"Paul's Journeys" Trip
with Pastor Dave

8/26 Air Canada:
LAX > Montreal (AC 774): 8:05am – 4:20pm (5 hrs 15 min)
Montreal > Athens (AC 898): 6pm – 10:05am connects at 6pm arrives in Athens 10:05am (9 hr, 5 min, next day)
 
9/11 Air Canada:
Rome > Montreal (AC 893): 11:45am – 2:50pm (9 hr, 5 min)
Montreal > LAX (AC 777): 4:40pm – 7:35pm (5 hr, 55 min)

Athens: 8/27 – 9/1

Wednesday, 8/27: Arrive in Athens
Private transfer from ATH airport to hotel, based on 1 piece of luggage per person.
Overnight: 2 nights hotel accommodation at Fresh Hotel in a double standard room with daily breakfast.
Overnight City Tax: Payable directly at the hotels by guests; per room per night for 4-star hotels, 10 Euro.

Thursday, 8/28: Private tour of Athens and Ancient Corinth
After breakfast we will tour the city of Athens. Athens is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of western civilization as we know it today. We will visit the main points of interest: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Mars Hill (Areopagus) where Paul preached the truth to the Gentile nation.

After that, we will head toward ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18), where Paul came and worked, established a thriving church, and wrote two of the New Testament epistles. We will see all the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema, Gallio’s seat, the pillars, stairs, and place of public worship where Paul preached. All of these visits will enhance the understanding of 1 and 2 Corinthians.

Before ending the tour and returning to Athens, we will visit the ancient Greek port of Cenchrea (Acts 18:18; Paul’s second missionary journey), and the ruin of the early Christian 5th Century Basilica.
Overnight: Athens; breakfast
Overnight City Tax: Payable directly at the hotels by guests; per room per night for 4-star hotels, 10 Euro.

Friday, 8/29: Athens – Thessaloniki City Tour
After breakfast, journey to Thessaloniki, the city of Thessalonica where Paul preached the gospel in the second and third missionary journeys. For the early Christians of this city he wrote epistles to the Thessalonians. We will visit the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, the Protector Saint of the city, the Agora, the Church of Saint Sofia, the White Tower, and the Byzantine fortress of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire.
Overnight: Thessaloniki
Overnight City Tax: Payable directly at the hotels by guests; per room per night for 4-star hotels, 10 Euro.
Breakfast/dinner

Saturday, 8/30: Thessaloniki – Philippi – Kavala
Breakfast and travel to Philippi, the town where Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe, sowing the seeds of Christianity. (Acts 16:11-12) “And from there (He went) to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman Colony. We remained in this city some days…” (Acts 16:11-12). Paul arrived here with Silas and Luke on the winter of AD 49-50. There the first Christian baptism was performed, of a woman named Lydia. Although they were prosecuted and arrested, they received God’s help to escape from prison (Acts 16:25-26) where there was the conversion of the jailer (Acts 16:31). We will visit the Roman Theatre, probable site of the prison where Paul and Silas were arrested. We will continue towards the city of Kavala, the ancient city of Neapolis (Acts 16:11) where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. It was later renamed Christoupolis, meaning city of Christ, because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. We will visit the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis.
Overnight: Thessaloniki
Overnight City Tax: Payable directly at the hotels by guests; per room per night for 4-star hotels, 10 Euro.
Breakfast/dinner

Sunday, 8/31: Thessaloniki – Athens
Breakfast and back to Athens. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Athens
Overnight City Tax: Payable directly at the hotels by guests; per room per night for 4-star hotels, 10 Euro.

Monday, 9/1: Private transfer from hotel to Piraeus port, based on 1 piece of luggage per person. End of services.

