Excursion Mid-voyage land adventure: jerusalem, masada & the dead sea tour at Ashdod

The capital city of Israel, Jerusalem is also renowned as the cradle of Judaism and Christianity, and home to some of the most iconic, important and revered religious sites in the world. Watch the ancient beauty and history of Israel unfold during this panoramic overnight journey to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Masada. Begin your Mid-Voyage Land Adventure with a scenic drive from the pier in Ashdod through the Judean Desert. A photo stop is made in Qumrun at the cave where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Next, drive along the shores of the Dead Sea en route to Masada. Following a cable-car-ride to the summit of the Masada Fortress, take a guided walking tour around this historic site. At the conclusion of your tour, ride the cable car back down and transfer for lunch at Herods Dead Sea Hotel, located on the shores of the Dead Sea. After lunch, some free time is made available for a relaxing swim in these waters that are so mineral-rich, you cannot sink. At the conclusion of your visit, continue to Jerusalem and an overnight stay in the King David Hotel, the Israel's most famous hotel. After dinner at the hotel, take a sightseeing drive around the illuminated city walls and monuments, and visit the Western Wall to observe the faithful touching the ancient stones. Following an overnight stay and breakfast, check-out for a drive atop the Mount of Olives for magnificent panoramic views over the Golden City, with its Temple Mount. Next, take a stroll through the Garden of Gethsemane, and past some of the oldest olive trees in Jerusalem. Your tour continues with a walking tour of Mount Zion, and visits to the Room of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb. From here, proceed on-foot through the colourful Bazaar to the Christian quarter and you will visit the most sacred site of Christianity - Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Afterwards, leave the old city via Jaffa Gate en route to lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, built above the place where Christ is said to have been born. Following your visit, your Mid-Voyage Land Adventure concludes on Day Two with a transfer to the port of Haifa. Upon arrival, embark the ship.

Jerusalem, Masada & the Dead Sea

Duration: 2 Days/1 Night

Departs from: Ashdod

Re-join ship: Haifa

Reserve by: At least 90 days prior to sailing

IMPORTANT NOTE

This Silver Shore Mid-Land Adventure requires advance booking through Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to the sail date. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and participation cannot be guaranteed for those guests not booking well in advance. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, 90 - 0 days prior to the initial sailing date: 100% of the programme fare per person is due.

Payment in full is due at time of final payment. Bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner, as specified by Silversea.

VISA INFORMATION:

Please check with your travel professional for details regarding visa requirements for Israel. It is the responsibility of each guest to obtain all appropriate visas before cruising.

LOCAL CURRENCY:

The local currency is the Israeli Shekel (ILS); local ATMs are available in some locations visited, and credit cards are accepted in larger shops and hotels.

Watch the ancient beauty and history of Israel unfold during this panoramic overnight journey to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Masada.

DAY ONE - Monday, April 6, 2020 - Ashdod/ Masada/ Dead Sea/Jerusalem

Transfer from Ashdod to Judean Desert and the cave where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered

After disembarking the ship in Ashdod, meet your guide and depart for the scenic, approximately 2-hour transfer via private coach to the Judean Desert. Along the way, pass by Jericho and stop at Qumran to take a photo of the cave where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.

Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea en route to Masada, and a tour of the Masada Fortress

Leaving Qumran, begin the approximately 2.5-hour drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Upon arrival, visit the Masada Fortress, located a little to the north of ancient Sodom. This mountain fortress looms high above the Dead Sea's desolated landscape, and has often been described as the most spectacular archaeological site in Israel. Here, King Herod built a luxurious here refuge complete with magnificent palaces, swimming pools and excavated rock cisterns to supply water. Around 73 A.D., after a long Roman siege, more than 950 Jews took their own lives at Masada rather than face a future of slavery.

Cable-car-ride to the summit of the Masada Fortress, and a guided walk around this historic site

A cable car transports you to-and-from the summit of the Masada Fortress for a walk around the site of this last stand. Among the fascinating highlights to see are the wall, bathhouses, upper-palace, synagogue, church cisterns, western palace, Roman ramp, and a swimming pool.

Lunch at Herods Dead Sea Hotel, with some free time for swimming

Following your visit, board the cable car for the ride back down from the summit, then re-board your coach and descend more than 1,400 feet (about 427 metres) to the Dead Sea; the lowest place on the surface of our planet. Upon arrival at Ein Bokek, proceed for a buffet lunch at Herods Dead Sea Hotel, nestled on the shores of the Dead Sea. After lunch, some free time is made available to relax with use of the hotel's beach, spa, showers, lockers, and towels. You can sunbathe, take a stroll on the beach, and/or a relaxing swim in these waters that are so mineral-rich, you cannot sink.

Drive to Jerusalem, King David Hotel & check-in

Afterward, commence the transfer to Jerusalem via private coach. Upon arrival, head to the King David Hotel which is the most famous of all the hotels in the city. Check-in and some free time to freshen-up before dinner.

