My husband and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary last September. We took an incredible 10-day Mediterranean cruise sans kids and we loved it so much. I wanted to share our experiences just in case you're interested. There were 2 of us, 4 countries, 10 destinations and a lifetime of memories. I've done quite a bit of research and decided to go with Norwegian Cruise Line on the Viva. As with everything in life, cruises have their pros and cons. Depends on what you’re looking for. A cruise could be the perfect vacation. For our anniversary, I wanted to sample the Mediterranean countries but didn’t want to deal with different airports, pack/unpack multiple times and plan activities for 11 days. We booked the 10-Day Mediterranean cruise with NCL almost a year ago and couldn’t be happier. Some days we were out all day and some days we just chilled by the pool. Woke up every morning to a new beautiful destination but slept on the same bed every night. I’ve been on 6 cruises with Royal Caribbean in the past but this was our first time cruising with Norwegian. The Viva made its debut in August 2023. The ship is only a year old. Everything still looks and feels brand new. While RC cruises are loaded with family-friendly attractions, NCL cruises are a bit more adult-oriented. I only saw a few kids onboard. I got to check a few destinations off my bucket list. It was a positive experience for us and we would cruise with NCL again.
๐Athens, Greece
๐Santorini, Greece
๐Mykonos, Greece
๐Attractions: Fira, Oia, Red Beach, Paradise Beach, Kamari Beach. Three Bells of Fira.
First up is Greece ๐ฌ๐ท We flew into Athens a day earlier just in case there were delays but thankfully, everything went smoothly. Athens is a vibrant city that worth a visit. We stayed at
Nikiou Suited and I couldn’t recommend it enough. I love to experience independent/boutique hotels while traveling. The apartment is modern, absolutely spotless and the location can’t be beat. It’s walking distance to the
Acropolis and lots of great restaurants and shops. From Athens, we took off to Santorini then Mykonos. Greek islands are beautiful! I can’t get enough of whitewashed houses and blue domed churches. As someone who always book things way in advance, you don’t need to do that. Taxis are readily available as soon as you get off the ship. The driver drove us around the island for 6 hours for 100 euros. It’s the best way to explore the island. In Mykonos, we took a bus to Paradise beach for 2 euros/person. Greek islands are walkable destinations. Public transportation is also great. If I have to pick between Santorini and Mykonos, my vote goes to Santorini. If you want beach time, Mykonos is a better choice but they are pebbly/rocky beaches. Those 2 are the most popular ones but there are so many other gorgeous islands in Greece ๐ Up next, Turkey!
