Educational Opportunities Tours

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Journeys of Paul Cruise with Guest Speaker Olu Brown | Sept 5, 2023

11 days
Crete, Greece, Italy & Türkiye
Starting from $4298* Taxes & Fees Apply

Join us on an 11-day Journeys of Paul Cruise with 9 nights aboard Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas with guest speaker Olu Brown, starting at $4,298* from New York, NY departing on September 5, 2023. Journey to places such as Naples, Santorini, Athens, Corinth, Crete, Ephesus, and much more!

Register early & Save
$150 Register by September 5, 2022
$100 Register by December 5, 2022
Full deposit required.  Savings deducted from the balance.

What’s Included

  • All Inclusive Pricing
  • Cruise
  • Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
  • Entrance and Program Fees
  • Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
  • Guided Tours
  • International Airfare from NY
  • Meals on Ship
  • Overseas Airport Transfers
  • Select Shore Excursions

^ Additional Baggage & Optional fees may apply.

† If air purchased through EO.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 SEPTEMBER 5 – DEPART THE USA

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

Day 2 SEPTEMBER 6 – ARRIVE IN ROME

You will arrive in Rome, Italy, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the port to board the Odyssey of the Seas.

Day 3 SEPTEMBER 7 – NAPLES, ITALY

Disembark the ship in Naples and travel towards Mount Vesuvius to uncover the fascinating history of Pompeii. Embark on a guided walking tour of the ancient Roman city’s archaeological ruins below formidable Mount Vesuvius. Traverse the historic excavation site with an informative guide through the city’s forum and past grand temples, mansions, and Roman baths. View artifacts recovered from the 79 AD volcanic blast when 20 feet of ash and pumice buried the entire city.

Day 4 SEPTEMBER 8 – AT SEA

AT SEA

Day 5 SEPTEMBER 9 – SANTORINI, GREECE

Dock 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 on board.

Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Royal Caribbean and are not included.

Day 6 SEPTEMBER 10 – ATHENS & CORINTH, GREECE

Discover 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 Erechtheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the Apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” As you stroll 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. Also, see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon, tour the city of Corinth, where the Apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla 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.” 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.

Day 7 SEPTEMBER 11 – MYKONOS, GREECE

Arrive today at the world-famous Greek Island of Mykonos, where gleaming whitewashed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure sky. Admire its many hills dotted with iconic windmills. Explore the island on your own or join one of the optional excursions available for purchase on board. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Royal Caribbean and are not included.

Day 8 SEPTEMBER 12 – EPHESUS, TURKEY

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. View the terrace houses, also known as “the houses of the rich,” which give a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. Explore the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at ancient artifacts. You will have time to explore on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul.

Day 9 SEPTEMBER 13 – CHANIA, CRETE

Delve into a Cretan cultural experience that includes guided sightseeing at Lake Kournas, the Arkadi Monastery and the bustling town of Rethymnon. The first stop is at Lake Kournas, where you’ll savor a delicious treat of traditional cheese pie with honey among white sands and ancient olive trees. Next up is a tour of the fortress-like monastery, whose history dates to Byzantine times. Finish with a stroll through distinctively ancient yet distinctly modern Rethymnon.

Day 10 SEPTEMBER 14 – AT SEA

AT SEA

Day 11 SEPTEMBER 15 – RETURN TO THE USA

Transfer to the Rome airport to return home with a new understanding of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry or enjoy an extension.

Enhance Your Journey

Rome Pre-Tour Starting from $850

September 3-6, 2023 Starting at $850*

September 3 - Depart the USA
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

September 4 - Arrive in Rome
Today, you will arrive in Rome, Italy, where you will be met by our representative and travel along the Appian Way. Step beneath the surface into the Catacombs of Callixtus, built along the Appian Way. Here, sixteen popes from the 2nd through 4th centuries were interred, though they have been removed to various churches over the centuries. Check into your hotel this evening and enjoy dinner and rest.

September 5 - Vatican City & Christian Rome
Visit the Vatican, and explore its museum. Marvel at the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, and stand in awe of Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Next, proceed to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The present structure stands over the place where Constantine built the first church over Saint Paul’s grave. The church features a portrait of every pope who has served the church. Climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous Trevi Fountain before returning to your hotel this evening.

September 6 - Ancient Rome
Discover the history woven throughout Rome with visits to the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum, Circus Maximus, the Arch of Titus, the Baths of Caracalla and the Arch of Constantine today. After touring, you will be transferred to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Odyssey of the Seas.

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card surcharges.

Cappadocia & Istanbul Post-Tour Starting from $998

September 15-19, 2023 Starting at $998*

September 15 - Fly to Istanbul
Fly to Istanbul & then Kayseri. Overnight in Cappadocia.

September 16 - Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia and visit the Zelve Valley. As you drive through Cappadocia, enjoy some free time at various photo stops in this magnificent landscape full of fairy chimneys. Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum before returning to your hotel.

September 17 - Cappadocia
You can take an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia this morning for an additional fee. Fly this afternoon to Istanbul and check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.

September 18 - Istanbul
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. You will also visit the Topkapi Palace, once home to royal sultans. Inside, you will see the fabled jewels of the treasury, delicate displays of Chinese porcelain in the kitchen quarters, and the provocative harem quarters. Walk through Hagia Sophia, which was the largest church in Christendom for 1,000 years, built by Justinian (532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded, 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 4,000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Return to your hotel this evening for dinner and overnight.

September 19 - Return to the USA
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.

Hot air balloon ride is $185 per person additional.

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.

*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.

Departure Dates

  1. Tuesday, September 5, 2023
    From $4298* Register Now!
*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions