2027 Greece and Turkey Pilgrimage Cruise
Cost
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE FLIGHTS – TBD
Deluxe (Main Deck) – $8,895 sold out
Standard (Main Deck) – $8,695 sold out
Solo (Main Deck) – $11,995
Large Standard (Lower Deck) – $8,495
Standard (Lower Deck) – $7,995
Solo (Lower Deck) – $10,995
Triple (Lower Deck) – $7,955
See brochure for more information on solo pricing, optional extension, fees and tips. Final payment due July 5th, 2027
Dates
October 6 – 16, 2027
*Optional Northern Greece Extension
October 16 – 19, 2027
*Extension pricing below.
This breathtaking Mediterranean pilgrimage begins in the ancient city of Athens, cradle of Western civilization, then embarks on a private yacht cruise to explore the enchanting beauty of several Greek islands and the Turkish coast, including Santorini, Syros, Chios, Patmos, Ephesus, Corinth, and more! As we sail along, we’ll visit sites once home to St. Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, St. John the Evangelist (exiled to the island of Patmos), and the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose house, once shared with St. John, we will visit in Ephesus. We’ll also spend time in Izmir (once known as Smyrna), home to St. Polycarp, and explore the rich heritage and history of our faith in these lands once trod by the apostles and their immediate successors!
While the spiritual focus is always primary on our pilgrimages, we won’t neglect to experience the rich culture, art, cuisine, and even wines of these regions, with time for enjoying the gorgeous sun-drenched waters of the Mediterranean and some spectacular beaches.
For those staying on for the optional Northern Greece extension, we’ll be exploring Byzantine wonders in the monasteries of Meteora, and walking even further in St. Paul’s footsteps, visiting Thessaloniki and Philippi. And before heading home, we’ll explore the site from which Alexander the Great set out on his campaign to conquer the world.
Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio and his wife, Susan
Known on Catholic radio, TV and the internet as “Dr. Italy,” Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio is a NY Times best-selling author, theologian, and renowned commentator on Catholic issues, appearing as a guest on national news and a variety of Catholic radio networks such as Relevant Radio, EWTN, and the Sirius Catholic channel. He’s hosted an EWTN series on the Early Church Fathers and has partnered with Ascension Press on immensely popular book & video study series, including the Jesus: The Way the Truth and the Life series, filmed on location in the Holy Land. He’s also a contributor on Ascension’s Catechism study, Foundations of Faith, and filmed on location in Turkey and Greece as part of the series. In 2025, he took on a new role as an executive producer of the award-winning feature film on the last days of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Triumph of the Heart. A doctoral student of the renowned Jesuit theologian Avery Cardinal Dulles, Dr. D’Ambrosio is an expert on Biblical history and the history of the early Church and the Church in Europe. He will be our principal guide, providing expert commentary on the saints, sites, and shrines of our incredible journey through the islands of Greece and the coast of Turkey, walking in the footsteps of St. Paul and St. John the Evangelist, as well as several pivotal fathers of the early Church.
October 6, Wednesday, DAY 1: DEPART USA
Depart on an overnight flight to Athens. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for add-on domestic flights and for Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request between 90 and 120 days before departure. As we work with group airfares, which do not permit seat selection, we are unable to secure specific airline seats for trip participants. If you wish to have a specific seat on a flight or choose a specific airline, we recommend purchasing the Land Only package and booking your own flights.
October 7, Thursday, DAY 2: ATHENS
Upon arrival at Athens International Airport (ATH), we are greeted by our Greek tour manager, who assists us with the transfer to our hotel in the city’s center. We drop off our luggage and explore the picturesque Plaka section of the city until check-in time at 4:00 PM. Meet in the hotel lobby at 5:00 PM to depart for Mass at the Cathedral of St. Denis. Our dinner tonight is at a local restaurant with a view of the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis (TBC). Overnight in Athens. Meals: Special dinner with wine included
October 8, Friday, DAY 3: ATHENS – CRUISE EMBARKATION
This morning, we check out of our hotel and enjoy a walking tour of the ancient and modern city of Athens, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. We walk through pedestrianized neighborhoods to the famous Acropolis, where our guide shares the story behind one of the world’s most recognizable monuments during a two-hour walking tour. We also visit Mars Hill where St. Paul spoke to the Athenians.
