Day 1 - 2d & 3d Journeys of the Apostle Paul
Friday, October 20
Itinerary:
Arrive in Istanbul, Turkiye.
Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Sheraton
Saturday, October 21
Pre-Trip Information: Itinerary:
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 A.D.). The church has 107 columns, fossil embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. Visit the Topkapi Palace and home of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Conclude the day at the 4th-century Chora Church and see the magnificent mosaics and frescoes (B, D).
Accommodation: Sheraton
Sunday, October 22
Port of Call: Istanbul, Turkiye
Ship Sails: 8:00 PM
Welcome Aboard Meeting
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 5:00 PM
Itinerary:
Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Embark the Azamara Onward this afternoon (B, D).
Monday, October 23
Port of Call: Kavala,
Greece
Ship Arrives: 1:30 PM
Ship Sails: 8:00 PM
Group Lecture
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 9:30 AM
Shore Excursion:
Philippi
Meet in the Cabaret
Lounge at 2:40 PM
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.
Tuesday, October 24
Port of Call: Thessaloniki, Greece
Ship Arrives: 8:00 AM
Ship Sails: 8:00 PM
Evening Concert
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 8:00 PM
Shore Excursion:
Thessaloniki
Meet in the Cabaret
Lounge at 8:30 AM
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.
Wednesday, October 25
Port of Call: Volos, Greece
Ship Arrives: 7:30 AM
Ship Sails: 6:00 PM
Open Panel Discussion
on Methodism
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 9:00 PM
Shore Excursion:
Meteora
Meet in the Cabaret
Lounge at 7:30 AM
Journey today through the rock forests of Meteora in the western Thessaly province, and wonder at the rough terrain that Paul walked in his missionary treks. Here, monasteries were built by monks seeking refuge from persecution and the world. Beginning in the 14th century in caves, the monks eventually moved to higher ground and built wooden structures that were later replaced by the stone monasteries we see today. We will visit one or more of these monasteries. Lunch is on your own today.
Thursday, October 26
Port of Call: Kusadasi, Turkiye
Ship Arrives: 10:30 AM
Ship Sails: 8:00 PM
Group Lecture
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 8:00 AM
Shore Excursion:
Ephesus
Meet in the Cabaret
Lounge at 12:30 PM
Drive for an afternoon visit to Ephesus, where Paul had a two-year ministry and where the disciple John and Jesus’ mother, Mary, are buried. With a population of more than 250,000, Ephesus was the fourth-largest city in the world. View the Library of Celsus, originally built in 125 AD, which once held nearly 12,000 scrolls. Visit the temples of Hadrian and Domitian and the great theater, where Paul witnessed. Visit the Terrace Houses, which give us great insight into family life during the Roman period.
Friday, October 27
Port of Call: Santorini, Greece
Ship Arrives: 8:00 AM
Ship Sails: 6:00 PM
Group Lecture
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 8:15 PM
Shore Excursion:
Santorini
Explore Santorini, one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands. Today, your pre purchased excursion will be through Azamara. Please review the purchased optional excursion page of your finals booklet to confirm if you have an excursion today!
Saturday, October 28
Port of Call: Piraeus, Greece
Ship Arrives: 9:00 AM
Ship Sails: Overnight
White Night Celebration
Location: Pool Deck
Time: TBA
Shore Excursion:
Corinth
Please check the daily
program for your meeting place and time!
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 many 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. Couples will have the opportunity to renew their wedding vows.
Sunday, October 29
Port of Call: Piraeus, Greece
Ship Sails: All Day
Group Lecture
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 8:00 AM
Disembarkation &
Farewell
Location: Cabaret Lounge
Time: 6:00 PM
Shore Excursion: Athens
Meet your bus on the
Pier at 9:00 AM
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 Erectheum. 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. There will be shuttles available every 30 mins until 6:00 PM.
Monday, October 30
Port of Call: Piraeus, Greece
Itinerary:
Return to the USA
L&D Greek Optional Excursions:
VERIA AND VERGINA
Depart to the countryside of Northern Greece through Veria (biblical Berea), where Paul preached. Continue onto the small town of Vergina to visit the recently unearthed Royal Macedonian tombs and archaeological ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was here that Philip II, Alexander the Great’s father, was assassinated and buried along with many stunning treasures which you can see on the visit. We will all make our way back to the ship together in time for dinner onboard!
BEST OF SANTORINI
It is a full day tour of Santorini to see all the best sites. Your first stop is Akrotiri, an ancient site that was unearthed in 1967 after being shrouded for over 3,000 years. After seeing the island’s ancient history, your tour continues to a traditional winery to sample the fruit of the local vine before moving along to Oia, a picturesque village perched high atop the cliffs of Santorini. We will then travel to the Kamari area, where you will enjoy a lively Greek celebration with traditional food, local wine, and Greek dancing in one of Santorini's renowned restaurants. You'll then continue to Fira, the island's lovely capital that's built on the rim of the caldera wall before returning to the cruise port.
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