(11 day first class package) 

Available to Groups March - November

Day 1: Departure
Today we begin our adventure to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2: Arrive in Rome
Upon our arrival in Rome we will be met by a Pilgrim Tours representative and enjoy a transfer to the hotel.  We will enjoy the remainder of our day at leisure with dinner at our hotel.

Day 3: Christian Rome
After breakfast we will enjoy a full day private tour of Christian Rome to include the Vatican Museums, Coliseum and Catacombs.  Our evening will be at our leisure for dinner and overnight. 

Day 4: Rome with Overnight Ferry to Greece
After breakfast we will enjoy a free morning to shop and explore Rome on our own.  This afternoon we will be transferred by private van to the Bari port where we will board a Superfast ferry and enjoy an overnight ferry to Greece.

Day 5: Corinth and Athens
We arrive in Patras where our Pilgrim Tours representative will meet us as we enjoy a private transfer for a half day tour of Biblical Corinth.  The ancient city of Corinth, another treat for the New Testament scholar is the city that inspired many of Paul's most familiar letters. See the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and the Temples. To stand in the midst of the ruins of the church of Corinth and see the pillars, steps, and public worship place where Paul preached will enhance your understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. The ruins of this important cultural center are fascinating as we walk along the stone path that the Apostle Paul walked. The engineering skill and intellect of these people are evident in the water systems that still flow from ancient to modern day.  We will continue to Athens for our dinner and overnight.

Day 6:  Athens
We begin our sightseeing with a tour of Athens, the birth place of democracy. Visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. Additional sites include the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. A short walk from your hotel is the famous Plaka with a multitude of shops and cafes.

Day 7: Cruising Mykonos 
We sail this afternoon from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. This evening we experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes and then stroll the charming walkways through a maze of whitewashed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening activities.  Cruise Ship Info


Day 8: Rhodes 
After breakfast we will visit Rhodes. This ancient fortified city was built by the knights of St. John and is rich in Roman and Greek culture. Stroll down the Street of the Knights to the market area for shopping and a wonderful Greek lunch. You may enjoy an optional tour to the ancient city of Lindos. Magnificently situated between two bays with sandy beaches, an ancient acropolis and medieval castle, Lindos is famous as a most striking and impressive city. Again we return to the ship for dinner.

Day 9: Patmos & Kusadasi, Turkey 
This morning we visit the Isle of Patmos, under statutory protection as a historic monument. You may choose to take an optional tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. Docking in Turkey, enjoy an optional tour of Ephesus, the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city. We'll view the Library, Agora, Temple of Artemis and visit the Basilica of St. John. The basilica is believed to be the site of the grave of  John. From here we'll also enjoy a panoramic view of the area. Back on the ship, enjoy the Captain's dinner before settling in to your cabin for the night.

Day 10 • Optional Day, free time, Delphi or Cape Sounion
Those interested in an optional tour of Delphi will need to disembark early at 700 AM. Those taking this tour will travel to lovely mountain region of Delphi-the ancient sanctuary of Apollo. Here you will gain a greater understanding of the Greek religious heritage and their influence on the early Christian church. We also visit the museum where we will marvel at the site of the Charioteer, a bronze statue so delicate we will see his eyelashes.  You may choose to visit the Plaka where you can find the finest of jewelry, leather, pottery and marble, or the fun souvenirs all "tourists" enjoy. Be sure to taste the Greek almonds and pistachios from the street vendors. If you choose not to shop, there are several interesting museums including the Museum of Folklore or the National Archaeological Museum. This afternoon, you may chose to travel along a coastal road past many wonderful beaches to the southern most point of Attica, Cape Sounion, where the white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon stand. Today's sightseeing is at your own expense.

Day 11 • Homeward
An early morning flight will bring us home by this afternoon.