Unique Itinerary: Holy Land aboard Queen Elizabeth

The Mediterranean is unquestionably one of the world’s premier cruise destinations. Home to some of the most fascinating and historically relevant ports, this entrancing, beautiful and often romantic part of the world can arguably be seen as the cradle of modern civilisation.

The amazing Parthenon, part of the Acropolis, is a must-see on any visit to Athens. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

But for all the itineraries calling on cities like Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Venice, there exists another side to the Mediterranean that often goes unconsidered: the area commonly known as the Holy Land. Filled with spectacular sights and some of the most diverse cultural experiences on the planet, the Holy Land is a history buff’s dream come true, particularly as it continues to change and evolve even to this day.

This week, we’ve partnered with Vancouver-based Cruise Experts Travel’s Europe Cruise Experts arm to bring you four unique “Holy Land” itineraries for this fall, operated on some of cruising’s most spectacular vessels.

To kick things off, let’s all collectively take our breath in at the sight of Cunard’s 12-night Holy Land Explorer itinerary, operated aboard their newest vessel, the Queen Elizabeth.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth explores the Mediterranean and Holy Land this fall. Photo courtesy of Cunard.

Departing on Saturday, November 17, 2012, Voyage Q223 is a stunning exploration of the southeastern Mediterranean.  Beginning in Athens, Greece, guests aboard the Queen Elizabeth will be fortunate to visit the amazing island of Mykonos before venturing to Izmir, Turkey – gateway to the famed ancient ruins of Ephesus.

Afterwards, an overnight call in Galilee serves as an introduction to Israel. Gateway to the fabled city of Nazareth, Galilee features terrain that is at once rocky, harsh and stunningly beautiful with rivers, streams, greenery and gently rolling mountain ranges.

Explore historic Alexandria, Egypt on this cruise, or head inland to witness the Nile River and Pyramids firsthand. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

The historical aspect of this itinerary is ramped up with calls to Limassol, Cyprus and Alexandria, Egypt, which serves as the gateway to the world-famous Nile River and the Pyramids.

Capri, Italy. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Of course, the Mediterranean itself isn’t neglected on this fantastic itinerary. Punctuated by sea days on either end, calls are made to the famous island of Santorini, with its distinctive blue-and-white buildings; and the always-enchanting Capri before the voyage ends in Civitavecchia, Italy, better known as the port for Rome.

The full itinerary:

Curious to know more about this exciting voyage? Click here to view the full voyage, including booking information and special pricing, on the Europe Cruise Experts website!