10th Anniversary Santo Nino Fundraising Cruise

Every once in a while, we have the fortune to combine our love of cruises with an excellent cause. This upcoming cruise in August is just that...

The 10th Anniversary FIAT Santo Nino Medical & Dental Mission Fundraising Cruise will be held aboard the Oasis of the Seas from August 31 to September 7. The mission brings together dedicated healthcare professionals on annual voyage to the Philippines bringing much-needed medical supplies, medical and dental screenings, treatments, and social assistance. This fundraising cruise will raise the funds necessary to acquire medical supplies and provide social assistance to many impoverished areas of the Philippines. 

We've established that we've got a big mission here so it is appropriate that we should meet that fundraising mission with the world's largest cruise ship: the Oasis of the Seas. Featuring seven distinct neighborhoods, this ship brings the best at-sea experience I have ever head.

It is my hope that you will join us on this wonderful cruise. If you need additional information, please click here for the flyer.

Marian Shrines of Europe Tour

Hello everyone! We hope that in the time since our last post, everyone reading this has had a wonderful holiday season, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Today we are excited to unveil our newest tour offering: The Marian Shrines of Europe. This wonderful 12-day journey will take us through Portugal and Spain, as well as an excursion into France to the serene town of Lourdes.

As a Catholic, I can say that these sites are places of holy veneration, and testaments to the generosity of Jesus Christ through the love of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I join this trip with little hesitation.

As a traveler, there are many reasons to recommend this trip. However, I highly recommend this tour for these three particular reasons: quality of touring, the sites to be visited, and timing.

Touring can be a messy business. Sometimes it leaves its participants with memories of living in a suitcase, hurried mornings, forgettable accommodations and long bus rides. While I cannot promise that anyone will unpack their suitcase entirely, I can say that this tour eases that burden. With multiple days in several destinations, one can spend the evening immersed in the atmosphere rather than pack. This immersion is enhanced by the quality of the hotels we will be utilizing, and their central location. In addition to this, we will avoid the nightmare of spending a full day in the bus traveling. The tour is planned so each destination is only a few hours away from each other, with the longest bus ride being 5 hours between Santiago de Compostela and Burgos.

Going on the right tour requires including many things to see, but not so much that it turns into a trip of superficial photo opportunities. This particular tour mixes panoramic tours with in-depth visits to culturally and religiously significant sites. Just the fact that you will be able to participate in part of the Camino de Santiago is exciting enough!

Timing...I left this very important reason for last because of its significance to this tour. Because our tour commences on May 11, it means that we shall be in Fatima on May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. This joyous occasion will not be easily forgotten by all those who join.

If you would like to join, space is very limited. Please contact us at 215.278.9416 or actan@ctitravelgroup.com.The flyer for the trip can be found here.

First Post!

Welcome to the CTI Travel Group blog! This is your resource for valuable travel insight and hot deals. Keep checking out our posts once a week to see if there is a destination or a vacation that is just right for you!

If I may, I would like to extend a very special Thank You to Father Efren and the entire Our Lady of Hope Fundraising Cruise family! Your kindness and generosity made our last cruise one that I shall never forget.  

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Deal of the Week

12-day Eastward Transatlantic Cruise, from $499 with stops at Lisbon, Cadiz, and Barcelona. Call us at 215.278.9416 or e-mail us at info@ctitravelgroup.com for more information.

Destination of the Week: Istanbul (Last visited 2011)

Istanbul is a city full of history and cultural riches. From the moment I first set foot in the city, I was in awe, and the city keeps uncovering more treasures as time goes on. If Rome is the Eternal City, this is the Eternally Evolving City. From its origins as a city-state to the Roman era to the Byzantine era to the Ottoman era and finally to modern times, Byzantion/Nova Roma/Constantinople/Istanbul keeps its visitors' attention with its stunning beauty.

There is a legend that surrounds the founding of Istanbul. A leader named Byzas consulted the Oracle of Delphi to see what site would be suitable to build a city. The Oracle told him he would find it "opposite the blind". As he was searching, he came across the city of Chalcedon, a Greek city on the other side of the Bosphorus. Byzas concluded that the Chalcedonians must have been blind to miss the peninsula right across the straight that provided a greater level of commercial and military value. He founded the city as Byzantion, which was then Romanized to Byzantium.

As we exited the airport, the bus took us to Sultanahmet, the location of the Hippodrome of ancient Constantinople. From there we visited the magnificent Hagia Sophia, which was once the main basilica of the Eastern Orthodox Church. This building was covered with beautiful mosaics that survived the test of time because when the city fell to the Ottomans, its mosaics were covered over in plaster. The building was turned into a mosque, which forbade any human imagery on its walls. In this act, the invading Ottoman forces preserved the mosaics for generations, and they are gradually being uncovered to this day. This trip, in particular, was special because they had just uncovered the mosaics of the seraphim that adorned corners of the supporting structure of the dome. Each time I see this building, I am inspired by its enduring beauty, and its endless stories of wonder. 

Interior of Hagia Sophia, the columns on the left bottom level are from the ancient Temple of Artemis

From the Hagia Sophia, we went to the Blue Mosque, known locally as the Sultanahmet Mosque. The mosque is known for the beautiful blue iznik tiles that decorate its interior. Afterwards, we went to the Basilica cisterns, which are one of many cisterns designed to provide water for Constantinople in times of siege. To construct this particular cistern, the Byzantines recycled. They brought in columns from every corner of the Empire, including the enigmatic Medusa Column.

We then proceeded to the Grand Bazaar, built by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire to fund the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. From leather goods to religious icons, this is a must-see. The merchants have a very traditional etiquette that involves purchasing tea for their clients as they shop in their stores. Do not be alarmed if a merchant should offer you tea; in fact, I suggest you try it if it's apple tea! 

Afterwards we went to check into Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas. This ship is a great vessel filled with very friendly staff. It makes it easy for me to recommend Royal Caribbean because of their personal approach. 

The next day we went to the Asian side, and took pictures with the Maiden's Tower. There are several legends surrounding this beautiful structure in the middle of the Bosphorus. One legend recounts the tale of a soothsayer telling the Sultan that his daughter would die before she turned 18. To protect his daughter, the Sultan built the Maiden's Tower. Once she turned 18, the Sultan visited her with a feast to be prepared in her honor. Inside the baskets of food was a snake that bit his daughter, who then died in his arms. 

After returning from the Asian side, we visited Topkapi Palace. This great palace was home to Ottoman sultans for centuries, and saw embassies, wars and negotiations unfold within its walls. Its historical treasures are displayed for the world to see. Its bejeweled swords, cribs and pendants harken to the time of a prosperous empire ruled by noble Sultans.  

Council Tower, Topkapi Palace

From here we went to the Phanar to visit the Hagia Georgi, which is the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Inside this church is the pillar from the scourging of Jesus during His sorrowful passion. This solemn visit prepared us for the four days we would spend in the Holy Land on our cruise aboard the Vision of the Seas.

Interior of the Church of St. George

Our time in Istanbul in 2011 was an unforgettable experience. I cannot wait to return to this city because I know that it is full of discovery and wonder.

Be sure to tune in next week for another Deal and Destination of the Week!