Visit Monaco, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey (10 Nights) aboard Oceania Marina

October 5-16, 2020 •  From $3,199 including airfare.^{*
(HSU Homecoming 2020 is November 5-8.)}

Book by April 7,2020, for best deal!  Click here for Trip Brochure.

Encounter the history of the eastern Mediterranean! See glamorous Monte Carlo and the historical treasures of Rome. Stroll the cobblestone streets in Sorrento and see Santorini’s breathtaking volcanic seascapes. Spend two days exploring Istanbul, a city astride two continents. Visit the ruins of Ephesus and stroll through Mitilini—the “Garden of the Aegean.”

Begin in Barcelona, a thriving center of culture. From there, sail to glamorous Monte Carlo and take in the twelfth-century Prince’s Palace and the Circuit de Monaco, the site of the famed Grand Prix.

In Rome, come face to face with history as you experience the ancient Roman Forum, the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Explore Sorrento—stroll the seaside promenades and cobblestone streets or travel to see the legendary ruins of Pompeii.

Next, stop in Santorini and see its breathtaking rock formations climbing from the volcanic floor. In Mytilene—the “Garden of the Aegean”—see an ancient Roman theater and Byzantine castle.

In fascinating Istanbul, you’ll have two days to walk through the Blue Mosque, see Topkapi Palace, and pay a visit to the spice market.

Before journey’s end in Athens, discover the ruins of Ephesus near Kuşadasi, which is home to the Temple of Artemis—one of the remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—and the legendary Library of Celsus.

Cabins are selling quickly, so secure your place today!

(HSU Homecoming 2020 is November 5-8.)

*Price is per person, double occupancy. Airfare is included from select cities.

PASSAGE THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL AND COSTA RICA

February 15 to 23, 2021 • from $4,995 plus air on the Exclusively Chartered, Five-Star, Small Ship Le Dumont-d’Urville

Reserve Early!
Click here for Trip Brochure.

Join us for this incomparable nine-day journey through one of the world’s greatest man-made wonders, the ingenious Panama Canal—an experience unmatched for sheer drama and engineering prowess—to the Costa Rican rainforest.

Cruise for seven nights from Colón, Panama, to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, aboard the exclusively chartered 184-guest Five-Star Le Dumont-d’Urville, featuring the extraordinary Blue Eye, the world’s first multi-sensory below-water Observation Lounge.

Transit the Panama Canal during daylight hours and visit the Earth’s most pristine ecosystems in the rainforests and archipelagos of Panama and Costa Rica.

Tour Panama City, including UNESCO World Heritage-designated Casco Viejo (Old Quarter), call at the rock reefs of rarely visited Isla Cébaco and visit the remote San Blas Islands, where the indigenous Guna people maintain their centuries-old traditions.

Led by expert naturalists, marvel at the stunning biodiversity of Manuel Antonio National Park and Curú National Wildlife Refuge, and spend one night in a deluxe hotel in San José, Costa Rica.

Extend your stay with the Panama Pre-Program and Costa Rica Post-Program Options.

May 1-9, 2021 

Details to come!

Celebrate the beauty of Holland and old-world Flanders in springtime, the best time of year to visit, when the vibrant, abundant Dutch tulip fields are in bloom.

Join us for this comprehensive nine-day travel program and cruise for seven nights along the Dutch waterways aboard the exclusively chartered, deluxe, small river ship Amadeus Brilliant.

Meet local residents during the exclusive River Life^® Forum for a personal perspective of daily life and cultural heritage in the Low Countries. Enjoy a private cruise along the enchanting canals of Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Expert-led excursions include the storybook city of Bruges, the world-renowned Kröller-Müller Museum, famous Keukenhof Gardens, the “Golden Age” trading town of Hoorn, ancient Maastricht and charming Antwerp.

The Delft, Kinderdijk and The Hague Pre-Cruise Option and the Golden Age of Amsterdam Post-Cruise Option are offered.

This delightful itinerary is an exceptional value including all accommodations, excursions and meals.

Book Today! This trip sells out quickly year after year and is continually praised by our past travelers as the ideal Dutch and Flemish experience.

*price is tentative as of 3/20/20.

