Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, MD
Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, MD
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GREECE BROCHURE – Pastor Ben & Karla Cachiaras
SATURDAY – SUNDAY – DAYS 1 & 2: U.S. / THESSALONIKI – We depart the U.S. today for our flight to Thessaloniki. Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, we will be met by DCT’s local representative and escorted to our hotel in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and capital of the province of Macedonia. It was here in the synagogue that Paul “…reasoned with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks…” (Acts17:17). Remainder of the day free. Overnight Thessaloniki. (D, B)
MONDAY – DAY 3: THESSALONIKI / AMPHIPOLIS / PHILIPPI / KAVALA – We depart for Amphipolis and the Region of the Lakes Corinia and Volvi. Paul journeyed through Amphipolis on his way to Thessaloniki. Visit the colossal Lion monument at Sunphipolis (5th century BC) and proceed to visit the unique archaeological site of Philippi, site of the famous battle between two Roman Armies. Here we will have the opportunity to follow the steps of Paul, Luke, Timothy and Silas. We then proceed to the city and the harbor of Kavala where we will have a chance to taste fresh fish and a variety of superb delicacies. Return to Thessaloniki for overnight. (B, D)
TUESDAY – DAY 4: THESSALONIKI / VERGINA / METEORA / KALAMBAKA – After breakfast, we depart for Vergina to visit the excavations of the Royal Palace, the Royal Tombs, and the new museum. We then proceed to the area of Kalambaka, where the famous monasteries of Meteora are located. You will be amazed at these marvelously preserved monasteries hidden in the mountains. We will visit the greatest and most important monastery of all, the “Great Meteoron.” Perfectly preserved Frescoes of the 14th century and Ancient Manuscripts belonging to Royal Collections and Libraries are found here. Overnight at our hotel in Kalambaka. (B, D)
WEDNESDAY – DAY 5: KALAMBAKA / DELPHI / ATHENS – Put on your hiking boots! After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Delphi via the Central Greece Plateau. At Delphi we take a short climb to the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythion, home of the “Oracle.” A little further up is the theatre where town council meetings were conducted, and a little further, the amazingly preserved coliseum where games were played. (Get in shape for this and do not miss it! This is one of the true highlights of the tour.) We visit the museum and bookstore here, then continue to Athens for overnight. (B, D)
THRUSDAY – DAY 6: ATHENS / CORINTH – We begin this morning with a tour of the city of Athens. We drive past the Academy, the University and the Parliament with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We continue to the Acropolis, where we visit the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena and the Acropolis Museum. On the slopes of the Acropolis we will visit the Areopagus on Mars Hill, site of Paul’s address to “the men of Athens” about their “unknown God” (Acts 17). We then depart for Corinth, taking the road along the Saronic Gulf, fairly the same route that the Apostle Paul took. Corinth was an important place and congregation in Paul’s odyssey (Acts 18 and Letters to the Corinthians) with its temple of Apollo ruins set against the Acrocorinth on which the Temple of Aphrodite was located. Corinth was the largest, richest, and most pleasure-loving city of Greece in the 3rd century BC, so it gave Paul plenty to renounce when he came here in the 1st century AD. Paul worked here three years with Aquilla and Priscilla. Overnight Athens. (B, D)
FRIDAY – DAY 7: ATHENS / PIRAEUS / BOARD CELESTYAL CRUISESHIP / SAIL TO MYKONOS – This morning we transfer to the port of Piraeus for embarkation on our cruise ship. We sail to the island of Mykonos with its breathtakingly beautiful whitewashed buildings and churches. We will wander through the many side streets with homes above the shops and numerous outside, waterfront cafes…a lovely respite. Evening sail for the island of Patmos. (All meals while on broad)
SATURDAY – DAY 8: PATMOS / EPHESUS – Early morning arrival at the Island of Patmos. We visit the traditional Grotto where John received the revelations while in exile and St. John’s Monastery atop the island. This afternoon we sail to the Turkish port of Kusadasi. This popular Turkish port is the doorway to Ephesus and rich ancient history. In Paul’s time, Ephesus was a port city. Now, due to natural changes and silt build up, it is an approximate ten-mile bus trip from the port city of Kusadasi. We visit ancient Ephesus, a marvelous archeological site and base for much of Paul’s missionary work (Acts 19 and Letter to The Ephesians). Paul labored and ministered here for three years. He laid the foundation for the strongest Christian church of the First Century. John is said to have brought Mary here. Time permitting, we will wander through the famous Turkish bazaars of Kusadasi. Evening sail for Crete/Santorini. (All meals while on broad)
