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We were able to include a cruise on this trip.\u00a0 We had previously sailed with Royal Caribbean and had a positive experience.\u00a0 We booked an 8-day cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The cruise included stops in Croatia and The Greek Islands as well as mainland Greece.\u00a0 We booked over a year in advance and were able to reserve 2 inside rooms that connected.\u00a0 The set up of this allowed us all to be together if we left the connecting door open and unlocked, giving us plenty of space to sleep and all be together without having to reserve one of the largest rooms which is what we would have needed to sleep all 7 of us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We have taken five cruises on varied ships including Carnival, The Big Red Boat (Disney\u2019s predecessor), Disney, and Royal Caribbean.\u00a0 We slept in inside cabins on all of the trips.\u00a0 The inside cabins are not only more reasonably priced, but also the dark and quiet were beneficial for sleeping \u2013 which we have found to be the only time we are in our cabin.\u00a0 There is really so much to do onboard that spending time in the room was not a priority.<\/span><\/p>\n We left Venice … packed up and again 7 people with 7 pieces of luggage and 7 backpacks walked back 4 blocks, catching two water taxis and walked a mile to the ship in the only other thunderstorm which stopped promptly as we boarded!<\/span><\/p>\n Boarding included documents check and luggage scan; they tagged our luggage and it was later delivered to our room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We explored the ship, found our rooms and changed into swimwear for a poolside sail away.\u00a0 We sat poolside (first swimming on the trip) and the kids ate ice cream!! and drank strawberry kiwi juice while Scott and I drank our own Sailaway celebratory drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n Music played and for the first time on this vacation, the adults were both completely relaxed as for the next week we didn\u2019t have to be responsible to find (or make) meals, plan any adventure, or drive anywhere!!\u00a0 We were ready to sit back and enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n We had scheduled the late dinner time and upon arrival, we found we had a table set for 9.\u00a0 We were lucky to have two wonderful table mates, teachers from Connecticut. They were so wonderful to the kids and fun friends onboard!!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We had the chance to be adventurous at dinner, as each night we were offered an appetizer, main meal, and dessert choices.\u00a0 An interesting fact when cruising, generally people order one of each \u2013 BUT multiple offerings can be ordered and we took advantage of this with appetizers and desserts so we could try the delicious choices!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, we tried snails for an appetizer though none of us wanted a full appetizer of snails so we ordered one for all of us to try and then ordered individual appetizers for each of us (salad or soup etc). We finished the night with some of us watching a movie under the stars on the pool deck while the rest of us joined a dance party!<\/span><\/p>\n We slept well and woke to a new country.\u00a0 That first day,\u00a0 we visited Dubrovnik, Croatia. It’s a beautiful walled city that we were able to see while walking on top of the entire wall!\u00a0 We had signed up for shore excursions at each of the ship’s ports.\u00a0 We decided that with seven of us it would not be very easy to coordinate this time off the ship on our own and as we were in these exotic ports, we did not want to miss the opportunities to see the amazing sites each place had to offer.\u00a0 We were picked up at the dock by a charter bus for a city view \u2013 the orange-roofed walled city against the backdrop of the turquoise blue Adriatic Sea was unforgettable.<\/span><\/p>\n We were then bussed to the city for a guided walk atop the wall.\u00a0 The walk was warm and crowded and unfortunately we were unable to fully enjoy the tour as when we were separated from our guide by more than 10 feet the headphones that we were to use to hear the guide didn\u2019t have reception\u2026and with the crowds and even with just our group, it wasn\u2019t possible to remain within 10 feet of the guide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our youngest made several friends this trip- many of the adults we met were enamored with her personality and her eyes… one woman actually came up to her and washed her face (as the walk was hot) and fawned quite a bit over her. She quite enjoyed the attention.\u00a0 The guided part of the tour aside, it was an enjoyable walk on an ancient wall and we were glad to have had that opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\n When we returned to the ship, the kids again enjoyed unlimited ice cream ( it’s vacation, right?), the refreshing pool, and the challenge of the rock wall.<\/span><\/p>\n The littlest tried duck at dinner and we again ended the night with a dance party!<\/span><\/p>\n Our first Stop in Greece was the Island of Corfu and we spent time at the beach swimming in the Ionian Sea. The water temperature was cooler than I’d have guessed it would be but that didn’t stop anyone.\u00a0 We had signed up for the excursion on the island to the beach \u2013 which ended up as a much needed relaxing day.<\/span><\/p>\n We walked along the beach where we all noticed a few things…<\/span><\/p>\n The big kids were able to play at a blow-up jumpy, floating obstacle course in the water which they loved!<\/span><\/p>\n Back at the ship? Yes, pool, hot tub, rock wall, ice cream,\u00a0and drinks. I even rock climbed !!! \u00a0Fun food for the night was banana rum soup. The kids were adventurous in their choices and it was fun to try so many new things.<\/span><\/p>\n Dance party again and a magic show to end the night.<\/span><\/p>\n The kids have met some friends and it has been great for them to not only have some time with other kids but also a cool chance for them to learn about other cultures. One found a friend from Wales, another met a friend from Ireland, and the littlest found a friend who is English living in France near Paris.<\/span><\/p>\n The kids club on board has been a blessing for all of us.