Voyages to Antiquity is a new cruise line that will trace the beginnings of civilization in the Mediterranean, but you can feel confident in comparing it to the old Orient Lines, which sent small, comfortable ships to interesting places.

Both are destination-oriented lines started by Gerry Herrod, who, facing retirement, instead elected to start a line inspired by the book “The Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean” by John Julius Norwich. “It seemed to have been written essentially to help me along the way,” Herrod writes in the line’s first brochure. “I contacted John Julius and he eagerly agreed to be a member of our team. His knowledge is amazing, and all of our nine itineraries have been vetted by him.” Norwich helped devise the itineraries that explore the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome and Greece.