On September 17, 1971, OTE employees and their loved ones left their bustling offices behind and boarded the cruise ship “ROMANZA” for a trip to the Mediterranean. The cruise would last three weeks and include stops at various cities on the Mediterranean coast, with Lisbon as the final destination and return to Piraeus.

By organizing this major overseas cruise for the second consecutive year, OTE wanted to foster a family atmosphere among its employees, offering them a unique experience at preferential prices. For most Greeks, cruises were still a luxury that was just starting to become widely known at that time.

The itinerary included excursions and guided tours in the areas where the “ROMANZA” would be sailing. In addition, passengers were able to enjoy a rich entertainment program on board every day, with music, performances, film screenings, and other artistic events. The program, both for the excursions and the events, was updated every day and distributed to the passengers. 

According to the program for Thursday, September 30 (see photo), which is part of the Museum’s archival collections, the ship was scheduled to depart at 8:45 a.m. from Nice, France, bound for Villefranche, a small picturesque town between Nice and Monaco.

Upon arrival at the port, passengers would have the opportunity to take a first stroll around the town. Those who chose to remain on board could enjoy a hot "consommé" (French soup) between 10:00 and 10:30, while lunch was served at 11:30. The excursion began at 2:00 p.m. and lasted until 7:30 p.m., when everyone had to return to the “ROMANZA”. In the meantime, those who remained on board could enjoy “tea with piano music” at the “DOLPHIN BAR”.

At 8:00 p.m., the ship would depart for “Neapolin” (Naples) in Italy. On board, passengers would enjoy their dinner, followed by a music and dance program until after midnight. Alternatively, those who wished could watch the 1963 Greek film “O adelphos Anna” (Anna’s Brother), starring Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Petros Fyssoun, and Manos Katrakis.

According to the Museum’s archives, overseas cruises in the Mediterranean continued until 1973. Over the years, the model of long cruises began to change and was replaced by shorter excursions or trips in collaboration with OTE employee and retiree associations. However, the organisation’s desire to offer its employees moments of relaxation and entertainment remains alive to this day.