I recently had the privilege of sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas on a 7-night, Greek Isles adventure. I shared the experience with my best friend of 7 years, and we were in for an incredible journey!

After two connections, intermittent sleep, and a bit of jet lag, I arrived safely in Venice and was excited to be reunited with my friend whom I hadn't seen in quite some time. Once aboard the Splendour, we quickly found our way to Windjammer cafe where we were delightfully surprised. Plenty of choices were at our fingertips with fresh meats, vegetables, desserts, and more being among the options! The ship has been in service for 17 years, but you wouldn't know that from the beautiful refurbishments that Royal Caribbean has done to the vessel.

This was my first time to the Greek Isles, and I took the advice of a fellow agent, and booked an excursion to explore the ancient ruins in Ephesus. The $50 was well worth it, and I would highly recommend this to anyone traveling to Turkey! The experience began with a very entertaining, and quite educational, tour guide and about a 25 minute bus ride from the port to the ancient city. Once we arrived, we were immediately awed by the beauty and the history of the site. There were plenty of photo ops, and my imagination was in overdrive as we were given a very in depth history of the inhabitants of the city. The Library of Celsus was breath taking and the theater provided a stunning example of the culture's architectural abilities.

From the minute we stepped ashore in Mykonos, we fell in love. It was fairly early, and coffee was in order. So, we stopped at Alegro Restaurant to have a taste of the local blends. With no particular plan for the day's experience we wandered through the maze of beauty amongst the crisp white buildings with colorfully painted shutters and doors. We finally discovered the right way to get to the famous windmills, and took the opportunity for photos and reflection. We reunited with some new friends that we'd made from London and dined together at Katerina's in Little Venice. The food was delicious, and we enjoyed great company and an amazing waterfront view.

My friend and I planned an extra night stay in Venice so that we could explore the city, and it truly wasn't enough. We arrived back at the port of Venice around 7:30am and by 9am we were on foot walking the streets of Venice. We made it from the train station all the way around a crescent path to St. Marks square. The beauty, culture, and history were quite overwhelming. I would recommend to anyone going for their first time to take a couple of days pre or post cruise to truly enjoy what Venice has to offer. Exhausted from our lengthy walk, we opted for a water taxi back to our point of origin. We spent our final night in Italy reminiscing about our trip and dining at one of the local eateries. With an early flight waiting the next day, we found our beds quite quickly.

Royal Caribbean offers a great value to anyone who has the opportunity to sail aboard their ships. Broadway style shows, unique dining options, friendly service, and very comfortable accommodations await! No matter the age of their guests, Royal Caribbean has something for everyone on board. I was able to find a quiet corner to read and write one day while rock climbing and playing shuffle board the next. With ships offering countless opportunities to experience and a diverse range of activities, to more intimate ships offering rich, cultural itineraries, Royal Caribbean is an excellent choice!

To learn more about Royal Caribbean or to book your next cruise, give us a call at 800-225-3614 or CLICK HERE!