Passages of the Bible Cruise | Oct. 26, 2024
Join us for Passages of the Bible Cruise on Norwegian Getaway starting at $4799 for an interior stateroom, departing on October 26, 2024. You will see a Panoramic Tour of Athens, Corinth, Jerusalem, Caiphas House, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Old City, Pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepluchre, Mt. of Beatitudes, Church of Loaves & Fish, Church of the Primacy of Peter, Capernaum, Alexandria, Egypt, Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Limassol, Rhodes, and much more!
What's Included
- Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
- Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
- Entrance and Program Fees
- Guided Tours
- Meals on Ship
- Overseas Airport Transfers
- Port Charges
- Select Shore Excursions
- Cruise
- Cruise Taxes
- Free WIFI
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 October 26 (SA) DEPART USA
Your Journey of a Lifetime begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
Day 2 October 27 (SU) ARRIVE IN ATHENS
Arrive in Athens and see the best of Athens on a panoramic drive designed for those who prefer a more leisurely tour of the city. Board a comfortable coach for a narrated tour covering both modern and ancient attractions, including the Academy, Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the National Gardens, and a stop at the pedestrian zone below the majestic Acropolis. Overnight in Athens. (Late arrivals may experience a shorter panoramic tour.)
Day 3 October 28 (MO) CORINTH/EMBARKATION
Travel to the city of Corinth, where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord. 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. Transfer to the ship to embark after your tour.
Day 4 October 29 (TU) At Sea
At Sea
Day 5 October 30 (WE) JERUSALEM
VJourney to Jerusalem to see Caiphas' House, where Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin. Stand upon the Mt. of Olives and view the city as Jesus did. See the Ancient olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane. Wander the Old City to view the Pool of Bethesda and walk along the Via Dolorosa. Step inside the Church of the Holy Sepluchre, built over the sites of the crucifixion and the resurrection.
Day 6 October 31 (TH) GALILEE
Then Venture inland to the Sea of Galilee to stand on the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached . At Tabgha, the traditional location of the feeding of 5,000, you will visit the Church of the Loaves and Fish . On the shores of the Sea of Galilee is the Chapel of the Primacy of St. Peter, where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ. From there, travel to Capernaum where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John and later Matthew to be disciples.
Day 7 November 1 (FR) CAIRO
Explore the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It contains 120,000 artifacts! Then, head to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the only existing Wonders of the Ancient World. Nearby, view the Great Sphinx of Giza, the largest and most well-known Sphinx.
Day 8 November 2 (SA) PORT SAID
We will be making a short technical stop in Port Said to pick up local authorities and the pilot prior to the Suez Canal transit; unfortunately, guests will not be allowed to disembark at this port.
Day 9 November 3 (SU) LIMMASOL
Go deep into Cyprus' history as you explore the island today. This beautiful port town is known for its seafood, pottery, leather goods and traditional lace works. Wander the streets and enjoy the shops on your way to the Kolossi Castle built by the Order of St. John in 1210 in the city center of Limassol. Take a trip to Paphos from Limassol to explore ancient ruins, archaeological sites and the goddess of love's mythical birthplace. Travel past the Temple of Apollo on the way to this UNESCO-recognized city and discover elaborate tombs in a 3rd-century necropolis.
Day 10 November 4 (MO) RHODES
Get the real, authentic Rhodes experience by exploring it on foot. Walk through picturesque Old Town, where you will pass through and learn all about Agora and Collachium, where the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem lived and worked. Marvel at the stunning churches, exquisite Jewish quarter, the Inns of Knights, and the Palace of Grand Masters. You can visit the palace interior and wander down the Street of Knights — its path paved with impressive marble and mosaics. Then it’s on to the Hospital of Knights museum, where you can learn all about the ins and outs of this majestic town. Afterwards, you could stop for a refreshment in a local café. Exploring Rhodes on foot will inevitably leave a lasting impression on you. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Norwegian
Day 11 November 5 (TU) EPHESUS
Ephesus is 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 have revealed much of the glory of ancient Ephesus, including the huge Agora and Library, much has been lost. 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. View the terrace houses, also known as "the house of the rich," which give a true impression of ancient lifestyle.
Day 12 November 6 (WE) ISTANBUL
Disembark the Norwegian Getaway. 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. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was the largest church in Christendom for 1,000 years, was built by Justinian (532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Spice Market. Shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 13 November 7 (TH) ISTANBUL
Return to USA
Enhance Your Journey
Greece Pre-tour
October 22 - Depart the USA
October 23 - Arrive in Thessaloniki
Discover Thessaloniki, where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down with his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3-6). As you explore St. George’s Basilica, believed to be built over the synagogue where Paul preached, reflect on the two epistles the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church here. Stroll through the Archaeological Museum and the beautiful basilicas of St. Sophia and St. Demetrios. The Church of St. Demetrios is dedicated to a distinguished Roman proconsul martyred for his Christian faith. Along the Via Egnatia stands the Galerius Arch, and you can look out over the second-largest city in Greece from the Old City Ramparts, some dating back to Roman times. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
October 24 - Amphipolis, Philippi & Neapoli
Follow in the footsteps of Paul and Silas to Amphipolis and explore the ruins of the many Christian basilicas there. In Philippi is a baptismal site commemorating where God opened the heart of Lydia (a seller of purple from Thyatira) to hear the words of Paul (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia and her household were the first Christian converts baptized on European soil. View the Roman-era crypt thought to have served as a prison for the Apostle Paul, and explore Philippi’s famous Acropolis, marketplace, the Basilica of Paul, and theater. Today’s last stop is Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece’s most picturesque mainland ports, where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. See the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis before returning to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
October 25 - Verea & Meteora
Follow the path of Paul when he fled Thessaloniki for the safety of Veria (Berea), where Jews and some honorable Greeks accepted the new faith (Act 17: 10-12). As you visit the rock forest of Meteora (“in the heavens above”) in western Thessaly, imagine the Apostle Paul walking that treacherous terrain on his missionary journey. Gaze up at the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries spectacularly perched on soaring, sheer-sided grey sandstone pillars. In the 13th century, monks sought refuge in cliffside caves before fleeing higher to build the original wooden shelters that later became these monasteries. Overnight in Kalambaka.
October 26 - Delphi
Travel to scenic Delphi, the religious center of the ancient Greek world and marked by the conical stone called the omphalos or “navel”. Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian treasury, theatre, and the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle performed her prophetic rituals. As you consider the incredible amount of pagan influence just in Delphi alone, you will gain a new appreciation for the tremendous spiritual opposition the Apostle Paul faced in preaching the Gospel of Christ here. In the museum are many ancient treasures, including the fifth-century, bronzed Charioteer, so detailed you can see his eyelashes. Overnight in Athens.
October 27 - Join the Cruise Group in touring Athens
Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
Turkey Post Tour
$1298
November 7 - Fly to Cappadocia
Fly from IStanbul to Cappadocia, and check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
November 8 - 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 chumneys. Visit the Goreme open air Museum before returning to your hotel.
November 9 - Cappadocia
You can take an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia this morning for an additional fee. Fly this afternoon to Istanbul and check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
November 10 - Istanbul
Fly to Istanbul, the bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques, and and enjoy a cruise on the Bosporus strait. See the Byzantine walls and the Golden Horn. Next, you will 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. 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. Return to your hotel this evening for dinner and overnight.
November 11 - Return to USA
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
Hot air ballon is $185 per person additional
Departure Dates
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Saturday, October 26, 2024From $4799