PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PILGRIMAGE IS FULLY BOOKED. PLEASE READ ON FOR INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE WAITING LIST.

Join Paulist Fr. Eric Andrews, president of the Paulist Fathers, Paulist Fr. Joe Ciccone, director of the St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbus, OH, and Paulist Fr. Thomas A. Kane of Paulist Pilgrimages in a special summer adventure. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Baltic and experience the beauty, culture and spirituality of St. Petersburg.

Sailing on the Vision of the Seas, the Baltic cruise will begin in Amsterdam, visiting many major capitals along the way with ports of call in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden, ending in Copenhagen, Denmark

The highlight of the cruise will be two days in St. Petersburg, visiting Peterhof, the Grand Palace, the Hermitage, Catherine’s Palace, Savior of Spilled Blood Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, and a hydrofoil boat ride. A special Russian lunch will be served each day and Russian visas are included in this all-inclusive special pilgrimage journey.

During the cruise, there will be two Sunday Liturgies on the ship.

The pilgrimage to the Baltic Sea and St. Petersburg is sold out. If you are interested in joining the waitlist, please contact our travel agent, Jack Nunez by phone
(800-378-8175) or by e-mail ([email protected]).

Once a stateroom is available, you can then register for the pilgrimage. 

Balcony  – includes $300 of credit to spend on ship

$3481 per person if sharing room + $350 per person for St. Petersburg = $3831 TOTAL

 

Window (Oceanview) – includes $175 of credit to spend on ship

$1782 per person if sharing room  + $350 per person for St. Petersburg = $2132 TOTAL

$3398 per person for one person (“single supplement”)  + $350  for St. Petersburg = $3748 TOTAL

 

Interior – includes $150 of credit to spend on ship

$1582 per person if sharing room + $350 per person for St.Petersburg = $1932 TOTAL

$2999 per person for one person (Single supplement) + $350 for St. Petersburg = $3349 TOTAL

• Ship Name: Vision Of The Seas
• 2017 Sail Date: July 21
• Destination: The Baltic
• Departure Port: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Ports of Call: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Cruising; Berlin(Warnemunde), Germany; Cruising; Tallinn, Estonia; St.Petersburg, Russia; St.Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; Cruising; Cruising; Copenhagen, Denmark

AIR TRANSPORT

Pilgrims are responsible for their own flights to Amsterdam.

Note: Norwegian Air offers low-cost fares from many U.S. cities.

INCLUDED IN PILGRIMAGE
St Petersburg, 2 day tour 

Highlights, Peterhof, Grand Palace, Hermitage, Hydrofoil Boat Ride, Catherine’s Palace, Savior of spilled Blood Cathedral, Peter & Paul Fortress, lunch both days 

Day 1  Amsterdam – The picturesque Dutch capital of Amsterdam combines the enchanting ambiance of a 17th-century city with the style and character of a modern metropolis. It is a treasure chest of superb architecture and world-class art.

Day 2 Cruising – Whether you seek an adrenaline rush or total tranquility, our ships have it all. Try rock climbing and experience whimsical aerial shows that take place high above. Melt away land-based stress with a spa massage, build a scrapbook of memories or simply relax poolside

Day 3  Berlin (Waremunde) – Enjoy beaches and a laid-back vibe in Warnemunde, the quaint seaside resort set where the Warnow River meets the Baltic. it is also your gateway to Northern Germany’s countryside and medieval towns and the great city of Berlin.

Day 4 Cruising – Onboard, dining is about more than just food. Think ambience, variety and the flexibility to decide when and what you savor.

Day 5 – Tallinn, Estonia – Tallinn charms with lively cafes, cool galleries and medieval heritage. Stone walls circle its preserved Old Town, where the Estonian parliament meets in a 13th-century castle whose hilltop location offers the best views.

Day 6 St Petersburg, Russia  -Elaborate palaces, grand churches, sumptuous estates, and gilded façades: St. Petersburg is rich in architectural masterpieces and artistic treasures. Enjoy the culture and grandeur of this historic city built by the tsars.

Day 7  St Petersburg, Russia – Elaborate palaces, grand churches, sumptuous estates, and gilded façades: St. Petersburg is rich in architectural masterpieces and artistic treasures. Enjoy the culture and grandeur of this historic city built by the tsars.

Day 8  Helsinki, Finland – Discover the national pride of the Finnish people along with the Swedish and Russian legacy in this beautiful capital. Helsinki is filled with graceful architecture and monuments and surrounded on three sides by sea and tiny islands.

Day 9  Stockholm, Sweden – Water and green space are never far away in the stylish Swedish capital, built on 14 islands with acres of parks. But don’t miss the medieval Old Town, whose narrowing streets are lined with unique shops, art galleries and cafés.

Day 10 /11- Cruising – World-class performers from across the globe come together on our ships to WOW you from morning to night. Catch Broadway musicals, the DreamWorks Experience, ice-skating spectaculars — plus thrilling casino action, live comedy and music, bars, clubs and much more.

