ITINERARY
ITINERARY
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at sea...
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Surf & Turf Steakhouse
As its name suggests, this à la carte eatery specialises in the likes of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. You’ve also got other meat and fish options, as well as plenty to satisfy a vegetarian palate. This is one of the ship's speciality restaurants, so there's a charge to dine here – plus, we recommend you make a reservation in advance.
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47°
Marella Discovery 2’s main eatery is a big, stylish venue, finished in the colours of the sand and the sea. Daytime meals here come with a side-order of sea views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand double staircase leads up to a separate eatery.
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Gallery 47°
You’ll find this trendy Italian restaurant on the second floor of the ship’s main dining room, 47°. It’s a laid-back place, where bookings aren’t necessary, and its designer look features a colour scheme inspired by the sunset.
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Jerusalem & Bethlehem
Jews, Christians, Muslims – they all hold this place dear. Sights here represent each of the faiths. Kicking things off is a fly-by driving tour, passing the Israeli parliament building known as the Knesset, the Museum of Israel and the Shrine of the Book. It’s the best way to see the city sights. Next you’ll drive to the top of the Mount of Olives. Named after its olive tree-planted slopes, this place is thought to be where the dead will be resurrected on Judgement Day. The views from here are epic. From here, you’ll head for the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and was betrayed by his disciple Judas. A visit to the Church of All Nations is also on the itinerary here. It’s followed by an active walk through the old city following the path Jesus took as he carried his cross to Calvary, a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection and a glimpse of the shimmering mosques of Al-Aqsa and The Dome of the Rock. You’ll also stop off at the Western Wall, the place where Orthodox Jews nod in prayer and put prayer notes into the cracks of the wall. Finally, you’ll head to Bethlehem for lunch in a restaurant and to see one of Christianity’s most sacred sights, the Church of the Nativity, built on the same site as the stable where Mary gave birth to Jesus.
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Tel Aviv Beach & Shopping
Tel Aviv is the lifeblood of Israel. Old and new collide in the nation’s biggest metropolis, which means you get a great feel for the city. One of the major draws is the beach, which you’ll visit on this tour. A sweep of pale sand rinsed by the clear Mediterranean waters, it’s the perfect place to relax for a little while. What’s more, there are beach bars nearby if you want to grab a drink or a snack. From here, you’ll head to Carmel Market, Tel Aviv’s largest fruit and veg market. You’ll find more than your five a day here, though – you can pick up traditional clothes, jewellery and pottery, too. Plus, you’ll find fish, meat and some local specialities. Make sure you try a ‘boreka’, a salty, puff pastry filled with egg, pickles and tomatoes. And don’t miss the Turkish and Japanese food sections, either. Once you’ve snapped up some bargains, you’ll head to Ramat Aviv Mall. This huge shopping centre is brimming with modern shops, cafés and restaurants, so it’s a world away from the traditional marketplace. You’ll have plenty of time here to grab a bite to eat and wander around the glitzy stores, before heading back to the port.
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Panoramic Jerusalem
The Western Wall. The Gardens of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives. They’re some of the world’s most famous religious icons and just a drop in the ocean of Jerusalem’s line-up of superstar sights. In fact, there are more things to see here than you can feasibly fit into a day. But you can catch most of them on this guided tour. Kicking things off, you’ll travel from Ashdod to the Mount of Olives, where it’s said the Messiah will resurrect the dead on the day of judgment. It’s Jerusalem’s holiest cemetery and the view from the top is breathtaking, the whole city spreads out below you. From here, you’ll head to the Gardens of Gethsemane, the olive grove where Jesus prayed after the Last Supper and was betrayed by Judas the same night. Next up, is the Western Wall. Also known as the Wailing Wall, it’s the most sacred site in the Jewish world and for centuries Jewish worshipers have gathered here to pray. After a buffet lunch with time to relax, you’ll take a fly-by driving tour of the city. Highlights seen include the Knesset where Israel’s Parliament holds court and the Israel Museum where the world’s oldest-known biblical documents, the Dead Sea Scrolls, are kept. Finally, you'll head to see David's Tomb, the Dormition Church and the room of the Last Supper.
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Nazareth & The Sea of Galilee
Everyone’s heard of Nazareth - it’s packed with religious sites. On this full day tour you’ll get to see some of the most famous. Your first stop is the Church of the Annunciation, built on the site where the Angel Gabriel is said to have visited Mary. From here you’ll travel through the village of Kana, where Jesus turned water into wine, to the Sea of Galilee. We then visit Capernaum and Tabgha, where the feeding of the 5,000 took place and see the Mount of the Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered before you drive to the River Jordan at Yardenit for lunch.
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Acre - The Crusader's Kingdom
Make sure you have your camera with you for this one. Your first stop is Mount Carmel, and the look-out point next to the Stella Maris monastery. You’ll have a panoramic view over Haifa’s bay and parts of northern Israel. Next stop will be an observation point at the Baha'i Shrine, home to the largest hanging gardens in the world. You’ll then drive around the bay to Acre, the oldest city in the northern region. Age-wise, the city is over 500 years old, and you’ll get a real feel for it as you wander its narrow alleyways. The centre you see today was built in the 18th century from the ruins of an old crusader citadel. The newly excavated Crusader’s halls and a Templar tunnel are among the spoils you can explore here.
