Journey Where Continents Meet
Journey Where Continents Meet
Journey Where Continents Meet
Embark on a journey that blends the mystique of two ancient worlds: begin your adventure in vibrant Istanbul, where guests can soak in the city’s rich history and irresistible energy.
After your fill of exploration, you’ll set sail on an intimate seven‑day voyage through the Greek Isles, drifting from one sun‑drenched harbor to the next as the Aegean unfolds in all its brilliance.
This new itinerary ends in timeless Athens, offering a seamless blend of culture, coastline, and unforgettable moments, an invitation to experience the best of both continents in one extraordinary trip.
A timeless experience, but not your average cruise. Far from it! CE in Italy and Europe is happy to provide you venues that are memorable in ways beyond other destination CE provide. And one of the ways we accomplish this it to avoid the mega cruise ships, and go with a more personalized, boutique-style, yet amenity-filled cruise.
We will again be sailing on the Star Clippers cruise line, with this particular venue aboard the Star Flyer, a 4 masted sailing vessel. The passenger capacity is only 170, and with just about a 1:1 crew to voyager ratio, attention to detail is not spared.
Star Flyer Sailing Vessel
Journey Where Continents Meet
Journey Where Continents Meet
Our sailing ship, the Star Flyer, is nothing short of magnificent! From the polished brass to the beautiful teak wood works, to the fantastic cuisine, to the billowing sails and the set-sail ritual.
Oh, and did we mention the on-deck pools? The cabins with access to the main deck? The lounge chairs perfect for reading or enjoying your favorite beverage? The fantastic meals? Every aspect is absolutely top notch, and as mentioned earlier, the cruise line service is simply over the top.
Each Star Clippers ship offers a traditional and elegant way to see the world. Feel the wind fill the sails and gently carry you from one gorgeous destination to the next. During your time on board, you can choose to relax on a sun lounger or cool off in one of the pools on the top deck, while more adventurous passengers may enjoy the opportunity to climb the rigging or even have a go at steering the ship.
The overall itinerary of Seven Nights Yachtsman's Paradise Cruise begins in Istanbul, Turkey on June 19, 2027. From there, we will make stops in Dikili, Myrina, Cruising Mount Athos, Ouranoupoli, Skopelos, Poros, with the final stop in Athens (Port of Piraeus).
And don't forget to check out our epic OPTIONAL PRE-CRUISE ISTANBUL & CAPPADOCIA EXCURSION (details coming soon!)
Continuing Education
Plan Your Cruise Through Our Travel Advisor
Plan Your Cruise Through Our Travel Advisor
One day prior to cruise departure, 6 hours of CE will be presented at Sura Design Hotel, on June 18th from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Sura Design Hotel will act as our Host Hotel for the first portion of our Continuing Education.
There will be a total of 12 hours of COPE accredited CE provided on this trip. All remaining CE will be on board the ship. Although a portion of the continuing education will be presented at sea, the CE will not interfere with excursions and ports of call, so you’ll have plenty of free time to explore each of our stops along the way.
The CE is clinically relevant, covers topics germane to today’s comprehensive ophthalmic care provider, and is provided by several experts in their respective areas of medical eye care.
All of our CME is COPE accredited, co-sponsored by the Illinois College of Optometry and approved for ALL STATES using CE Broker.
Sura Design Hotel & Suites is a stylish, modern boutique hotel in the heart of Sultanahmet, offering bright contemporary rooms, an outdoor pool, a spa, and easy walkability to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace.
Explore the link below for more details about our host hotel, the best way to secure your reservation, insights into the surrounding Istanbul neighborhood, and inspiration for things to see and do during your stay.
Plan Your Cruise Through Our Travel Advisor
Plan Your Cruise Through Our Travel Advisor
Plan Your Cruise Through Our Travel Advisor
To help you with your planning, we will again be using our outstanding European specialty travel agent, Denise Marinucci-Nicholson. Denise’s experience in helping you put together a special itinerary tailored to exactly your goals and preference is beyond outstanding.
She will guide you through the process.
Denise Marinucci-Nicholson’s direct email address is: Denise@antiliatravel.com
Step One: Your first step is to register and pay for the meeting with CE in Italy & Europe. This is done by clicking on the REGISTER AND PAY button below or by visiting the REGISTER AND PAY page of this website.
