Greece, Italy & Turkey 2025 | Footsteps of Paul Cruise | Pastor Mike McGown & Dr. Scott Stripling

You will depart Houston on flights to be announced 5 months prior to departure to Athens.

Arrive in Athens at approximately 11:00 AM. Meet, assist, and drive to the Corinthian Gulf. Along the way, you will stop at the Corinth Canal – an archeological wonder. Enjoy a tea or coffee and then continue on to the site of Cencherea. This underwater synagogue is most important because of the beach on which it resides. This beach is where Paul laid down and had his hair cut to conclude his Nazarite Vow. Prepare for a lovely dinner at the Wyndham Loutraki Poseidon Resort on the Corinthian Gulf.

Breakfast at the resort, teaching at our private beachfront theatre for morning worship, and teaching on Corinth. Visit the sites of Upper and Lower Corinth. Drive into Athens and enjoy lunch inside the Plaka. This afternoon you will visit the Acropolis and Parthenon and its meandering temples and shop quarters of Acts 17:17 “So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” NIV One of our most important stops of the day is next, our stop at Mars Hill. Enjoy the teaching of one of Paul’s most important messages. Acts 17:22 “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious and 23 “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” NIV The next stop is for lovely appetizers and Greek wine with a beautiful view of the Acropolis where you had stood only hours earlier. Drive to the ship where you will overnight at the port of Piraeus. Get settled in and enjoy dinner aboard your new home.

Sleep in this morning in your new home! Enjoy a late breakfast if you like and join the group at 10:30 AM for another visit to Athens. On arrival, you will visit the Athens Archeological Museum. Lunch in the Plaka and then you will have a lovely tour of Athens and the temples, Olympic Stadium, and more. You have a few hours near the square this afternoon. Drive to the ship in time for dinner. Sail away party at 5:30 PM. Join us on the deck to enjoy watching the port traffic as we sail into the Aegean Sea from our lovely ship, Viking Neptune.

You will arrive in the amazing port of Kusadasi this morning. This site is considered the jewel of the Mediterranean. You will have a 6-hour tour day to see the sight of Ephesus, its Terrace Houses, and nearby temples. Lively shopping and visit a lovely country house where you will have lunch and a carpet demonstration – while you are enticed to buy Turkish rugs or other treasures. Dinner aboard ship.

The island of Crete is famous for many biblical Scriptures and is where Paul intended to go during his famous shipwreck journey. This will be one of the prettiest ports we see in the Mediterranean. This quaint, walled city is called Chania. Once you arrive, you will have a walking tour together through the Old City. You will familiarize yourself with its quaint ramparts and streets – and even a WWII synagogue. The walking tour ends at their archeological museum. You can return with your guide and host back to the ship, or enjoy the rest of the afternoon having Cretan conversations, shopping, or snacking on wonderful fresh fish and basking in the sun! Everything is here in this darling port, from glass-bottom boat trips to unique and precious curio shops. You may choose to have lunch aboard the ship or enjoy the island. Dinner and relax.

A day to enjoy and sleep in, meet the others at the pool, enjoy the spa, the library, and great fellowship. Join us at 3:00 PM for an hour-long discussion regarding Pompeii and Paul’s nearby landing at Puteoli. Dinner.

The rarely visited Siracusa is the area of Sicily that was visited by Paul. You will be driven two hours into the Sicilian countryside and to the massive structures that were overwhelmingly active during Paul’s day. You will want to attend the teaching by Pastor Mike and Dr. Scott in the theatre. We will return to Messina in time to purchase some olive oil, wines, or other Sicilian delicacies, if so desired, then have lunch nearby and join the ship for dinner.

We have included a visit to the most famous volcanic eruption that can be documented, literally, in stone.  Pastor Mike and Dr. Scott will be able to provide insight into the life that was lived and which ended abruptly in this austere, abandoned location. You will end your day in the busy city of Naples. You’ll want to be sure to grab an authentic pizza and espresso, then rejoin the ship before our sailing departure at 5:30 PM. We bid farewell to our lovely ship during an onboard dinner this evening.

If you are departing home today, you will be transferred to the airport for your morning flight, arriving in Houston late afternoon, same day.

Upon arrival in Rome, our first visit’s purpose is to understand the early and persecuted church of Rome and visit the catacombs of Callisto.  We then will take some time to enjoy the countryside along the Appian Way. From here, you will see the Rome aqueduct in the distance and enjoy a time of reflection, imagining the Apostle Paul walking this ancient road. Afterward, we will check into our hotel and have dinner. Once checked into the hotel, the Rome Marriott Grand Flora. We will gather to take a walking tour of Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps. A delicious pizza dinner is planned for this evening (3 courses).

You will have breakfast at the hotel and then we depart for a visit to the Forum and the Arch of Titus. We will have a special appointment at the Mamertine Museum – the prison of both Paul and Peter – and the important aspects of the Roman Forum complex area. Our tour will include Nero’s Tomb, and, for those who can hike to the top of a hill, an inscription of a graffiti-like, slanderous, depiction of Christ on a cross as a donkey instead of as His Holy self. There will be free time for lunch and then an afternoon appointment at the Coliseum of Rome and a walking tour afterward which takes us to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. You may opt to end your day here, or, if you would like to visit the Vatican, we will arrive at the Vatican at 6:00 PM, and you will be back at the hotel by around 9:00 PM. Due to hours of operation, there will be no time to see the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican Museums this evening, however, you will have the opportunity to tour the Vatican courtyards and St. Peter’s Basilica Cathedral. This additional tour is included but we understand that not everyone may want to take it. If not, you have a free evening to enjoy dinner on your own in Rome.

You will have a morning visit to a very special place where Paul’s body was taken after his death: St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. Then you will be driven to the ancient Jewish neighborhood of Trastevere to visit Regola, which is where Paul held his home church when he was imprisoned in Rome. Being allowed to visit this place is a rarity, and we consider ourselves blessed to be able to do so. You will have some free time for shopping and lunch at Piazza dei Fiori, which is a beautiful, upbeat square. The rest of the afternoon you will enjoy a walking tour of the Spanish Steps and walk the Via del Corso. You can end your day shopping or return with the group to the hotel. A Farewell dinner will be served this evening.

Transfers will be made from the hotel to the Rome FCO airport this morning. Arrive in Houston late this afternoon/early evening