\u00a0 The kids have enjoyed different activities focused on their individual aged groups and spending time with new friends and to be honest having some time away from each other.\u00a0 The adults have also enjoyed calm adult time to relax and connect.<\/span><\/p>\n According to my daughter, the most stunning place in the world and also where she is moving to when she’s old enough.\u00a0 This island is well known for its whitewashed cliff villages with views of the blue Aegean waters.<\/span><\/p>\n We had the busiest day of the trip but it was just too amazing to miss anything! We had signed up for an excursion to hike the volcano and swim in a hot spring. We were told this was the largest caldera and possibly the eruption was responsible for the lost Atlantis! It is still geothermally active!\u00a0 The hike was warm but the kids all managed well.<\/span><\/p>\n We followed the hike with a small sailboat ride to a hot spring to swim to and in. I sort of love the attitude we encountered there –\u00a0 one of being responsible for your choices. No waivers to sign, but several reminders to assess our own abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n To get to the hot spring, we jumped from the ship and had to swim about 100 yards through some fairly deep and cold water without life jackets !! I can’t even imagine anything similar in the US, the kids loved it! The water was crystal clear and gorgeous!<\/span><\/p>\n We got back to port and just couldn’t imagine not seeing the town of Oia… the beautiful white city with blue roofed churches pictured in every Greek island travel brochure. Our dinner table mates agreed and we were able to rent a boat for the 9 of us to sail to the city. It was just beautiful, the boat ride AND the city.<\/span><\/p>\n When we returned to port, in Fiera, we had one last adventure, we took a tram ride up the cliffs to the city of Fiera where we shopped and enjoyed Greek froyo. Mmmm<\/span><\/p>\n Back at the ship, we enjoyed the pool, dinner, and a hot tub under the stars.\u00a0 These activities are perfect ways to end tour days as we simply return to the ship and dinner and entertainment is ready and available to us.<\/span><\/p>\n Today we got to kayak! We signed up for an excursion and were bused to the beach.\u00a0 We had a quick lesson from our guide who was a dead ringer for Bradley Cooper! And then set out in groups of two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The adults were paired with the littles, 2 of the kids went together and the third was paired with another shipmate.\u00a0 I was with the littlest and we had a bit of a time as she didn’t quite have a rhythm and her paddle mostly just hit my paddle. We made up an alternative to row your boats called row row row your kayak and decided that we should take an abbreviated ride.\u00a0 We did get to see fish and hold a spiny sea urchin (kids named it “fluffy” – lol) before heading back to the beach to swim.<\/span><\/p>\n Included with this excursion, we also got to eat a delicious Greek lunch right on the beach It was prepared for us and included with the excursion including Greek salad, falafel, kebabs, wine, and ouzo to finish up.<\/span><\/p>\n And we finished the night with swimming, rock walking, dinner, and drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n Wow!!\u00a0 \u00a0We docked in the city of Piraeus which for all we could tell was just an extension of Athens… which was enormous. Home to 40% of all the Greeks in Greece.<\/span><\/p>\n We toured the Acropolis with the temple of Athens, and also toured the temple of Zeus and the Olympic stadium. All of it was amazing.\u00a0 Everything was marble; all the things- the buildings, statues, even the ground!<\/span><\/p>\n This was a favorite for many as they had learned so much about the ancient Greek history in school.\u00a0 Seeing it in person made it all come alive for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The visit was a whirlwind, I wish we’d had more time there. I felt that a lot on the cruise excursions. We\u2019d been spoiled doing this trip with a car- getting to stop and go as we pleased. The ship excursions were an easy way to see so much in such a short time but I felt like we needed more time and I\u2019d love to go back!<\/span><\/p>\n Back on board, we had our first major mishap of the trip, Scott got in a vicious sword fight with a pirate (or he slid on the pool deck landing on his elbow; Potato\/ po-tah-to).\u00a0Lol \u00a0He ended up with 3 stitches and a round of antibiotics. We had never been to the infirmary on a ship before but found they are quite prepared even having an OR available.\u00a0 The staff was very helpful.<\/span><\/p>\n He handled it well and we finished the night with ice cream, drinks, rock climbing medals, and dancing.<\/span><\/p>\n We started the day with our last excursion- a tour to ancient Olympia.\u00a0 The site of the first Olympics. The site was far less crowded than the Acropolis and we were able to get much closer to the ruins.<\/span><\/p>\n The kids even got to start at the marble starting line and race across the field. We also saw where they ignite the flame for every Olympics.<\/span><\/p>\n We next ate lunch at the beach before swimming in the beautiful waters.<\/span><\/p>\n (So far we’ve had lamb stew in Iceland, schnitzel and beers In Germany, goulash in Czech Republic, apple strudel in Austria, pizza pasta octopus and wine in Italy, and as of today baklava and the other Greek foods including wine and ouzo in Greece! Mmmmm)<\/span><\/p>\nTrip Day 17<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 1<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nTrip Day 18<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 2 \u2013 Croatia<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nTrip Day 19<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 3 – Corfu Greece<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nTrip Day 20<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 4 – Santorini Greece<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Trip Day 21<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 5 – Crete!<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nTrip Day 22<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 6\u00a0\u2013 Athens<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Trip Day 23<\/span><\/h4>\n
Cruise Day 7 \u00a0– Olympia<\/span><\/h4>\n
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