Rome, Italy

Today you arrive into Italy and transfer to your awaiting ship, the Odyssey of the Seas

Cruising

Enjoy your day at sea exploring the ship and all the fun areas.

Today we will enjoy an onboard group activity--a faith-based devotional for those who'd like to join us.  A highlight this afternoon will be a private meet and greet with Gentri, The Gentleman Trio!

Cruising

Today, enjoy the ship and time with our group. Some of the activities offered are scrapbooking- Turn your memories into something beautiful with a vacation scrapbook. Learn how to build themed pages with textured borders, cutouts and embellishments. Or, for the more game-minded, check out the billiards room- A game of pool may seem challenging on a cruise ship, but not if you have a gyroscopic pool table. Bring your A-game and experience the first self-leveling pool tables at sea.

Today we will have a lecture with our own religious teachers, Dann Hone and Larry Gelwix, who will prepare us for our upcoming days in Israel.  If you are joining our 3 day Holy Land Shore Excursion Package, they will prepare you for all you will see and do.  For those who choose to explore Israel on their own, Dann and Larry will be happy help you prepare your journey as well.

This afternoon we'll enjoy our first concert with the dynamic tenors of Gentri! 

Limassol, Cyprus

Limassol is a picturesque Mediterranean town on the coast of idyllic Cyprus. It's a favorite destination for Europeans, and many cruise itineraries let you see this Mediterranean treasure for yourself. The region holds a ton of historical significance as it was the alleged birthplace of Aphrodite, and a significant part of the Crusades. Limassol's landscape is a mixture of striking cliffs and beautiful beaches mixed with developed resort towns full of fantastic entertainment, shopping and dining options. 

Jerusalem, Israel

After you arrive at the port at Ashdod, it's a one-hour drive to Jerusalem, the city sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. Enter the Old City through one of the eight gates, built in the early 16th century by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent — see the ferocious-looking animal carvings of the Lion's Gate or the flower rosettes carved above Herod's Gate. Cruise to Jerusalem and take in the smell of Arabian coffee, incense and spices at one of the markets of the Old City as you venture to the historic Wailing Wall. Enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and see its ornate shrines and austere icons. Then, head to the nearby Dome of the Rock, with its distinctive gold dome and traditional Islamic geometric designs.

Optional 3-day Group Holy Land Excursion:  Sold Out

Today we depart the ship and travel to Jerusalem! In the next day and a half, we will visit the sites of Christ's birth, many miracles, and his ultimate suffering in Gethsemane followed by his death and resurrection at the Garden Tomb.  There is so much to see. We will stay in a hotel in the city tonight to maximize our time and enhance the visit. After dinner, for those interested, we will make a special trip to the Olivewood stores for shopping for that special souvenir. 

On day 2 we leave the Holy City and travel by way of the Dead Sea towards Galilee, taking in as many sites as time allows.  Our night tonight will be spent on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  We will have a special “fireside” musical devotional by Gentri.  On day 3, our last day we will visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the ruins of Capernaum, among other biblical sites before making our way this afternoon to the port city of Haifa.  We will visit the Bahia Gardens before rejoining our cruise ship to continue our journey. (Breakfasts and dinners included in tour cost.)

Jerusalem, Israel

Some things to do in Jerusalem: Head to the Temple Mount, an large public space sacred to all three monotheist religions. Visit the iconic gold-plated Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, built in 705 AD. The plaza is surrounded by walls, including the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site. Tourists and pilgrims alike write prayers on pieces of paper and crumple them into the crevices of the wall.

Join the pilgrims to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of Christianity's most sacred sites. It is believed by many Christians that the church that stands today was built on the spot where Jesus' resurrection occurred. It was built in 335, destroyed in 1009 and gradually rebuilt. When you enter the sanctuary, take in the smell of frankincense and the contemplative candlelight.

