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

You will arrive in Rome, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Port of Civitavecchia to board the Odyssey of the Seas. *Guests not purchasing air through EO will have to purchase transfers to be included in group transfer.

Journey inland to ancient Pompeii, dating almost to the time of Paul, where you can see the spectacular ruins that were covered by ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

At Sea

Arrive 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 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 onboard. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Royal Caribbean and are not included.

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. This afternoon, 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.”

Ephesus was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and a population of 250,000. Even though much of Ephesus has either been
lost or has yet to be uncovered, spectacular excavations in the last 110 years have revealed much of the glory of ancient Ephesus, including the huge agora, streets made of marble, sidewalks designed with beautiful mosaics and the impressive library. Explore the ancient site virtually at the Ephesus Experience Museum where you will see life in Paul’s time. We will view the terrace houses, also known as “the houses of the rich,” which give a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. 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. After enjoying Ephesus, you will embark on another Turkish experience at the carpet factory for a local lunch and a presentation.

Enjoy the day on your own exploring Istanbul. Stroll the Grand Bazaar with 4000 individual shops, taste the world-famous baklava, or hop on board the Tunel, the second-oldest underground urban train in the world. Shore excursions today can be booked directly through Royal Caribbean and are not included.

The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. We will walk through the Hippodrome Square and then you will visit the famous Blue Mosque (1616) with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years, built by Justinian (532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Also worth visiting is one of the best-preserved underground cisterns, also built by Justinian in 532 AD.

AT SEA

AT SEA

Disembark the Odyssey of the Seas and transfer to the airport. Return home with a new understanding of the Bible.