Ligonier Ministries Mediterranean Study Cruise

ITINERARY: October 17-29, 2022

Come with us and experience up close and in comfort the places where the Apostle Paul and Jesus lived and preached. Ligonier Ministries has made it easy to travel through the history of Christianity with well researched itineraries and highly educated guides all in safety and comfort. Gather along with other likeminded guests to experience this once in a lifetime cruise.

Ligonier Optional Excursions: We are announcing the Ligonier optional excursions (not included in the cabin pricing) for this trip about six months prior to sailing. If you have any questions at all about these optional excursions, please call Sovereign Experiences at 877-768-2784 ext. 104.

Day 1, October 17th - Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

We will depart our group hotel in Rome this morning and board the magnificent Celebrity Apex together as a group.

DEPART: 5:00PM

Sovereign Experiences will provide a group rate block of rooms and optional excursions in Rome for Ligonier guests on this cruise for the day before the cruise sets sail.

OPTIONAL LIGONIER PRE-CRUISE EXCURSION ON OCTOBER 16TH:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 2, October 18th - Day at Sea (Cruising)

Enjoy the day on the magnificent Celebrity Apex with fellow Ligonier cruisers.

Day 3, October 19th - Katakolon, Greece

This small port on the Ionian coast is your gateway to ancient Olympia, the home of the original Olympic Games. Olympia has preserved both athletic and mythological monuments, many dating back to 776 BC. Most intriguing is the stadium, which is still standing, and the gymnasium. The museum also offers a peek at fabulous Greek sculptures.This Grecian port city is also the gateway to one of the most important archeological sites in the world, the ruins of ancient Olympia. You can relive the glory of ancient Greece on your Katakolon cruise. As the birthplace of the Olympics, the great stadium still echoes the cheering of the first superstars of sport. Enter the stadium and pose in the marble starting blocks where the first marathoners once stood. Take a scenic drive through the small Greek villages on the way to Kouroutas Beach and spend three hours relaxing under the sun, swimming, and soaking up a perfect Greek beach day. Soak up the gorgeous Katakolon waterfront views while savoring traditional Greek specialties, like pastitsio or moussaka at one of the quaint tavernas and cafes offering shady outdoor tables. And of course, an abundance of calamari and other fresh seafood brought in by local fishermen are always on menus.

ARRIVE: 7:00AM
DEPART: 3:00PM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 4, October 20th - Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Long considered the cradle of Western Civilization and the birthplace of democracy, Athens and Corinth both were important destinations for the Apostle Paul. Here, in a cultural melting pot of philosophy and commerce, he preached the Gospel to the well-educated Greeks—as depicted in the famous sermon of Acts 17.

ARRIVE: 6:00AM
DEPART: 6:00PM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 5, October 21st - Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey

Once the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor, this coastal town is now an archeologist’s dream. The UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Ephesus impress even those familiar with the world's other ancient cities. Though excavations have been underway for 150 years, only 20 percent of the city has been uncovered. This former Greek banking and trading center is rich with historic sites, including the Great Theater, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. On your Europe cruise, check out the the Celsus Library — built in 117 A.D.— made up of towering columns highlighted by the statue of the goddess of wisdom.

ARRIVE: 7:00AM
DEPART: 5:30PM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 6, October 22nd - Day at Sea (Cruising)

Enjoy the day on the magnificent Celebrity Apex with fellow Ligonier cruisers.

Day 7, October 23rd - Haifa, Israel

Travel inland to the Sea of Galilee. You may stand on the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus gave His most well-known sermon (Matthew 5). At Tabgha, the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the 5000, you visit the Church of the Loaves and the Fishes (Luke 9). Visit the Chapel of the Primacy where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21). Travel to the shore town of Capernaum where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John (Matt. 4) and later Matthew. Stop by the River Jordan.

ARRIVE: 6:00AM
DEPART: 7:00PM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 8, October 24th - Ashdod, Israel

Travel to Jerusalem and visit the Upper Room, the traditional site of the Last Supper. Visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin. Stand upon the Mount of Olives and view the city as Jesus did. Wander among the olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane. Enter the Old City and visit the Pool of Bethesda. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

ARRIVE: 7:00AM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 9, October 25th - Ashdod, Israel

DEPART: 8:00PM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 10, October 26th -Limassol, Cyprus

Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, located on the island's southern coast. Stroll around Old City, an historic part of town with stylish cafés, restaurants, shops, bars, the Old Fishing Harbour and the former Turkish quarter. Visit the Medieval Castle & Museum, the scene of spectacular, shady gardens and a 12th-century wedding between Richard the Lionheart and Berengaria. Swim and picnic at Petra tou Romiou, the spot where the Greek goddess Aphrodite is said to have emerged from the sea.

ARRIVE: 8:00AM
DEPART: 4:00PM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Day 11, October 27th - Day at Sea (Cruising)

Enjoy the day on the magnificent Celebrity Apex with fellow Ligonier cruisers.

Day 12, October 28th - Day at Sea (Cruising)

Enjoy the day on the magnificent Celebrity Apex with fellow Ligonier cruisers.

Day 13, October 29th - Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

ARRIVE: 5:00AM

OPTIONAL LIGONIER POST-CRUISE EXCURSION ON OCTOBER 30TH:
(departure/return times, pricing and registration will be forthcoming)

Please Note: Schedule of tour events and excursions are subject to modification without notice.

*Optional excursions will be offered at an additional cost and are specifically designed and selected from Sovereign and Ligonier Ministries. Please check back for additional pricing and details. Pricing and itineraries for the listed excursions are subject to change.

To fully participate in this tour, you must be able to walk long distances, have good balance capabilities and be able to walk on uneven terrain. There will also be some climbing involved as well as long periods of standing. Due to the historical nature of some of our destinations, not all facilities will be ADA compliant.

We apologize that children under the age of 13 years of age cannot participate in the Ligonier optional shore excursions.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT—ALL CRUISE BOOKINGS, BUS, AND HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE THROUGH SOVEREIGN IN ORDER TO HELP MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.