPORT NAME IN FULL AS ON PASSPORT ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP TELEPHONE (HOME) (BUSINESS) FAX Are you currently a member of The Royal Oak Foundation? q Yes q No ADRIATIC ODYSSEY 1 SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 6, 2013 Accommodations Sea Cloud II Cabin Preference (1) (2) I wish to share a cabin with Optional Prelude & Postlude q I/We wish to join the optional prelude in Sicily. q I/We wish to join the optional postlude in Venice. Form of Payment q Enclosed is my check (payable to Academic Arrangements Abroad). q Credit card deposit (for deposit only; final payment must be made by check). _ NAME AS ON CREDIT CARD 3- OR 4-DIGIT SECURITY CODE _ CREDIT CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE Each participant must sign below. I/We confirm that I/we have carefully read and agree to the Terms & Conditions of this program. I/We agree to full payment by check 120 days before departure. _ SIGNATURE REQUIRED DATE _ SIGNATURE REQUIRED DATE For more information, please contact Academic Arrangements Abroad Telephone: or Fax: trips@arrangementsabroad.com

6 Isola Bella, near Taormina. OPTIONAL SICILY PRELUDE September 26 to 29, 2013 Spend two nights in the lovely hillside town of Taormina, where accommodations are at the San Domenico Palace Hotel, an exquisite former monastery. In nearby Messina, admire Caravaggio s The Adoration of the Shepherds before crossing by ferry to Reggio di Calabria to see the Riace Bronzes, extraordinary examples of 2,500-year-old Greek sculpture, retrieved from the bottom of the Mediterranean. A walking tour of Taormina includes the ancient Greek theater. After lunch, continue to Catania for embarkation. n Santa Maria della Salute on the Grand Canal, Venice. OPTIONAL VENICE POSTLUDE October 6 to 8, 2013 In La Serenissima, accommodations for two nights are at the elegant Hotel Europa & Regina, located on the Grand Canal. View masterpieces by Tintoretto at Scuola di San Rocco and Titian s Assumption of the Virgin at the Frari. Travel by boat to see architectural masterworks by Andrea Palladio the island church of San Giorgio Maggiore and his Il Redentore church on Giudecca Island. Marvel at the splendidly illuminated, golden mosaics of St. Mark s Basilica, during a specially arranged evening visit. n

7 TERMS & CONDITIONS AIRFARE Academic Arrangements Abroad (AAA) will be pleased to assist with air travel arrangements for this program, including specially negotiated group airfare when available, suggested flights, or individual requests for a processing fee of $40 per person Complete details will be provided in your confirmation mailing. PAYMENT SCHEDULE A deposit of $2,500 per person, payable to Academic Arrangements Abroad, of which $350 is non-refundable for administrative fees, is required with the reservation application. Final payment, by check only, must be received 120 days prior to departure. HEALTH All participants must be in good health. This program involves extensive walking over uneven surfaces, climbing stairs at monuments and other locations not handicapped accessible, and climbing in and out of various conveyances, including tenders. Any condition that may require assistance or special medical attention must be reported at the time of your reservation. PLEASE NOTE: Sea Cloud II does not have an elevator. INSURANCE TRIP CANCELLATION / EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION / BAGGAGE / ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE PROTECTION IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. CANCELLATION PENALTIES ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED. AAA will send an insurance application upon receipt of reservation and deposit, although you may select any insurer of your choice. CHANGES IN ITINERARY & COSTS The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of The Royal Oak Foundation (ROF) and AAA. All prices quoted are based on prevailing fuel prices, airfares, and currency exchange rates in effect at time of brochure printing and are subject to change without notice. Deviations from the scheduled itinerary are at the expense of the individual. RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE The participation of ROF is limited to educational sponsorship of the program described in this brochure (The Program). AAA acts only as an agent for the participant with respect to transportation, accommodations, and all other services, relating to The Program. AAA, ROF, and/or their agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error, or omission, or for any injury, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity that may be occasioned by reason of any defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus or other carrier, or through neglect or default of any subcontractor or other third party, which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the participants of The Program. The passage ticket issued by the carrier is the sole contract between the participant and the carrier. Nor will AAA or ROF and/or their agents be responsible for loss, injury, damages, or expenses to persons or property, due to illness, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, or other such causes in connection with The Program or anything beyond their reasonable control. AAA is not responsible for transportation or other program delays and changes, nor additional expenses or loss of time that may be incurred. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for the comfort or well-being of the participants, or for any reason whatsoever, to alter the itinerary at any time, without notice to the participants, such alterations will be made without penalty to AAA or ROF. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the participants. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the participant at all times. ROF and AAA reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a participant at any time, or to require any participant to withdraw from The Program at their own expense when such an action is determined by AAA or ROF to be in the best interest of the participant s health and safety, or the general welfare of the other participants. CANCELLATION POLICY AAA must strictly adhere to its cancellation policy to offset costs incurred prior to the commencement of The Program, which may include but are not limited to: advance payments to land operators; ship charters; communication expenses; development/promotional expenses and the loss of time that might have permitted resale of reserved space. All cancellations must be made in writing to the offices of AAA and are subject to a $350 non-refundable administrative fee. All refunds are limited to amounts actually received by AAA and are the sole responsibility of AAA; ROF shall have no liability for refunds. At the time AAA receives written notification of cancellation, the following cancellation charges will apply: cancellations received between 120 and 91 days prior to departure, 20 percent of the program cost per person; those received between 90 and 61 days before departure, 50 percent of the program cost per person; no refunds will be given for cancellations received within 60 days of departure. No refunds are given for cancellation on or after the day of departure, or for unused portions of the tour, for any reason. Air cancellation charges, if any, will be assessed in accordance with airline regulations. All group fare tickets must be issued no less than 30 days prior to departure. NOTE: Neither AAA nor ROF shall be liable for any airline cancellation penalties incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket. In the case of a cancellation due to shortage of participants, AAA will attempt to notify all participants at least 45 days prior to departure. However, AAA reserves the right to cancel The Program prior to departure for any reason and, in such case, reimbursement of refundable costs of the trip by AAA shall constitute full settlement with the participant. In the unlikely event that a dispute arises between a participant and AAA or ROF, the following conditions will apply: (a) the dispute will be settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in New York, NY; (b) the dispute will be governed by New York Law; (c) the maximum amount of recovery to which a participant shall be entitled under any and all circumstances will be the sum of all monies actually received from the participant by AAA. The participant agrees that this is a fair and reasonable limitation on the damages, of any sort whatsoever, that a participant may suffer. Upon payment of the deposit to AAA, the participant agrees to be bound by the above terms and conditions. Copyright 2013 Arrangements Abroad, Inc. CST On the front cover: Catania cathedral with a view of Mount Etna, Sicily. On the back cover: Sea Cloud II (top) and the walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia (bottom).

8 ADRIATIC ODYSSEY CATANIA TO VENICE ABOARD SEA CLOUD II SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 6, 2013 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BURLINGTON, VT PERMIT NO. 601 THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION 35 WEST 35TH STREET, SUITE 1200 NEW YORK, NY THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION ADRIATIC ODYSSEY CATANIA TO VENICE ABOARD SEA CLOUD II SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 6, 2013