Okay I have to confess…..I was so apprehensive before our first cruise. Having never been on one, I did not know what to expect. But it turned out to be the best week ever! It was so much fun to meet everyone in person and have time to make new friends and go on new adventures. By the end of the cruise our large group of friends,(that’s what we had become), were already talking about what we should do next and the overwhelming request was Italy! So we put our thinking caps on and worked with Rick to find a way that we could make it happen. I think we have hit this out of the park. This trip is going to be amazing and I hope you can come!!!! Keep reading for all of the details 🙂
Booking is Now Live!
You can reserve your cabin here! We can’t wait to meet you!
The Dates
The cruise will depart from Rome on September 18, 2020 and return to Rome on September 27, 2020. We will also have an optional pre-cruise land tour in Rome and Florence from September 15 – 17.
*EDIT: The pre-cruise land tour is SOLD OUT
The Itinerary
On September 15, 16, and 17, we will be exploring Rome and Florence! This is a land based tour that is an optional add-on to the cruise. This add-on package will include transfers, hotel with breakfast daily, Exclusive Early Entrance to Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, panoramic tour of Rome by motor coach at night, visit to the Borghese and more! If it’s your first time to Rome and Florence, I can’t wait for you to see two of the places I love most in the world. And if you’ve been there before, then you know you can never tire of seeing these magical cities. We’re planning some great tours of both cities, so if you’ve always dreamed of seeing the Ponte Vecchio, The Forum, and the Vatican just to name a few, now’s your chance to see it with a great group of friends!
*Please note: In order to do this land tour, you must be going on the cruise portion of the trip.
For our cruise, we will be exploring the Mediterranean and the Greek Isles! I thought this was the perfect blend of Italy and Greece and late September is the perfect time to visit these destinations. I have never been to Greece, and it’s always been on my bucket list, so I’m excited to have my first time there be with so many of my friends! We’ll be visiting Santorini, Mykonos, and of course Athens. In Italy, we will be starting and ending in Rome, and making stops in Sicily and Naples/Capri. Who’s ready for some of the best pizza and pasta of their life???
Here’s the full cruise itinerary:
Day 1: Embarkation (Rome)
Day 2: Sicily, Italy
Day 3: At Sea
Day 4: Chania, Crete
Day 5: Mykonos, Greece
Day 6: Athens, Greece
Day 7: Santorini, Greece
Day 8: At Sea
Day 9: Naples/Capri, Italy
Day 10: Disembarkation (Rome)
The Ship
We will be sailing on the Explorer of the Seas and it looks amazing! There are a number of specialty restaurants to choose from and a lot of on board activities. You can do everything from watching a show, to going ice skating! Now come on, when else will you be able to say you ice skated in the middle of the ocean?! 😉 You can see all the details of the ship
hereCabins
There will be lots of options available! There will be great selections at many different price points. One of the reasons we chose this cruise is because it has a wide array of cabin choices and I wanted there to be something for everyone! Whether you’re trying to be conservative, or you want to splurge, this ship has the perfect room for you. If you’re wondering about payment, there’s good news there too! You will be able to pay for your trip in installments over a series of months.
Excursions
At each port, there will be lots of different ways you can explore. You can choose to go on tours, go shopping, explore on your own, visit some beaches, and more. I can’t wait to see the iconic blue and whitewashed buildings in Greece, see the scenery in Sicily and Naples, and visit historical sites in Athens.
Some Questions You May Have
How Do I Book?
If you’re ready to book, we’re ready to meet you!
You can make your cabin reservation here now!
Here are just a couple of the benefits you’ll get:
- Staff Service charges included
- All taxes and port charges included
- Trip insurance included
- (4) 1 liter bottles of Evian Still Water per cabin
- 2 cocktail parties with hor d’oeuvres
- $50 on board credit per cabin
Please do not book through the Royal Caribbean website, as you will need to reserve with our group in order to have access to all of our activities!
What About Flights?
We are working with Rick and Allison and they can get you all squared away! You will want to fly in and out of the Rome Airport. Flights are not available this far in advance, but as soon as we are able to begin booking airfare (300 days prior to departure), we will provide an update!
Okay, are you ready to go? I’ve already started counting down the days! I hope I’ll see you in Rome in 2020!
