For our honeymoon we booked a one-week cruise aboard Seabourn, a fabulous cruise line with small ships (‘yachts’ as Seabourn prefers to say) carrying up to 208 passengers. We had 180 on ours, the Seabourn Spirit. We were thinking of booking a three-week Venice to Istanbul itinerary, but being first-time cruisers, were afraid we wouldn’t like it. I, in particular, was afraid of being trapped on a small ship wishing I could be somewhere doing something instead of, I guess, playing shuffleboard.
We boarded in Athens and went to the Greek islands of Miknonos, Milos and Patmos, and to the Turkish ports of Bodrum and Kusadasi (gateway to the ancient Roman city of Ephesus). We disembarked in Istanbul – another fantastic place I will post about another time.
The ship, our cabin, the cuisine and the service were exceptional. Our destinations were likewise fantastic. We enjoyed the cruise very much and would recommend it without hesitation.
Here are some pics and commentary:
A waterfront scene on Mikonos, a Greek island
The windmills on Mikonos
View of the street we ascended to the top of the island of Milos, Greek Islands
View through an entryway to a home on Milos, Greek Islands
A beautiful cove on Patmos, Greek Islands
Our lovely yacht, the Seabourn Spirit, anchored off of Bodrum, Turkey
The fish market, Bodrum, Turkey. There was a very happy cat there!
Our chef bargaining for fish, Bodrum, Turkey. He used these for his chef’s meal the last night at sea. Mout-watering meal indeed!
An example of a tasting meal course, Restaurant ‘2′ on the faintail of the Seabourn Spirit. This was an absolutely stunning way to dine, with many small courses and wine pairings. Yum!
We were treated to a classical quartet concert at the Library of Epehsus. Wine and hor’s duerves were served!
After the concert, the beautiful library of Ephesus.
Another view of the library post-concert
This type of cruise is definitely luxurious, and Mel and I are (to say the least) unusual one-time cruisers in having been only on Seabourn. But it has opened up a new mode of travel for us that has its place in our journeys.