Three
Continents
8-days 7-nights Cruise
Ports
of Call
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The
cruise departs from and returns to: Athens, Greece: Capital of Greece, cradle of democracy, birthplace of Western Civilization - Athens is a vibrant city where the ancient and the modern co-exist. The majestic Acropolis with Parthenon rises above the city, its ancient glory still visible in the timeworn stone, and the National Archaeological Museum holds countless treasures from Athens' Golden Age. |
| Istanbul,
Turkey: As you approach Istanbul from the sea, the graceful minarets of countless mosques appear on the horizon and the Islamic call to prayer carries over the water. Istanbul's blend of East and West has resulted in some of the most magnificent architecture in the world, including the Agia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. |
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Ashdod
(Jerusalem/Bethlehem), Israel: Perched on sand dunes, the ancient port of Ashdod is a gateway to the Holy Land and to one of the world's most captivating cities, Jerusalem. Surely there is no place on earth as holy as Jerusalem. Site of Abraham's sacrifice, King David's triumph, Jesus' life and death, and Mohammed's ascension to heaven; the emotional impact is stunning. Within the magnificent walled Old City you can walk the Via Dolorosa and see the stations of the cross. In Jerusalem you will find 3 of the world's most venerated institutions: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the location of the Crucifixion and the holiest site of Christendom; the Western (Wailing) Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple and the most sacred Jewish relic in the world; and the Dome of the Rock, the third most hallowed location of Islam as the spot from where the Prophet Mohammed made his night ascent to heaven. From here you can also visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, to see the shrine built over the place where Christ was born. You can also visit the Dead Sea, the breathtaking Masada and the lake of Tiberias, and maybe also the vibrant city of Tel Aviv and ancient Jaffa. |
| Port
Said (Cairo/Giza) & Alexandria, Egypt: At the entrance to the Suez Canal, Port Said is a bustling city and port. To the south, Cairo and the ancient monuments of the Egyptian empire have fascinated visitors throughout the centuries. The mystifying Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza, over four thousand years old, stand majestically on the outskirts of the city at the edge of the desert. Cairo’s museum of Antiquities holds one of the finest collections of artifacts in the world, including the astounding treasures of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is a sprawling metropolis of millions, a blending of modern and ancient cultures where you can find all the modern amenities of a big city side by side with the age-old traditions of this ancient culture. The Pyramids of Giza: At the outer limits of Cairo, south of the Nile River, the wondrous tombs of the Pharaohs reside. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest, and it is the oldest and only remaining of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Notice how the head of the Sphinx is considerably smaller than the trunk of its body and how the face is not as time-worn as the rest of the body. This is the reason why so many historians believe that the Sphinx once carried a head of a lion! |
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Mykonos,
Greece: This cosmopolitan and picturesque island is well known for its graphic paved streets with hundreds of boutiques and Cycladic art shops. Beneath the sophisticated surface of Mykonos lies a quintessential Greek Island. Hundreds of tiny chapels dot the island and sheep graze in the shadow of white-washed windmills. Find a table on the waterfront and bask in the serenity of sunset over the picturesque harbor. |
| Agios
Nikolaos (Crete), Greece: Agios Nicholaos, the capital of Lassithi, is a picturesque town in the eastern part of Crete island. It was named after the charming 7th century Byzantine chapel of St. Nikolas, erected on the spot called "Nissi" during the 7th AD century, with its bell tower, drum and dome. Very close to Agios Nicholaos you will find the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations. |
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