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Jerusalem & Bethlehem
Jews, Christians, Muslims – they all hold this place dear. Sights here represent each of the faiths. Kicking things off is a fly-by driving tour, passing the Israeli parliament building known as the Knesset, the Museum of Israel and the Shrine of the Book. It’s the best way to see the city sights. Next you’ll drive to the top of the Mount of Olives. Named after its olive tree-planted slopes, this place is thought to be where the dead will be resurrected on Judgement Day. The views from here are epic. From here, you’ll head for the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and was betrayed by his disciple Judas. A visit to the Church of All Nations is also on the itinerary here. It’s followed by a walk through the old city following the path Jesus took as he carried his cross to Calvary, a visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection and a glimpse of the shimmering mosques of Al-Aqsa and The Dome of the Rock. You’ll also stop off at the Western Wall, the place where Orthodox Jews nod in prayer and put prayer notes into the cracks of the wall. Finally, you’ll head to Bethlehem for lunch in a restaurant and to see one of Christianity’s most sacred sights – the Church of the Nativity. Built on the same site as the stable where Mary gave birth to Jesus.
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Cruising through the Suez Canal
Just so you know there aren't any excursions available from the Suez Canal. Your ship will sail down this man made canal, more that 120 miles long and 24 metres deep. Built back in the 19th century to link the Red sea to the Mediterranean it’s certainly always been highly prized. Back in 1875 Disraeli famously announced to Queen Victoria “You have it, Madam” and the canal became the linchpin of Britain’s empire. Later, in 1956 it came under the global spotlight again during an episode which was dubbed the ‘Suez Crisis’. The eyes of the world watched in trepidation as Britain and France sought to wrestle control of the canal from Egypt. While it may not be hitting the headlines today, the Suez Canal is still a talking point - the spectacle of huge ships lining up to pass through the narrow stretch is a sight to be seen. And the canal itself is an astonishing feat of engineering – cruising through it will have you ‘oo-ing’ and ‘ah-ing’.
at sea...
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Surf & Turf Steakhouse
As its name suggests, this à la carte eatery specialises in the likes of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. You’ve also got other meat and fish options, as well as plenty to satisfy a vegetarian palate. This is one of the ship's speciality restaurants, so there's a charge to dine here – plus, we recommend you make a reservation in advance.
47°
Marella Discovery 2’s main eatery is a big, stylish venue, finished in the colours of the sand and the sea. Daytime meals here come with a side-order of sea views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand double staircase leads up to a separate eatery.
Gallery 47°
You’ll find this trendy Italian restaurant on the second floor of the ship’s main dining room, 47°. It’s a laid-back place, where bookings aren’t necessary, and its designer look features a colour scheme inspired by the sunset.
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Petra - The Rose Red City
Walk in the footsteps of Indiana Jones and discover this amazing city that was lost to the world for over 1000 years. Jordan’s biggest national treasure, Petra is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites with 2000 years of history and 800 monuments still standing. Some archaeologists call it the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World – and it’s not surprising. Put simply, this place is out of this world. Pick a path through steep rocky slopes and craggy mountain tops, admiring the temples, tombs, theatres and stairways that have been carved into the rock. First off, you’ll walk to the entrance of the Old City of As-Siq. As you wander down to Al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, you might get a sense of déjà-vu – this place landed a starring role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Your adventure carries on past the Roman Theatre to the spectacular Royal Tombs, carved into the face of Jebel Khubtha. From here, you’ll head down the Colonnaded Street. You’ll have time to yourself to wander round and take some pictures before making your way back via the same route. Rounding off your adventure is lunch at one of the local hotels.
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Movenpick Hotel & Beach
Ready to kick back and relax? Then come and spend some time on a private beach in Aqaba, at the Movenpick Hotel. This 5 star hotel has got a great pool complex, too, complete with two turquoise swimming pools, roomy sun terraces and an outdoor café. On top of that, the hotel’s got a great range of watersports and activities that you can pay for when you get there. As well as cafés and restaurants, you’ll find souvenir shops and a foreign exchange service at the hotel. And there’s no need to bring a towel with you – you’ll be given one when you get there.
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Petra - Trek to the Monastery
In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, only the penitent man could pass into Petra. But that’s not true in real life. In fact, the city known as ‘half as old as time’ is Jordan’s top visitor attraction. On this trip, you’ll follow the well-worn tourist trail around this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll see temples, tombs, theatres and stairways that were carved out of the rock face almost 2,000 years ago. Then, you’ll get to see a part of Petra that most visitors don’t get to see. The monastery has remained on the whole incognito, because it takes almost an hour to climb 800 steps to reach it. And, even if the height of this place doesn’t dizzy you, its vital statistics will. It’s 50 metres tall by 45 metres wide, and even its front door is multi-storey-tall. The flat plaza that’s been carved out of the rock in front of the building was once used for religious ceremonies. Before you contemplate the trek back down to on-the-radar Petra, you’ll have time for a drink in the cave café, opposite the monastery.