Dinner at the hotel, drive around the illuminated city walls and monuments, and a Western Wall visit

Dinner is at the hotel. After dinner, take a sightseeing drive around the illuminated walls and monuments of the city, including a visit to the Western (Wailing) Wall, the last vestige of the ramparts that surrounded the Holy Temple of the Jews built by King Solomon. Following your visit and an opportunity to observe those who come to pray by the ancient stones, transfer back to your hotel via private coach.

Overnight in a Standard Room at the King David Hotel - Jerusalem

Please note: Guests are advised to bring a swimsuit, flip-flops or water shoes, sun protection, a towel, and change of clothing from the ship.

DAY TWO - Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - Jerusalem/Bethlehem/Haifa

Breakfast, check-out and a photo stop atop the Mount of Olives

After breakfast at the hotel, check-out, meet your guide and begin your drive atop Mount of Olives for magnificent panoramic views over the Golden City, with its Temple Mount.

Stroll through the Garden of Gethsemane, and past some of the oldest olive trees in Jerusalem

Next, continue on-foot through the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent his last moments before his arrest. Early Christians were already holding gatherings here before the first church was built, around 380 A.D. A stop is made to see this beautiful church, and some of the oldest olive trees remaining in Jerusalem.

Mount Zion walking tour, and visits to the Room of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb

Re-board your private coach for the short ride to Mount Zion. Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour. Along the way, visit the Room of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb. Leaving Mount Zion, enter the Old City on-foot via the Zion Gate, and walk through the Jewish Quarter and 2nd-century Roman Cardo to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Emperor Constantine constructed a vast sanctuary on the site of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The building was later destroyed, but subsequent rebuilt by the Crusaders. During your guided visit inside the church, see the last five Stations of the Cross.

Colourful Bazaar, Jaffa Gate, lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Bethlehem & Church of the Nativity

Proceed through the colourful Bazaar en route to the Jaffa Gate, then proceed for lunch at a local restaurant Italian Luciana. After lunch, re-board your private coach and head to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, built above the place where Christ is said to have been born. The actual Cave of the Nativity is a small crypt with a vaulted masonry roof. Poor Bethlehem families used the rocky hollows of the region as stables or dwellings, so the tradition that places the Nativity in a cave is consistent with the story of the Manger. First built by Queen Helene in the 4th century, this is the only Byzantine Church in the Holy Land.

Transfer to the pier in Haifa, and your ship

At the conclusion of your tour, re-board your private coach and commence the approximately 2.5-hour transfer to the pier in Haifa. Upon arrival, embark the ship.

Please note: Proper attire is required to enter religious sites; shorts are not permitted, and bare shoulders and midriffs must be covered.

Please note: This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure requires an extensive amount of walking, at times over uneven, cobblestone, rocky, sandy, grassy, slippery, and natural surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and board/de-board the cable car, and many steps at the sites visited. This tour is not suitable for pregnant guests, guests with back and/or neck problems, guests with heart and/or respiratory conditions, guests prone to motion sickness, guests with a fear of heights, guests with limited mobility, and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sneakers, flip-flops, sun protection, swimwear, a sweater or light jacket, raingear, an electric socket convertor that fits Middle East plugs, a camera, and local currency for purchases from the ship; avoid wearing sandals, as most of the sites visited are dusty. Proper attire is required to enter religious sites; shorts are not permitted, and bare shoulders and midriffs must be covered. Guests must carry their passport and ship's ID at all times. Guests must be at least 21 years old to be served alcoholic beverages. The tour sequence and itinerary may vary. Operation of this tour is subject to weather conditions. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Programme Includes:

• One-night stay in a Standard Room at the King David Hotel - Jerusalem
• One breakfast, two lunches and one dinner with drinks included
• Some of the oldest olive trees in Jerusalem
• Visits to the Room of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb
• Lunch at a local restaurant in Jerusalem
• Cave where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
• Photo stop at the summit of the mount of Olives
• Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
• Lunch at a local restaurant in Jerusalem
• Western (Wailing) Wall visit, with an opportunity to observe the faithful touching the stones
• Cable-car-ride to-and-from the summit of the Masada Fortress
• Lunch at Herods Dead Sea Hotel, with free time for swimming in the Dead Sea
• All sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary

Not Included:

Any meals and drinks not specified above, gratuities to drivers and tour guides, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance, and other personal items. All Land Adventures require a minimum number of participants in order to operate as described. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Silversea's published cruise cancellation policy will remain in effect. All Land Adventure fares are subject to change, and are not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. Onboard Spending Credit may not be applied to the purchase of this programme. All Land Adventures are non-transferable and non-refundable within 90 days of sailing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. All Land Adventures are owned by independent contractors and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Land Adventures may be modified by the operators at their sole discretion.