Apostle Paul Greek Cruise with Turkey and Rome
Itinerary for family and friends:
While your family/friends are on the tour, you can follow their itinerary on our website www.ReformationTours.com. Just go to current tours and click on "The Apostle Paul Greek Cruise with Turkey & Rome"
Day 1: Tuesday, October 30, 2012: Depart
Their international adventure begins with the flights from Honolulu to London.
Day 2: Wednesday, October 31, 2012: Flights
On arrival in London, they will meet their local guide and enjoy a private bus tour of London, including the British Museum.
Day 3: Thursday, November 1, 2012: Arrival in Athens
On arrival in Athens, they are greeted at the airport and taken on a panoramic orientation tour of Athens, including Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Constitution Square with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the Panathenian Stadium, the Academy, the University, the National Library, and the National Archeological Museum. They will enjoy a welcome dinner at their hotel in Athens this evening.
Day 4: Friday, November 2, 2012: Athens, Cruise
After a buffet breakfast, they board the Louis Cristal Cruise ship and check into their cabins. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the ship’s facilities.
Day 5: Saturday, November 3, 2012: Istanbul
After a beautiful sail up the coastline of Greece, they arrive in Istanbul early in the morning. Formerly Byzantium, the center of the Eastern Roman Empire, this city is built on seven green hills and situated astride two continents. East meets West in every way. They will visit the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque with its six minarets, and St. Sofia, converted to a mosque from a Christian basilica after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. After lunch they visit the Topkapı Palace and then return to the ship.
Day 6: Sunday, November 4, 2012: Izmir, Pergamon
Today’s tour from Izmir (their port) is to Pergamon, the great city of Bergama and a city of the Book of Revelation. It is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey. They will return to the ship for dinner.
Day 7: Monday, November 5, 2012: Mykonos
They will arrive at the picturesque island of Mykonos in the early evening. Optional tours are available or they can choose to just enjoy free time on the island.
Day 8: Tuesday, November 6, 2012: Ephesus, Patmos
After docking in Kusadasi, they visit Ephesus, the most impressive archeological site in Turkey, including the Great Amphitheater where Paul spoke to the Ephesians. In the afternoon they sail to the Greek Island of Patmos, where they are greeted with a view of St. John’s Monastery and a charming whitewashed port town. Patmos is where John was held in captivity for preaching the gospel. They will visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse and see where John was inspired to write the book of Revelation, including the letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. They will also tour the Byzantine St. John Monastery in the village of Chora and the incredible museum housing Byzantine relics and other artifacts.
Day 9: Wednesday, November 7, 2012: Rhodes
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands and is a delightful mix of Greek and Turkish culture. They will have a free day to explore the Old Town or take an optional excursion combining Rhodes and Lindos, one of the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. They will return to their ship in the late afternoon and sail to Crete.
Day 10: Thursday, November 8, 2012: Crete, Santorini
Crete is best known for the great Minoan Civilization and being the mythical home of Zeus. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum has wonderful examples of Minoan frescoes and other artifacts. There is an optional excursion to Knossos Palace , which is a mazelike series of interconnected rooms. They will return to the ship to sail to Santorini, Greece’s most scenic island. An optional tour to the town of Oia is available this afternoon.
Day 11: Friday, November 9, 2012: Athens, Corinth
On arrival in Athens, they disembark the cruise ship and begin the tour of Athens. They will visit other masterpieces of the "Golden Age" including the Acropolis, the Agora and Mars Hill where Paul taught. Continuing on to ancient Corinth, they visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked and see the remains of first-century shops, the agora where Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the museum. They will then board the overnight ferry to Italy.
Day 12: Saturday, November 10, 2012: Pompeii, Rome
Their third country of the tour is Italy and they’ll begin with a tour of Pompeii, where they visit the spectacular ruins that were covered by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The city remained buried and undiscovered for almost 1500 years until excavation began in 1748. These excavations continue today, providing insight into life during the Roman Empire. After lunch in a local restaurant in Pompeii, they continue to Rome and check into the Park Hotel dei Massimi.
Day 13: Sunday, November 11, 2012: Imperial Rome
This morning they discover Imperial Rome. Paul wrote to the Christians of Rome and he eventually went there where his ministry continued, although he was technically a prisoner. They will experience the glory of Imperial Rome when they visit the Coliseum, famous as a place of spectacle and death. Circus Maximus, built during the reign of Nero, was able to seat 250,000 spectators for chariot races and other spectacles. They will also see the Roman Forum, the Arch of Titus Via Del Corso, Piazza de Spagnia, and enjoy the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
Day 14: Monday, November 12, 2012: Christian Rome
Today they will discover the Vatican Museum, home to many of the world's masterpieces, including the Sistine Chapel. In St. Peter's Basilica, we’ll see Michelangelo's "Pieta," the only work signed by the master. They will travel along the famous Apian Way, walk through the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, and visit Tre Fontane, where the Apostle Paul was beheaded.
Day 15: Tuesday, November 13, 2012: Flights
They will say goodbye to Europe this morning as they fly back to Hawaii from London.
