2018 St. Paul Mediterranean Cruise (SOLD OUT)

19 October 2018 to 28 October 2018



You can watch the full length Pilgrimage below or download it here.


Journal

Steve’s 6-Minute Perspective on St. Peter’s in Rome

This was my spontaneous explanation to my group of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. I shared the story of my first visit here as a Catholic. It’s only 6 minutes long.


About the Pilgrimage

We visit 9 biblical sites following St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

These are the biblical sites (not counting other islands and cities): Athens, Corinth, Thessaloniki, Kavala (Neapolis), Philippi, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, Ephesus and with the extension, Rome.

Rome extension Oct 28-31, 2018

Prices vary due to the cabin you choose if you want the Rome Extension and other factors.

For pricing options see the brochure below or contact the Pilgrimage Department at Corporate Travel:

Phone: 866.468.1420   Fax: 313.565.3621   E-mail: elizzio@ctscentral.net.

Steve and Janet Ray are with the group every step of the way. Steve will be giving his talks at the sites and be guiding you through the Bible. Our local guides in each city will provide the local history and color.

Daily Mass and great meals. Fellow-minded, enthusiastic Catholics and several great priests. One of the priests is Fr. Robert Cole from St. Katharine’s Parish in New Hampshire and the other priest is Fr. Gregory Plow TOR from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

 

 

ITINERARY FOR THE CRUISE

October 19, 2018 | Depart USA*
Depart USA on overnight flights to Greece.

October 20, 2018 | Athens, Greece*
Arrive in Athens. Meet Steve and Janet Ray and your Greek tour manager and start half day tour of Athens visiting Mars Hill (Acts 17) and the Parthenon. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius. Overnight in Athens. (D)

October 21, 2018 | Corinth, Greece*
Breakfast at the hotel. Tour ancient Corinth and celebrate an outdoor Mass at the Bema where Paul was tried. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul lived including the Agora, Roman Odeon, and magnificent Temple of Apollo. Steve will show you the Erastus Stone off the beaten track and give a talk on how this confirms the truth of Scripture. Visit the museum and have lunch at the famous Corinthian Isthmus. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight. (B|D)

October 22, 2018 | Embark Cruise | Patmos, Greece*
Early breakfast at hotel and depart for cruise port in Piraeus to embark Celestyal Olympia (a modest cruise ship, see page 4 for details). Mass on the ship. Set sail for Mykonos arriving at 6pm. Enjoy free time in port this evening. Ship departs at 11pm. (B|L|D)

October 23, 2018 | Kusadasi/Ephesus, Turkey | Patmos, Greece*
EPHESUS: Drive through the colorful town of Kusadasi to Ephesus and arrive at Mt. Koressos. We will visit the House of the Virgin Mary where she lived while St. John was the bishop of Ephesus. Next our guided tour of ancient Ephesus will take us meandering through one of the most magnificent ancient excavations in the world. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian and the stone-seat latrines and the Library of Celsus (where we will take a group picture). Steve will give short talks at both the “ancient brothal advertisement” and The Great Theatre with 24,000 seats. We will also see the ruins of the Church of the Virgin Mary where the Third Ecumenical Council of the Church declared Mary to be the “Theotokos,” the Mother of God. Steve will explain why that is so important. Mass on the ship between stops.

PATMOS: Return to the ship at 1pm and enjoy some down time as we set sail for Patmos. Upon arriving in port at 5:45pm, we will visit St. John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse, where St. John received his apocalyptic vision of Revelation. Ship departs at 9:30pm. (B|L|D)

October 24, 2018 | Rhodes, Greece*
Spend all day in Rhodes, starting at 7am. Tour includes visits to the Medieval walls, the Acropolis of Lindos, Citadel of the Knights, and Temple of Athena. Stop at sites that were important in Paul’s visit to Rhodes. Mass on the island, location TBA. Ship departs at 6pm. (B|L|D)

October 25, 2018 | Crete, Greece | Santorini, Greece*
Arrive in port at 7am. Today’s tour will highlight sites related to Paul’s journey here. Ship departs at Noon. Celebrate Mass on the ship between ports today. This afternoon, enjoy free time while the ship is in port in Santorini between 4:30-9:30pm. No planned tours of Santorini. (B|L|D)

October 26, 2018 | Disembark Cruise | Thessaloniki, Greece*
After disembarking cruise ship, transfer to Athens airport for flight to Thessaloniki. Arrive and tour city including stops at the White Tower, St. Demetrius Church and the Trigoniou Tower (time permitting). Celebrate Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Thessaloniki. (B|D)

October 27, 2018 | Kavala, Greece*
Tour Ancient Philippi, where Paul first preached on European soil. See ruins of the first Basilica in Greece, the Forum, Walls, and jail where Paul and Sylas were imprisoned. Steve will give his short talk on salvation where the Philippian jailer asked Paul, “What must I do to be saved? ” (Acts 16:30). Celebrate Mass outdoors on the river where Paul’s first European convert named Lydia was baptized. Continue to Kavala, see the port of Neapolis where Paul landed after sailing from Troas to Macedonia. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight. (B|D)

Mass at hotel for those returning to USA to fulfill Sunday obligation.

October 28, 2018 | Cruise-only passengers return to USA*
This morning, transfer to airport for flights back to USA


OPTIONAL ROME EXTENSION
  October 28, 2018

Transfer to airport for flight to Rome. Upon arriving, meet your Italian tour manager. Visit St. Clemente’s Church with its tombs of Apostolic Fathers Ignatius and Clement and 1st century excavations beneath. Continue to Mass and visit St. John Lateran, the Mother Church of the World with St. Peter’s Chair. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Rome. (D)

October 29, 2018 – Christian Rome
Begin your morning by celebrating Mass at St. Peter’s tomb or Tomb of St. JPII (pending confirmation). Then, enjoy a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica where Michelangelo’s “Pieta” will be just one of the highlights. Continue to the Tre Fontane Abbey, where Paul was beheaded. Visit St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, where his bones are today. Italian dinner and overnight in Rome. (B|D)

October 30, 2018
Visit ancient Rome including Capitol Hill, the Roman Forum, and Coliseum. Free time around St. Peters for shopping and exploring. Farewell dinner and overnight in Rome. (B|D)

October 31, 2018 – Return to USA
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to airport for return flights to USA.