Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel to enjoy dinner and overnight.

The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. You will visit Hippodrome Square and the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Visit the underground Cisterns dating to Byzantine times. Walk through Hagia Sophia, which was the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years, built by Justinian (532 -537 AD). The church has 107 columns; fossil imbedded white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. 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.

This morning, start your sightseeing visiting the Spice Market of 17th century where you can still feel the profusion of the oriental herbs and spices. Following the market experience, enjoy your cruising on Bosphorus on a regular cruise on the Bosphorus, the strait dividing Europe with Asia; an ideal way to appreciate the position of this beautiful and historic city with mansions, palaces and villages lining the passage to the Black Sea. Transfer to the port to embark on the Norwegian Viva this afternoon.

Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and a population of 250,000. Although spectacular excavations have revealed much of the glory of ancient Ephesus, including the huge agora and library, much has been lost. The ancient world once declared the Temple of Artemis to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World but today, only a single column remains to mark its site. You will have time to explore on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul.

Get the real, authentic Rhodes experience by exploring it on foot. Begin in picturesque Old Town, where you will pass through 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. Afterwards, stop for a refreshment in a local café. Exploring Rhodes on foot will inevitably leave a lasting impression on you. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Norwegian and are not included.

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. Wander the streets and enjoy the shops on your way to the Kolossi Castle built by the Order of St. John in 1210 in the city center of Limassol. Take a trip to Paphos from Limassol to explore ancient ruins, archaeological sites and the goddess of love's mythical birthplace. Travel past the Temple of Apollo on the way to this UNESCO-recognized city and discover elaborate tombs in a 3rd-century necropolis.

Explore the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It contains 120,000 artifacts! Then, head to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the only existing Wonders of the Ancient World. Nearby, view the Great Sphinx of Giza, the largest and most well-known Sphinx.

See the sights in Egypt’s second-largest city, Alexandria. The large Jewish community that once called this area home wrote the Septuagint - a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. It was also home to the Great Library of Alexandria, which once held one of the most extensive collections of ancient texts. Make your way through Alexandria’s side streets to the catacombs consisting of three burial chamber levels. Visit Pompey’s Pillar, the largest triumphal column and the only known free-standing column of Roman Egypt. The amphitheater of Alexandria is one of the city’s most distinguished highlights and is set within view of many modern structures. Glimpse the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century fortress situated on the northern tip of Pharos Island.

At Sea

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 can be booked directly through Norwegian and are not included.

Arrive in Santorini today, one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands where picturesque, whitewashed villages topped with brilliant blue domes stand in stark contrast to the sheer drop cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. The island itself perches on the edges of a volcano whose eruption 3,500 years ago is thought to have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization. Explore the island on your own or join one of the optional excursions available for purchase onboard. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Norwegian and are not included.

Nestled in the heart of Greece’s Cyclades archipelago, Mykonos pulses with irrepressible energy. With its powder white houses and sparkling blue waters, the Island of the Winds is as colorful as the people who call the island home. You can walk narrow marble pathways laced with purple bougainvillea blooms or go cycling on two wheels past off-the-path Ano Mera village. Explore Greece’s maritime history at Armenistis Lighthouse and check out the Folklore Museum’s Mykonian ship models. At the end of the day, watch the sun burn out beyond an Aegean horizon from an open-air seaside taverna. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Norwegian and are not included.

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 much 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. Then 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 view 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 evening on your own to shop, dine, or experience the Acropolis by night. Overnight in Athens.

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