Athens Pre-Trip Rate per person based on double occupancy $1560.00

Package includes:
3 nights accommodation in Athens on BB basis
Private transfer from Athens International Airport to Athens city center hotel
Private full day tour of Athens and Ancient Corinth including professional English-speaking guide
Private 49-seater bus (8 hrs max) ending back at the hotel
Entrance fees, Acropolis, Corinth
Private 3 Day/2 night tour to Thessaloniki – Philippi – Kavala including:
Professional English-speaking guide for the whole tour
Private 49-seater bus
2 nights hotel accommodation in Thessaloniki on HB basis (dinner)(beverages excluded)
Entrance fees at the sites mentioned
Private transfer from Athens hotel to Piraeus port for embarkation to their cruise
All transfers and tours with modern A/C bus
Services of English-speaking escort for all transfers
One small bottle of mineral water per person per day

Royal Caribbean “Voyager of the Seas”

Cabin Prices (double occupancy, vary by stateroom):

Interior – $1485.00 per person
Ocean View – $2818.00 per person

*Private Tours and Excursions: Our group has scheduled private tours for 9/3 (Ephesus) and 9/7 (Pompeii/Herculaneum). You can also book tours off the ship on the other days at your own expense, or book a private tour separately with a small/large group (to be discussed).

Dinner: We have booked the early dinner (5:30-6:30pm) to allow for you to watch the shows, etc. If you stay later in port, dinner will be on your own, or at the cruise buffet later.

Monday, 9/8: Arrive in Rome
Private transfer from Civitavecchia port to hotel with assistance, based on 1 piece of luggage per person.

Half-day private tour of ancient Rome including the Colosseum, Forum and Trevi Fountain
Overnight: 3 nights hotel accommodations at Hotel Quirinale 4* in standard double rooms with daily breakfast.
Taxes at Destination: 50 Euros per room

Tuesday, 9/9: Private half-day tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican (4 hours)
The tour: Take a journey through Vatican City’s highlights on this guided tour. Explore the Vatican Museums, and see the spectacular Sistine Chapel. This excursion into the Vatican’s legendary art and architecture starts at the Vatican Museums, which house the most important ancient art collection in the world.
Your guide will lead you to the best galleries to see frescoes, statues, tapestries, and historical maps. There, you will also find the Borgia Apartment, La Pinacoteca Vaticana, and the beautiful Vatican Library. Continue to the Sistine Chapel to admire masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Pinturicchio, and Perugino – gazing up at Michelangelo’s ceiling is an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.
Includes: private bus and local assistance + entrance fee.

Wednesday, 9/10: Full day tour “In the Footsteps of Saint Paul” – with private bus, local guide + entrance fees to Mamertine Prison (and Abbey of 3 Fountains and Saint Paul outside the walls)
This is a private tour on St. Paul’s life and witness in Rome, you will visit the main sites related to the Saint with the help of a private expert guide and a private driver and in a comfortable air conditioned  car or minivan.

Our tour on the footsteps of St. Paul in Rome aims to show you the most important sites where the Apostle Paul spent time when he was brought to Rome in front of the Emperor Nero on request of St. Paul himself. During the 3 hour- tour you will stop in the Mamertine Prison, an ancient roman prison from the 5 century B.C. used by the Romans to imprison those condemned to death before the final execution. The prison is a very famous place all round the world because the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul were both prisoned here and they baptized many prisoners, gave them the strength and faith. St. Paul was executed under the Emperor Nero in the 67 A.D. because of the Christian’s persecution.
Go to the Abbey of the 3 Fountains along the Laurentina Road, where St. Paul was martyred, he knelt on his knees and he was beheaded and his head bounced three times on the floor and from the ground three sources gushed out as a miracle. For a long time, people used to collect the water but then this had to be stopped due to pollution.

From the Abbey of the 3 Fontane, you will go to the Vatican Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where there the tomb of the Saint is located. The Basilica is one of the 7 Basilicas with the privilege of extra-territoriality and it is spectacular. Once inside you will see St. Paul’s tomb.

Thursday, 9/11: Private transfer from hotel to FCO airport, based on 1 piece of luggage per person. End of services.

