An exceptional cruise: Cyprus and the Holy Land

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner. The evening is free to do as you please.

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, we'll start sailing towards Israel.

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). In Bethlehem, we’ll visit the Church of the Nativity, which contains the grotto where many Christians believe Jesus was born. We’ll continue on to Jerusalem, considered holy ground by three religions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The old city contains over 200 historic sites, including the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which encompasses the hill where Jesus was crucified and his tomb. We will also visit the colorful market where the three main religions live side by side.

This morning, 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, We'll set off on a visit 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.

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Full-day excursion Masada and the Dead Sea (lunch included; approx. 12 hours total, incl. 5 hours round trip). Masada is one of Israel’s most popular tourist destinations. The breathtaking, strategic location is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of heroism and importance within Jewish culture. Masada was built in 30 BC by King Herod. When Israel began its great revolt against Rome in 68 AD, the site became a stronghold for Jewish rebels. The Romans besieged Masada in the year 72. Rather than be taken alive by their adversaries, the population of Masada chose to die by suicide. After our stirring visit to this important historical site, we will continue to the Dead Sea for lunch and an afternoon at the side of the pool or in the sea’s beneficial waters and muds.

The morning will be spent sailing towards Cyprus.

In the afternoon, guided visit of 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.