Mediterranean Adventures
Shore Excursions
Shore Excursions
For many Cruise Ship Travelers, the ports of call Haifa and Ashdod will present a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Israel and its Holy Sites. Instead of choosing a standard Shore Excursion, during which you will be squeezed through the country with 50 other passengers, I offer you a much more pleasant and relaxed option. On my Private Shore Excursions you will experience the country up close up and personal by not just visiting the tourist sites, but by also getting to know the people and the culture of Israel. Immediately after passing through customs and passport control at your port of call, I will personally greet you and accompany you to the modern, air-conditioned van. We will then spend an exciting day together, experiencing the magic that is the Country of Israel. At the end of our Private Shore Excursion, I will drive you back to your port of call, where you will re-embark your ship in time for dinner.
HOLY CITY
JERUSALEM
A TOUR OF
JERUSALEM’S HOLY SITES
Most of us grew up with the stories told in the Bible. We therefore often feel personally connected to the locations in which these biblical stories take place. Now is the time to actually come and visit these sites in person! Take advantage of your ship’s stopover in Israel to visit the Holy City of Jerusalem. Together we will come to understand why Jerusalem holds such an important place in the minds and hearts of millions of people and we will soak up the atmosphere of holiness that makes this city such a unique place.
Your journey begins when you step outside the arrivals hall at your port of disembarkation. I will personally welcome you to Israel and lead you to a modern, air conditioned minivan. During the ride to Jerusalem I will explain to you not only the history of Israel, but also the reason why this entire region has been fought over for millennia. Once we arrive in Jerusalem, we will start with a lookout over the entire city of Jerusalem, which will simply take your breath away.
We will then walk down the Palm Sunday Way towards the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest. From there we will be driven to the Old City of Jerusalem, where we will walk along the Via Dolorosa towards the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – the site of Jesus’ Crucifixion and burial.
We will have lunch in a typical local restaurant, after which we will enjoy some free time for exploration and shopping. We will end our tour with a visit to the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall – the holiest site in Judaism. From there, our driver will pick us up and drive us back to port. During the ride back we will reflect on the experiences of the day and answer all open questions regarding the sites visited.
SUGGESTED SITES
FOR THIS TOUR
Mount of Olives Observation Point, Palm Sunday Way, Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa, Muslim Quarter, Jewish Quarter, Christian Quarter, Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
TOUR INFO
✔ Portside Pickup in Haifa / Ashdod
✔ Meeting Point at Port Terminal
✔ Transportation in Private Vehicle
✔ Timely Return to the Port
✔ Available in English and German
✘ Entrance fees
✘ Meals
BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM
A TOUR TO HOLY SITES OF
BETHLEHEM & JERUSALEM
Your ship is making a port call in Israel and you want to take advantage of this unique opportunity by visiting the main Christian holy sites in Bethlehem and Jerusalem? Then this full-day shore excursion is the right choice for you. Together, we will explore the holy sites of the New Testament and we will understand the historical context that gave birth to a small Jewish sect, which eventually turned into a world religion.
Your journey begins when you step outside the arrivals hall at your port of disembarkation. I will personally welcome you to Israel and lead you to a modern, air conditioned minivan. During the ride to Bethlehem I will not only explain to you the story of Christianity in this region, but also get you acquainted with Israel’s modern history and culture. Upon arrival in Bethlehem, we will visit the Church of the Nativity – site of Jesus’ birth – as well as the adjacent Manger Square and Milk Grotto. After a short stroll through the oriental bazaar of Bethlehem we will have lunch in a typical local restaurant.
After a short 30-minute ride, we will start the second part of the day with a magnificent lookout over the entire city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. From there, we will continue by retracing Jesus’ steps in the Old City, which includes a visit of the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – site of Jesus’ Crucifixion and burial.
We will end our tour with a visit to the Western Wall – the holiest site in Judaism. From there, our driver will pick us up and drive us back to port. During the ride back we will reflect on the experiences of the day and answer all open questions regarding the sites visited.
SUGGESTED SITES
FOR THIS TOUR
Church of the Nativity, Manger Square, Milk Grotto, Mount of Olives Observation Point, Muslim Quarter, Via Dolorosa, Christian Quarter, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
TOUR INFO
✔ Portside Pickup in Haifa / Ashdod
✔ Meeting Point at Port Terminal
✔ Transportation in Private Vehicle
✔ Timely Return to the Port
✔ Available in English and German
✘ Entrance fees
✘ Meals
JERUSALEM AND
THE DEAD SEA
A TOUR TO JERUSALEM’S HOLY SITES & THE DEAD SEA
Make the best of your time at this port of call by visiting two locations that are absolutely unique to Israel: the Holy City of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.
Jerusalem is holy to three world religions and our aim on this shore excursion will be not only to visit the holy sites and soak up their unique atmosphere, but also to understand the historical reasons that are the basis for this holiness. Our tour of Jerusalem will include the Garden of Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall. After lunch in a typical local restaurant we will also have some free time for shopping or strolling. We will then board our bus again and make our way towards the Jordan Valley, until we reach the lowest point on earth. After a 45-minute ride we will behold the beautiful Dead Sea – the lowest body of water on earth.
Here you will be able to experience the unique phenomenon of floating on the surface of the Dead Sea’s water. Swimming, as well as sinking, is literally not possible here! The water of the Dead Sea has a 33% salt content and is rich in other minerals. Bathing in the Dead Sea has therefore been demonstrated to relieve skin ailments and skin ageing, making this experience a unique and healthy one at the same time.
After our visit to the Dead Sea, our driver will pick us up again and return us to port. During the ride back we will reflect on the experiences of the day and answer all open questions regarding the sites visited.
SUGGESTED SITES
FOR THIS TOUR
Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa, Muslim Quarter, Christian Quarter, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Western Wall (Wailing Wall), Dead Sea Bathing
TOUR INFO
✔ Portside Pickup in Haifa / Ashdod
✔ Meeting Point at Port Terminal
✔ Transportation in Private Vehicle
✔ Timely Return to the Port
✔ Available in English and German
✘ Entrance fees
✘ Meals
3700+
Tourists Guided
300+
Tours Completed
750+
Positive Reviews
9
Years in Business