following lunch, which is at leisure, we transfer to the Marina Zeas to board our private yacht at 4:00 PM. Our crew greets us with a welcome drink and assists us to our cabins. Mass is celebrated on the yacht. During our cruise, we enjoy visiting the Greek islands and port cities on the mainland of Turkey, spending entire days exploring the unique sites that most Greek Island cruises rarely visit. We have time to visit the most important Christian sites at a leisurely pace and soak up the beauty of some of the Aegean’s most amazing islands. Dinner and overnight on the ship. Meals: B, D
October 9, Saturday, DAY 4: CHIOS
We disembark in Chios after breakfast for an 8:30 AM Mass at St. Nicholas Church. Our next stop is the UNESCO-protected Greek Orthodox monastery of Nea Moni to see its incredibly beautiful mosaics, and we will also stop at one of the island’s pretty villages for a coffee break. Enjoy seeing the many small chapels along the road, dedicated to various saints, for which this island is famous. Return to the ship for a late lunch. Dinner and overnight on the ship. Meals: B, L, D
October 10, Sunday, DAY 5: IZMIR (SMYRNA), TURKEY
We arrive in Izmir, the Biblical city of Smyrna, which was named after the Greek word for myrrh. Smyrna was the second of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor mentioned by St. John in the Book of Revelation and was praised for its perseverance amidst tribulation. Following an early breakfast, we disembark to visit the site of ancient Smyrna. We celebrate Mass at St. John’s Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Izmir, and then visit Saint Polycarp Church to see the historic mosaics and frescoes. A scenic bus ride through the Turkish countryside takes us to the beautiful village of Sirince, known for its traditional architecture, fruity wines, amazing spices, locally made honey, and delicious Turkish food. After stopping to see the Aziz Dimitrios Church, which stands at the edge of a cliff, we have time to enjoy lunch at leisure and explore the village on our own. Sirince was once a Greek village, which is still evident in its architecture. Now it has only about 600 inhabitants, but it boasts many restaurants and family-owned coffee shops. Return to the ship for dinner and an overnight stay. Meals: B, D
October 11, Monday, DAY 6: KUSADASI – EPHESUS
Today will be an incredible day as we disembark in the port city of Kusadasi, the gateway to ancient Ephesus, another of the original Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Upon arrival, we drive about an hour to visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, one of the highlights of our trip. Here we can drink the holy water from the springs (be sure to bring bottles) and celebrate Mass. Our day continues with a visit to St. John’s Basilica and the magnificent ancient ruins of Ephesus. Today is a day of extensive walking on uneven terrain (ancient stones and dirt paths); comfortable, sturdy shoes are essential. Lunch is included. Enjoy time for shopping in Kusadasi before boarding the ship for dinner and overnight. Meals: B, L, D
October 12, Tuesday, DAY 7: PATMOS
Today, we visit the Holy Island of Patmos, celebrated for over 2,000 years as the place where St. John was banished for his testimony of Jesus. We visit the Cave of the Apocalypse where St. John lived, received his visions, and wrote the Book of Revelation. Walk up the hill via a winding, narrow street to the 11th-century Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mass will be celebrated. This afternoon is a great time for a swim! Choose between Lampi Beach, known for its colorful pebbles, or Agrio Livadi Beach with its restaurant and sun loungers (both reachable by a local taxi ride). Or stay in Chora (the main town) to visit some shops, see the iconic windmills, and enjoy the local food. We also recommend visiting the Ecclesiastical Museum of Patmos for its display of icons and religious artifacts. Lunch and dinner are at leisure with an opportunity to try one of the many tavernas in the city center. Overnight on the ship. Meals: B
October 13, Wednesday, DAY 8: SANTORINI
