Following Jesus’ instructions to be His witnesses “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8), the Apostles carried the message of the gospel into the regions of Asia Minor and Greece. Christians today belong to the legacy of God’s work in these lands, as those first disciples passed down the faith to future generations.
Set sail to the “cradle of Christianity” on our 2024 Mediterranean Study Cruise. Over eleven days, you and your fellow travelers will embark on a journey to key locations from the New Testament and early church history. You can explore the expansive Roman ruins of Ephesus, climb Mars Hill where Paul preached, and visit Istanbul, the transcontinental city that became the center of Christianity in the fourth century. All along the way, you’ll receive biblical teaching to bring home the significance of each site. Join Stephen Nichols and Derek Thomas on this unforgettable study cruise.
Itinerary
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Corinth, Greece
OPTIONAL PRE-CRUISE TOUR: CORINTH (pricing in April 2024):
Corinth is well known from the two letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians in this city. The book of Acts also records Paul’s visit and ministry in this city during his second missionary journey. As you come to the site of ancient Corinth, you’ll get to explore the ruins of one of the largest and most important cities in the ancient Greco-Roman world. Extended excavations have brought to light the Roman forum, temples, fountains, porticoes, baths, and monuments.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Athens, Greece
OPTIONAL PRE-CRUISE TOUR: ATHENS (pricing in April 2024):
Long considered the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, Athens and Corinth both were important destinations for the Apostle Paul. Experience this cultural hub where the gospel powerfully broke into the pagan world. You will take a scenic drive through Athens on a journey to the legendary Acropolis. Walking a winding pathway to the top of Mars Hill, you’ll come to the place where Paul preached to the Athenians in Acts 17. You will also explore the ancient agora, a gathering place where figures like Plato, Socrates, and Demosthenes debated.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Athens, Greece
Our ship departs from Athens. After dinner, we will enjoy a welcome reception.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is known for its whitewashed villages sprinkled with blue and jade green accents. You’ll discover that Mykonos is bustling with activity, awash in beautiful alleyways, and home to alluring sandy beaches and the island’s famed windmills.
7:00 a.m. Arrive in Mykonos
7:00 p.m. Depart from Mykonos
OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
Excursion details are forthcoming.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Santorini, Greece
On the island of Santorini, you’ll find a classic Greek seascape—whitewashed houses accented by sea-blue roofs. This is a treasure trove for both professional and amateur archeology buffs, with sites including tombs that date back to the ninth century as well as the sanctuary of Apollo. In one sense, Santorini could be considered an explosive place: its terraced homes and windmills lie on a caldera, an enormous basin formed by an erupting volcano.
7:00 a.m. Arrive in Santorini
10:00 p.m. Depart from Santorini
OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
Excursion details are forthcoming.
Monday, October 14, 2024
At Sea
Enjoy a time of study and fellowship on the Celebrity Silhouette
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Istanbul, Turkey
Spend an enriching time in the exotic city of Istanbul. Formerly known as Constantinople after the Roman emperor Constantine, this city became the center of Christianity in 330 AD. Ancient church leaders convened here in 381 for the second ecumenical council, where the Nicene Creed was revised and expanded into the form we know today. Later, this city also housed the largest church of the ancient world, Hagia Sophia, or the church of Holy Wisdom, dedicated by Emperor Justinian in 536 AD.
7:00 a.m. Arrive in Istanbul
OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
Excursion details are forthcoming.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Istanbul, Turkey
10:00 p.m. Depart from Istanbul
OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
Excursion details are forthcoming.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
At Sea
Enjoy a time of study and fellowship on the Celebrity Silhouette
Friday, October 18, 2024
Ephesus, Turkey
Once the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor, this coastal town is now an archeologist’s dream. Although excavations have been underway for 150 years, only about 20 percent of the city has been uncovered so far. This former banking and trading center is rich with historic sites, such as the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You will also see the great theater described in Acts 19, where a riot erupted against the Christians for their rejection of idolatry.
8:00 a.m. Arrive in Ephesus
4:00 p.m. Depart from Ephesus
OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
Excursion details are forthcoming.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Rhodes, Greece
Rhodes is considered by some to be the friendliest city in the Mediterranean. This sunny retreat is also home to many historic sites, such as the ruins of the Temple of Venus and the medieval Street of Knights. The varied landscape with beaches, woodlands, and ancient ruins also make this one of the most alluring locations in the Greek archipelago. Enter the gateways of Rhodes and step back to a time when the Knights Hospitaller built a medieval Christian stronghold here. You can spend the day amid the chronicles of Greek history, immersing yourself in the archaeological site of Lindos and climbing to the ruins of its ancient Acropolis for sweeping views of the village and the blue seas beyond.
10:00 a.m. Arrive in Rhodes
11:59 p.m. Depart from Rhodes
OPTIONAL LIGONIER CRUISE EXCURSION:
Excursion details are forthcoming.
Sunday, October 20, 2024
At Sea
Enjoy a time of study and fellowship on the Celebrity Silhouette
Monday, October 21, 2024
Athens, Greece
5:00 a.m. Arrive in Athens
Speakers
Stephen Nichols
Dr. Stephen J. Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Fla., chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow. He is host of the podcasts 5 Minutes in Church History and Open Book. He is author of many books, including For Us and for Our Salvation, A Time for Confidence, and R.C. Sproul: A Life.
Derek Thomas
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas is Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and previously served as senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C.. He is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and the featured teacher for the Ligonier teaching series Romans 8. He is author of many books, including Heaven on Earth, Strength for the Weary, and Let Us Worship God.
Pricing & Travel Information
- Standard Price
- PS - Penthouse Suite Sold Out
- RS - Royal Suite Sold Out
- HS - Horizon Suite Sold Out
- CS - Celebrity Suite Sold Out
- SS - Sun Set Sky Suite Sold Out
- S1 - Sky Suite Sold Out
- A2 - Aqua Class Sold Out
- C1 - Concierge Class Sold Out
- C2 - Concierge Class Price: $3,959.00
- V1 - Balcony Price: $3,675.00
- V2 - Balcony Sold Out
- O1 - Ocean View Sold Out
- I1 - Interior Sold Out
- I2 - Interior Sold Out
About Ligonier Tours
One of the best ways you can learn about a person or even an event is being there—to be on site. We can certainly learn from reading and studying. We can even create the scene in our mind’s eye. But nothing brings a person or an event to life like being there. Ligonier Tours takes you to the places where significant events occurred, events that have shaped history. You can literally walk in the footsteps of our heroes of the past, of Luther, of Calvin, of Jonathan Edwards. You will meet these figures in ways you have never met them before.
Ligonier’s Teaching Fellows and other ministry leaders serve as your guides as you explore these important sites. On these tours, you’ll have time with these trusted teachers over a meal or at the sites along the journey. You will also have rich times of fellowship with your fellow travelers, meeting kindred spirits and making friendships.
Ligonier Tours brings the past to life, they serve to encourage us as disciples in our own day, and they offer us reminders that we are not alone, but that we are on our pilgrim journey together.