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Join us for 9 nights aboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas during a Journeys of Paul Cruise with Guest Speaker John Kutsko. Pricing starts at $4699 for an interior stateroom, departing on August 24, 2024. Visit Rome, Naples, Mykonos, Athens, Corinth, Crete, Ephesus, and much more!
Proposed Itinerary :
DAY 1
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
DAY 2
Depart 5:00 PM You will arrive in Rome where you will be met by our representative and transferred the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Odyssey of the Seas.
DAY 3
Arrive 7:00 AM Depart 6:00 PM 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 4
At Sea
DAY 5
Arrive 8:00 AM Depart 8:00 PM Nestled in the heart of Greece’s Cyclades archipelago, Mykonos pulses with irrepressible energy. With its powder white houses, sparkling blue waters, and red-hot nightlife, 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. Join in the raucous beach party on Super Paradise’s shimmering sands, or watch the sun burn out beyond an Aegean horizon from an open-air seaside taverna. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through the cruise line.
DAY 6
Arrive 6:00 AM Depart 7:00 PM Discover the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as you explore 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". Also view the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon tours 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. Overnight in Athens.
DAY 7
Daily Itinerary Arrive 8:00 AM Depart 8:00 PM 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, but 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 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 recreate some of the footsteps of Paul.
DAY 8
Arrive 7:00 AM Depart 3:00 PM Delve into a Cretan cultural experience that includes guided sightseeing at Lake Kournas, the Arkadi Monastery and the bustling town of Rethymnon. 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 up 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. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through the cruise line.
DAY 9
Arrive 7:00 AM Depart 8:00 PM 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 onboard. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through the cruise line
DAY 10
At Sea
DAY 11
Arrive 5:00 AM Transfer to the Rome airport to return home with a new understanding of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry or enjoy an extension.
Enhance Your Journey
Rome Pre Tour-starting from $1198
Day 1 - Depart USA Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight. Day 2 - 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 in to your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest. Day 3 - 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 the place where Constantine built the first church over Saint Paul’s grave. The church features a portrait of every Pope that has served the church. Climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel this evening. Day 4 - 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 Carcalla and the Arch of Constantine today. After touring, you will be transferred to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Celebrity Apex Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion. *A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card surcharge
Rome Post-starting from $1198
Day 1 - 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 in to your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest. Day 2 - 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 the place where Constantine built the first church over Saint Paul’s grave. The church features a portrait of every Pope that has served the church. Climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel this evening. Day 3 - Ancient Rome After touring, you will be transferred to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Odyssey of the Seas. Day 4 - Return to USA Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion. *A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.
*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.