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Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

Current Topics in Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases

12-Night France, Spain & Portugal Cruise
from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Barcelona, Spain August 15 - 27, 2025
<em>Celebrity Eclipse</em>
Celebrity Eclipse
20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
20 ACPE Credits
20.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees
$1095 for Physicians, Attorneys, Psychologists, Doctors of Pharmacy, & Dentists
$850 for Physician Assistants
$695 for Nurses, Residents, Students & Others

Target Audience
Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists
Program Purpose / Objectives
Topics and Objectives Under Development
Conference Sessions generally take place on days at sea (as itinerary allows), giving you plenty of time to enjoy your meals, evenings and ports of call with your companion, family and friends.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All conferees, their families, and guests must book their cruise within the University at Sea® meeting group through University at Sea® at 800-926-3775 or by registering online. This ensures our company can provide conference services and complimentary social amenities to all meeting participants and their guests. Thank you for your cooperation.
Faculty

Professor Howard Amital, MD MHA

Professor Howard Amital, MD MHA
Head of Department of Medicine 'B'
Sheba Medical Center
Tel-Hashomer 5262100
Chair of Internal Medicine
Sackler Faculty of Medicine
Tel-Aviv University, Israel Howard Amital is a professor of Medicine at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine of the Tel-Aviv University. He is the head of Department of Medicine 'B' at the Sheba Medical Center at the Sheba Medical Center, in Tel-Hashomer. For the past two years he is also the chair of Internal Medicine at the Sackler faculty of Medicine at the Tel-Aviv University. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and his fellowship at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Prof. Amital conducts clinical and basic research and speaks at international Rheumatology conferences such as the EULAR (European League against Rheumatism) and the ACR (American College of Rheumatology). He has authored over 270 scientific peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and reviews. His papers mainly focus on autoimmunity research primarily in new avenues for the development of therapeutic peptides in RA, roles of vitamin D, use of biological therapy, pain and comorbidities of fibromyalgia and epidemiological studies based on Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) databases. 

Kevin T. Stephan, MD, FACP

Kevin T. Stephan, MD, FACP
Vice President of Medical Affairs
nodSpecialists
Phoenix, AZ Dr. Stephan is a board-certified Infectious Disease physician with many years of clinical experience.  He currently serves as Vice President, nodSpecialists, a telemedicine-based Infectious Disease practice headquartered in Phoenix, AZ where he sees patients live and via virtual video visits throughout the western United States.

Prior to this, he served as Chief of Medical Specialties and Chief of Infectious Disease for St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, MN, where he was voted top doctor in Infectious Disease by Duluth Superior Magazine, and won top recognition for patient care ranking in the top 10% nationally with a 5-star rating of Infectious Disease physicians over multiple years as assessed by PRC research.

Dr. Stephan had a 23-year career in the United States military, serving in multiple roles as a physician, researcher, and educator, including running the HIV program for the United States Air Force in San Antonio, TX.  He deployed after 9/11/2001 and also participated in humanitarian operations and relief in Africa and Central America.

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.

Cruise Itinerary

DATE PORT OF CALL ARRIVE DEPART
Fri Aug 15 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 5:00 pm
Sat Aug 16 Dover (London), England
7:00 am 4:00 pm
Sun Aug 17 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Mon Aug 18 Pauillac (Bordeaux), France
1:45 am 10:00 pm
Tue Aug 19 Bilbao, Spain
11:59 am 7:00 pm
Wed Aug 20 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Thu Aug 21 Lisbon, Portugal
8:00 am -
Fri Aug 22 Lisbon, Portugal
- 4:00 pm
Sat Aug 23 Cadiz (Seville), Spain
10:00 am 6:00 pm
Sun Aug 24 Gibraltar
8:00 am 6:00 pm
Mon Aug 25 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Tue Aug 26 Palma De Mallorca, Spain
8:00 am 6:00 pm
Wed Aug 27 Barcelona, Spain
5:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.

Ports of Call

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Amsterdam is a great city in which to discover the charms of northern Europe. The graceful canals of its central district are lined with beautiful gabled houses. It's many grand art museums display masterpieces of Rembrandt and Vermeer, and the largest collection of Van Gogh's work is found here. Fine food is also easy to find along with ample opportunities for shopping (including excellent vintage finds). This great city is well worth a day or two's stay before or after your cruise.

Dover (London), England - After seeing her fomous "white cliffs" as you arrive, you can take a quick trip to nearby Canterbury to see its medieval cathedral, where Thomas Becket met his tragic end. Or carry on to London for a day filled with whatever your heart desires. This is London, after all, of which Samuel Johnson famously said "Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." Whether its history, fashion, shopping, art, culture or food you're looking for, London's got it.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Pauillac (Bordeaux), France - Make your way through the wine capital of Bordeaux, where you can explore over 7,000 winemakers in the world’s largest and oldest wine-producing region. Discover this stunning French city, half of which has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy its unrivaled culinary scene, rich cultural heritage, and breathtaking architecture.