We arrive at the magnificent island of Santorini and take the bus to Fira, the capital city perched high on the cliff-side caldera. Although Santorini is a small island, it has over 600 religious monuments, including chapels, churches, and monasteries scattered throughout its various villages. Sanctity emanates from each temple, boasting a long history and unique holy icons. Some are tiny chapels dug into the rock; many are simple, whitewashed churches adorned with blue domes; and others are remarkable cathedrals and glorious monasteries, both Orthodox and Catholic. We celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (TBC). The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the island on our own. An optional wine excursion is available (an additional $149.00 per person), featuring visits to three traditional wineries to learn about Santorini’s unique viticulture. We explore the wine cellars at each winery and sample 12 wines while watching the sunset at one of the wineries. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon snack on the island, as dinner will be served on the yacht at 8:30 PM. Meals: B, D
October 14, Thursday, DAY 9: SYROS
We sail to the most Catholic island in Greece, Syros. Disembark in Ermoupolis, the capital of the Cycladic Islands, where more than half of the population is Catholic. Today, Agios Georgios remains a religious center for Catholic Greeks on the island. The Catholic diocese of the island has seven parishes, seven churches, 57 chapels, and around 9,000 worshippers. The Cathedral of St. George is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syros and Milos, a fitting position for the historic church perched on a hill overlooking the Aegean, where we celebrate Mass. Explore the island and have time for a swim. We enjoy a farewell dinner and an overnight on the ship. Meals: B.D
October 15, Friday, DAY 10: DISEMBARKATION – CORINTH – ATHENS
Sadly, our beautiful cruise adventure has come to an end, but we will cherish the amazing moments through the memories we keep and the new friends we have made during this trip. We disembark at 8:00 AM to board the coach, which will take us from the port of Piraeus to Corinth through the Corinthian Canal. We visit the Bema, where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians and where we celebrate Mass. In the afternoon, we enjoy a visit to a Greek olive mill to taste locally produced olive oil. Lunch is included. Tonight, we have a farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Overnight in Athens. Meals: B. Special lunch, Special dinner
October 16, Saturday, DAY 11: RETURN TO USA
We are transferred to the airport for our flights back to the USA. Meals: B
October 16, Saturday, Day 11: DEPART FOR METEORA
Following morning Mass celebration, we depart for another Byzantine wonder – Meteora Monasteries. Seemingly unscalable black rocks are topped by beautiful, large monasteries. Many monks believe that the founder of the first monastery was carried there by an eagle. The first monks were probably 10th-century ascetics who climbed the rocks and lived in caves. By the 14th century, there were enough monks to build the Great Meteora Monastery. In the late Byzantine period and under Ottoman rule, this monastic community became a sanctuary for the persecuted and a center of Byzantine art. Of the original 24 monasteries, 5 remain and welcome visitors. Feel wonder and awe at the beauty and architecture of these gems. We stop at an icon workshop to see how icons are made and shop for locally made goods. Overnight Kalambaka. Meals: B, D
October 17, Sunday, Day 12: VERIA – THESSALONIKI
Today we visit Veria, where St. Paul preached Christianity. After he left, he asked his followers, Silas and Timothy, to stay and continue his work. We see the Shrine of St. Paul here and celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. Meals: B, D
October 18, Monday- Day 13: THESSALONIKI – PHILIPPI – KAVALA
Begin our guided tour of Thessaloniki by exploring St. Dimitrios Church, St. Sophia, and the Church of the 12 Apostles. We will see the Arch of Galerius, St. George Rotunda, and the White Tower. In the afternoon, travel to Philippi, where St. Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians in Europe. We will also see Amphipolis, from where Aleksander the Great set out to conquer the world. Time permitting, we visit the port of Kavala, where the Apostle Paul first landed on European soil and brought Christianity to Greece with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight Thessaloniki. Meals: B, D
October 19, Saturday, Day 14: DEPART FOR USA
We are transferred to the airport for our flights back to the USA.
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