Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

You will arrive in Athens, Greece, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the port to board the Celebrity Infinity.

At Sea

Dock in Santorini today, one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands, where picturesque, whitewashed villages topped with brilliant blue domes stand in stark contrast to the sheer-drop cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. The island itself perches on the edges of a volcano whose eruption 3,500 years ago is thought to have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization. Explore the island on your own or join one of the optional excursions available for purchase on board. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Celebrity and are not included.

Visit Ephesus, which is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was once a bustling port town graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets and a population of 250,000. Although spectacular excavations have revealed much of the glory of ancient Ephesus, including the huge agora and library, much has been lost. The ancient world once declared the Temple of Artemis to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but today, only a single column remains to mark its site. View the terrace houses, also known as “the houses of the rich,” which give a true impression of the ancient lifestyle. Explore the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at ancient artifacts. You will have time to explore on your own and retrace some of the footsteps of St. Paul.

Arrive today at the world-famous Greek Island of Mykonos, where gleaming whitewashed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure sky. Admire its many hills dotted with iconic windmills. Explore the island on your own or join one of the optional excursions available for purchase on board. Shore excursions today will be booked directly through Celebrity and are not included.

At the northwest edge of the Plain of Thessaly, between the mountains of Pindos and Antichasia and near the Peneios River, the stone giants of Meteora stand still and silent. Their proud and imposing aspect discontinues the monotony of the vast Thessalic plain. The rocks stand right above Kalambaka and the picturesque Kastraki, full of awe and beauty. A daily excursion combines the unique experience that Meteora, also known as “The Stone Forest,” offers with the religious sentiment created by their monasteries. The journey to Meteora starts from Volos and other resorts in Pelion. We pass by the cities of Larisa, Trikala, and Kalambaka. After arriving in Kalambaka, we will reach the massively impressive rocks of Meteora that take one’s breath away. We will learn about the monarchy of the 11th century and also have the chance to visit one of the historical monasteries. Meteora is a World Heritage Site that fascinates every visitor regardless of their religion and cultural background. Uncover the secrets of the unique geological phenomenon of the Meteora rocks, experience the serenity of the surreal landscape that has been home to Christian hermits and monks since the 12th century AD, and feel the spirituality of one of Christianity’s holiest places. Afterward, drive back to the city of Volos and enjoy some free time in this beautiful town before returning to your cruise ship.

Discover Thessaloniki, where St. Paul was accused of turning the world upside down with his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3-6). As you explore St. George’s Basilica, believed to be built over the synagogue where St. Paul preached, reflect on the two epistles the Apostle St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church here. Stroll through the archaeological museum and the beautiful basilicas of St. Sophia and St. Demetrios. St. Demetrios is dedicated to a distinguished Roman proconsul martyred for his Christian faith. Along the Via Egnatia stands the Galerius Arch, where you can look out over the second-largest city in Greece from the Old City Ramparts, some dating back to Roman times.

Visit Philippi, where St. Paul, intending to find a place to pray by the riverside, spoke to women who had gathered there, among whom was Lydia, the seller of purple and whose heart the Lord opened to hear the words that he spoke. Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for the Apostle St. Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the marketplace, the basilica, and the theater.

Discover the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erechtheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the Apostle St. Paul did when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” As you stroll the agora (ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle St. Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” to the skeptical Athenians. Also, see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon, tour the city of Corinth, where the Apostle St. Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, “I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” As St. Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized, establishing the church at Corinth to whom St. Paul later wrote his two epistles. Discover the archaeological museum, marketplace, and temples. As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the Apostle St. Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews.

Return to the USA