Antiquities of the Red Sea Jordan and Aegean -WAITLIST STATUS

Join us for a journey from the azure Aegean to the beautiful Red Sea, exploring the treasures of Greece, Egypt and Jordan aboard the exclusively chartered, 5-star Le Bougainville. Marvel at the Minoan Palace at Knossos on Crete. Visit the brilliant New Alexandria Library, the Great Pyramids of Giza and the rose-red city of Petra and transit the Suez Canal. Optional pre-trip extension in Greece and post-trip to Israel.

Dates
Oct 29 - Nov 11, 2022  (14 Days)
Cost

from $7,795 per person, double occupancy

For more Information
travel@commonwealthclub.org

(415) 597-6720

    Saturday, October 29
    U.S. / Athens, Greece
    Depart the U.S.
    Sunday, October 30
    Athens, Greece

    Arrive in Athens and embark the Five-Star Le Bougainville. Birthplace of democracy and home to many of the greatest philosophers and historians— from Socrates to Herodotus—Athens is unparalleled in its contributions to early Western civilization.  Le Bougainville (D)

    Monday, October 31
    Heraklion, Crete

    Travel to one of the most legendary sites of antiquity, the Minoan Palace at Knosses where, in Greek myth, Theseus defeated the Minotaur in the Labyrinth built by Daedalus. The immense palace, which dates from the 17th century B.C., is a maze of chambers, staircases and courtyards, with extraordinary frescoes throughout. Continue to Heraklion to visit the Archeological Museum, which exhibits a wealth of exquisite artifacts from the Knosses palace and other ancient Minoan sites. This evening, attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception on board the ship. Le Bougainville (B,L,R,D)

    Tuesday, November 1
    Cruising the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas

    Enjoy educational lectures during a day cruising toward the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Le Bougainville (B,L,D)

    Wednesday, November 2
    Alexandria, Egypt

    The fulcrum of the ancient Hellenic world, Alexandria is Egypt’s most beguiling city. The Lighthouse of Alexandria—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—shone as a beacon of enlightenment, while the Library of Alexandria, with its vast archive of over 140,000 manuscripts and papyrus scrolls, formed a magnet for the ancient world’s greatest scientists, from Euclid to Archimedes. The library’s visionary reincarnation, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, constructed in 2002, resembles a giant discus embellished with hieroglyphs and symbolizes a second rising of the sun. Alexandria’s history from classical antiquity to modernity is expounded at Alexandria’s National Museum, where a beautifully curated collection of artifacts is housed in a restored Italianate villa. The cultural and religious heterogeneity that defined Alexandria in the second century is evident at the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Egypt’s largest Roman burial structure. Le Bougainville (B,L,D)

    Thursday, November 3
    Suez Canal Transit

    One of the most momentous voyages between continents transits the 120-mile Suez Canal, Egypt’s glorious, Victorian-era engineering achievement. The canal was first conceived in the 1830s by French explorer and engineer Linant de Bellefonds and opened in 1869. Connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, the canal reduced the journey between Africa and South Asia by over 4,000 miles, redefining international maritime trade. Le Bougainville (B,L,D)

    Friday, November 4
    Ain Sokhna for Giza

    See the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the pyramids of the Old Kingdom pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus; along with the Great Sphinx, they are enduring symbols of the glory of Egypt that have towered over the Western Desert for nearly 5,000 years. Le Bougainville  (B,L,D)

    Saturday, November 5
    Hurgada for Ancient Thebes / Luxor and Karnak

    From the port of Hurghada, travel through scenic mountains to the Nile Valley. Arrive in Luxor and check into a Nile-view room in the Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel . Begin your exploration of UNESCO World Heritage-designated Ancient Thebes with a visit to Karnak Temple, one of the largest religious structures ever built. Karnak’s vast complex of obelisks, shrines, and sanctuaries reaches its apogee with the hypostyle hall, comprised of 134 colossal stone columns arranged in rows and embellished with hieroglyphs. Continue to the Luxor Temple and view the temple’s fascinating bas reliefs depicting such seminal events as Ramses’ victory at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 B.C. The dramatic “Avenue of the Sphinxes” once stretched from Karnak to Luxor, forming the spiritual and economic nexus of the region. Dinner is in the hotel this evening. Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel (B,L,D)

