|
|
Article: A Roman Empire cruise such as the Romans never had.
- Article from:
- Contemporary Review
- Article date:
- December 22, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Contemporary Review Company Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
OUR expedition was billed as a tour of the Roman Empire on a cruise ship with a level of opulence that the ancient Romans never knew, for unless the passenger was Cleopatra, the last Queen of Egypt, ancient sea voyages were uncomfortable, flea-bitten and suicidally dangerous if taken in the winter season. The 'Roman Empire' label was only a public relations gimmick. Yet our ship, black-hulled behemoth belonging to Holland America Line, did start its voyage from as close to Rome as it could get, and touched selected ports on the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, all of which had once been within the embrace of the Roman Empire in its heyday. So, on day one of the cruise--on ten-day ...