Footsteps of Paul Cruise Tour Greece & Turkey 2016 We would like to invite you to join us for a sailing through the Aegean Sea as we follow in the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul to the New Testament sites throughout Greece and Turkey. This 12 day adventure will include 7 nights aboard a magnificent 4-masts clipper ship, The Star Clipper, one of the three mega-yacht sailing clipper ships operated by Star Clippers. We will arrive first in Athens where we ll spend our first two nights at a 4 star hotel and tour the spectacular sights of both Athens and Corinth before boarding the Star Clipper for our sailing adventure through the Aegean Sea. While at sea, our stops will include fabulous sights such as Santorini, Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, and Istanbul. Each port will provide opportunities for you to visit a variety of spectacular sites and during our stops in Ephesus, Patmos and Pergamum we have included special tour excursions for our group. Our pastors will provide us with biblical and spiritual insights into the significance of these historical sites and the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. Our hope is that this unique adventure will be much more than another vacation. We hope this will be a journey that you will long remember as a trip of a lifetime where you experience personally and spiritually the significance of these special places while sharing in a time of rich fellowship with others that share your faith.
Itinerary: April 27 May 8, 2016 Day 1: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 Day 2: Thursday, April 28, 2016 Depart for our Trans-Atlantic flight to Athens Arrive Athens Arrive Athens and transfer to our 4 star hotel in the heart of Athens. Begin with a mini orientation tour of Athens followed by a welcome dinner. Overnight at the 5 star Athens Hilton. Day 3: Friday, April 29 Athens - Greek Easter Holiday sights open at 12:00 Following a full buffet breakfast, we ll start our city tour of Athens seeing world-famous landmarks such as the Acropolis, the 2400 year-old Parthenon, the Olympic stadium from 1896, Temple of Zeus, Mars Hill and the old quarter known as the Plaka. We ll have the afternoon free to explore, shop or rest. The group will meet up for dinner and meeting. Overnight at the Athens Hilton. Day 4: Saturday, April 30 Athens/Corinth/Set Sail Full breakfast prior to setting out for Corinth, once the capital of Roman Greece. Along the way, we ll see the famous Corinth Canal before arriving at the ancient biblical city. We ll see remains of marble streets and the Agora Forum where Paul preached in the shadow of the columns of the Temple of Apollo. Though now well-preserved ruins, this city was once one of the largest Christian communities in Europe. We ll return to the port of Piraeus and board the majestic Star Clipper as we prepare to set sail on our magnificent journey through Turkey and the Greek Islands. Dinner and overnight aboard the Star Clipper. Day 5: Sunday, May 01 Mykonos Spend the morning at sea enjoying the beauty of sailing aboard this fabulous clipper ship before arriving at one of the most cosmopolitan of all the Greek Islands, Mykonos, a contrast of rocky hills and beautiful beaches. Sprinkled with white washed houses, a colorful harbor and a variety of quaint shops and taverns, this charming island will be one of your favorites. Day 6: Monday, May 02 Patmos This serene island is known as the site of the Apostle John s apocalyptic revelation, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. We ll tour the Monastery of St. John (11 th century) and the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site of the cave where John was believed to have lived and received the revelation of the end of times. We ll return for free time aboard the ship as we set sail and continue on this great adventure. Day 7: Tuesday, May 03 Santorini Upon arrival here you will see why Santorini is considered the most breath-taking of all the Greek Islands. Around 1500 BC, a volcanic eruption destroyed the center of the island, leaving a crescent shaped rim of cliffs around a harbor formed by the volcano s caldera. On shore you can either ride a donkey up the cliffs or take a cable car to the summit to the village of Fira and enjoy this charming, romantic island. Some say here in the ruins of Akrotiri lay the remnants of the lost civilization of Atlantis. We ll have the day free to explore this beautiful island filled with shops and cafes with endless breathtaking views from the island. You can rent a scooter, 4 - wheeler, wander the streets, take an excursion or just sit mesmerized overlooking the caldera. This will no doubt be a site you won t soon forget. We ll enjoy the world famous sunset before we set sail. Dinner and overnight aboard the ship. Day 8: Wednesday, May 04 Kusadasi, Turkey As we go ashore in this Turkish village we ll take a bus tour as a group to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancients cities in the world and one of the well known new testament churches established by Paul on his second missionary journey. You ll marvel at the ruins that have been uncovered including temples, fountains, theaters and the Library of Celsus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We will worship together in the amphitheater and imagine what it was to have lived here in the time of Paul. In the afternoon we ll be free to explore the shops and markets of Kusadasi or return to the ship for some water sports or relaxing before we set sail.
Day 9: Thursday, May 05 Dikili, Turkey / Pergamum Dikkili is a sleepy little beach town, authentically Turkish. The harbor is lined with open-air restaurants and shops with local food specialties. Nearby Pergamum is our destination today to visit its two main monuments: the Acropolis perched at a height of 280 meters and the Asclepion. We will travel today from port to Pergamum. We will see the Asclepion and Red Basilica continuing to the Acropolis. Pergamum had received the third letter of the seven letters of St. John to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Day 10: Friday, May 06 Canakkale, Turkey / Troy Facing squarely across the Dardanelles to confront the imposing mass of Kilitbahir Fortress, Canakkale reminds you that this area has been a place of conflict since the time of the Trojan War. Nearby Troy (Truva), uncovered by archeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1871 was of course the site of the most famous siege in history. Time has eroded most of the 3,500 year-old ruins, but you can imagine what Priam felt as he faced Achilles invading Greek army. Free Day aboard the Star Clipper or Optional City of Troy Excursion. Farewell dinner aboard the Star Clipper. Day 11: Saturday, May 07 Istanbul, Turkey Disembark early morning following breakfast at the port in Istanbul Turkey followed by a ½ day tour of the city. Sights will include the Hague Sophia, Blue Mosque and optional stop at the Grand Bazaar. The group will check into our hotel for some free time this afternoon and evening to enjoy the fabulous city of Istanbul. Day 12: Sunday, May 08 Departures Included in the cost of the tour: Escorted by Gary Brandenburg, Gabe Gilliam, Steve Clifford and the JC Keller Travel Staff Hotel 2 overnights in the 4 star deluxe Athens Hilton and 1 overnight in a 4 star hotel in Istanbul. 7 night stay aboard the magnificent Star Clipper in selected cabin category including all meals. Additional Meals All breakfasts and dinners daily in Athens, lunch in Corinth, and breakfast in Istanbul. Guided Sightseeing Excursions Included Athens, Corinth, Patmos, Ephesus, Pergamum and Istanbul via deluxe motorcoaches with English speaking guides. Transfers All group transfers & baggage handling between the airport and hotel in Athens and ship to hotel in Istanbul and hotel to airport Istanbul if traveling on group flights. Gratuity Includes for guides, bus drivers, Athens & Istanbul hotel staff, baggage handling and Star Clipper crew Ship Port Charges - $255.00 per person included Water Sports non motorized watersports aboard Star Clipper Sightseeing Excursions tour excursions at ports if not already included may be purchased from Star Clippers after boarding our cruise. Prices and space are subject to availability. Not Included: Beverages other than coffee & tea with meals, room service, internet, meals not mentioned in Athens and Istanbul, shore excursions outside of group tours, personal items, and airport transfers unless you are part of the group air block or arrive on the same flights. Optional: Air transportation on group blocked flights may be purchased with your tour, airfare is not included. Cancellation insurance will be offered at group rates from M H Ross Insurance.