★ Hosted by Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio
Catholic Cruise · 11 Days · Greece and Turkey

In the Footsteps of St. Paul Greek Island and Turkish Coast Cruise with Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio

Join Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio and Susan D'Ambrosio for a private yacht cruise through Greece and Turkey including stops in Patmos, Kusadasi, Santorini, and more!

Dates
October 6-16, 2027
Departs Land only - group air price pending
Duration
11 Days
Trip code 27JA10GRMD
From
$7,955
Reserve your spot
The Pilgrimage

Walk in the Footsteps of Faith

Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, published author on the New Testament and early Church, will be your primary guide as you follow the footsteps of St. Paul by boat from the glistening Greek Islands to the magnificent coast of Turkey. He, his gracious wife Susan and your Greek tour manager will be your hosts on this inspiring adventure that will also include sites associated with the fathers of the Church, the apostle John, and even our Blessed Mother Mary!

Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio
Your Host

Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio

Catholic theologian, author, speaker, educator, and pilgrimage director

Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, widely known as “Dr. Italy,” is a Catholic theologian, author, speaker, educator, and pilgrimage director. He founded the Crossroads Initiative and earned his doctorate in historical theology under Avery Cardinal Dulles. He has taught at Loyola University, the University of Dallas, and Catholic International University and has appeared extensively in Catholic radio, television, and digital media. His work makes Scripture, Church history, the Fathers, liturgy, and Catholic doctrine accessible to contemporary audiences.

View profile
Know Before You Go

What's included

✓ Included

  • ✓2-night hotel accommodations in Athens in a four-star hotel
  • ✓Half-day guided city tour in Athens
  • ✓Transfers to and from the airport and to and from the cruise port in Greece
  • ✓Excursion to Corinth with lunch
  • ✓Visit to an olive oil production facility
  • ✓7-night private yacht cruise
  • ✓Exclusive expert commentary by Theologian – Historian Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio
  • ✓Use of private tenders for shore excursions as needed
  • ✓Shore excursions as listed
  • ✓Buffet breakfast daily
  • ✓2 restaurant dinners with wine and soft drinks included
  • ✓Meals on the ship and on land as noted in the itinerary
  • ✓Wine, beer or a choice of juice or soda are included (up to two glasses) with dinners on the ship. Additional beverages may be purchased.
  • ✓Fruit, snacks, water, coffee & tea on the ship
  • ✓English-speaking tour guide
  • ✓Port taxes of $450.00
  • ✓Private daily Mass
  • ✓Water on the bus
  • ✓For your convenience, a gratuity fund of $290.00 per person will be added to the invoice and collected in advance to cover tips. A tip fund of $70.00 for the extension
  • ✓3 nights of first-class hotel accommodations
  • ✓Buffet breakfast and hotel dinner daily (Beverages are not included)
  • ✓Transportation by private deluxe motorcoach
  • ✓English-speaking Tour Manager
  • ✓Entrance fees as noted
  • ✓Private Mass daily
  • ✓Local hotel Taxes

× Not included

  • ×Personal expenses incurred on the trip
  • ×Trip Protection & Medical Insurance (strongly recommended)
  • ×Items not explicitly listed as included
  • ×WiFi is not included on the ship or the land portion
  • ×Beverages at meals (unless noted)
  • ×Church donations: $3–$5 per person, per Mass
  • ×Airport transfers for land-only passengers (unless arriving before or with the group)
  • ×Airline seat assignments and flight pre-check-in fees
  • ×Government-imposed destination/island charges, which cannot be prepaid
  • ×Country-specific Visa fees, unless noted in the inclusions
  • ×Electronic Travel Authorization (ETIAS, ETAUK, ETAIL) applications & fees (if applicable)
  • ×Any airline baggage charges
  • ×Baggage handling at train stations, airports, and hotels in excess of one suitcase per person
  • ×Any charges incurred due to excessive luggage including the cost of an additional baggage vehicle or porterage charges

For your convenience, a gratuity fund of $290.00 per person will be added to the invoice and collected in advance to cover tips. A tip fund of $70.00 for the extension.

