Mediterranean Pilgrimage Cruise

Travel Where the Apostle Paul Traveled

Unique Pilgrimage Through the Mediterranean on the Orient Queen

Journey in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul

In the time of the Apostle Paul, the primary means of transportation to distant lands took the form of boats and ships. Now you too can visit the islands and cities that the Apostle Paul journeyed to, in the same manner that he traveled – via ship. Journey to Rome, Syracuse, Piraeus, Malta, Pompeii, and more! Explore the magnificent sights and sounds of the beautiful Mediterranean. Of course your ship will be much more luxurious than any water craft the Apostle Paul had ever dreamed of. The benefits of sightseeing whilst aboard such a cruise ship are numerous. You will not be required to continuously pack and unpack at each destination. Delicious meals will be provided for you. Plus, while traveling between destinations, you can enjoy a myriad of interesting, relaxing, and fun activities aboard ship. We promise you won’t find anything like this on a bus tour.

Aboard the Orient Queen

The Orient Queen is a beautiful vessel, 160 meters from bow to stern, 22.8 meters in breadth, and boasting 364 cabins. You'll appreciate the delicious meals served aboard, a delightful assortment of traditional and regional dishes all prepared from scratch. Her crew is courteous and eager to assist you in any way possible.

Shipboard amenities include: Two restaurants, a buffet, a casino, a shopping arcade, two swimming pools, sauna/massage, various bars and lounges, a disco, boutique, assortment of duty free shops, business center, fully functional gym, beauty salon, and a miniature golf course.

The ship is fully air conditioned, and the Electric Current onboard is 220V AC. The ship is equipped with 4 elevators. Passengers have access to telephones, faxes, and a satellite telephone. There is also a doctor on board.

PORTS OF CALL

Piraeus

Piraeus, Greece’s largest port city was originally settled 2,500 years ago during the lifetime of Themistocles. In ancient times its harbors were known as Zea and Munichia. Its beautiful Mediterranean climate is known for its mild winters and warm summers. Piraeus is a mere 5 miles away from the famed Acropolis of Athens, the most significant topographic landmark in all of Greece.

Valletta, Malta

Valletta, Malta’s capital city is known for its beautiful palaces, cathedrals and stunning Baroque character. In the biblical book of Acts, Luke details the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck on the Island of Malta. The account speaks of a 14 day tempest prior to the shipwreck, which in recent days has been supported by both meteorological and nautical evidence. Included is a portion of the account:

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said… “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying ‘Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee… From the bible, the 27th chapter of Acts, verses 18-24.

Syracuse, Sicily

Originally founded by Ancient Greek Corinthians in approximately 733 BC, Syracuse is a city rich in history. Disaster struck the city in 1542 and then in 1693 in the form of two catastrophic earthquakes. Throughout the centuries, Christianity has spread within the city, largely due to the efforts of the Apostle Paul, who spent time sharing the gospel in Syracuse on one of his missionary journeys.

Civitavecchia

In A.D. 108, Emperor Trajan formally declared Civitavecchia to be the official port of Rome. As it served in ancient times, Civitavecchia continues to function as the gateway to the prominent city of Rome. Prepare yourself to see the many sights of nearby Rome, including the famed Colosseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, and Arch of Titus.

Rome

According to ancient legend, the twins Romulus and Remus founded this famed city, which would one day produce a mighty empire. Locations of interest include the Colosseum (which was completed approximately two thousand years ago), the Pantheon, the remains of the Circus Maximus, St. Peter’s Basilica, and The Vatican Museums. Tour the winding catacombs. Visit the Sistine Chapel and view Michelangelo’s famed frescoes.

Naples, Italy

This historic city in southern Italy is world renowned for its spectacular coastline and delicious cuisine. Its many museums, palaces and churches attract visitors from around the world. Nearby are the ancient ruins of Pompeii, a city which was destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago in the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

9 Day Cruise Pilgrimage of Paul / Journey to Rome
Departure Date: 11/14/2008
Cruise Line: Louis Cruise Line / Coastal Cruises
Ship: Orient Queen
Departure Port: Piraeus
Arrival Port: Piraeus
Price: starting at $2295 per person
This amazing price includes air fair from New York City airport and ALL Shore excursions

Day	Port/Town	Arrive	Depart	Onshore Sightseeing Excursion
1	Piraeus	-----	7:00 AM
2	At Sea	-----	-----
3	Valletta-Malta	8:00 AM	9:00 PM	Tour of the Island
4	Syracuse-Sicily	6:00 AM	11:00 AM	Tour Syracuse
5	Civitavecchia-Rome	8:00 AM	-----	Tour Imperial Rome
6	Rome	-----	8:00 PM	Tour Christian Rome
7	Naples	7:00 AM	1:00 PM	Tour Pompeii
8	At Sea	-----	-----
9	Piraeus	7:00 AM

The Apostle Paul: A man profoundly changed by his belief in Jesus Christ

Although not one of the original 12 apostles, Paul is credited with authorship of 14 of the 66 books included in the bible. He was from the town of Tarsus (located in modern day Turkey), a Jew by birth, yet also a citizen of Rome (a citizen ship that was prized and not easy to obtain). He was a devout Pharisee, very knowledgeable of the many aspects of the Jewish religion.

Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, word of the gospel of Christ began to spread. Those who followed the teachings of Christ began to grow in number. These early Christians (also called followers of the Way), were perceived by a number of the Jewish religious leaders as a blasphemous sect that challenged the very core of their beliefs. Paul (who at that time was called Saul, the Hebrew version of his name) was among those who zealously persecuted the early Christians. He captured Christians, throwing them into prison and approving of their deaths.

The first verses of the biblical book of Acts chapter 9 begin in this manner:

And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” And he said, “Who art thou, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest…

This very real and personal encounter with the resurrected Christ had a profound impact upon his entire world view. His life changed in ways that were nearly impossible to imagine. He began studying the ancient Hebrew prophesies of the messiah, recognizing Jesus to be the fulfillment of those prophesies. While he had been previously zealous in his capture and persecution of followers of Christ; now he felt an overwhelming desire to share the truth about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection with everyone that he encountered. He began using the Roman version of his name, Paul, and started traveling from town to town, from synagogue to synagogue, and from nation to nation. A man responsible for the persecution and deaths of unknown numbers of early Christians had unexpectedly become the greatest missionary of all time.

(For more on the life of Paul, please read the biblical book of Acts. For a sample of his writings, read the biblical book of Romans.)

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Last modified: 07/02/08