Exploring the Mediterranean: A Memorable Family Cruise Experience

When my parents came to France to celebrate the New Year, I initially planned our itinerary. I wanted to create a customized route to show them around, but I quickly realized that travel can be quite overwhelming! Considering factors like not overloading our schedule, managing accommodation, ensuring proper meals, and keeping within a budget made my head spin! 😅

Then, I stumbled upon the Costa Mediterranea, an 8-day, 7-night cruise through the Mediterranean for just €399 per person, which included accommodations, meals, and a variety of engaging activities. I decided to book this amazing deal right away!

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Marseille
• Day 2: Barcelona
• Day 3: Palma
• Day 4: Day at Sea
• Day 5: Palermo
• Day 6: Rome
• Day 7: Savona
• Day 8: Return to Marseille

Getting Onboard

We took a train from Paris to Marseille, which was followed by a 15-minute taxi ride to the cruise terminal. Onboarding time began at noon on our embarkation day. After checking in, we enjoyed a delicious lunch on board, saving some money on our meal budget! 🍽️

Culinary Delight on the Cruise

The cruise ship boasts nearly 20 restaurants! While we refrained from trying the paid dining options, we enjoyed the complimentary buffet and themed restaurants. Each day, our room card assigned us to a different themed restaurant, which I highly recommend due to their refined menu options. However, as our trip progressed, my parents missed familiar Chinese cuisine a bit! 😂

For drinks, we opted not to buy the Drink Pack, as the restaurants offered free water. Sneaking in these little savings made my parents delighted! 😄

Endless Entertainment Options

The cruise facilities were nothing short of spectacular! From a well-equipped gym and swimming pools to nightly opera performances, there was never a dull moment. Every evening after dinner, we attended various shows, thoroughly enjoying the range of entertainment! 🎭

Excursions and City Explorations

The cruise offered numerous shore excursions, but we chose to explore most cities at our own pace. Fortunately, most ports had shuttle buses to the city center. The only exception was Rome, where we found ourselves over 50 kilometers away. We decided to hire a van with some other travelers, and a little bargaining saved us significantly! ⚡ We negotiated the price down from €90 per person to €50. In hindsight, I believe we could have pushed for an even lower rate! 😅

Wi-Fi and Digital Detox

My parents have a habit of avoiding any additional expenses, which is why we didn’t purchase Wi-Fi. Every time we set sail, I found a peaceful spot on our balcony to enjoy the sea view 🌊, or I would spend time at a coffee shop 📖 reading. This enforced “digital detox” was refreshing, and once we were on land, internet access was readily available!

Conclusion

In conclusion, taking my parents on a cruise was an effortless and enjoyable experience! The cruise took care of all our meals and accommodations, and we had the chance to visit multiple cities. True to their old-school travel mindset, my parents believed that visiting as many places as possible made the trip all the more worthwhile! 😂

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