The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine

AMSTERDAM TO LISBON
August 6–17, 2023

Aboard the New Expedition Cruise Ship Diana

Dear Friends,

The Atlantic ports of Western Europe have long served to connect the continent with the wider world, serving as bases for local and global trade, discovery, and conquest, and producing great wealth in the process. On this voyage, we discover some of the finest artistic and cultural fruits of that wealth as we sail the length of the coast from the North Sea to Iberia.

Beginning in Amsterdam, we sail southward to discover a remarkable array of sites that serve as testaments to the legacy of European civilization, spanning centuries from the American Cemetery and Memorial overlooking the beaches of Normandy to the medieval castles and cathedrals of Portugal and Spain. Among the places we visit are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the storied abbey/fortress of Mont-St.-Michel; the great Christian pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela; and Coimbra University in Portugal, one of the oldest in Europe. To these justly famous monuments, we add extraordinary collections of art in Amsterdam and Bruges, the picturesque fishing towns of Honfleur and Concarneau, and Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, almost certainly destined to become another UNESCO site.

Accompanying us throughout the voyage will be retired Ambassador Elisabeth Millard, who will share her experience and insights gained through 26 years in the Foreign Service. During excursions ashore, we will be accompanied by expert local guides and by members of our onboard team, who will also enrich our understanding through lectures and discussions aboard.

The vessel for this extraordinary journey will be the Swan Hellenic Diana, a state-of-the-art, new-generation expedition cruise ship, currently under construction in Finland and due to launch in early 2023. Accommodating only 192 guests in beautifully appointed staterooms and balcony suites, Diana will feature several lounges, a restaurant, outdoor cafe, spa, library and beauty salon, and will be equipped with the latest safety and environmentally-friendly technology.

We hope you will be able to join us for this truly once-in-a-lifetime voyage, as we explore the eastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean on this compelling Western European Passage.

Best wishes,
Dr. Michael Shermer

Executive Director, Skeptics Society

7% of your cruise fee will be a tax-deductible donation to The Skeptics Society — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.