Paul's Journeys Cruise | Feb. 13, 2025
For 10 nights, join us for Paul's Journeys Cruise aboard the Celebrity Infinity departing February 13, 2025, starting at $3,199* from New York. You will see Athens, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Ephesus, Rhodes, Corinth, and much more!
Contact: Rosalyn Neville
What's Included
- All Inclusive Pricing
- Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
- Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
- International Airfare from NY
- Meals on Ship
- Port Charges
- Select Shore Excursions
- Cruise
- Overseas Transfers
- Administrative Fee
- Cruise Taxes
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 February 13 – Depart the USA
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.
Day 2 February 14 – Arrive in Athens
You will arrive in Athens, Greece, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the port to board the Celebrity Infinity.
Day 3 February 15 – Philippi, Greece
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 agora, the basilica, and the theater.
Day 4 February 16 – Thessaloniki, Greece
Discover Thessaloniki, the “Queen of the North,” 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. Look upon the Roman agora, the center of political and public life, constructed in the 1st AD. Along the Via Egnatia stands the Galerius Arch, where you can look out over the second-largest city in Greece from the Old City Ramparts, some dating back to Roman times.
Day 5 February 17 – Kusadasi, Turkiye (Ephesus)
Ephesus was the leading one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and had a population of 250,000. Spectacular excavations in the last 110 years have revealed much of the glory of ancient Ephesus, including the huge agora and the Library, much has been lost. Explore the ancient site virtually at the Ephesus Experience Museum where you will see life in Paul’s time. We will view the terrace houses, also known as “the house of the rich,” which give a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. The ancient world once declared the Temple of Artemis one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but today, only a single column remains to mark its site. After enjoying Ephesus, you will embark on another Turkish experience at the Carpet factory for a local lunch and a presentation.
Day 6 February 18 – At Sea
Day at sea.
Day 7 February 19 – Limassol, Cyprus
Go deep into Cyprus’ history as you explore the island today. This beautiful port town is known for its seafood, pottery, leather goods and traditional lace works. Take the coastal route through the Phassouri citrus groves and vineyards to the ancient city-kingdom of Curium with its well-preserved mosaics in the house of Eustolios, its theatre and basilica. Wander around the old fishing harbor near the medieval fort. Visit Paul’s Pillar, which, according to tradition, is where he was tied and whipped by the Romans. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Celebrity and are not included.
Day 8 February 20 – At Sea
Day at sea.
Day 9 February 21 – Rhodes, Greece
Get the real, authentic Rhodes experience by exploring it on foot. Your walking tour will begin in the picturesque Old Town, where you will pass through and learn all about Agora and Collachium, where the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem lived and worked. Marvel at the stunning churches, exquisite Jewish quarter, the Inns of Knights, and the Palace of Grand Masters. You will then tour the palace interior and down the Street of Knights — its path paved with impressive marble and mosaics. Exploring Rhodes on foot will inevitably leave a lasting impression on you.
Day 10 February 22 – Heraklion, Greece
Whether you visit Heraklion, Crete to admire the remains of the ancient civilization or simply to soak in the rays on some of the best beaches in Europe, the city is guaranteed to delight and amaze you. Don’t miss one of the most popular attractions of Crete: the 3000-year-old Palace of Knossos located south of Heraklion. The Palace of Knossos was the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Celebrity and are not included.
Day 11 February 23 – Athens & Corinth, Greece
Discover the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as you explore 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 this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you”. Also view the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon, tour the city of Corinth, where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla 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 much people in this city”. As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized, establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles. Discover the Archaeological Museum, Market Place and Temples. As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews.
Day 12 February 24 – Return to the USA
Return to the USA.
Enhance Your Journey
Turkiye Pre-Tour
FEBRUARY 9 - 14, 2025 | FOR $1,798*
February 9 – Depart the USA
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your
international overnight flight.
February 10 – Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, Turkiye, where you will be met by our
representative. Check into your hotel this evening and enjoy
dinner and your overnight stay.
February 11 – Istanbul
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. You will also
visit the Topkapi Palace, once home to royal sultans. Inside,
you will see the fabled jewels of the treasury, delicate displays
of Chinese porcelain in the kitchen quarters, and the provocative
harem quarters. Walk through Hagia Sophia, which was the
largest church in Christendom for 1,000 years, built by Justinian
(532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded
white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Enjoy the
aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as
you explore the Spice Bazaar. Over 4,000 shops sell everything
from herbs to gold. Fly to the Cappadocia area this evening for
dinner and your overnight stay.
February 12 – Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia and visit the Zelve Valley. As you drive
through Cappadocia, enjoy some free time at various photo
stops in this magnificent landscape full of fairy chimneys. Visit
the Goreme Open-Air Museum before returning to your hotel.
February 13 – Cappadocia/Istanbul
You can take an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia
this morning for an additional fee. Fly this afternoon to Istanbul.
Enjoy a cruise on the Bosphorus River, then check into your hotel
for dinner and your overnight stay.
February 14 – Flight to Athens
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Athens. Upon arrival,
transfer to Piraeus and board the Celebrity Infinity cruise ship.
Optional Hot Air Balloon is approximately $250 per person
Rome Post-Tour
FEBRUARY, 24 - 27, 2025 | FOR $1,498*
February 24 – Depart Athens for Rome
Transfer to Athens airport for your flight to Rome. Arrive in Rome,
Italy, where you will be met by our representative and travel along
the Appian Way. Step beneath the surface into the Catacombs of
Callixtus, built along the Appian Way. Here, sixteen popes from the
2nd through 4th centuries were interred, though they have been
removed to various churches over the centuries. Check into your
hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest.
February 25 – Ancient Rome
Discover the history woven throughout Rome with visits to the
Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum, Circus Maximus, the Arch
of Titus, the Baths of Caracalla, and the Arch of Constantine today.
After touring, return to your hotel for dinner and rest.
February 26 – Vatican City & Christian Rome
Visit the Vatican and explore its museum. Marvel at the beauty of
St. Peter’s Basilica and stand in awe of Michelangelo’s frescoes
in the Sistine Chapel. Next, see the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside
the Walls. The present structure stands over the place where
Constantine built the first church, which is over Saint Paul’s grave.
The church features a portrait of every pope who has served the
church. Climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous
Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel this evening for
dinner and rest.
February 27 – Return to the USA
Bid farewell to Rome as you transfer to the Rome airport this
morning for your return flight to the USA.
Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than
their group and/or traveling companion.
Departure Dates
-
Thursday, February 13, 2025From $3199