Having never cruised before, I was keen to find the perfect ship and Greek island itinerary for Charlotte, Neal and their teenage kids, Jonty and Maddie. They enjoyed some downtime in Crete before Charlotte's mother - a seasoned cruiser - joined them for the adventure aboard Celebrity Infinity.
Here's how their journey unfolded...
Jenny organised an amazing two-week family holiday that combined a cruise through the stunning Greek islands with a stop at the coastal resort of Kusadasi in Turkey. As first-time cruisers, we found Jenny’s advice and knowledge invaluable.
I wanted to kick off the trip by soaking up the sun in a peaceful Crete resort before heading to Athens to board the ship.
Jenny recommended starting our holiday at a resort in Gouves, staying at the Ourania self-catering apartments. They were perfect - exactly what I was looking for!
The accommodation was spacious, with plenty of room to unwind by the pool, and it was just a short walk to a quiet resort with a great selection of restaurants and bars.
We also took advantage of the regular buses from Gouves to Heraklion, which gave us the chance to visit Knossos for a bit of history. Afterwards, we enjoyed a relaxing boat trip around the coast from Gouves, soaking up the sun and swimming in the crystal-clear Aegean.
After a relaxing week, we flew to Athens and spent the night in a small, friendly hotel before meeting Mum and boarding the Celebrity Infinity to start our cruise.
The itinerary we chose included the stunning Greek islands of Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos and Hydra, along with the resort of Kusadasi off the Turkish coast.
Visiting a different island each day, with one day at sea, was both fun and fascinating. We particularly enjoyed wandering through Santorini, soaking in the beautiful views and browsing the shops, as well as exploring the ancient cities of Ephesus and Rhodes.
We weren’t sure what to expect from the cruise, but it was wonderful. We loved relaxing by the pool or lounging on deck, watching the sea drift by. There were plenty of activities throughout the day to keep our teenagers entertained.
The evening entertainment was incredibly varied, from an 80s night to a musical-themed show, and even a presentation about shooting stars and the galaxy - there was never a dull moment! The kids enjoyed the teens club, where they could hang out with friends each evening, leaving us free to enjoy the shows.
My Mum enjoyed relaxing, reading and taking in the sights, including a couple of excursions, and joining us for the evening entertainment.
The food was excellent with a wide variety of cuisines, and it was great to eat as a family every lunchtime and evening. We often had breakfast in our rooms but met for a coffee late morning. The service throughout was very attentive - nothing was too much trouble for the staff.
We loved the cabin, especially the balcony. For me, the simple pleasures were the best - sitting out with a coffee and reading in peace, though it was hard to top sitting on the top deck, strawberry daiquiri hand-delivered, watching Top Gun in the sun!
Thank you, Jenny, for organising this fabulous holiday. We felt quite spoilt and would do it all again. Cruising has most certainly won us over and we will definitely be in touch for future trips.
Charlotte
Comments