Day by Day

Your pilgrimage, mapped out

Tap any day to explore. Meals: B breakfast · L lunch · D dinner.
Day 1October 6, 2027
DEPART THE 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.

Day 2October 7, 2027
ATHENS
+

Upon arrival at Athens International Airport (ATH), we are greeted by our Greek tour manager. He will assist us with the transfer to our hotel in the city’s center where we will be welcomed by our tour hosts, theologian Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio and his wife Susan. 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

D
Day 3October 8, 2027
ATHENS – CRUISE EMBARKATION
+

This morning, we check out of our hotel and enjoy a walking tour of the

Day 4October 9, 2027
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

BLD
Day 5October 10, 2027
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

BD
Day 6October 11, 2027
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

BLD
Day 7October 12, 2027
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 cel-

Day 8October 13, 2027
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

BD
Day 9October 14, 2027
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

BD
Day 10October 15, 2027
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

BLD
Day 11October 16, 2027
RETURN TO THE USA
+

We are transferred to the airport for our flights back to the USA. Meals: B Select International Tours is not responsible for itinerary changes due to varying weather conditions or other events beyond anyone’s control.

Day 11October 16, 2027
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 in Kalambaka. Meals: B, D

BD
Day 12October 17, 2027
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

BD
Day 13October 18, 2027
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 in Thessaloniki. Meals: B, D

BD
Day 14October 19, 2027
DEPART FOR USA
+

We are transferred to the airport for our flights back to the USA. Meals: B

B
Pricing

Choose how you travel

Infinity Upper Deck - Owner's Suite (1 suite)
$10,995per person

Infinity Upper Deck - Owner's Suite (1 suite). Main trip package.

Infinity Upper Deck - Premium (4 cabins)
$9,495per person

Infinity Upper Deck - Premium (4 cabins). Main trip package.

Infinity Upper Deck - Deluxe (2 cabins)
$8,995per person

Infinity Upper Deck - Deluxe (2 cabins). Main trip package.

Riviera Main Deck - Deluxe (4 cabins)
$8,895per person

Riviera Main Deck - Deluxe (4 cabins). Main trip package.

Riviera Main Deck - Standard (7 cabins)
$8,695per person

Riviera Main Deck - Standard (7 cabins). Main trip package.

Riviera Main Deck - Solo (4 cabins)
$11,995per person

Riviera Main Deck - Solo (4 cabins). Main trip package.

Oceans Lower Deck - Large Standard (2 cabins)
$8,495per person

Oceans Lower Deck - Large Standard (2 cabins). Main trip package.

Oceans Lower Deck - Standard (3 cabins)
$7,995per person

Oceans Lower Deck - Standard (3 cabins). Main trip package.

Oceans Lower Deck - Solo (4 cabins)
$10,995per person

Oceans Lower Deck - Solo (4 cabins). Main trip package.

Most popular
Oceans Lower Deck - Triple (1 cabin)
$7,955per person

Oceans Lower Deck - Triple (1 cabin). Main trip package.

Northern Greece 3-night Extension
$1,395per person

Northern Greece 3-night Extension. Optional trip component.

Northern Greece 3-night Extension - Solo supplement
$295additional

Northern Greece 3-night Extension - Solo supplement. Additional supplement.

Reserve your spot
ETA Required
Confirm requirements with Select for this destination.
Deposit
A deposit of $1,000.00 per person should accompany your registration by June 21, 2027.
Final Payment
Final payment is due by July 8, 2027.
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid through April 19, 2028.
Pilgrimage Information

Everything else for this trip

🛡️

Travel Protection

Protect your investment against cancellation, illness and disruption.

Learn more →
📄

Terms & Conditions

Deposit, payment, cancellation and responsibility terms for this trip.

Learn more →
🛂

Visas & Entry

Passport, visa and destination entry requirements.

Learn more →
🧭

Know Before You Go

Packing, weather, electrical and on-the-ground practicalities.

Learn more →
💡

Two-Minute Travel Tips

Short, practical videos to help you make the most of your pilgrimage.

Learn more →
❓

FAQ

Registration, payments, lodging, walking, mobility and more.

Learn more →

Ready to Begin Your Pilgrimage?

Review the trip details and registration information, then reserve your place.

Enroll Today