Journeys of Paul Cruise on Odyssey of the Seas | Aug. 30, 2025
Join us on the Journeys of Paul Cruise for nine nights aboard Odyssey of the Seas starting at $4,998* on August 30, 2025. You will see Pompeii, Athens, the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, the Erectheum, stand on Mars Hill, stroll the agora, the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Corinth, the archaeological museum, marketplace, temples, Ephesus, the huge agora, the terrace houses, the Museum of Ephesus, Santorini, Mykonos, Chania, and much more!
Contact: Terri Metcalf
What's Included
- All Inclusive Pricing
- Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
- Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
- Entrance and Program Fees
- International Airfare from NY
- Meals on Ship
- Port Charges
- Select Shore Excursions
- Cruise
- Overseas Transfers
- Administrative Fee
- Cruise Taxes
Additional Baggage and Optional fees may apply.
Call: 4697306805 · Email: terri.metcalf@cruiseplanners.com
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 August 30 – Depart the USA
Your journey begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
Day 2 August 31 – Arrive in Rome, Italy
You will arrive in Rome, Italy where you will be met by our representative and transfer to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Odyssey of the Seas. *Guest not purchasing air through EO will have to purchase transfers to be included in group transfer.
Day 3 September 1 – Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Journey inland to ancient Pompeii, dating almost to the time of Paul, where you can see the spectacular ruins that were covered by ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
Day 4 September 2 – At Sea
At Sea
Day 5 September 3 - ATHENS & CORINTH
Discover the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, "I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" . As you stroll the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection" to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon tour the city of Corinth, where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, "I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city". As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized , establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles. Discover the Archaeological Museum, Market Place and Temples. As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews.
Day 6 September 6 – Mykonos
Nestled in the heart of Greece’s Cyclades archipelago, Mykonos pulses with irrepressible energy. With its powder white houses and sparkling blue waters, the Island of the Winds is as colorful as the people who call the island home. You can walk narrow marble pathways laced with purple bougainvillea blooms or go cycling on two wheels past off-the-path Ano Mera village. Explore Greece’s maritime history at Armenistis Lighthouse and check out the Folklore Museum’s Mykonian ship models. At the end of the day, watch the sun burn out beyond an Aegean horizon from an open-air seaside taverna. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Royal Caribbean and are not included.
Day 7 September 5 – Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkiye
Ephesus was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and a population of 250,000. Spectacular excavations in the last 110 years have revealed much of the glory of ancient Ephesus, including the huge agora and the library, but much has been lost. Explore the ancient site virtually at the Ephesus Experience Museum where you will see life in Paul’s time. We will view the terrace houses, also known as “the houses of the rich,” which give a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. The ancient world once declared the Temple of Artemis to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but today, only a single column remains to mark its site. After enjoying Ephesus, you will embark on another Turkish experience at the carpet factory for a local lunch and a presentation.
Day 8 September 6 – Santorini
Arrive in Santorini today, one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands where picturesque, whitewashed villages topped with brilliant blue domes stand in stark contrast to the sheer drop cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. The island itself perches on the edges of a volcano whose eruption 3,500 years ago is thought to have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization. Explore the island on your own or join one of the optional excursions available for purchase onboard. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Royal Caribbean and are not included.
Day 9 September 7 – Chania, Crete
Arrive in the morning in Chania port. Your tour begins at the British Commonwealth War Cemetery in Souda Bay. Afterward, continue on to the Agia Triada Monastery of Jagarolon. It is one of the most significant monastic complexes from the end of the Venetian Occupation of Crete. It contains a rich offering of the history and education of Crete. Discover in the east suburbs of Chania on the hill of Profiti Ilias (Prophet Elijah). After a photo stop, continue on to Chania town, where neoclassical mansions and massive Venetian fortifications testify to the city’s turbulent and diverse past. There, you will have the chance to explore the Venetian port on your own before you return to the port and embark on your cruise ship.
Day 10 September 8 – At Sea
At Sea
Day 11 September 9 – Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Disembark the Odyssey of the Seas and transfer to airport to return home with a new understanding of the Bible.
Enhance Your Journey
Turkiye Pre Tour
August 26 - 31, 2025 | for $1,798*
August 26 – Depart the USA
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
August 27 – Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul and check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
August 28 – Istanbul
The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. You will visit the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. You will also visit the Topkapi Palace, once home to royal Sultans. Inside, you will see the fabled jewels of the Treasury, delicate displays of Chinese porcelain in the Kitchen Quarters, and the provocative Harem Quarters. Walk through Hagia Sophia, the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years, built by Justinian (532-537 A.D.). The church has 107 columns, fossil imbedded white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Fly to the Cappadocia area this evening for dinner and overnight.
August 29 – Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia and visit the Zelve Valley. As you drive through Cappadocia, enjoy some free time at various photo stops in this magnificent landscape full of fairy chimneys. Visit the Goreme open-air Museum before returning to your hotel.
August 30 – Cappadocia/Istanbul
For an additional fee, you can take an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia this morning. Fly this afternoon to Istanbul. Enjoy a cruise on the Bosphorus River cruise. Then check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
August 31 – Fly to Rome
Fly to Rome. Arrive and be met by our representative and transfer to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Odyssey of the Seas. *Guests not purchasing air through EO must purchase transfers to be included in the group transfer.
The optional Hot Air balloon is approximately $250 per person.
Rome Post Tour
September 9-11, 2025 | for $1,498*
September 9 - Disembarkation & Ancient Rome
Today, you will arrive in Rome, disembark the Odyssey of the Seas, and transfer from the port to Civitavecchia. Travel to Rome and discover the history woven throughout Rome with visits to the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum, Circus Maximus, the Arch of Titus, the Baths of Caracalla, and the Arch of Constantine today. Climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel this evening.
September 10 - Vatican City & Christian Rome
Visit the Vatican and explore its museum. Marvel at the beauty of St. Peter's Basilica and stand in awe of Michaelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Next on to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The present structure stands over where Constantine built the first church over Saint Paul’s grave. The church features a portrait of every Pope who has served the church. Step beneath the surface into the Catacombs of Callixtus, built along the Appian Way. Here, 16 Popes from the 2nd through 4th centuries were interred, though they had been removed from various churches over the centuries. Check in to your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest.
September 11 - Return to the USA
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
Departure Dates
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Saturday, August 30, 2025From $4998