Depart today on board your overnight transatlantic flights to Thessaloniki (SKG), arriving the following day. Enjoy a full meal service as well as in-flight entertainment such as movies, music, etc.

Upon our arrival at the Thessaloniki airport (SKG), we will gather our luggage and meet our dedicated local guide in the arrivals hall. After boarding our motorcoach, we will make our way to the beautiful Greek Orthodox church of St. Demetrius, where we will visit the miraculous tomb of the patron saint of the city. Following, we will continue to the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate our Mass. Following Mass, we make our way to our hotel for check-in and our festive group welcome dinner. Overnight in Thessaloniki. (D)

Following breakfast, we board our motorcoach for a day trip to Philippi. We will begin with a stop at the Holy Baptistry of St. Lydia where St. Paul baptized a "certain woman named Lydia," the first Christian convert in Europe (Acts 16:14). We will have our Mass here. We will then board our bus and drive to the nearby archeological site of Philippi. Here Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe (Acts 16:11-40). Lunch on our own at the archeological site. Afternoon drive to nearby Kavala (ancient Neapolis) to have free time to shop and walk on the beach, where St. Paul first set foot in Europe (Acts 16:11). Afterwards, we will visit the Apostle Paul monument and the church of St. Nicholas in Kavala. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner on our own. Overnight in Thessaloniki. (B)

Following breakfast and hotel check-out, we will board our motorcoach and make our way to the Cathedral in Thessaloniki for Mass. Next, we will drive up to visit the Monastery of Vlatadon, the most ancient surviving monastery in the city. Visit the Old Town panorama terrace with the best view of the city. Following lunch on our own, we will journey to Beroea (Veria) to visit St. Paul’s “bema,” (Acts 17:10-15), a monument commemorating the visit of Paul and Silas. Finally, we arrive at Kalambaka, the little town at the base of the iconic Meteora monasteries. After checking into our hotel, we will enjoy a relaxed group dinner. Overnight in Kalambaka. (B, D)

Following breakfast, we will board our motorcoach and begin our journey up the Meteora rock formations to visit the ancient monasteries. Here stands six active monasteries built atop a natural landscape made up of giant natural pillars of stone. After we visit two of the monasteries, we will also visit a shop where a variety of icons can be purchased, many of them hand-made by monks. Following a memorable day, we will return to our hotel in Kalambaka for Mass. Following Mass, a free evening to rest and relax with dinner on our own. Overnight in Kalambaka. (B)

Following breakfast and hotel check-out, we will board our motorcoach destined for Athens. Lunch on the way and a brief stop at Thermopylae, famous for the story of the 300 Spartans who fought here. Afterwards, we continue to Athens. Upon arrival, we will first visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Dionysius the Areopagite. It was named after a disciple of Paul who was also the first bishop of Athens (Acts 17:34). Here we will have our Mass. Following Mass, we will check into our hotel and transfer to the historic Plaka district for a leisurely walk and a festive group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Athens. (B, D)

Following breakfast, we will board our motorcoach and make our way to the Cathedral once again for Mass. Afterwards, we will drive to the site of Ancient Corinth. Here, we will see where the Apostle Paul lived and preached with Aquila and his wife Priscilla (Acts 18:1-4). Here we will explore the outside archaeological site and tour the museum. Afterwards, we will board our bus destined for Cenchreae, stopping for lunch en route. Cenchreae is the harbor from which St. Paul sailed to Ephesus (Acts 18:18). Return to our hotel in Athens for a relaxed free evening. Dinner on our own. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Awaken refreshed this morning and ready to begin our 3-night cruise around the Greek Isles and Turkey. Following breakfast and hotel check-out, we will board our bus and depart for the port. Soon after boarding the ship and before departure, we will participate in the mandatory safety (muster) drill. After lunch we will have our Mass on the ship. Our first stop will be in the evening after dark to the enchanting resort Island of Mykonos, known for its brilliant whitewashed houses. While here, we will participate in the included shore excursion titled the Mykonian Countryside Tour. Afterwards, we will return to our cruise ship in time for dinner. Overnight on the cruise ship. (B, L, D)

At dawn, we will arrive at the Turkish port of Kusadasi. First, we will visit the House of Our Lady, where the Blessed Mother lived in her retirement. Afterwards, we will board our bus and continue to the Ephesus Archaeological site. We continue our walk in the footsteps of Paul, who lived and preached here for three years (Acts 18-19). For a relaxed cultural activity, we will visit a local artisanal shop to see how the world-famous Turkish rugs are made. We will then return to our ship in time for lunch and Mass. Our sea journey will continue as we cruise to the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9). At dusk we will visit the cave of the Apocalypse where St. John received the visions that he recorded in the Bible. After, we will board our bus and visit the Monastery of St. John. Return by bus to the port and by boat we will return to the ship in time for dinner. Overnight on the cruise ship. (B, L, D)

The first port of call today is the town of Heraklion, on the Island of Crete (Acts 27:8). After an early breakfast we will step ashore and enjoy an excursion to nearby Knossos, a Bronze Age archeological site that was the center of the ancient Minoan civilization. We will also visit the Orthodox church of St. Titus to see the relic (skull) of Titus, the first bishop of Crete (Titus 1:5-9). Return to the ship for lunch and our Mass. Late afternoon arrival (weather permitting) at the world-famous island of Santorini. Our excursion at sunset will take us to the cliff-top village of Oia for a chance to enjoy the charm of the whitewashed buildings and winding streets that showcase a plethora of little boutique shops. Free time for shopping. After, we will return to the port and return to our cruise ship for dinner. Overnight on the cruise ship. (B, L, D)

Early in the morning, our cruise ship will return to Athens, where we will disembark and board our motorcoach for our journey to the Cathedral for Mass. Following Mass, we will participate in a guided tour of Athens. We will start with a memorable visit to the Acropolis, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with its “Porch of Maidens.” Afterwards, we will ascend the Areopagus where St. Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22-34). On our way to the hotel, we will drive past the Roman Temple of Zeus, the site of the first modern Olympic Games, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, University, and National Library. After checking into the hotel, we will gather for a final festive farewell dinner serving local cuisine. Overnight in Athens. (B, D) 

The next morning, with vivid memories of Greece, we check-out of our hotel and board our bus for an early transfer to the airport for our return flights back home, arriving the same day. (B)