An exceptional cruise: Cyprus and the Holy Land (port-to-port cruise)

This morning, join us for an excursion to Nicosia. The Cypriot capital has two faces and symbolizes two contrasting cultures united by a shared history. Brimming with gems to discover, Nicosia stands as the last officially divided European city. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to discover Larnaca on your own. We’ll start sailing towards Israel at the end of the day.

Full-day excursion through Galilee including the Sea of Galilee (lunch included; approx. 9 hours total, including 4 hours round trip). The Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake also known as Lake Tiberias or Kinneret in Hebrew, is the main water source in Israel and crystallizes for Christians the place where many of the events described in the Bible occurred. Our excursion will first take you to Cana (or Kafr Cana), where Jesus performed the miracle of transforming water into wine. We’ll continue on to the Mount of Beatitudes, from where there are wonderful views of Lake Tiberias. This is the hill where Jesus is believed to have delivered his “Sermon on the Mount”. We’ll next head for Tabgha, believed to be the most beautiful and peaceful of holy Christian sites and which was the scene of many Gospel stories, before moving on to Capernaum, the base camp for Jesus during his Galilean ministry.

Full-day excursion to Jerusalem and Bethlehem (lunch included; approx. 12 hours total, including 4 hours round trip). We’ll travel through the Judea Mountains and the entrance to the valley which was besieged during the 1948 War of Independence. You will visit Bethlehem, City of David and Jacob and visit the famous Church of the Nativity. We’ll also visit the Old Town of Jerusalem. We will first amble down the colorful market where the three main religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) live side by side before reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest Christian site in the world believed to encompass both the Calvary where Jesus Christ was crucified as well as the cave where his body was placed after his death. We’ll move on along the Via Dolorosa all the way to the Wailing Wall, the most sacred place of worship for Jews, where they write their wishes on slips of paper which are then placed in the wall. Finally, we’ll get to see Mount Zion where Jesus Christ ate the Last Supper with his disciples, which inspired the Cenacle.

This morning, have a guided tour of Nazareth. We’ll set off for our discovery tour of Nazareth, travelling through the lovely hills of Upper Galilee and the historic Jezreel Valley until we reach the spot where the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah. We’ll visit the Church of the Annunciation, the largest Catholic church in the Middle East and one of the holiest shrines in the Christian world. Then, we’ll continue to the Greek Orthodox Church of St Gabriel, where the water from an underground spring flows through the apse and into the adjacent Mary’s Well. Finally, we will visit St Joseph’s Church, built in 1914 on the very spot believed to be the workshop of Joseph the carpenter.

This afternoon, continue to Acre (Saint John of Acre), headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller during Crusades in the Holy Land. The old city of Acre, a UNESCO world heritage site, is home to many remarkable sites, such as ruins from the Greco-Roman period as well as from the time of the Crusades and the Ottoman Empire. Its fascinating historical heritage where East meets West and the unique ruins of the different cultures make it one of the most important cities of the ancient world.

This morning, will be spent sailing towards Cyprus. This afternoon visit the medieval Byzantine castle of Limassol. You will see the castle and its shady gardens. The current building, dating from the 13th century, was built on top of the ruins of a Byzantine castle and has been restored and destroyed many times during the history of Cyprus. The Venetians demolished it, the Ottomans turned it into a military building and the British used it as a colonial prison. Today it houses the medieval museum of Cyprus, with exhibits such as Ottoman pottery, medieval armor and everyday objects from the Byzantine era. The reception hall of the castle was where Richard the Lionheart, king of England, married Berangaria of Navarre in 1191. Enjoy some free time to do as you please.

This morning, excursion to Paphos Archaeological Park. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1980, this exceptional site features the Tombs of the Kings, a mysterious underground necropolis located amidst an almost deserted landscape. We’ll then visit the houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion whose splendid mosaics were discovered by chance in 1962. A few kilometers further on, we will stop in the village of Yeroskipou to visit a small workshop where Loukoum (Cyprus Delight) is made, followed by a tasting session. The afternoon will be spent sailing towards Larnaca. Tonight’s our gala dinner and evening.

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

• Your cruise with all meals from dinner the first evening to breakfast on the final day
• Onboard drinks included (except for drinks from our special lists)
• Excursions to Jerusalem and Nazareth
• Accommodations in double-occupancy cabin
• Welcome cocktail
• Gala evening
• Assistance from our onboard host/hostess
• All port fees
• Prepaid classic sightseeing package.

• Transfers
• Drinks from our special lists, or drinks ordered during excursions or transfers
• Cancellation and baggage insurance
• Personal expenses.