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For 11 nights, join us on Paul’s Journeys aboard Celebrity Infinity starting at $3399 on March 3, 2024. You will see Athens, Thessaloniki, St. George’s Basilica, the archaeological museum, the Basilicas of St. Sophia, St. Demetrios, the Galerius Arch, the Old City Ramparts, Philippi, the famous Acropolis, the marketplace, the Basilica, the theater, Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, the Museum of Ephesus, the Phassouri citrus groves, Aphrodite, Pafos, the house of Dionysos, House of Aeon, St. Paul’s Pillar, Yeroskipou, St. Paraskevi, Rhode, Crete, Corinth, and more!
Proposed Itinerary :
DAY 1
Your journey of a lifetime begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
DAY 2
You will arrive in Athens, Greece, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Port of Piraeus to board the Celebrity Infinity.
DAY 3
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. 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.
DAY 4
Visit Philippi, where Paul, intending to find a place to pray by the riverside, spoke to women who had gathered there, among whom was Lydia, the seller of purple and whose heart the Lord opened to hear the words that he spoke. Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for the Apostle Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the marketplace, the basilica, and the theater.
DAY 5
Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and a population of 250,000. Although 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 houses of the rich,” which give a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. Explore the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at ancient artifacts. You will have time to explore on your own and retrace some of the footsteps of Paul.
DAY 6
At Sea
DAY 7
Take the coastal route through the Phassouri citrus groves and vineyards to the ancient city-kingdom of Curium with its well-preserved mosaics in the house of Eustolios, its theatre and basilica. Continue to the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, where the goddess rose from the waves. In Paphos, visit the beautiful mosaics in the House of Dionysos and in the House of Aeon, which was recently excavated. These mosaics are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. See St. Paul’s Pillar, where, according to tradition, the Saint was tied and whipped by the Romans. Visit the fishing harbor near the medieval fort and wander around the harbor. On the way back, there will be a stop at Yeroskipou for a visit to the church of St. Paraskevi, a basilica surmounted by five domes forming a cross with beautiful mural paintings dated mainly to the 15th century.
DAY 8
At Sea
DAY 9
Get the real authentic Rhodes experience by exploring it on foot. Your walking tour will begin in the picturesque Old Town, where you will pass through and learn all about the 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 will then tour the palace interior and walk down the Street of Knights. Its path is paved with impressive marble and mosaics. Then, it’s on to the Hospital of Knights Museum, where you’ll learn all about the ins and outs of this majestic town. Afterward, stop for a refreshment in a local café. Exploring Rhodes on foot will inevitably leave a lasting impression on you.
DAY 10
Whether you visit Heraklion, Crete, to admire the remains of the ancient civilization or simply to soak in the rays on some of the best beaches in Europe, the city is guaranteed to delight and amaze you. Don’t miss one of the most popular attractions of Crete: the 3000-year-old Palace of Knossos located south of Heraklion. The Palace of Knossos was the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Celebrity and are not included.
DAY 11
The Apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth 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” (Acts 18:10). As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the Synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8), establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles. Tour the city of Corinth and the Museum of Corinth.
DAY 12
Enjoy 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 Erechtheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the Apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with the inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23). As you stroll the agora (ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” to the skeptical Athenians. Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own to shop, dine, or experience the Acropolis by night. Return to the ship at your leisure.
DAY 13
Disembark the Celebrity Infinity and transfer to the airport to return home with a new understanding of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry.
Enhance Your Journey
Istanbul Pre Tour-starting from $1298
February 29 - March 4, 2024 | for $1,298* FEBRUARY 29 – DEPART THE USA Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight. MARCH 1 – ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL Arrive in Istanbul, Turkiye, where you will be met by our representative. Check into your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest. MARCH 2 – 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. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years, built by Justinian (532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Then, explore the Grand Bazaar, with over 4,000 shops selling everything from herbs to gold, before returning to your hotel this evening for dinner and rest. MARCH 3 – ISTANBUL Visit the Topkapi Palace and the home of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Spice Bazaar. Conclude the day with a cruise on the Bosphorus River, after which, return to your hotel for dinner and rest. MARCH 4 – FLY TO ATHENS Bid farewell to Turkiye as you transfer to the Istanbul airport this morning for your flight to Athens. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Port of Piraeus to board the Celebrity Infinity.
Rome Post tour-starting from $1398
March 15 - 18, 2024 | for $1,398* MARCH 15 – DEPART ATHENS FOR ROME Disembark the Celebrity Infinity and transfer to Athens airport for your flight to Rome. Arrive in Rome, Italy, where you will be met by our representative and travel along the Appian Way. Step beneath the surface into the Catacombs of Callixtus, built along the Appian Way. Here, sixteen popes from the 2nd through 4th centuries were interred, though they have been removed to various churches over the centuries. Check into your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest. MARCH 16 – 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 Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Next, see the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The present structure stands over the place where Constantine built the first church, which is over Saint Paul’s grave. The church features a portrait of every pope who has served the church. Climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel this evening for dinner and rest. MARCH 17 – ANCIENT ROME 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. After touring, return to your hotel for dinner and rest. MARCH 18 – RETURN TO THE USA Bid farewell to Rome as you transfer to the Rome airport this morning for your return flight to the USA.
*The trip will take place in case of a group of 16 people
* * The route, as well as the order of visiting places, may be changed due to quarantine restrictions, as well as for safety reasons or due to the weather, road repair work etc.