Explore the heart of the Holy Land by visiting many of the most hallowed religious areas, including the Old City of Jerusalem, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, fortified Masada and architecturally rich Caesarea.
This Pre Land program is conducted with luxury vans or minibuses holding no more than 10 guests and a guide in each vehicle.
Please Note:
This tour includes extensive walking and is only recommended for guests in good physical condition. This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Please be reminded in religious locations to have shoulders and knees covered.
DAY 1
After flying into the Ben Gurion Airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, you will be met outside of Customs and Immigration and transferred to your hotel where you will spend the next three evenings.
Check in is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed. A hospitality desk will be available at the hotel (timing to be advised when you arrive) should you have any questions.
The afternoon and evening are free for you to settle in, enjoy the hotel’s amenities or explore the city. Meals are on your own for the remainder of the day.
DAY 2
Following a full Israeli breakfast, you will enjoy a panoramic drive over the Mount of Olives, which is named for the olive groves that once flourished here. A stop at nearby Gethsemane, which in Hebrew means “oil press,” allows time to wander through the gardens and reflect on this religious site.
Then, it’s on to the Old City for an enlightening walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jerusalem has great symbolic importance. After approximately two hours of exploring its landmarks, you will continue to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
More iconic religious sites await you a short drive away in Bethlehem, including the Church of the Nativity, one of the world’s oldest surviving Christian churches. The small rectangular entrance, known as the Door of Humility, was created in Ottoman times so even the most important visitors would have to dismount their horses to enter.
You will also have some time for shopping in Bethlehem before returning to the hotel in Jerusalem. The evening is free to do as you please and dinner is on your own.
NOTE: The walking tour of the Old City includes passing along the Via Dolorosa and thus seeing several of the Stations of the Cross (not including the churches). A visit is made inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher however due to extreme crowding and long lines, only the main part of the church is seen. (The Golgotha is not seen). The group will also see the Wailing Wall (Western Wall).
DAY 3
After enjoying a full Israeli breakfast, you will drive inland toward the Dead Sea. The landscape becomes hauntingly stark the deeper you go into the Judean Desert. In time, you will reach Masada, the rugged natural fortress where Jewish patriots famously defied the Roman army in 73 A.D.
Herod, King of Judaea, originally built Masada as a great palace and it has since become an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortifications and attack ramp surrounding the mountaintop monument are the world’s most complete Roman siege works and of great historical value.
Then following lunch, you will drive down to the Dead Sea. If you wish, you may relax in the water, which is comprised of as much as 35% dissolved salts, making it easy to float on the surface. Because of the water’s high salinity, marine life is almost non-existent in the Dead Sea.
Later in the afternoon, you will drive back to the hotel, where the evening and dinner are on your own.
Note: Restroom and change facilities will be available for those who wish to swim in the Dead Sea.
DAY 4
Following a full Israeli breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will drive to Caesarea, a coastal town with a wealth of modern and ancient attractions. Named for Augustus Caesar, who gave this area to King Herod, Caesarea is full of architectural remains from various historical periods, giving you an excellent glimpse into ancient lifestyles.
After visiting, you will drive through the coastal mountain range of Mount Carmel, where you will be treated to a spectacular view of Haifa Bay and the gorgeous Baha’i Gardens. Then, it’s on to the port of Haifa, where you will embark on the ship to begin your cruise.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Fly into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and transfer to your hotel.
Check in is 3:00pm. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure and meals are on your own.
Overnight at the David Citadel or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
AM Full Israeli breakfast
9:00am Depart for a panoramic drive over the Mount of Olives
9:30am Drive to Gethsemane for a brief visit
10:30am Drive to Jerusalem’s Old City
11:00am Walking tour of the Old City
1:00pm Transfer to a restaurant for buffet lunch
2:15pm Drive to Bethlehem
2:45pm Visit the Church of Nativity and then shop
4:45pm Depart for the hotel
5:15pm Arrive at the hotel
Evening and dinner are at your leisure
Overnight at the David Citadel or similar hotel
DAY 3
AM Full Israeli breakfast
8:30am Drive toward the Dead Sea
9:30am Refreshments and restroom stop
10:00am Drive to Masada
10:30am Visit Masada
1:00pm Drive to lunch venue
1:30pm Buffet lunch and an optional swim in the Dead Sea
4:00pm Depart for the hotel
5:30pm Arrive at your hotel
Evening and dinner are at your leisure
Overnight at the David Citadel or similar hotel
DAY 4
AM Full Israeli breakfast
8:30am Hotel check out
9:00am Drive to Caesarea
10:30am Visit Caesarea
12:30pm Drive to Haifa and Mt. Carmel
1:00pm Enjoy view of the Baha'i Gardens and Haifa Bay
1:30pm Drive to the port of Haifa
2:00pm Embark on the ship
Expected Weather:
The average temperature October ranges from a high of 77Fº to a low of 62Fº
What to Bring:
Weather-appropriate clothing such as hats, light jackets, sunglasses, and flat comfortable walking shoes as well as bathing suit if you plan to swim in the Dead Sea.
Currency:
The current official currency of Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). Credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity:
The Israeli power supply is single-phase 220 volts at 50 Hertz. Most power sockets in Israel have three pinholes, but many of them will work with double-pin European plugs. Visitors who want to use shavers, traveling irons and other small appliances may need both transformers and adaptor plugs.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they enter the country. Please check Visa regulations with the Israeli Consulate in your country of residence.
Accommodation:
The David Citadel
King David St 7, Jerusalem, 9410119, Israel
Phone: +972 2-621-1111
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards guests will be notified in advance. If guests are not notified of changes before departure, then the hotel listed in this program will be used
Program Includes:
•Three-night stay at the David Citadel (or similar) – Superior Room
•Three breakfasts, two lunches including one glass of wine per person and mineral water
•All transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees as per program.
•Headsets while on tour
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes:
Meals or beverages not mentioned above
Gratuities to drivers and tour director
Hotel incidentals, including mini bar and room service
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.