Haifa, Israel

Set on the slopes of Mount Carmel, Haifa is Israel's Mediterranean oasis. Stroll around the smart German Colony, with its restored streets settled in the 1860s lined with restaurants, cafes and art galleries. Continue toward the tropical Bah'ai Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and take a meditative walk around the 19 different terraced gardens. Cruise to Haifa, Israel and visit the Shrine of the Bab, with its striking golden dome composed of 12,000 tiles. For even better views, climb up to the Viewing Balcony to look down on the shrine and out toward the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps it's time to relax on the beach now? Pop down to Bat Galim for windsurfing or a stroll along the boardwalk.

Cruising

Ephesus, Turkey

The UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Ephesus impress even those familiar with the world's other ancient cities. Though excavations have been underway for 150 years, only 20 percent of the city has been uncovered. Check out the the Celsus Library — built in 117 A.D., the site is made up of towering columns highlighted by the statue of the goddess of wisdom. Cruises to Ephesus will give you a taste of Turkish life by strolling the seafront promenade and the bustling city center. Walk Marble Street, paved with actual marble slabs, which takes you from downtown to the Temple of Artemis — you can still see one lone remaining column from this wonder of the ancient world.

Optional Excursion 2 pack for Ephesus and Athens- Sold Out

In Ephesus, we will depart the port of Kusadasi and drive to “Mary’s House” one of the believed sites of where Mother Mary, the virgin, may have lived and died after her son's crucifixion.  From here we travel to the ancient site of Ephesus where Paul preached and converted many.  It is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman sites with much to see and explore.  After an optional lunch stop, we will visit the Basilica of John before driving back to our awaiting ship.

Athens, Greece

Athens offers a looking glass back in time into Greece's powerful ancient civilization. Art lovers, epicureans and history buffs will be delighted by the ancient ruins, museums and tavernas of this picturesque town. Just 10 minutes from the port, you'll find the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, filled with sculptures from the Bronze Age to the Romans. Walk to the Zea Harbour to discover how the Hellenic Maritime Museum will bring to life the grandeur of ancient Greece's naval capacities. Jump onboard an Athens cruise and relax at the small harbor of Mikrolimano, enjoying a meal of grilled octopus and chilled white wine at a small restaurant overlooking the sea.

Optional Excursion 2 pack for Ephesus and Athens- Sold Out

In Athens, it is all about Paul and Acts 17.  Our private guide will give us a wonderful tour of the city including Syntagma Square and the Olympic stadium, but it will be when we head to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon and Mars Hill your heart will start to race.  We’ll hear Paul's sermon about the unknown Gods and climb to the top of the Parthenon and walk around the monumental ruins of the UNESCO-listed site. This afternoon after a lunch stop we’ll visit the ancient site of Corinth.

Cruising

Today we'll enjoy another concert by Gentri. 

Naples, Italy

With a skyline defined by towering Mount Vesuvis, Naples is a bustling Italian city brimming with beauty. Experience its rich neoclassical architecture at sites like Gesu Nuovo Church, with its lavish interior adorned with detailed frescoes, statues and gold inlay. Go even deeper into history at the San Gennaro catacombs, where Naples' first bishops were buried in the second century A.D. Walk along the Miglio Sacro ("Holy Mile") and people-watch your way through the cafes and shops of the Sanita district with a zuccherato (sweetened espresso) in hand. Jump onboard a Naples cruise and take the short bus ride to the base of Mount Vesuvius — it's an easy 20- to 30-minute hike will take you to the summit — and tour the ruins of Pompeii afterward.

Optional Excursion in Pompeii (Naples)- Sold Out

Today our private group will be met at the port by our host to start our tour at the amazing town of Pompeii and discover this city hidden for hundreds of years under the ash of Mt Vesuvius. This city tells many stories of the ancient Romans and their lifestyle and will surely be a tour highlight for all. After a lunch stop, we will travel back to the coast and discover why the Amalfi Coast captures many with its pastel-colored towns and thriving fishing port framed by the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Rome, Italy

Today we return to Rome with a heart full of the many spiritual and historical sites we've experienced that are forever now part of us, with memories to last a lifetime.