    Sunday, November 6
    Luxor/Valley of the Kings and Queens

    Check out of the hotel and cruise across the Nile to the west bank’s UNESCO World Heritage-designated Necropolis, replete with spectacular memorial temples built to perpetuate the cult of the pharaoh. In the Valley of the Kings, 63 illustrious pharaohs of Egypt’s New Kingdom and their worldly wealth were laid to rest in tombs engraved with hieroglyphs. Passageways descend to the burial chambers of King Ramses IV, where a rare image of the goddess Nut is emblazoned across a blue ceiling. The famous tomb of Tutankhamen contained the largest collection of Egyptian treasures and was discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Harold Carter. In the Valley of the Queens, enjoy an exclusively arranged visit to Queen Nefertari’s tomb, lauded as the most resplendent Theban burial site. The beauty of Ramses II’s favorite queen is enshrined in the spectacular and divine images of her likeness. Join us for the Captain’s Farewell Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening. Le Bougainville  (B,L,D)

    Monday, November 7
    Aqaba, Jordan/ Disembark / Wadi Rum

    Enjoy breakfast on board as the ship arrives in Aqaba where we disembark. Traverse the awe-inspiring wilderness of UNESCO World Heritage-designated Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon. Shaped and smoothed by millennia of winter floods and desert wind and sand, Wadi Rum was aptly described by a British soldier and diplomat T. E. Lawrence, the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, as “vast, echoing and godlike.” This ethereal landscape of striated canyons, soaring mountains, undulating sand dunes, and rocky caverns is best experienced from a four-passenger open-air vehicle. Kempinksi Hotel Aqaba (B,L,D)

    Tuesday, November 8
    Petra/ Amman

    The inspiring, ancient “rose-red city” of Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Petra reached its zenith during the first century B.C. as the capital of the nomadic Bedouin Nabataean Empire. Concealed behind towering rocks, the city ignited Western scholarly interest when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt was led through the Siq—a narrow, serpentine gorge—to Petra’s spellbinding Khazneh (Treasury) by a Bedouin guide in 1812. The site’s majestic ensemble of temples, dwellings and tombs, carved directly into the sandstone cliff face, still holds a mythical appeal. Transfer to Amman and check into the Five-Star Fairmont Hotel, centrally located adjacent to the affluent Abdoun neighborhood and diplomatic area. Fairmont Hotel (B,L)

    Wednesday, November 9
    Amman

    Amman’s wealth of archaeological artifacts stands testament to centuries of cultural influences. This biblical Ammonite city was conquered and renamed Philadelphia by Egypt’s King Ptolemy II in the third century B.C. Expanded by the Romans, Philadelphia flourished as the heart of Roman Arabia. From the Citadel, see the towering columns of the Temple of Hercules looming over the cosmopolitan capital of Amman, where the magnificent 6,000-seat Roman Theater, dating from the second century, forms the city’s centerpiece and still stages performances. The lauded Jordan Museum preserves the world’s oldest statues, the remarkable plaster statuettes of ’Ain Ghazal, adroitly fashioned in 6500 B.C. Everyone is welcome in the beautiful blue-domed King Abdullah Mosque, built by the late King Hussein in honor of his grandfather.  Fairmont Hotel (B)

    Thursday, November 10
    Amman / Jerash /Amman

    Journey through picturesque wheat fields and olive groves to reach Jerash, Jordan’s most captivating Greco-Roman site, where remarkably preserved colonnaded avenues, ceremonial gates and golden-hued temples stand in testimony to one of the most important cities of the Roman Decapolis. Marvel at the prodigious three-gated Hadrian’s Arch, walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Artemis and take in the immensity and sublime architecture of the Forum. After lunch at a restaurant in Jerash, enjoy time for individual pursuits in Amman. Attend the Farewell Reception in the hotel this evening.
    Fairmont Hotel (B,L,R)

    Friday, November 11
    Amman/Return to the U.S.