SUNDAY – DAY 9: CRETE / SANTORINI – Morning arrival into Crete, this Island is 156 miles long and from 7 to 30 miles wide. According to legend it’s the birthplace of Zeus. The apostle Paul spent some time here at Fair Havens on the south side of the island. This afternoon we visit the Island of Santorini, great poets have sung its praises, a 4.000-year-old history. And the eternal rock continues to stand, strong and majestic, rising proudly from the sea and guarding well the secrets of Atlantis… The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times feeding the myth of the lost City of Atlantis. Sail back to Piraeus (Athens) in the evening. (All meals while on broad)
MONDAY – DAY 10: EARLY ARRIVAL INTO ATHENS – We will have breakfast aboard the ship. We then disembark, board our motor coach and transfer to our hotel in Athens. The day is free for us to enjoy this fascinating city on our own. There are many wonderful museums in the city and shopping at the Plaka is always an adventure. Overnight in Athens. (B, D)
TUESDAY – DAY 11: ATHENS / U.S. – We depart for the Athens airport where we fly back to the U.S. We will return with new friends and memories to last a lifetime!
+1=Next Day
(Flight schedule subject to change until tickets are issued)
Departure & Return Location: Dulles International Airport
Departure Time: 3 hours before flight time
Group Travel and Seat Assignment Information
All group seating is assigned by the airline and are under airport control. Group seats assigned by the airline cannot be changed through Discovery Cruises and Tours. However, you may address your seating at the airport on check-in. (Please note that if you contact the airline prior to your departure date, they will refer you back to DCT. As previously stated, we cannot make any changes to the group seats assigned by the airline.)
Your airline ticket receipt will be issued electronically by the airline and then emailed to you by DCT. When you arrive to the airport, please be prepared to present a passport to an airline representative to receive your boarding pass.
Celestyal Cruises Discovery
Prices quoted are per person and in US dollars and are based upon fares and costs in effect at the time of publication
Whenever possible, DCT obtains price guarantees from suppliers; however, depending upon the strength of the US dollar and price fluctuations of oil, gas and other costs, published rates are subject to change without notice
AIR TRANSPORTATION
Jet economy class on Turkish Airlines
35 seats confirmed (additional seats may be at a higher airfare)
Tickets must be finalized 45 days prior to departure
Tickets cannot be changed once issued
Travelers may arrange their own air and pay the ground only price
(*Travelers doing their own air MUST meet the group at the airport or hotel)
AIRPORT TAXES AND FUEL
$560 (actual cost as of 6/4/2024)
Taxes/fuel surcharges may change without notice; any increase will be billed to the traveler and must be paid prior to departure
HOTELS/CRUISE SHIP
Deluxe hotels accommodations throughout
Celestyal Cruises, on the Celestyal Discovery, cabin category standard outside cabins with picture window.
(Other cabin categories may be available at an additional charge)
Prices based upon two persons sharing a two-bed room in standard outside cabin with picture window.
Single rooms /cabins are subject to availability for an additional cost of $1630 for standard outside cabins.
If a traveler doesn’t designate a roommate and Discovery Cruises and Tours is unable to do so, or if a roommate cancels before departure, the passenger will be required to pay the supplemental charge; the traveler may be billed after the final payment date if necessary
PORT TAXES:
$223
MEALS
Breakfast and Dinner plus all meals aboard cruise ship
SIGHTSEEING
Local transportation via deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach
The services of an English-speaking local guide
TIPS
$176 for Greece
– Passport costs
– Accident and baggage insurance
– Transporting and handling excess luggage
– Optional tours and excursions not mentioned in this itinerary
– Cost for Lunches: The tour will stop daily for lunch with most places accepting Mastercard or VISA cards only. Small food places outside of a town might require payment by cash only in euros, same for buying bottled water or a soda en route. We recommend exchanging a few USD to EUROS ($50-$100 per person) and plan on spending about $25 per lunch.
