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| Daily Itinerary: |
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| Day 1 | Tuesday, 5/4/2010 - Fly to Athens, Greece
This afternoon, depart for Athens. Overnight on the plane. |
In-Flight Meal |
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| Day 2 | Wednesday, 5/5/2010 - Arrive in Athens
Arrive in Athens today and transfer to your hotel, located within view of the Acropolis and walking distance to the shopping Plaka. Balance of day is free to relax or explore on your own. Dinner is at the hotel. |
Dinner
In-Flight Meal |
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| Day 3 | Thursday, 5/6/2010 - Athens City Tour
Enjoy a morning Athens half-day city tour. Dominating the skyline and the city is the Parthenon built by Pericles, leader of Athens during her golden age. Explore the Acropolis on foot and learn about Paul's message to the Athenians at the famous Bema. You will also see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Royal Palace, and the Pan Athenian Stadium. Free afternoon to explore the town at leisure. Tonight, after dinner, you may wish to walk thru the Plaka area, full of outdoor cafes and shops to view the ancient illuminated Acropolis. | Breakfast
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| Day 4 | Friday, 5/7/2010 - Board the Ship in Piraeus
Transfer to the port of Piraeus to board your cruise ship, the Cristal, for a mid morning departure overnight to Turkey. Sail the Aegean Sea and up the Bosporus Strait that separates Europe and Asia. | Breakfast
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| Day 5 | Saturday, 5/8/2010 - Istanbul
Morning optional city tour of Istanbul. See the Sultanahmet Mosque, decorated with 21,000 blue Iznik tiles from where it gets its name, the “Blue Mosque.” Also visit Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine Church of Divine Wisdom, where you can see the superb mosaics and the marble decorations. Enjoy a visit to the world famous Grand Bizarre, filled with over 1000 shops, selling everything from rugs to jewelry. Depart 7:00pm. | Breakfast
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| Day 6 | Sunday, 5/9/2010 - Time at Sea / Mykonos
Enjoy more time at sea prior to your 3:00pm arrival on the island of Mykonos - one of the most picturesque islands in Greece with windmills, white-washed buildings and blue-domed churches. Enjoy the shops and cafes located along the twisting, narrow streets. After dinner on the ship, you may wish to go back ashore to enjoy the lively Greek nightlife of this wonderful resort city. You do not sail until midnight tonight.
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| Day 7 | Monday, 5/10/2010 - Day at Sea
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| Day 8 | Tuesday, 5/11/2010 - Ashdod, Israel
Arrive for a full day in Israel. A 1 1/2 hour drive brings you to Jerusalem, holy ground for Catholics, Jews, and Muslims. Visit the Old City, Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Holy Sepulcher, The Wailing Wall, Gethsemane Garden, and the Church of Nations. Enjoy the view from the Mount of Olives and pass by the Knesset, home of Israel Parliament. Drive thru the four residential “Quarters” that divide the city. Continue on to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, plus lunch and time for exploring on your own. Return to the ship for dinner and set sail at 8:00pm. | Breakfast
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| Day 9 | Wednesday, 5/12/2010 - Port Said & Alexandria, Egypt
Again, arrive for a full day in Egypt. From the seaport of Alexandria, drive to Africa’s largest city, Cairo. Stop at Liberty Square, visit the National Archaeological Museum with its King Tut collections. Then enjoy a cruise of the River Nile with lunch. Next drive to the Pyramids of Giza, the only wonder of the ancient world that still remains. Stop and see Chephren’s pyramid and the mighty Sphinx. Visit the Papyrus Institute where the ancient art of paper making from reeds is still demonstrated for you. Return to your ship for dinner and sail at 8:30pm. | Breakfast
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| Day 10 | Thursday, 5/13/2010 - Crete
Afternoon arrival in Crete for a visit to the capital city of Heraklion. Learn about the 4,000-year-old Minoan Palace of Knossos, destroyed by tidal wave and earthquake. |
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| Day 11 | Friday, 5/14/2010 - Piraeus / Fly Home
After 8 days in the pristine waters of the Mediterranean Sea, arrive back in Piraeus at 8:00 a.m. this morning. After disembarkation, transfer to the airport for your return flights home | Breakfast
In-Flight Meal |
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