Oceania Exclusive Tour
For those travelers who prefer an added measure of intimacy and flexibility, we are pleased to offer our new Oceania Exclusive tours. With a minimum of 10 guests and a maximum capacity of just 16 guests, each tour benefits from a higher level of personal attention and the added flexibility and agility that come from traveling in a small group.
Oceania Exclusive tours are available for a specially selected number of tours in almost every port we visit, in every corner of the world.
It's one superlative attraction after another on this tour, which begins with a scenic drive to the possible remains of the House of Virgin Mary. It is recorded that St. John the Apostle brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ and that she spent her last days in a small house. The dating of articles found at the site, which is now a church, lends credence to the belief that Virgin Mary indeed lived here. Ephesus is one of the most magnificent ancient cities of Asia Minor, and the wealth of Roman ruins here is absolutely astounding, especially considering that most of them haven't been excavated yet. You can walk among the ruins of the Odeon theater, public baths, the beautifully restored Celsus Library, and the Grand Theater where St. Paul once preached. The theater seats almost 24,000 people and has wonderful acoustics. In fact, it is still used today for music performances. Later, you will meander through the Museum of Ephesus, which houses an impressive collection of statues and other archaeological treasures excavated nearby. Following your included lunch, you will transfer back to Kusadasi where you can do some shopping or attend an informative carpet demonstration.
Please note: The Ephesus Archaeological Museum will be closed through the end of 2013 for renovations. It will be replaced with a visit to the St. John Basilica.