*In the event it becomes necessary to overnight material due to late receipt of registration or final payments, traveler will be billed for these charges.
REGISTRATION & DEPOSIT: A deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of registration. The deposit may be charged to your VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card. Registrations received inside ninety (90) days must be accompanied by full payment. A late registration may result in an additional fee for airfare depending on the airline and seat availability.
PAYMENTS: All payments after the initial deposit may be made in one of the following two ways:
If you make the payment by check, make your check payable to Discovery Cruises and Tours, and include the pastor’s name in the memo field. Please mail your check to:
Discovery Cruises and Tours
P.O. Box 2148
Hurst, TX 76053
FINAL PAYMENT: The final payment is due January 26, 2025, ninety (90) days prior to departure.
Payments received inside ninety (90) days will be assessed an $80 late payment fee. NOTE: All reservations not fully paid by the ninety-day deadline are subject to cancellation, for which Tour Operator is not to be held responsible.
PASSPORT: A valid passport is required to leave the USA and must be obtained in person by each tour member. It should be valid for a minimum of six months after your return date or you will be denied boarding. The tour participant is responsible for checking their own passport expiration date. No visas are required.
INSURANCE: Acting only as agents for suppliers, Discovery Cruises and Tours is not responsible for damage, loss, or theft of luggage and/or personal belongings, or for personal injury, accident and/or illness. For your own protection, it is important that you have adequate insurance to cover these possibilities. You should carry proof of insurance in the event you need medical attention while in Israel. For optional insurance please contact Mission Safe here to go directly to their website.
AIRLINE SEATS: Seats without a deposit must be released 100 days from departure. If you cancel your seat with DCT in writing within the 100 days there is a penalty of $100 per person.
If a traveler cancels their tour for any reason, the following cancellation frees will apply:
TIMEFRAME
CANCELLATION FEE PER PERSON
Day of Registration – January 25, 2025
$200
January 26, 2025 – February 10, 2025
$500
February 11, 2025 – February 26, 2025
25% of tour cost
February 27, 2025 – March 27, 2025
50% of tour cost
On or after March 28, 2025
NO REFUND
All cancellation requests must be sent in an email to contact@dcttravel.com.
NOTE: Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is available through Misson Safe, and other vendors, and is highly recommended.
Discovery Cruises and Tours (Tour Operator) agrees to arrange for the tour described in this brochure. This represents the entire agreement between the passenger and his agent, the Tour Host, the Tour Operator and its agents. Except as stated herein, no person is authorized to cancel, modify, or vary the tour arrangements or to make any representation of warranty concerning the tour. Except for the willful negligence of its direct employees, the Tour Operator assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries, damages occasioned by circumstances beyond the control of Tour Operator, or by any person for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to default or omission of and by any third party providing services or facilities related to or included in this tour or any part thereof, or in arranging for the same, or the acts or omissions of the Tour Host.  Tour Operator reserves the right to refuse or revoke travel to anyone who is deemed incapable of group travel per the sole judgment of Tour Operator.  Due to circumstances beyond the Tour Operator’s control, the sequence of touring sites may occasionally need to be altered. The airlines or cruise lines are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board planes, ships or conveyances. The passenger contracts, in use by the airlines and cruise lines, and the passenger or purchaser of this tour and/or passage and Tour Operator assume no liability or responsibility in connection therewith. Also, the Tour Operator WILL NOT BE responsible for: (a) flight schedule changes, mechanical breakdowns, government actions, weather, acts of God, acts of war or aggression, whether declared or undeclared, hijackings, or other circumstances beyond its control, including any connecting flights that may be missed as a result thereof (participants should consider the possibility of delays when arranging connecting flights); (b) the failure to follow instructions, including but not limited to check-in and check-out times and baggage handling; and, (c) charges incurred relating to single room/stateroom requirements either by the passengers themselves or their assigned roommates. Payment of the deposit or any partial or full payment for a reservation constitutes consent to all provisions listed in this brochure.
