Greece, Turkey & Italy 2025 | Footsteps of Paul Christian Cruise | Bryan Hughes

Depart Bozeman, if taking our optional group air, or arrange your own air and meet our group in Athens.

On arrival in Athens this morning, we will we drive towards the waters for our lovely boutique hotel on the Aegean Sea – very close to where Paul landed for his visits to Corinth and Cencherea. Enjoy this beautiful boutique hotel while you rest up for our busy day tomorrow.

Morning breakfast and then we depart for Ancient Corinth. We will be visiting both Upper and Lower Corinth with a great view of Acro Corinth. Drive to Athens where we will have lunch at the Plaka and then visit the Parthenon and Mars Hill. Embarkation and dinner onboard. 

This is the site of the first letter to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Archeologically, it is considered the pearl of the Mediterranean. It is the most magnificent archeological site. It is so easy to visit, yet it is full of Biblical truths. Ephesians 1:1-2, and Acts 19 will come alive. Especially compelling is the remaining Temple to Diana or Artemis that still stands. In addition, you will sit in the theatre where the Apostle Paul gave one of his most compelling sermons. You will walk the same streets that Jesus’ mother Mary walked and the Apostle John spent much of his time. Ephesus is only 35 miles from Smyrna and only a 5-hour boat trip to the island of Patmos where John received the Book of Revelation itself. The day will be very memorable we will end it with a sumptuous Turkish farm meal and lively carpet demonstration. You will have plenty of time to shop and perhaps have a coffee along the waterfront. Reboard our ship for dinner and sail on past the tiny islands where the Early Church first took root.

This is the vacation island destination for Greek families. It is considered to be their “Maui”. You will have so much to do here. You can rent bicycles, grab a towel and hit the beach, meander the dozens of quaint streets filled with shoppers and holiday seekers, or take a trip outside of town to see how the Greeks utilize farming successfully on the islands. The day is a day of relaxation for you. For those of you who return early (4:30PM), we will have a study together on the Early Church and Judaism within these islands.

Morning study together on the top deck, this is the time of Paul’s second time in Rome, this time as a prisoner. Lunch aboard the ship and then the ship will drop anchor at the lovely island of Santorini. Your time here is at your leisure. The best thing to do in Santorini is to take the fast cable car to the top of Fira town and then grab a beautiful place to see one of the most beautiful views on earth. You can also take a beach visit, take a taxi around the island, shop, or even take a snorkel tour. You do not have to reboard the ship until 11:00PM this evening!

Day at sea. If you are up to it, we will have fellowship and worship on the top deck aft before breakfast. We will also get together again this afternoon at 4:30PM for another teaching on Paul’s final journey that took place in the waters we will be passing through where the amazing shipwreck took place in Acts 27. It is a riveting story and we will be able to trace its steps while aboard ship and discuss the outcome of Paul’s life. 

Visit the catacombs today where the Early Christians fled. We will have praise and worship in the catacombs and then enjoy some free time to meander around the beautiful ancient Italian streets for shopping. The waterfront is also very close. Rejoin the ship. Special teaching time this evening.

Today you can step off the ship and enjoy the city where Pizza was invented or join our optional full-day tour. The optional full-day tour visits the small port of Puteoli where Paul arrived for his evangelistic church planting, his imprisonment, and finally his death. We will also visit the amazing site of Pompeii today. It is a city of decadence that was caught in a volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 BC. Return to the ship for our farewell dinner together.

The ship arrives at 5:00AM. Those not taking the post extension and who have taken the group air program will receive an airport transfer to the Rome FCO airport this morning. Flights back to Bozeman if taking the group airfare.

After disembarking, we’ll travel into the heart of Rome past Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican. We’ll step back into the days of ancient Rome as we tour the imposing Colosseum, the Forum, Mamertine Prison, and the Arch of Titus. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious pizza dinner before retiring to our lovely hotel in the center of ancient Rome.

This morning, we’ll visit the Spanish steps and some of Rome’s most stunning fountains, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Free time for lunch.

This afternoon we drive to St. Paul’s Outside the Walls where the Apostle Paul is buried. Then we visit the quaint site of Tre Fontana which is a quiet monastery where the Apostle Paul was most likely beheaded. Driving back into the city we take a quaint walk along the Appian Way. We will see the Roman aqueduct in the distance and imagine the Apostle Paul walking into Rome himself. Free time tonight for dinner on your own.

Today you will visit the imposing Vatican with its many shrines, its Egyptian obelisk, and many other symbols that will be a lively discussion for all. Next, go into St. Paul’s Cathedral with a visit to the Sistine Chapel. One of the most stunning works of art in the entire world.

Afterward, we will have time for lunch at the Piazza dei Fiori – a spectacular plaza near the oldest Jewish section of Rome where they know the location of the ground where Paul had his home church (Regola). The area is called Trastevere. Farewell dinner tonight.

Depart Rome early this morning.