Thessaloniki

,

The Mediterranean Cruise: Big Ship Energy or Mid-Sized Intimacy?

,

Vicki can’t hold it back anymore.

Different ships, different audiences

Cruise ships are not “one-size fits all.” Different sized ships serve different purposes and cater to different audiences.

Large ships like the Celebrity Reflection (pictured above) carry 3,000 passengers or more. They are built for maximum capacity, fun, and variety. Multiple pools, entertainment venues, restaurants, and activities appeal to multi-generational travelers. They are floating cities, and for this reason, often sail the major routes, hopping between big ports.

We used the Celebrity Reflection back in 2018 for our Mediterranean Cruise. That’s Vicki in the picture above!

The Celebrity Infinity. Image from here.

In praise of the mid-sized ship

In October of 2026 we’ll be returning to the water on the Celebrity Infinity, a sibling of the Reflection. Unlike the Reflection, however, the Infinity is a smaller cruiser. It is classed as midsized.

Midsized ships still have plenty of amenities. But they are not as overwhelming and seek to balance comfort with intimacy, relaxation with activity. Midsized ships tend to attract an audience more interested in destinations than on-board entertainment. They also call on smaller ports that supersize liners bypass.

Sign on for our upcoming Apostle Paul Mediterranean Cruise

Bible Land Explorer is excited to partner with the Christian HolyLand Foundation and Educational Opportunities aboard the Celebrity Infinity. We’ll be visiting Mediterranean sites of biblical significance, including Athens, Rhodes, Ephesus, Thessaloniki, Corinth and others. A pre-tour to Rome is also available. Our onboard talks will be focused on the life of the Apostle Paul. Attention will given to biblical and archaeological angles.We’ll also take time to savor the 40th anniversary of the ministry of the Christian HolyLand Foundation (CHLF).

I hope you will join us for this amazing voyage. Click the link here for the trip brochure.

For a tour of the Celebrity Infinity, follow the link here.

Five reasons why you will be pleasantly surprised by a Mediterranean cruise—click here.

And to learn more about the work of the CHLF, follow the link here.

Vardar: The Now-gone Gate in Thessaloniki

The bustling corner of Egnatia and Vardari Square in Thessaloniki.

The Vardar Gate

Standing at the bustling corner of Egnatia and Vardari Square today, it’s hard to imagine that this modern traffic hub was once the grand Vardar Gate. As the primary western entrance to ancient Thessaloniki, this gateway served as a vital link on the famous Via Egnatia, welcoming travelers, merchants, and soldiers for centuries.

For many, the gate holds a deeper significance: it is the likely spot where the Apostle Paul entered or exited the city during his second missionary journey. While the physical stone arches have vanished over time—leaving behind only a single surviving inscription now housed in the British Museum—the location’s energy remains unchanged.

Visiting this spot today offers a unique bridge between the ancient and the modern city. Though the monument is gone, the “spirit of the gate” lives on in the rhythmic pulse of the city's busiest intersection, reminding us that we are walking the same path as history’s most influential figures.

Watch the video

For more, watch the video below.

The Government House of Thessaloniki: 2,000 Years of Power

The Government House of Thessaloniki. Image from wikipedia.org (accessed 2/9/2026).

The Konak

Standing as a testament to two millennia of unbroken power, the Government House of Thessaloniki—locally known as the Konak—is a structural palimpsest of the Mediterranean's greatest empires. While the current neoclassical structure was designed by Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli in 1891, the ground beneath it has served as the heartbeat of authority since the Hellenistic era. From its roots as a luxurious Roman residence to its role as the Ottoman seat of administration, and finally its modern evolution into the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, this site offers a rare continuity of place that mirrors the turbulent history of the region.

Watch the video

To see it yourself and learn more, click watch the video below: “Once a palace, always a palace!”

Experience Greece with Bible Land Explorer

We aim to be back in Thessaloniki twice in 2026.

  • Land Tour of Biblical Greece, October 10 - 21, 2026. See the travel brochure here for details.

  • Mediterranean Cruise, Oct 22-Nov 3, 2026. See the website here for details.

Seats are available on both excursions. Experience the place where faith begins!

Alexander and his Horse on the Thessaloniki Waterfront

The companion of Alexander the Great

Every great hero needs a legendary companion, and for Alexander the Great, that was Bucephalus. More than just a warhorse, Bucephalus was a symbol of Alexander’s early genius and his relentless drive to conquer the unconquerable.

Alexander and Bucephalus are remembered by a statue on Thessaloniki's waterfront. We stop by statue for some thoughts about Alexander’s Horse.

Check out the video:

Click below, “Alexander’s Horse: Bucephalus the Great”

Here’s another shot: Behind Alexander