Your Journey of a Lifetime begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

Arrive in Athens and see the best of Athens on a panoramic drive designed for those who prefer a more leisurely tour of the city. Board a comfortable coach for a narrated tour covering both modern and ancient attractions, including the Academy, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the National Gardens, and a stop at the pedestrian zone below the majestic Acropolis. Overnight in Athens. (Late arrivals may experience a shorter panoramic tour.)

Travel to the city of Corinth, where the Apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord. 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, marketplace, 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. Transfer to the ship to embark after your tour.

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. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was the largest church in Christendom for 1,000 years and was built by Justinian (532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Spice Market. Shops sell everything from herbs to gold.

In Paul’s life, Ephesus represents an important stage. Not only did he find a flourishing community there from where his faith spread to neighboring cities, but he wrote several of his letters there dealing with the Judaizing crisis. Arrive in Ephesus, the marble city where Paul spent three years of his ministry, and walk among the ruins that have been restored almost to their original state as the city was in Paul’s time. Visit the Agora, the main market of 110 square meters, built under the principality of Augustus in 3 BC. and see the Gran Teatro, whose acoustics must have been the delight of the twenty-five thousand spectators that could fit in it. Return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, arrive at the Isle of Patmos, which stands out for its natural beauty, to visit the Monastery of Saint John on top of the mountain that dominates the entire island. Walk towards the Grotto of the Apocalypse, which is located halfway up the mountain on the Greek island. This grotto is believed to mark the place where John received his visions and where the exiled Apostle John lived and was inspired by God to write the Book of Revelation as well as other letters to the early church.

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 will be booked directly through the cruise line.

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.

Journey to Jerusalem to see Caiphas’ House, where Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin. Stand upon the Mount of Olives and view the city as Jesus did. See the ancient olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane. Wander the Old City to view the Pool of Bethesda and walk along the Via Dolorosa. Step inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the sites of the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Disembark the Norwegian Getaway. Then, venture inland to the Sea of Galilee to stand on the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached. At Tabgha, the traditional location of the feeding of 5,000, you will visit the Church of the Loaves and Fish. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee is the Chapel of the Primacy of St. Peter, where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ. From there, travel to Capernaum, where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John, and later Matthew to be disciples. Return to the USA or enjoy the Petra extension.