Private Tours and Rome Post-Trip Package Rate per person based on double occupancy: $1566 (based on 40+)

Package Includes:
Private tour on cruise Day 7 to Pompeii and Herculaneum
Private transfer from Civitavecchia port to hotel with assistance, based on 1 piece of luggage per person.
3 nights hotel accommodations at Hotel Quirinale 4* in standard double rooms with daily breakfast.
Please note that rate includes also 1 dinner compulsory at Hotel Quirinale with 3 course menu and ½ mineral water included.
Private-Half day tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican – 4 hours
Full day Tour “In the Footsteps of Saint Paul” with private bus, local guide + entrance fees to Mamertine Prison (and Abbey of 3 Fountains and Saint Paul outside the walls)
Private transfer from hotel to FCO airport, based on 1 piece of luggage per person

**Please note: These are quotes, and reservations have not been made. Hotel is subject to availability at time of booking. The rate is not guaranteed until time of booking.

Because this trip has many components and bus transfers, you are highly encouraged to pack light and plan for laundry. Aim for one checked bag, one small carry-on and personal item that has your essentials (change of base layer, medications, etc.) if for any reason your checked baggage was delayed. Be sure to follow TSA rules for 3-1-1 liquids.

Bus Restrictions: Roller bags must be stored under the bus, and you may take a small carry on that fits in the bus overhead rack (tote bag, backpack), as well as a small personal item that fits in your lap.

Air Restrictions: Baggage rules may vary according to your fare class. For those on the group air contract, you can have one checked bag, one carry on, and one personal item. Please confirm size and weight restrictions on the Air Canada website.

WEIGH AND MEASURE YOUR BAGS. It can get very expensive if you exceed the airline weight/size limits, so please review this carefully.

– Air Canada Carry On Rules
– Air Canada Checked Baggage Rules

Hotels and the cruise ship will have laundry services available for a fee. Consider handwashing when possible, and bringing fabrics that quick dry!

For the Vatican, please check the latest guidelines at this link .

In general, when visiting churches and other religious sites, shoulders and knees must be covered. No tank tops, shorts, or hats. Women in sundresses can cover their shoulders with a large scarf, but the dress needs to cover the knees.

Hair dryers are generally provided in hotels and the ship, but you can bring your own provided it has a 230V setting. I (Cyndi) have blown mine out in the past, so use with caution, I always try to use the one in the hotel, but pack a mini-travel dryer just in case!

Get WhatsApp (works when you have WiFi): WhatsApp will allow us to communicate starting now, when touring on land, as well as on the ship if you have an internet plan.

1. Verify that Cyndi has the cell phone number that you will be using.

2. Download WhatsApp to your phone.

3. Check your text or email invitation from Cyndi to join our group.

Get the Royal Caribbean app: You can download this app in advance, or on the ship Guest WiFi. While cruising, you can use this app on the Guest wifi to communicate with others and get cruise information. This app will work on the ship even if you do not purchase an Internet plan.

1. Download the Royal Caribbean app to use from the ship wifi.

2. When you are on the ship Guest wifi, you can add the people you want to message.

Make sure your credit card(s) have a chip and you notify the cc company of international travel.

Both Greece and Italy, as well as the tourist site where we will be in Ephesus, will accept Euros. Often cards will be accepted, but sometimes cash is preferred for small purchases, lunches, etc.

We recommend getting Euros at home before the trip, as it is more cost effective. However, there will be opportunities as well as ATMs along the way.

In addition to food that you might want to buy in the airport, you can plan for 8-10 lunches when we are touring and in port, and around 5 dinners outside of the hotel(s).

While it is not required, we highly recommend getting this. It saves time at Check-in and Immigration and will simplify your travel experience. For more information visit Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Programs. If you get Global Entry, it includes TSA Pre-check.

For those on the group flights, transportation between airport and hotel are arranged and included in price. For those on the cruise, transportation between the hotel and the cruise port is also included.

