Hosted Cruises

ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS HOLYLAND CRUISE 2020

Venice – Greece – Israel

19 Days 20 September – 08 October, 2020 from just $9,990 ex Auckland.

Featuring a 14 night Holland America “Veendam” Holyland cruise

** 1 night Venice with sightseeing (Post cruise Rome option)

** 14 night cruise from Venice to Hvar and Dubrovnik (Croatia), Corfu and Crete (Greece), Haifa and Ashdod (Israel), Kusadasi (Ephesus, Turkey), Piraeus and Katakolon ( Athens and Olympia, Greece), Venice.

** Included tours to Galilee, Jerusalem, Ephesus, and Athens.

Day 1. Sunday. 20 September, 2020 AUCKLAND DEPART

Depart Auckland today

Day 2. Monday 21 September VENICE ARRIVE (D)

Arrive Venice and transfer to our hotel. Time to relax. Evening stroll in the Plaza.

Day 3. Tuesday 22 September VENICE (BD)

Morning guided walking tour of Venice and gondola ride. This afternoon transfer to our home for the next 14 nights, Holland America's cruise ship “Veendam” Sail at 5pm. (“Veendam” 57,092 tons. 1,350 passengers. 568 crew. 220 metres).

Day 4. Wednesday 23 September HVAR, Croatia. (BLD)

Arrive Hvar 10am – sail at 6pm. Optional tours available

Day 5. Thursday 24 September DUBROVNIK, Croatia (BLD)

Arrive 8am – Sail 5pm. Optional tours available

Day 6. Friday 25 September KERKIRA, (Corfu), Greece (BLD)

Arrive 8am – Sail 5pm Optional tours available

Day 7. Saturday 26 September AT SEA (BLD)

A free day to relax and enjoy the facilities of your ship.

Day 8. Sunday 27 September AGIOS NIKOLAOS, Crete, Greece (BLD)

Arrive 8am – sail 6pm Optional tours available.

Day 9. Monday 28 September AT SEA (BLD)

A free day to relax and enjoy the facilities of your ship. Optional introduction to 4,000 years of history we will be experiencing in Israel!

Day 10. Tuesday 29 September. HAIFA GALILEE Israel (BLD)

Arrive 8am – sail 11pm.

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. Then on to Galilee to the Mt of Beatitudes where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount, Tabgha the traditional site where Jesus performed the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, and Capernaum to visit the Synagogue where Jesus taught, and Peter's House. Lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee on fish from Galilee and enjoy a cruise on the Lake before returning to our ship. Sail at 11pm.

Day 11. Wednesday 30 September ASHDOD. JERUSALEM - Israel (BLD)

Arrive Ashdod 7am. Drive to Jerusalem and the Mt of Olives for a panoramic view over the ancient city including the Kidron Valley, Golden Gate, and Temple Mount. Pause in the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. Enter the old city to visit the 2nd century Cardo and remains of the walls of the 2nd Temple. We visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa, Western Wall, and Temple Mount. Also visit the Garden Tomb if there is time. Return to our ship and sail at 8pm.

Day 12. Thursday 01 October. AT SEA (BLD)

A day to relax, reflect, recuperate and enjoy your ship.

Day 13. Friday 02 October. KUSADASI – EPHESUS – Turkey (BLD)

Arrive Kusadasi 7am – sail 7pm.

Full day excursion to ancient Ephesus, one of the best preserved cities of the ancient Roman Empire included. Walk the streets where Paul walked, see the library, Agora, and Grand Theatre and the remains of the Temple of Artemis. Also visit Mary's house.

Day 14. Saturday 03 October. ATHENS (BLD)

Arrive Piraeus 8am. Sail 6pm

Our included excursion includes a 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 before returning to the ship.

Typical Greek lunch included.

Day 15. Sunday 04 October KATAKOLON – Greece (BLD)

Arrive Katakolon 10am. Sail 8pm

Optional (extra cost) excursion to ancient Olympia, original home of the Olympic Games first held in 776 BC. This was a sacred precinct of the god Zeus, whose temple once housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. See the ancient stadium.

Day 16. Monday 05 October AT SEA (BLD)

Final day at sea to relax.

Day 17. Tuesday 06 October.  VENICE DEPART (B)

Arrival at Venice is scheduled for 7am. We disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our flight home.

You are welcome to extend your stay and explore the wonders of Italy and Europe.

Join our 3 night excursion to Rome, explore on your own, or Trafalgar offer a wide range of tours of Italy and Europe.

Day 18. Wednesday 07 October EN ROUTE

Day 19 Thursday 08 October AUCKLAND ARRIVE

Arrive Auckland today

 

Tour cost per person share twin room/cabin in New Zealand dollars

Oceanview Cabin $9,990

Verandah Cabin $13,960

Upgrade to Premium Economy air fares Add $2,000 per person

Upgrade to Business Class Add $4,000 per person

 

Tour cost includes
** Return economy class air fares from Auckland to Venice

** 1 night in Venice with morning tour and transfers

** 14 night cruise aboard " VEENDAM" from Venice to Venice including all meals and entertainment.

** Full day tours to Galilee, Jerusalem, Ephesus, and Athens.

** Services of tour escort from Auckland.subject to minimum of 10

Not included:

** Travel Insurance – essential

** Personal expenses

** Wines with meals Deposit 20% Balance 15 June, 2020

 

Add 3 nights Rome.

Day 17. Tuesday 06 October VENICE – ROME (BD)

We take the fast train to Rome and transfer to our hotel.

Day 18. Wednesday 07 October ROME (BD) Enjoy the day sightseeing in ancient Rome including St Peters Square, Vatican City and Museum, Sistine Chapel, Tiber, Colliseum, and St Paul's Cathedral..

Day 19. Thursday 08 October ROME (BD)

Free day to explore at your leisure.

 

Day 20. Friday 09 October ROME (B)

Transfer to the airport for departure.

Extra cost per person 2 per room $790 Single room $1.150

 

 

DISCOVER EUROPE before your Holyland cruise

Features:

8 day tour Warsaw, Krakow, Prague 14 night cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam

1 night Amsterdam

26 Days. 05 October – 30 October 2020

21 Days excluding Poland