Step Two: After you have registered for the meeting, you’ll then need to complete the necessary passenger information and reserve a cabin through Denise.
In order to decide which cabin-type you would like, please visit Denise’s Antilia Travel cruise webpage in detail for important information, such as cabin-types, costs of cabins, and availability of cabins.
Her webpage is chock full of information, and all of your
cruise-specific questions are answered on her page.
Here is the link to her page:
Optional Istanbul and Cappadocia Excursion
June 14-17, 2027
Optional Pre-Cruise Excursion
**************************************
The complete details of this guided tour showcasing the city’s rich Ottoman and Byzantine heritage are to follow!
Spend three epic days pre-cruise with this optional excursion exploring incredible sights and some of Turkey's most iconic landmarks—including Istanbul's Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. Fly to the famous and intriguing valley of Cappadocia, a unique region in which nature has created an incredibly majestic and colorful world of cones, columns, and needles that were shaped by the wind and water erosion of the area's volcanic tuff. Some of these strange shapes are as tall as 100 ft. Just like the landscape, the history of the region is equally impressive.
After your overnight in magical Cappadocia, awake for a serene sunrise hot air balloon ride over colorful valleys, followed by a celebratory glass of champagne after landing.
The Seven Nights Yachtsman’s Paradise Cruise sets sail from Istanbul, Turkey on June 19, 2027, before weaving its way through a stunning collection of ports including Dikili, Myrina, Mount Athos (scenic cruising), Ouranoupoli, Skopelos, and Poros, ultimately concluding in Athens at the Port of Piraeus.
For a full overview of each destination and the day‑by‑day flow of the journey, simply click the link to the right to explore the complete Seven-Night Yachtsman’s Paradise Cruise Itinerary, including all ports of call.
IMPORTANT DETAILS: Cruise The Crossroads of Empires!
Register Early!
Our previous venues with this same cruise line were a tremendous success, and this venue will also be very popular. Since we are on a cruise ship, once the ship fills, registration for this meeting will be cut off. And this venue will fill! So, I’d suggest registering for this venue and reserving your cabin as soon as possible.
- Register and pay for the meeting with CE in Italy & Europe. 👆🏼
- Complete the passenger information and reserve your cabin through Denise, our Expert Travel Advisor!
One of the questions often asked for this venue is if your non-OD friends and family can join you on the cruise, and the answer is a resounding YES! Of course, they can!
CE in Italy & Europe’s goal is to provide outstanding clinical education in outstanding environments. And our belief is that a relaxed learning environment is conducive to actually taking clinical information back home with you. A big part of that is having fun at the venue, which often includes family and friends.
In Istanbul for your pre-cruise stay, the Sura Design Hotel has a wonderful central and very convenient location, situated near Hagia Sophia in the Sultanahmet area, so the city’s most iconic sights are right outside your door.
- Basilica Cistern — A beautifully lit underground world of ancient columns and Medusa heads, perfect for a cool, atmospheric break from the city.
- Hagia Sophia — One of the world’s most important architectural masterpieces, stunning inside and out, especially at sunrise or sunset.
- Blue Mosque — Known for its elegant domes and blue İznik tiles; a must‑see and just a short stroll away.
- Sultanahmet Square — A lively historic plaza where you can wander, people‑watch, and take in views of both the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
- Topkapı Palace — Explore opulent courtyards, the Harem, and centuries of Ottoman treasures.
- Mehmet Akif Ersoy Park — A peaceful green space with fountains and postcard‑worthy mosque views.
To Secure A Reservation
Guests who would like to make a reservation at Sura Design Hotel should reach out to our direct contact in Istanbul, Zeynep Ozbayoglu via email: zeynep.oznayoglu@surahotels.com
Please let Zeynep know that you are requesting accommodation for the Doctor Group event in June 2027. Please note that the rooms will be held for exclusive booking of CE in Italy & Europe guests only through July 2026 and after that will be available to the general public on a fist come first served basis.
Extend Your Stay
To really have time to immerse yourself in the local culture, you may want to consider arriving in Turkey a few days before the start of the cruise so that you can explore the sights, sounds, tastes and amazing history of Istanbul!
We partner with Viator to offer tours and experiences to enhance your travel. Check out the link below for some recommended Istanbul excursion ideas:
Hi There! Would you like to be the first to know about newly scheduled upcoming destination CE conferences?