    Continue on The Holy Land Post-Program Option or transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)

    Map
    Classical Greece Athens: Oct 27 – 30

    Experience Athens, the ancient city unmatched in its contributions to the foundation of the Western world. Tour the monumental Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and see its archaeological treasures in the Acropolis Museum. Visit the perfectly proportioned Parthenon, a graceful example of Doric architecture. Explore colorful Plaka, Athens’s oldest neighborhood, at leisure. Enjoy a full-day excursion to the mystical UNESCO World Heritage site of Delphi and its Archaeological Museum. Accommodations are for two nights in a deluxe hotel. 

    Israel, Jerusalem and Masada: Nov 11-16

    Further expand your exploration of great civilizations on this comprehensive Post-Program Option of captivating biblical, historical and cultural sites in and around Jerusalem. In historic Jerusalem, a holy city for three of the world’s major religions, walk in the footsteps of Jesus, see evocative religious sites and visit the poignant Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Tour UNESCO World Heritage-designated Masada, see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, visit Bethlehem and enjoy an unforgettable float in the Dead Sea. Deluxe accommodations are for four nights in Jerusalem.

    Cabin Categories (Prices are per person, double occupancy.)
    Early Booking Pricing listed below is available until April 25, 2022.
    For pricing after April 25, download the trip brochure.

    8 – $7,795  Picture window, single door onto private partial-wall balcony, Deck 3, forward, (limited availability)
    7 – $8,295  Picture window, single door onto private partial-wall balcony, Deck 3, midship.
    6 – $8,895  Expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 4, forward.
    5 – $9,295  Expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 4, midship.
    4 – $9,895  Expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Decks 5 & 6, aft, (limited availability)
    3 – $10,295  Expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 5, forward, (limited availability)
    2 – $10,895  Expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 5, midship.
    1 – $11,795  Expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 6, midship.

    Deluxe Suite – $13,295   Suite with expansive sliding glass door, large private balcony, sitting area with sofa. Decks 3, 4, 5 & 6, (limited availability)
    Prestige Suite – $14,595  Two-room suite, expansive sliding glass door, larger private balcony, two bathrooms, two closets, large sitting area with sofa, Deck 5, (limited availability) 
    Privilege Suite – $14,895   Large suite, expansive sliding glass door, larger private balcony, sitting area with sofa, Decks 5 & 6, (limited availability)
    Grand Deluxe Suite – $16,295  Extra-large two-room suite, expansive sliding glass door, spacious private terrace, full bathroom with tub and separate shower, additional half bath, sitting area with sofa, Deck 6, (limited availability)
    Owner’s Suite – $16,895  Extra-large two-room suite, expansive sliding glass door, spacious private terrace with outdoor Jacuzzi, full bathroom with tub and separate shower, additional half bath, sitting area with sofa, Deck 5, (limited availability)

    Singles occupancy supplement applies across all categories at 160% of the per person double price.

    Taxes are an additional $495 per person and are subject to change.

    Included
    Exclusive lectures and presentations by study leaders and an Egyptologist; Eight nights aboard the exclusively chartered, Five‑Star Le Bougainville; Cruise from Athens, Greece, to Aqaba, Jordan, featuring a transit of the Suez Canal; One night in the Steigenberger Nile Palace Hotel in Luxor; one night in the Kempinksi in Aqaba; and three nights in the Fairmont Hotel in Amman; Meals as specified in the itinerary; Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages served throughout the cruise; Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions and a Farewell Reception in Amman; All entrance fees and tours as described in the itinerary; Transfers and luggage handling abroad if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s); Complimentary Wi-Fi on board ship (conditions permitting); Egypt and Jordan entry visas; Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers; Hospitality desk in the hotels and aboard ship; Complimentary bottled water in your accommodations and on excursions; Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions; Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Directors throughout the program; Pre‑departure materials, including a reading list; Automatic $250,000 flight insurance policy for each participant ticketed on flights by Gohagan & Company

    Not Included
    International airfare; Taxes of $495 per person (subject to change); Gratuities to ship personnel ($15 per person per night recommended); Hotel staff gratuities (Main Program and Pre-/Post-Program Options, $2 per person per night recommended) and gratuities for activities on your own; Passport and visa fees (excluding Egypt and Jordan entry visas); Meals and alcoholic beverages not listed as included; Transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later than and/or departing earlier or later than the scheduled group transfer(s); Any overnight on land due to flight schedule(s); Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and Internet access unless otherwise specified; Accident/sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance; Baggage charges on aircraft; airfare and associated local taxes not listed as included; Airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed as included; All other services not specifically mentioned in the “Included” section