Day 12 – Copenhagen, Denmark  – Scandinavia’s largest city is a treasure trove of art, history, architecture and modern design. Copenhagen artfully mixes fairy-tale settings like palaces, castles and elegant gardens with cutting-edge style and contemporary chic.

$187 per person w/ $25 non refundable deposit included 

This Tour Includes:

• Round trip transportation from the cruise ship pier
• Reichstag (outside visit)
• Brandenburg Gate
• Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
• Hitler’s Bunker
• Lunch Break (Price not included)
• Topography of Terror (inside visit)
• Berlin Wall
• Gendarmenmarkt
• Unter den Linden
• Bebelplatz
• Neue Wache (inside visit)
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (inside visit)

Berlin has gone through more transformation than any other major city since the 1940s and has become one of the most intriguing tourist destinations in all of Europe. With the cruise ship pier located about 2.5 hours from Berlin it is important to manage your time in a city this rich with history. With the most important stops picked out, your guide will paint the perfect picture of this historic city both past and present. 

At the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church you will explore what many consider the heart of West Berlin. The Church marks the only building on Breitscheidplatz square to survive the bombings of the World Wars and the west tower serves more as a ruin than a a functioning wing of the building. A constant fundraiser is in process to preserve the facade of this building as it still stands as an active church with a max capacity of 1,000 guests. 

The site known as the Topography of Terror stands on the old headquarters of the Gestapo and SS from 1933 to 1945. With the original buildings destroyed by the allies, the current grounds were established in 1987 during Berlin’s 750th anniversary celebration. Covering all dimensions of the Nazi reign of terror, this outdoor and indoor museum has three permanent exhibits with a handful that rotate throughout the year.

Neue Wache represents the key memorial site for victims of war and tyranny since 1993. From 1818 to 1918 it served as a station for the Royal Guard and after turning into a memorial in 1931 it was soon severely damaged in World War II. Inside you will find the moving sculpture called “Mother with her Dead Son” which symbolizes the pains of civilians during World War II. The most interesting aspect of this memorial is the sculpture’s location under a circular hole in the roof exposed to the elements of Berlin’s climate.

$130 per person pay in full w/ $25 non refundable deposit included 

This tour includes:

• A short walk and a drive around the city 
• Senate Square
• Helsinki Cathedral
• Sederholm Residence
• Open Market
• Market Hall (if possible)
• Uspenski Cathedral
• Presidential Palace
• Kainopuisto Park
• Masa Yard Shipbuilding center
• Old Church and Swedish Theatre
• Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum
• Parliament Building
• National Museum and Finlandia Hall
• Finnish National Opera
• Olympic Stadium
• Rock Church
• Sibelius Park

The best way to see Helsinki is to drive, as well as walk, the city’s highlights. Its wealth of architecture, including Carl Ludvig Engel’s neo-classical Senate Square, is our first stop and you will see it is surrounded by public buildings built in the mid-19th century. The design of the square is Russian and was built as the municipal centre of the city. It became a national center as more and more institutions made their home in this area. The Helsinki Cathedral, which sits on this square, was completed in 1852 and is a point of pride. The oldest building in Helsinki, the Sederholm Residence, is also on the square. 

We’ll take an easy walk to the open Market Place from here, which sits on the waterfront. Much like other European cities, this market place has easy access to the cargo ships and local fishing boats that arrive and therefore their produce, flowers, and handicrafts color the area. If there is time, we will stop in the Old Market Hall where delicacies are for sale. You can quickly grab a snack but, as everything is tempting, be ready to choose your selection.

It is time to board our vehicle and travel towards the largest Orthodox Church in Scandinavia, the Uspenski Cathedral, as well as the Presidential Palace, once the official residence of the President. We continue along the South Harbor to the Embassy district Kaivopuisto, one of Helsinki’s best parks and a perfect place to walk. The homes and the embassies in this area are beautiful and seem to be inhabited by the well-heeled. 

As this is the mouth of the Baltic Sea, shipbuilding is a major industry and the Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, also on your route, has given birth to many of the cruise ships on the waters today. We swing around to return to the city center and pass the Old Church near the Swedish Theater, both located on the main street called Mannerheimintie. The new contemporary art museum, Kiasma, the Parliament Building, the National Museum, and Finlania Hall, , a concert and convention center designed by world-famous Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, are along this boulevard.

Next, continue to the Finnish National Opera, which is located in the beautiful surroundings of Hesperia Park with Toololahti Bay at it’s edge . The Olympic Stadium, site of the 1952 games, and the Temppeliaukio Kirkko, known as the Rock Church, are musts on any tour of Helsinki. We complete this tour in Sibelius Park, where the wonderful monument to the composer Jean Sibelius is located in the midst of controversy, as all works of art find themselves.

A drop off in the city center (if time permits) or a return to your ship completes the tour.