Cruising after the footsteps of St. Paul

Day 01, Thursday  Athens
On arrival you will be met by our assistant and transferred to your hotel by your private vehicle. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Athens


Day 02, Friday  Athens
In the morning we will climb the marble-capped Acropolis and visit the famous Parthenon and the Erechtheum. Then, we go to nearby Mars' Hill (or Areopagus) (Acts 17:22) where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon. Then we will explore the old agora (market place).

The remainder of the afternoon will be free for shopping and individual museum visits. Overnight stay in Athens


Day 03, Saturday  Athens / On Board
Mid day transfer from your hotel to Pireaus port for embarkation on your cruise ship and paperwork followed by departure at 4pm. Overnight on board.


Day 04, Sunday  Thessaloniki
Morning arrival in Thessaloniki. Full day tour of the biblical city of Veria is included in the cruise program. We travel by air conditioned coach from the port of Thessaloniki to the Citadel and Vlatadon Monastery, where St. Paul reached during his Second Missionary Journey. We then leave Thessaloniki for a one-hour drive through the countryside to reach the city of Veria (called “Berroia” in the Bible), St. Paul’s next stop after Vlatadon – it was here that he preached to the city’s “noble Jews” – we pay a visit to the traditional Tribune, where three in situ steps coexist with a recently finished mosaic of the Saint that commemorates this sermon.

Today Veria is the capital of the regional unit of Imathia and the largest exporter of agricultural products in the region. It may have been inhabited as early as 1000 BC. Paul is the patron saint of Veria, which was named for one of the daughters of the mythological King Veris.

There will be time to wander and explore and shop in this marvelous ancient city before we return to the harbor at Thessaloniki for departure of the ship at 8pm. Overnight on board.


Day 05, Monday  Kavala
Morning arrival in Kavala. The ship will be staying in town till late afternoon, 4pm. Overnight on board.


Day 06, Tuesday  Istanbul 
Morning arrival in Istanbul, Turkey where we will spend the whole day. Late departure from port of Istanbul at 8pm. Overnight on board.


Day 07, Wednesday Dikili 
We will arrive in Turkish port of Dikili mid day, where we will have a long half day to spend in town till 8pm. Overnight on board.


Day 08, Thursday   Kusadasi
Early morning call at the Turkish town of Kusadasi, with the famous ancient site of Ephesus.

Here you will have the full day Ephesus & Miletus Tour included in your cruise program.

Our first stop after leaving lovely Kusadasi is the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Bulbul (“canary”). In 1957 the Vatican recognized the House of the Virgin Mary as the dwelling in which the Virgin spent the final years of her life.  

We then visit St. John the Evangelist’s Basilica, a cross-shaped chapel built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian.

Our next stop is Ancient Ephesus, one of the 12 cities of Ionia. This is a stunning marvel in the hills above the Aegean coast, one of the world’s largest open-air archeological museums. Founded by the ancient Greeks circa 2000 BC, it was the wealthiest of the Ionian cities and one of the most important cultural centers in the Mediterranean.

From Ancient Ephesus we drive to the ancient city of Miletus, near the coast, which was one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the ancient Greek world. St. Paul stopped here on his Third Missionary Journey, on his way back to Jerusalem.

After our tour of Miletus we return to the ship. Very late departure from Kusadasi at 11.30pm. Overnight on board.


Day 09, Friday  Patmos 
Very early arrival on the Greek island of Patmos. We will have a full day to spend here till the departure of the ship at 6.30pm.


Day 10, Saturday Athens
Very early morning arrival at Pireaus port in Athens where you will be met by your private vehicle and transferred to the airport for your flight return home or your preferred hotel to spend more days in the city of Athens.

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