Lago Como ♦ Lago Maggiore ♦ Lago Orta

October 9-12, 2021 | From approximately $3895* plus air

Northern Italy’s fabled Lake District beckons with its sublime landscapes of shimmering glacial waters, soaring Alpine peaks and bijou towns. Immerse yourself in the distinct bella figura Italian style that has inspired poets, composers, artists and philosophers for centuries.

Stay for one week in the heart of the quintessentially Italian città di Como, at the lakeside, belle-époque Palace Hotel, just steps from the local market. Cruise by private boat on Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta.

During expert-guided excursions, explore authentic villages and cultural treasures. Visit Bellagio, Villa del Balbianello, Stresa, Isola Bella, San Giulio and Sacro Monte di Orta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Milan, visit the Duomo and Teatro alla Scala, and enjoy a specially arranged viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

Enriching lectures and the exclusive Village Life^® Forum with local Lombardy residents provide personal perspectives of daily life and cultural heritage.

This intimate and comprehensive soggiorno, at just the right pace, includes exceptional accommodations, specially arranged meals and all excursions.

Verona and Venice Post-Program Option available.

Palace Hotel – The ideally located, classic belle‑époque Palace Hotel is a delightful establishment with an ideal setting on the lungolago (lakefront promenade) overlooking Lake Como, just steps away from Como’s beautiful marble Duomo and the medieval, pedestrian-only town center. Venetian stucco artistry, Italian marble and antique furniture provide subtle touches of 19^th‑century elegance throughout the hotel.

*The Travel Program outlined here is subject to the features, final pricing and terms and conditions set forth in the published Travel Program brochure.

42^nd Oberammergau Passion Play plus Danube River Cruise

Rescheduled for 2022 • Details to come!

Budapest • Bratislava • Vienna • Salzburg• Munich

Experience Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Russia, and Sweden while on this amazing 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina.

August 28-September 8, 2020 •  from $4,099 including airfare.^*

Click here for Trip Brochure.

Experience Baltic and Scandinavian culture, history, and scenery on this incredible ten-night cruise. Dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Copenhagen, relax on the beach in Warnemünde, and wander the cobblestone streets of Rønne. Tour the aquarium in Gdynia and walk through the walled city of Tallinn. Visit the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and see the Suomenlinna in Helsinki.

•  Your adventure begins in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Sail on the Marina to Warnemünde and laze on the beach or take a scenic drive to Berlin to see the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall. In Rønne, wander the cobblestone streets or venture outside the city limits to take in the natural beauty of the ivory-white beaches and rocky cliffs.

Uncover the history of Gdynia at the Emigration Museum and the Polish Naval Museum or visit nearby Gdańsk and its National Maritime Museum or one of its many historical churches. Discover Klaipeda, where a single surviving tower of a once-glorious red brick castle remains. Tallinn, the next stop, has a UNESCO-listed Old Town and is one of Europe’s most compelling walled cities.

Spend three days in the imperial grandeur of St. Petersburg, Russia’s window to the West, where pastel-colored palaces and onion domes complement the city’s vast network of canals and arched bridges. Visit the Russian Museum or browse Picasso paintings at the Hermitage.

Your journey will end in Stockholm, but before that, stop in Helsinki and see the Suomenlinna, a ruined fortification that spans six islands.

^*Price is per person, double occupancy. Airfare is included from select cities.

Real ID Required for Travel Beginning October 1, 2020

Travelers will soon need a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification in order to fly. Beginning October 1, 2020, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States. Check for the star. Now is the time to check your ID for a star.  More Information.

U.S. Dept of State

Information for Travelers

U.S. Customs

Know Before You Go Video
Information for Returning Travelers
Travel Tips Ensure Smooth CBP Processing Experience
Global Entry vs TSA Pre-Check – what are the differences?

Insurance Coverage

Hardin-Simmons is pleased to provide emergency evacuation insurance for all our travelers. This is not in lieu of trip insurance, which you’ll definitely want to consider.

Jet Lag

There is no singular cure for jet lag. Before departure, get ample rest, as being well-rested when you depart will allow you to better ward off jet lag symptoms. During your flight(s), be certain to drink plenty of water to counteract the dehydrating effects of air travel.
The goal is to adjust to your new time zone as quickly as possible, so follow this simple rule of thumb: if you are arriving in the morning, sleep on the plane so you will have energy for the day; if you are arriving in the evening, stay awake during the flight so you can sleep soundly at your destination.