History buffs will love visiting landmarks like the strikingly symmetrical Place de la Bourse and the imposing Porte Cailhau city gates. Meanwhile, wine lovers will feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven as they make their way through the sprawling vineyards and gorgeous chateaux that await in the countryside. Sip a glass of premier cru, snack on a sweet canelé, admire the view of the River Garonne, and experience joie de vivre during your time in Bordeaux.

Bilbao, Spain - Bilbao, Spain's sixth-largest city, is being revitalized with the help of astounding strides in art and architecture. New life arrived in this commercial/industrial hub via the astonishing Bilbao Guggenheim Museum; the new, sleek glass and steel tube metro system; and the stunning glass-decked parabolic arch footbridge above the Nervion River. Bilbao also provides an excellent home base from which to explore the diverse Basque country, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pyrenees.

Lisbon, Portugal - Make your own discoveries in the city that launched the Age of Discovery. Cross the River Tagus on its soaring suspension bridge. Wander the maze of streets in the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter, dominated by the medieval Castle of St. George where peacocks strut and shriek. Stroll the Baixa, shop for elegant shoes.

Cadiz (Seville), Spain - Experience Spain’s vibrant culture on a Seville cruise, departing from the historic port of Cadiz. Drenched in Andalucian sunlight and scented with orange blossoms, the city sprawls along the Guadalquivir River. It boasts a rich Moorish legacy with three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, featuring gracefully adorned towers and palaces showcasing intricate Mudejar design.

Gibraltar - As long as the Barbary Apes remain, the British will rule Gibraltar‐this is the tradition that has held for 350 years. These pesky primates are a favorite with visitors despite their incessant chatter and light-fingered ways. Ride to the top of the Rock for great views over the Strait of Gibraltar‐on a clear day you'll see Africa.

Palma De Mallorca, Spain - The Spanish island of Mallorca offers towering mountains and dramatic cliffs rising over clear, blue water — but its jewel is Palma de Mallorca, the island's capital and largest city, where you'll find quaint historic streets, Gothic castles and gastronomic delights. Cruise to Palma de Mallorca and check out one-of-a-kind Palma Cathedral: The 14th-century Gothic spires of exterior contrast the modernist interior designed by in the early 1900s by Gaudi. See the circular courtyard and Arab-inspired arches of Castell de Bellver, and take in the fresh scent of the miles of pine forest that surround it. Or rent bikes and pedal east to Palma Beach, where you can soak in the sun on the white sands and clear waves.

Barcelona, Spain -

Barcelona is a one of the world's great cities. Stroll down her tree-lined boulevards, the magnificent Passeig de Gràcia or the more touristed Las Ramblas. On the Passeig, shop a serious fashion district while marveling at examples of Mordenisme architecture, seemingly sculpted from the stuff of dreams (Gaudi's masterpiece of a family home, Casa Batlló is well worth a visit). If a trip on the Passeig hasn't convinced you of Gaudi's genius, a visit to La Sagrada Familia Cathedral will do the trick; this fantastic, soaring marvel will live on in your memory long after you've returned.

Not far from the Passeig and just north of Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter (the Barri Gotic) provides an abundance of shopping opportunities for all tastes, and a bit of European history to boot - check out the tranquil Cathedral of Barcelona. To see a bit of local life a visit to a food market is a quick, fun detour: try Santa Caterina near the Cathedral or Mercado de La Boqueria, right off of Las Ramblas.

Barcelona's food is also a highlight: stop into a tapas bar and try a variety of delicacies. "Standard" restaurants of every style are available, too. And, there's music, too! Visit an underground jazz club or the magnificent Palau de la Música Catalana; or stop by the Palau Dalmases for a stunning, flamenco performance (it's near the Picasso museum). Did we mention art? One of the largest collections of Picasso's art is found at the Museau Picasso, and a great collection of contemporary, figurative (i.e not abstract) painting and sculpture is housed at the European Museum of Modern Art just around the corner.

It's probably clear by now that you really can't get it all done in a day (even if all means "just the must-sees"). So, stay for a day or three in the Gothic Quarter or near Plaça de Catalunya and really get a feel for what makes Barcelona such a wonderful place. Partly it's the result of the "accidents" of its history and present: as the regional capital of Spain's prosperous Catalunya region, Barcelona has a "flavor" that is a bit of a mix between Spanish and French (it's located quite close to the French border). Yes, you can practice your Spanish here - it attracts Spaniards from throughout the country - but you'll also see and hear Catalan with it's own charm. You won't regret your time here.

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Please note that our shore excursions are operated separately and
independently of those offered by the cruise line.
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