One Ship, Eight Passports, Endless Memories
“I have generally shied away from cruising because all the activity options, people, and planning can feel overwhelming,” says WhirlAway’s Jamie Jones. “But Explora Journeys was relaxing and there was no FOMO.”
That’s quite the review, coming from someone who has experienced plenty of cruises over the years. Jamie planned the trip as an easy way for her family to experience Greece, Croatia, and Italy together, with her mother originally set to join before an injury forced her to cancel the week prior (thank goodness for travel insurance!). The remaining eight travelers boarded Explora II for a sailing from Athens to Venice, where a remarkable 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, plenty of space to spread out, and none of the logistical juggling that can come with multigenerational travel delivered exactly what the family was looking for: time together, great food, and a stress-free way to experience several destinations in one trip.
WHO: Jamie, her husband Bobby, and their two children: Gianna (17) and Zayne (13), along with Jamie’s brother Tim, his wife Jen, and their two children: Brynnley (22) and Courtney (20).
WHAT: A seven-night cruise from Athens, Greece to Venice, Italy with Explora Journeys on the Explora II ship. “Each couple had their own Ocean Terrace Suite and we threw the kids in a Grand Penthouse,” says Jamie, noting that this was a good example of a luxury trip without an over-the-top luxury cost.
WHERE: They all flew into Athens and stayed one night at the NEW Hotel. While there, they had a private tour of the Pantheon and Acropolis, followed by a local food tour. The next day, they boarded the ship and, over eight days, visited Paros, Rhodes, Corfu, Hvar, and Rijeka. “We had private tours in Paros, Rhodes, and Corfu,” says Jamie. “We did a hike in Rijeka, and spent the day at a beach club in Hvar.” The cruise ended in Venice, where they spent one night at the historic Ca’ Di Dio hotel. “In Venice, we had a private walking tour and I scheduled a family photo shoot around Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.” From there, Jamie’s immediate family continued on to Bologna for three nights, where they stayed at the Grand Hotel Majestic. “We had a private food tour and tasted Parmigiano, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto,” says Jamie. “The last day I planned a VIP tour of the Ferrari factory and arranged a test drive of a Ferrari through the countryside for my husband and son!”
WHY: “Explora Journeys was the perfect fit for our family,” says Jamie. “The ship truly felt like a floating hotel and the size was perfect—big enough that there was enough space to explore and not get bored after the first few days, but small enough that we were able to enjoy most of the venues at least once while still leaving more to enjoy on a future sailing. All of the dining was excellent—we loved the Emporium for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner a few nights when we weren’t in the mood for more formal dining. We spent a lot of time poolside and never had a problem finding space for the eight of us at one of the five onboard pools. Our family works out a lot and the gym was one of the best I have experienced on a cruise ship.”
WOW: “Getting to witness everyone experience new destinations for the first time. This was our family’s first time to Greece and Tim, Jen, Courtney, and Brynn’s first trip to Europe.” — Bobby
“I like how they had unlimited food and that I got to drink 26 (virgin) pina coladas.” — Zayne
“One word: Emporium!” — Tim
“The food and drinks were great, and the staff was super friendly—especially Rudolf, our suite attendant.” — Courtney
“The staff was very accommodating about dietary restrictions. I only wish the gelato spot was open after 5pm!” — Brynnley
