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Join Dr. Doug Hood and Rev. Michael B. Brown on a Journey through Early Christianity Cruise for 11 Nights Aboard Celebrity Ascent starting at $6,198* from Miami on May 4, 2025. You will see Rome, Chania, Crete, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Istanbul, Santorini, Mykonos, Pompeii (Naples)
Proposed Itinerary :
DAY 1
Your journey begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
DAY 2
You will arrive in Rome, Italy, where you will be met by our representative and transfer to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Celebrity Ascent. *Guests not purchasing air with the group must purchase transfers to be included in the group transfer.
DAY 3
At Sea
DAY 4
Delve into a Cretan cultural experience that includes guided sightseeing at Lake Kournas, the Arkadi Monastery and the bustling town of Rethymnon. The first stop is at Lake Kournas, where you’ll savor a delicious treat of traditional cheese pie with honey among white sands and ancient olive trees. Next is a tour of the fortress-like monastery, whose history dates to Byzantine times. Finish with a stroll through distinctively ancient yet distinctly modern Rethymnon.
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 independently and recreate some of Paul’s footsteps.
DAY 6
Daily Itinerary The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. Arrive in the late afternoon and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 7
Today, 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 and 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.
At Sea
DAY 8
DAY 9
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 Celebrity and are not included.
DAY 10
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 cycle 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 Celebrity and are not included.
DAY 11
At Sea
DAY 12
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.
DAY 13
Disembark the Celebrity Ascent and transfer to the airport to return home with a new understanding of the Bible. * Guests not purchasing air with their cruise package will have to purchase transfers to be included in the group transfer.
Enhance Your Journey
Rome Pre Tour -starting from $1298
Daily Itinerary Enhance Your Journey MAY 2 - 5, 2025 | for $1,498* May 2 - Depart the USA May 3 - Arrive in Rome Today, you will 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, 16 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. May 4 - 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, we go to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The present structure stands over the place where Constantine built the first church 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. May 5 - 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, you will be transferred to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Celebrity Ascent. Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
Turkiye Post Tour -starting from $1798
May 16 - 20, 2025 | for $1,798* May 16 - Fly to Istanbul Fly from Rome to Istanbul and check into your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay. May 17 – Istanbul Begin your exploration of Istanbul with an enjoyable two-hour Bosphorus Cruise. You will glide beneath some of the city’s famous bridges and sail past some of Istanbul’s more colorful neighborhoods and peaceful suburbs. Your boat will take you past castles and quaint fishing villages. Later, you will visit the eastern or Asian part of Istanbul. You will see the Byzantine city walls, the Golden Horn, and the world-famous mosaics of the Kariye Church. Fly to the Cappadocia area this evening for dinner and overnight. May 18 – 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. May 19 – Cappadocia/Istanbul You can take an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia this morning for an additional fee. Fly this afternoon to Istanbul. Enjoy free time to explore Istanbul on your own. Then, check into your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay. May 20 - Return to the USA Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA. Optional Hot Air Balloon is approximately $250 per person.
*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.