Let’s Cruise Together in 2023!

I am SO excited to invite you on a family-friendly cruise Mediterranean vacay with me and my crew. No family? No problem. Whether you’re single, traveling with friends, or going as a couple, this trip is for you.

All the details for this trip have been expertly planned with Jessica and Jennifer, a European travel expert, fellow military spouse, and owner of Endless Routes Travel. She takes care of everything and makes it easy for you to sit back and relax…or have an epic adventure (or both)!

Tell. Me. More!

Okay, so here’s the deal, cruising is one of our absolute favorite ways to travel, especially with a family. So I thought it would be fun if we all went on a cruise together!

Cruising gives you the best of everything: relaxation, adventure, excellent service, delicious food, epic locations to explore, awesome activities for kids (seriously…don’t be shocked if they want to stay there all day and night), grown-up excitement, and top-notch entertainment.

All of that (and more) while also checking more beautiful countries off your bucket list! It’s truly the best of the best, all rolled into one trip.

Honestly, I don’t get anything out of this—no commission, no free room—I’m basically just the ringleader because I think it’d be fun to meet some of you all, and cruising is one of our absolute favorite ways to travel!

Soooo…where are we going?

Check out the full 7-day Greece and Croatia cruise itinerary here (with tons of details), but the short answer is that we’ll be sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas® and cruising to:

• Venice, Italy (cruise starts and ends near Venice)
• Split, Croatia
• Athens, Greece
• Santorini, Greece
• Dubrovnik, Croatia

So many awesome spots, right? Plus, there are a couple “days at sea” thrown in there, too, which is where that relaxation part comes into play.

Personally, our family will be spending some time in and around the Venice area either before or after the cruise. But the best part is that Jennifer can help with all your travel questions so you can make the most of your trip.

And it’s Family Friendly?

Absolutely! We’ve actually cruised with Royal Caribbean with a baby before, and it was amazing. Their ships are like giant playgrounds for kids (with safety measures built in, don’t worry).

Kids (ages 3+) and teens will have their own activities in the Adventure Ocean; there are also pools, a rock climbing wall, ice skating, mini golf, poolside movies, and so much more.

NOTE: This particular ship does not have a nursery.

Pro tip: Want to cruise with a baby? Invite a grandparent along on the cruise, too, and maybe you can sneak in a couple date nights! My mom will actually be coming along with us for this trip. She gets to travel, see her grandkids, and I don’t have to plan everything: win, win, and win!

Plus, my kids (ages 9, 7, and 5), will be there and are happy to make new friends!

Read about cruising with kids here.

The question you really want to know: How much will this cost?

One of the reasons we love cruising is that we personally find it an affordable way for our family to travel, especially if our goal is to see multiple places in a shorter amount of time.

Here’s what’s included:

• accommodation
• all of your meals (*specific specialty dining can be extra, but that’s only if you choose to eat elsewhere)
• drinks (water, lemonade, and iced tea are free; you can buy a beverage package for more options)
• most entertainment onboard (extra costs: video arcade, gambling, BINGO, etc.)
• Kids programs (ages 3-17)
• (our favorite) the ease of traveling between countries without having to actually do the leg work (the ship takes you to all of these places; no trains, cars, or planes necessary)
• at least one meet-up for our group on the ship!

Not Included

• Airfare
• Arrival and departure transfers (optional)
• COVID testing (if required at the time of travel)
• Travel Insurance
• Specialty Dining
• Spa and Salon services
• Gambling (Including Bingo); video arcade
• Shore excursions
• Internet Access
• Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services
• Gratuities ($14.50 per person per day, $17.50 per person per day for suites)
• Alcoholic Beverages and/or soda

With all things said and done, rooms start at less than $2,000* for two people.

*each quote will be different, based on how many people are traveling and what kind of room you want. One of the cool things is that just because you may have more than two people in your cabin doesn’t necessarily mean the price will be doubled. Royal Caribbean often gives discounts when more people (and/or kids) are in your room.

How much time do I have before I have to book?

Honestly, the sooner the better: especially if you’re traveling with a family and may need a little more flexibility with rooms.

I know it might be hard to book something so far in advance. I 100% get this. Shoot, sometimes we (as a military family) don’t even know what our schedule looks like for this week, so planning for something more than a year from now sounds almost crazy.

But here’s the thing: travel is happening again, cruising is back in full swing, and once a room is booked, it’s booked. Jennifer can talk you through the cancellation policy and insurance (I highly recommend insurance!). Get in touch with her here.

Okay, I’m pretty much sold. Now what?

YAY, YAY, YAY!! Here are the next steps:

First: check out all the details here. I just barely scratched the surface, and this page shares so much more.

Then, fill out this form to get a quote for your party for the trip.

Note: there is no charge to get an official quote, but once you get the quote you’ll have to leave a deposit to hold your spot on the trip. No credit card info is asked within the form; Jennifer will personally be in touch with you with a full quote and more information.

Once you pay that deposit you’re good to go it’s time to start packing! Okay, maybe not this early, but you can sit back, relax, and get excited.