Cruising with Holland America is a great experience and great value. Shore excursions are included in the four main cities of interest - Galilee and Jerusalem in Israel, Athens, and Ephesus.
Tour 603.
Day 1. Wednesday. September 27, 2023 DEPART AUCKLAND
Depart Auckland.
Day 2. Thursday. September 28. ARRIVE ATHENS. (B)
Arrive Athens. Transfer to accommodation.
Day 3. Friday September 29. ATHENS (B)
This morning we climb to the Acropolis and visit the Parthenon, nearby Mars Hill, and pass by the Tomb of the unknown soldier, Parliament House, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Hadrian’s Arch.
Day 4. Saturday. September 30. ATHENS - MYCENAE AND CORINTH (BD)
Explore the imposing ruins of Mycaenae, the ancient city Homer called 'a city rich in gold'. Enter the city by the Lions Gate and visit Agamemnons Royal Palace. Continue to ancient Corinth and explore the city where Paul taught. See the Corinth canal and return to Athens.
Day 5. Sunday. October 01. SAIL FROM GREECE (B)
Free morning in Athens and this afternoon join "Nieuw Statendam" in Piraeus. Sail at 5pm. (Nieuw Statendam. 99,500 gross tons, 2,666 guests, 1036 crew, 12 restaurants, 8 lounges,spa and salon).
Day 6. Monday October 02. AT SEA (BLD)
Full day at sea to enjoy all the facilities, food, and entertainment of your ship.
Day 7. Tuesday October 03. NAFPLION - GREECE (BLD)
Arrive 8am - sail 5pm. Optional tours available. (Tender required for shore)
Day 8. Wednesday October 04. MYKONOS, Greece (BLD)
Arrive 8am - sail 5pm. (Tender required for shore).
Day 9. Thursday October 05. IRAKLION (Crete) Greece (BLD)
Arrive 8am - sail 5pm. Optional tours available.
Day 10. Friday October 06. AT SEA (BLD)
Day at sea to relax and get ready for Israel. Optional seminar on board
Day 11. Saturday October 07. HAIFA. (Israel) (BLD)
Arrive 8am. Disembark after breakfast and drive across the Valley of Jezreel to Nazareth. Visit the Church of the Annunciation and the ancient Israel Village presenting life in Israel as it was at the time of Jesus Christ. Continue to the Mt of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the 'Sermon on the Mount', Tabgha where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and Capernaum where Jesus lived during part of his ministry. See the 2nd century Synagogue and enjoy a cruise on Lake Galilee and fish lunch before returning to our ship with some sightseeing in Haifa if there is time. The ship stays in Haifa overnight.
Day 12. Sunday October 08. HAIFA - JERUSALEM. (BLD)
Disembark after breakfast and drive to the ancient port of Caesarea, one of King Herod's masterpieces before driving to Jerusalem.Visit the Mt of Olives for a fabulous panoramic view over the ancient city of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City through the Jewish Quarter and see the 'Cardo', part of an unearthed main Roman thoroughfare from 2,000 years ago and marketplace. Visit David's City and walk the newly opened original path from the pool of Siloam to the temple on which Jesus and the disciples walked. Also visit the Western Wall and Temple Mount (subject to political conditions on the day) and walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This afternoon visit the Israeli Museum to see the model of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus Christ and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Bethlehem and the Shepherds fields. (A visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum) instead of the Israel Museum can be arranged). Overnight at a hotel in Jerusalem and this evening enjoy the Sound and Light spectacle at the Tower of David. (The ship cruises to Ashdod overnight)
Day 13. Monday October 09. JERUSALEM - DEAD SEA - SAIL FROM ASHDOD (BLD)
We take the road going down to Jericho and visit the Qumrun caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and the oasis of Ein Gedi where King David hid then take time for a short swim in the Dead Sea. Climb the hills to Bethlehem and visit the Shepherds Fields before returning to our ship in Ashdod for dinner. Sail at 8pm.
Day 14. Tuesday October 10. LIMASSOL (Cyprus) (BLD
Arrive 8am - sail 5pm. Optional tours available.
Day 15. Wednesday October 11. RHODES (Greece) (BLD)
Arrive 8am - sail 5pm. Optional tours available
Day 16. Thursday October 12. KUSADASI - EPHESUS (Turkey) (BLD)
Arrive Kusadasi 7am - sail 7pm
Our included tour will take us to one of the best preserved ruins of the ancient Roman Empire - Ephesus. St Paul spent some years here teaching and being a tentmaker and was the subject of a major riot in the Grand Theatre. See the theatre, Celsius library, and the few remaining ruins of the Temple of Diana. We will also visit the traditional house of Mary, mother of Jesus, and Basilica of St John who wrote the book of Revelation on the nearby island of Patmos. See the remains of the nearby Selcuk fortress from the Byzantine and Ottoman era. A traditional Turkish lunch will be provided at a local restaurant.
Day 17. Friday October 13. AT SEA (BLD)
Last day at sea to relax and enjoy the memories of your tour.
Day 18. Saturday October 14. KATAKOLON - Olympia - Greece. (BLD)
Arrive 8am - Sail 5pm. Full day tour available to ancient Olympia.
Day 19. Sunday October 15. ARRIVE PIRAEUS - Athens. (B)
Arrive Piraeus 7am. Disembark and transfer to the airport.
Day 20. Monday October 16. EN ROUTE
Day 21. Tuesday October 17. AUCKLAND ARRIVE
Arrive Auckland and enjoy the memories for the rest of your life
YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAYOVER AND EXPLORE MORE OF GREECE, TURKEY, AND EUROPE.
GREECE EXTENSION.
Day 18. Sunday October 15. ATHENS
Arrive Piraeus and transfer to Athens for one night.
Day 20 . Tuesday October 17. ATHENS – METEORA (BD)
Drive north to the amzing monasteries at Meteora perched high on the mountainous rocks and visit 2 or 3 of the monasteries. Overnight near Meteora
Day 21. Wednesday October 18. METEORA – BEREA–THESSALONIKI (BD)
Drive to Berea where the people were 'more honourable than those in Thessaloniki” in Paul's time and continue to Thessaloniki. This afternoon tour the city, second largest in Greece. See the Egnation Road, Galerius Arch. Citadel, and Rotunda
Day 22. Thursday October 19. PHILIPPI – KAVAL A (BD)
Enjoy a picturesque drive to Philippi where Paul established the first church in Europe. See the river where Lydia met Paul, and the ancient Forum and jail where Paul and Silas were kept. On the return pass Kavala (Neapolis) with panoramic views of the harbour where Paul, and the christian message, arrived over 1900 years ago.
Day 23. Friday October 20. THESSALONIKI DEPART (B)
Depart Thessaloniki
Day 24. Saturday October 21. EN ROUTE
Day 25. Sunday October 22. ARRIVE AUCKLAND
Arrive Auckland this morning
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