In  cooperation with Poseidon Charters, we are very pleased to offer cabin  charters for the 2004 season, cruising an unforgettable 360  Archaeological circuit in the Cycladic islands!

The program has  developed a great reputation for four unique reasons: 1) The variety of  islands is diverse. The two–week program is the boldest itinerary in the industry. It follows fascinating historic trade routes and a  gastronomic circuit for all tastes. 2) The professional service is the  highest level available in Greece. Our international staff are  certified, knowledgeable on Greek waters and history as well as trained  in the service industry. 3) The quality of our boats and equipment sets a standard unparalleled in Greece. Our two flotilla lead boats, which can be joined as a group or ‘by the cabin’ as a couple are the  best–equipped and maintained 65–foot sloops in their class. 4) The  ‘hands on’ character of the tour, where guests ‘are the crew’, allows  experienced sailors to feel right at home and offers novice sailors a  great experience to learn and practice.

The Greek  islands offer sun–kissed beaches, secluded coves, fine dining, exquisite shopping, exceptional nightlife and so much more! Immerse yourself in  traditional Greek life. Each day brings a new port with a new adventure! Poseidon Charters is proud to be embarking on its 13th successful  season at the top of the industry. Come and join us on this renowned  odyssey, the ‘Archaeological Adventure Cruises & Flotillas Program’, and sail Greece!

Itinerary

The two-week 'Odyssey Cruise' covers the most complete itinerary in the Greek  sailing industry! It is roughly 360 miles round trip and is a  challenging sailing adventure taking in the most important  archaeological, mythological and historical islands in the Saronic Gulf  and central Aegean sea.

7-day tour  guests disembark at Ios on Day 8. 10-day tour guest disembark at Paros  on Day 11. 7-day and 10-day tours may vary from the above itinerary.

The Yacht

Most  Archaeological Adventure Cruises & Flotillas are led aboard the  luxury Atlantic 61 foot sloops Margarita and Dream , for  groups of 8–9 guests. The Atlantic 65’s are 61 feet on deck but offer  almost 70 feet overall with the bow sprit and afterdeck platform  extensions. These are the biggest charter boats ever made in Greece. The amount of cabin , berth and head (washroom) space is impressive.
The yachts feature four identical double bed staterooms, one ‘singles’  forward bunk berth cabin all with private washroom facilities and an aft skipper cabin. Headroom in the cabins is 6’4â€�. Washrooms feature  marble/granite countertops and stainless steel fixtures with 40–PSI  water pressure. A 16.5–foot wide beam allows for a fully equipped galley including a refrigerator & freezer, a microwave and double sink.  The saloons have a large dining area including a table with surround  couch, storage cabinets, oil paintings and 6’9â€� headroom. To one side of the open saloon / galley layout is a well–equipped navigation station  complete with a full range of navigational equipment and a large chart  table with electrical outlets. The spacious topside cockpits have  external refrigerators and weather resistant sound systems. The yachts  are equipped with a generator with 220–volt output, Bimini (shade  awning) and spray hood. These 32–ton sloops have a cutter rig with two  forward furling sails and battened mainsails with ‘lazy–jack’ system – a total of 200 square meters of sail!

MEET THE  CAPTAINS & PROGRAM DIRECTORS: THE VERY BEST TEAM IN THE INDUSTRY!

Skippers  make a huge difference on any charter. For that reason we have carefully selected and trained our Captains and Program Directors for exactly  what the Archaeological Adventure Cruises & Flotillas Program  requires.

Meals

Two healthy  meals are served aboard each day and consist of the following: Breakfast – coffee, tea, orange juice, freshly baked bread, cereal, yogurt, honey and fresh fruit. A hot breakfast may be prepared on some mornings.  Generally breakfasts are light as a result of the heat in Greece and are a great start to the day before heading out to sites or onto the water. Lunch – consists of salads: green, vegetable, tuna, egg, coleslaw,  potato or pasta salads served with fresh bread, an assortment of cheeses as well as Poseidon Charter’s famous Greek salad dressing. Also cold  cuts, olives, capers, peppers, Greek dips (tzatziki, fish roe & egg  plant salad) and fruit are served! Lunches are usually served in the  shaded cockpit while anchored in secluded bays. Stops are often made for lunch, a swim and a snorkel. Beverages such as soft drinks, ice tea and bottled water are included and stowed on board. In the afternoon we  also offer coffee or tea and sweets such as cookies to tide us over  until dinner. The galley is

Life onboard

One of the  unique attributes of the Archaeological Adventure Cruise is that it is a hands on adventure tour and not a fully crewed charter. Guests are  considered part of the crew and are encouraged to take part in all  aspects of life aboard ship including navigation, sailing, taking  watches, practicing mooring procedures as well as helping in the galley. Fellow crewmates, Captains and Program Directors develop a mutual  respect aboard each voyage thus group dynamics are exceptionally good.  Topside, the deck allows ample room for guests to enjoy their own  solitude. Below deck, guests can relax in a comfortable salon and  private cabins. Upon arrival at island ports, guests explore the islands on their own and can participate in the planned group excursions to  sites with Program Directors. Ashore, guests can access Internet cafes,  digital telephone service, 24-hour cash machines and laundry and shower  services at many ports.

*Important notice

It is important to note that the 'Archaeological Adventure Cruises and  Flotillas' are not guided by an archaeologist and there are no lectures  given aboard. The itinerary is designed to offer the most important  archaeological, mythological and historical islands but guests are  advised to explore them with guide book in hand (see suggested reading  list). The captains are well trained sailors and have a good knowledge  of modern and ancient Greece but are not government trained guides. It  is also important to note that the 'Archaeological Adventure Cruises and Flotillas' are not privately booked tours. They are ‘individual, group  'by the cabin' tours where groups who know each other cannot dictate the size of yachts, number of guests aboard or the number of boats in a  flotilla. Generally the departures are one yacht but often two and  sometimes there are as many as four yachts on a departure.