Itinerary for family and friends:
While your family/friends are on the tour, you can follow their itinerary on our website www.ReformationTours.com. Just go to current tours and click on "The Apostle Paul Greek Cruise with Turkey & Rome"
Day 1: Tuesday, October 30, 2012: Depart
Their international adventure begins with the flights from Honolulu to London.
Day 2: Wednesday, October 31, 2012: Flights
On arrival in London, they will meet their local guide and enjoy a private bus tour of London, including the British Museum.
Day 3: Thursday, November 1, 2012: Arrival in Athens
On arrival in Athens, they are greeted at the airport and taken on a panoramic orientation tour of Athens, including Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Constitution Square with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the Panathenian Stadium, the Academy, the University, the National Library, and the National Archeological Museum. They will enjoy a welcome dinner at their hotel in Athens this evening.
Day 4: Friday, November 2, 2012: Athens, Cruise
After a buffet breakfast, they board the Louis Cristal Cruise ship and check into their cabins. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the ship’s facilities.
Day 5: Saturday, November 3, 2012: Istanbul
After a beautiful sail up the coastline of Greece, they arrive in Istanbul early in the morning. Formerly Byzantium, the center of the Eastern Roman Empire, this city is built on seven green hills and situated astride two continents. East meets West in every way. They will visit the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque with its six minarets, and St. Sofia, converted to a mosque from a Christian basilica after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. After lunch they visit the Topkapı Palace and then return to the ship.
Day 6: Sunday, November 4, 2012: Izmir, Pergamon
Today’s tour from Izmir (their port) is to Pergamon, the great city of Bergama and a city of the Book of Revelation. It is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey. They will return to the ship for dinner.
Day 7: Monday, November 5, 2012: Mykonos
They will arrive at the picturesque island of Mykonos in the early evening. Optional tours are available or they can choose to just enjoy free time on the island.
Day 8: Tuesday, November 6, 2012: Ephesus, Patmos
After docking in Kusadasi, they visit Ephesus, the most impressive archeological site in Turkey, including the Great Amphitheater where Paul spoke to the Ephesians. In the afternoon they sail to the Greek Island of Patmos, where they are greeted with a view of St. John’s Monastery and a charming whitewashed port town. Patmos is where John was held in captivity for preaching the gospel. They will visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse and see where John was inspired to write the book of Revelation, including the letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. They will also tour the Byzantine St. John Monastery in the village of Chora and the incredible museum housing Byzantine relics and other artifacts.
Day 9: Wednesday, November 7, 2012: Rhodes
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands and is a delightful mix of Greek and Turkish culture. They will have a free day to explore the Old Town or take an optional excursion combining Rhodes and Lindos, one of the most important of the three great cities of ancient times. They will return to their ship in the late afternoon and sail to Crete.
Day 10: Thursday, November 8, 2012: Crete, Santorini
Crete is best known for the great Minoan Civilization and being the mythical home of Zeus. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum has wonderful examples of Minoan frescoes and other artifacts. There is an optional excursion to Knossos Palace , which is a mazelike series of interconnected rooms. They will return to the ship to sail to Santorini, Greece’s most scenic island. An optional tour to the town of Oia is available this afternoon.
Day 11: Friday, November 9, 2012: Athens, Corinth
On arrival in Athens, they disembark the cruise ship and begin the tour of Athens. They will visit other masterpieces of the "Golden Age" including the Acropolis, the Agora and Mars Hill where Paul taught. Continuing on to ancient Corinth, they visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked and see the remains of first-century shops, the agora where Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the museum. They will then board the overnight ferry to Italy.
Day 12: Saturday, November 10, 2012: Pompeii, Rome
Their third country of the tour is Italy and they’ll begin with a tour of Pompeii, where they visit the spectacular ruins that were covered by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The city remained buried and undiscovered for almost 1500 years until excavation began in 1748. These excavations continue today, providing insight into life during the Roman Empire. After lunch in a local restaurant in Pompeii, they continue to Rome and check into the Park Hotel dei Massimi.
Day 13: Sunday, November 11, 2012: Imperial Rome
This morning they discover Imperial Rome. Paul wrote to the Christians of Rome and he eventually went there where his ministry continued, although he was technically a prisoner. They will experience the glory of Imperial Rome when they visit the Coliseum, famous as a place of spectacle and death. Circus Maximus, built during the reign of Nero, was able to seat 250,000 spectators for chariot races and other spectacles. They will also see the Roman Forum, the Arch of Titus Via Del Corso, Piazza de Spagnia, and enjoy the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
Day 14: Monday, November 12, 2012: Christian Rome
Today they will discover the Vatican Museum, home to many of the world's masterpieces, including the Sistine Chapel. In St. Peter's Basilica, we’ll see Michelangelo's "Pieta," the only work signed by the master. They will travel along the famous Apian Way, walk through the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, and visit Tre Fontane, where the Apostle Paul was beheaded.
Day 15: Tuesday, November 13, 2012: Flights
They will say goodbye to Europe this morning as they fly back to Hawaii from London.