If you arranged your own airfare, but are on the same flights as the group, you are free to take the same bus. If you are not on the same flights, but are present at the airport/hotel when the group bus departs, you may ride the bus.

If you arranged your own airfare, and are on different flights from the group and need to depart at a different time or are not present when the group bus departs, you will need to arrange your own transfer via taxi, Uber, etc.

Tips for the bus drivers, escorts, and guides are included in the registration fee. Cruise staff gratuities are included in the cruise package. From time to time, we might pass a hat to show thanks to exceptional service for a particular person in the moment!

Most days, you will receive a small water bottle on the bus at no charge. Additional bottles are typically available for a small charge.

We will ask our guide these questions on a port-by-port basis, but in general here are the guidelines:

Athens, Greece

Drinking Water: Yes, it’s safe to drink tap water in Athens and most urban areas in Greece. On some islands or rural areas, bottled water may be recommended due to taste or local infrastructure.

Brushing Teeth: Yes, absolutely safe.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies: Yes, perfectly safe to eat. Wash them as you would at home.

Rome, Italy

Drinking Water: Yes, tap water is very safe. Rome has excellent water, sourced largely from mountain springs.

Brushing Teeth: Yes, completely safe.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies: Yes, safe and often delicious. Just rinse as you normally would.

Mediterranean Cruise Ports (general guidance)

Drinking Water:
Western & Southern Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, etc.): Tap water is safe in major cities and tourist areas. Some people prefer bottled water for taste or caution.
Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, parts of the Balkans or North Africa: Stick to bottled water—even in hotels. Avoid tap water.

Brushing Teeth:
Western/Southern Europe: Safe.

Less developed or non-EU ports: Use bottled water, just to be cautious.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies:

In most of Europe: Safe.
In ports where water safety is questionable (e.g., Egypt, Tunisia), eat only peeled or cooked produce, or wash them with bottled water.

We will have many packed days of touring, but there will be free time here and there. We will work with our guides to make sure that you know the free time schedule in advance and especially have time to shop.

From Cyndi: Just in going through the itinerary, I could see it unfolding like this.

8/27: When we arrive in Athens, there might be some free time in the afternoon/evening for those who want to explore on their own? Both lunch and dinner are on our own that night, so it would be a good time to experience street food!

8/28, 29, 30: Look like full days to me… Dinner will be at the hotel in Thessaloniki

8/31 When we return to Athens from Thessaloniki, the afternoon is free.

9/1-8: With the exception of 9/3 (Ephesus) and 9/7 (Pompeii) which are both full-day tours, you can have as much free time as you want in all the other ports!

9/8: After we disembark, we will have a 1/2 day

9/9: We have a half-day Vatican tour, so there should be free time, and lunch/dinner is on our own

9/8,9, and 10: While we are in Rome – we will have dinner (provided) at the hotel on one of those nights, but I’m not sure which one yet. The others are dinner on our own and there should time to explore around that.

For crowded tours, these transmitters are typically included. We will coordinate with our guides to ensure that we have what need .

Hotel city taxes are paid at the hotel upon check out. We have planned that these will be covered by the tip/miscellaneous budget that was included in your registration fee.

All meals and entertainment are provided on the ship.

Beverage Packages. You are not required to purchase Beverage Packages, Coffee Cards, etc. Water, tea, coffee and sometimes lemonade are always available throughout the ship. Sodas, premium coffees, etc. are available for purchase individually or through a plan.

Internet Packages are available, but not required. The options are a bit hard to find on the Royal Caribbean site. When logged in to your profile, choose this link to view the packages.

Formal dress is NOT required for formal night. You will see a little bit of everything. Our group keeps it pretty casual. On the designated formal night(s), you can dress up if you want to, but many of us will just wear regular pants and a shirt (no tie), or a casual dress.

Especially since we need to pack very light, I encourage everyone to dress “smart casual” for formal night in something that you will re-wear!