Greek Island and Turkish Coast Cruise with Gus and Michelle Lloyd and Fr. Leo Patalinghug

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 the flights or to choose a specific airline, we recommend that you purchase the Land Only package and plan to book your own flights.

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. Meet in the hotel lobby 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. (Special dinner with wine included)

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 most recognizable monuments in the world during a two-hour walking tour. Following an included lunch, we transfer to the port of Piraeus to board our private yacht. 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 most amazing islands of the Aegean. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

We disembark in Chios after breakfast for Mass at St. Nicholas Church. Our next stop is the UNESCO-protected Greek Orthodox monastery of Nea Moni to see the incredibly beautiful mosaics and stop at one of

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 a large number of restaurants and family-owned coffee shops. Return to the ship for dinner and an overnight stay.

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.

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 you may want to 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.

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 your own. An optional wine excursion is available ($149.00 per person), featuring visits to three traditional wineries to learn about Santorini’s unique viticulture. We explore the wine cellars of each winery and sample 12 different wines while watching the sunset at Santo Winery. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon snack on the island, as a later dinner will be served on the ship this evening.

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 and 57 chapels, and numbers 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 overnight on the ship.

We disembark at 8:00 AM to board the coach which takes us from the port of Piraeus to Corinth through the Corinthian Canal. We visit the

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 are transferred to the airport for our flights back to the USA. (B) The itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond Select International Tours’s control