    Pre‑Program Option
    Classical Greece Athens: Oct 27-30

    995 per person, double occupancy
    $1,295 per person, single occupancy

    On this fascinating Pre-Program Option, experience Athens, the ancient city unmatched in its contributions to the foundation of the Western world. Tour the monumental Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and see its archaeological treasures in the Acropolis Museum. Visit the perfectly proportioned Parthenon, a graceful example of Doric architecture. Explore colorful Plaka, Athens’s oldest neighborhood, at leisure. Enjoy a full-day excursion to the mystical UNESCO World Heritage site of Delphi and its Archaeological Museum. Accommodations are for two nights in the deluxe Grand Bretagne Athens Hotel.

    Post‑Program Option
    Israel: Jerusalem and Masada Nov 11-16

    $1,995 per person, double occupancy
    $2,795 per person, single occupancy

    Further expand your exploration of great civilizations on this comprehensive Post-Program Option of captivating biblical, historical and cultural sites in and around Jerusalem. In historic Jerusalem, a holy city for three of the world’s major religions, walk in the footsteps of Jesus, see evocative religious sites and visit the poignant Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Tour UNESCO World Heritage-designated Masada, see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, visit Bethlehem and enjoy an unforgettable float in the Dead Sea. Deluxe accommodations are for four nights in Jerusalem.

    What to Expect

    This is a moderately active tour and participants must be able to keep up with an active group of travelers. For the safety and enjoyment of each participant and the group, participants who plan to join all the excursions must be able to:

    • Walk on excursions often covering distances of at least one mile, and approximately three hours in length in higher temperatures. 
    • Walk confidently on a number of surfaces, including narrow cobblestone streets, stone floors or uneven and/or slippery terrain.
    • Stand for up to 2 hours at a time each day.
    • Climb and descend flights of stairs (some without railings) without assistance.
    • Get off and on tour vehicles (motor coaches/Bedouin jeeps) without assistance. The ship may either dock in port or tender ashore by small boat (tenders). Tenders involve a dry landing (participants step from the tender vessel directly onto land or a dock).
    Enjoy expertly guided tours throughout and a guest lecture program aboard ship from your study leader team. Also featured on this program are presentations from a local expert Egyptologist.

    Cancellations & Fees
    Cancellations for all or any part of the trip including Pre/Post Program(s) reservation(s) will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of The Commonwealth Club and Gohagan. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:
     

    From the time of booking through 96 days prior to departure: 
    (For any new booking. For transferred bookings the original cancellation terms apply.)

    Final payment is due at least 95 days prior to departure. Cancellation fees and penalties apply as follows: 

    PRIOR TO DEPARTURE  

    96 days or more prior* 

    95-61 days prior 

    60-45 days prior 

    44-0 days prior 

    FEE  

    Full refund 

    50% of program price. 50% refund given as credit on a future Gohagan trip.  

    75% of program price. 25% refund given as credit on a future Gohagan trip.

    100% of program price.  

     *In the event of a cancellation between 45 and 95 days prior to departure, the refund will be by credit, usable on a future Gohagan & Company trip that commences on or before December 31, 2023. In addition, for all bookings, any applicable airline cancellation fees, optional excursion cancellation fees, and administrative fees may apply. 

    Discounted Reservations
    Discounts apply only to those reservations received in the offices of The Commonwealth Club in writing, accompanied by the required deposit, by the Early Booking Discount date in the brochure. In the event a “discounted” reservation must be canceled, no “replacement” reservation can be substituted at the discounted rate. A “replacement” reservation is a new reservation and can be substituted only at the full-fare tariff. Cancellation penalties may apply.  

    Trip Insurance
    We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Information will be sent upon registration and can be viewed Travel Insurance Services website.

    Eligibility
    We require membership to the Commonwealth Club to travel with us. People who live outside of the Bay Area may purchase a worldwide membership. To learn about membership types and to purchase a membership, visit our membership page or call (415)597-6720.

