Your journey begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

Arrive in Rome and transfer to the port of Civitavecchia to board the Celebrity Ascent.

Enjoy your day at sea.

Arrive in the morning in Chania port. Your tour begins at the British Commonwealth War Cemetery in Souda Bay. Afterwards, 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 Elia (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.

Dock 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 on board.    Shore excursions are not included today and can be purchased directly from Celebrity.

Ephesus was the leading one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and had 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, 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 house of the rich," which gives 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. 

Nestled between Europe and Asia, Turkiye offers a blend of both worlds. The country has been a bridge between the two continents for thousands of years. Istanbul offers sensory delights at every turn, from its towering, colorful minarets to the scent of coffee brewing in fragrant cardamom and sugar. Shore excursions are not included today and can be purchased directly from Celebrity.

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 1000 years, built by Justinian (532-537 A.D.).  The church has 107 columns; fossil imbedded 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 Bazaar. 

Enjoy your day at sea.

Arrive today at the world-famous Greek Island of Mykonos, where gleaming whitewashed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure sky. Admire its many hills dotted with iconic windmills. Explore the island on your own or join one of the optional excursions available for purchase on board. Shore excursions are not included today and can be purchased directly from Celebrity.

At Sea

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 AD 79.

Disembark the Celebrity Ascent this morning. History is woven through the streets and neighborhoods of Rome as in no other city. Today you’ll explore the many wonders of ancient Rome when you visit the magnificent Colosseum and the Pantheon. From the most sacred hill of ancient Rome, Campidoglio, you will view the Forum. You will also view the Circus Maximus, the Arch of Titus, the famous Baths of Caracalla and the Arch of Constantine. You will see the Victor Emanuel Monument and the Monti Region, Rome’s most ancient neighborhood which spreads over three of her seven hills. Also, near the Forum is the Mamertine Prison. It was the site where Romans kept their high-profile prisoners until they died or were executed.  It is revered as the place Peter was held before his crucifixion. Visit the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, housing the Tomb of St. Paul the Apostle, affectionately known as the Apostle of the Gentiles. 

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