    Airfare
    Airfare is subject to change and availability and, depending on the fare basis, likely is nonrefundable. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between you and the airline, even if purchased through Gohagan. 

    Luggage
    Luggage allowance policies are set by the airlines and may change without notice.

    Physical Accessibility
    All programs require physical independence and mobility. Any physical or mental condition that may require special medical attention or physical assistance (for example, the need for a wheelchair) must be reported in writing when you make your reservation. Travelers must be able to embark or disembark motorcoaches alone or with minimal assistance from their traveling companion and climb stairs and step over raised thresholds without assistance. Travelers requiring assistance must travel with a companion who will be responsible for handling equipment.

    Rates
    Prices quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change at any time. On land and/or cruise programs, even after full payment, Gohagan reserves the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in supplier costs, currency fluctuations, or fuel or energy surcharges and all such increases are to be paid to Gohagan upon notice to the tour participant of such increases. On programs that include Gohagan purchased interstate or international air (which originates or returns to the United States), no increased costs will be passed on after final payment except for subsequently imposed governmental tax increases.

    RELEASE OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND BINDING ARBITRATION AGREEMENT: 
    Gohagan & Company, the sponsoring associations/organizations, and its and their employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors or trustees, successors, and assigns (collectively “Gohagan”), do not own or operate any entity which provides goods or services for your program including, for example, lodging, airline, vessel, or other transportation companies, guides, ground operators, providers or organizers of excursions, food service or entertainment, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Gohagan is not liable for any act, failure to act, financial failure or other defaults of any such person, entity, supplier or any other third party. 

    In addition and without limitation, Gohagan is not responsible for any injury, financial or other loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of governments, denial or delay of entry into any country, acts of war or civil unrest, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind or the threat thereof, sickness, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof, the lack of availability of or access to medical attention or the quality thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of any means of transportation, or for any failure to arrive or depart timely or safely. Further, I release Gohagan from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. 

    If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner’s risk. The right is reserved to decline to accept as a program participant, or remove from a program, without refund, any person Gohagan judges to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the activities, or who is abusive to other program participants, leaders or third parties, or who Gohagan determines to detract from the enjoyment of the program by others. Specific room/cabin assignments are within the sole discretion of the hotel or cruise line. 

    Gohagan reserves the right to change the itinerary or program features at any time and for any reason, with or without notice. Ship schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, sightseeing events, special programs and guest lecture series are subject to change or cancellation. Gohagan reserves the right to substitute motorcoach transportation using hotels, inns or lodges for cruise accommodations if necessary due to weather, water levels, other events of force majeure, mechanical or conditions beyond the control of Gohagan. Gohagan is not responsible therefore and is not required to compensate passengers under these circumstances. Gohagan may cancel or postpone a program for any reason whatsoever. If so, for cancellations based upon acts of God, force majeure, acts of governments, epidemics or threat thereof, terrorism or threat thereof, strikes or labor disturbances, demonstrations, civil unrest, criminal activity, supplier default or similar circumstances, its sole obligation is to issue credits in the amount of moneys paid to Gohagan to the extent its suppliers are crediting Gohagan with those monies paid by Gohagan to them. Under no circumstances is Gohagan obligated to refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. Gohagan is not required to cancel any program for any reason including without limitation, U.S. Dept. of State, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. Gohagan is not responsible for fees assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary changes, even if Gohagan makes the flight arrangements or cancels the program. Gohagan reserves the right to substitute vessels, hotels or attractions of a similar category for those listed in this brochure. 

    Binding Arbitration
    Any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, the brochure, or any other literature concerning the trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16, either according to the then-existing Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or pursuant to the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) Illinois law and will take place in Chicago, IL. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionably, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, the participant and Gohagan are waiving the right to a trial by jury. 

    Acceptance of Contract
    By forwarding of deposit, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants and accepts the terms contained in this Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration Agreement.

    Choice of Law
    This agreement and any issues regarding programs will be governed by substantive Illinois law. 

    Registration 
    Commonwealth Club CST#: 2096889-40; Gohagan CST#: 2031868-40, WST#: 601 767 666, OST#: TA 0905.