We recently returned from a 9-night Greek Isles cruise onboard the Norwegian Gem, and unanimously agree this was our best family vacation to date. I am going to recap our pre-stay in Athens, our time onboard, as well as highlight the activities we selected in each port.
Our cruise embarked in Athens. We left Nashville two days prior as we knew we’d spend one full day traveling. We arrived in Athens around 9:00 am the day before our cruise, met our driver, and set off for our hotel for a quick refresh. The plan was so begin exploring immediately, staying active as long as we could, to minimize jetlag.
The kids lasted a few hours, long enough to enjoy lunch at Oroscopo. Yum! The staff was so welcoming and even treated us to dessert.
Later that evening Mr. FamTrav and I took the metro to the Acropolis. Acropolis – or acro/high polis/city – is a famous ancient citadel overlooking Athens that was built in the 5th century BC. The most prominent structure is the Parthenon, an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, for whom Athens is named. Other structures on the site include the Propylaea (entrance), Erechtheion (temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, and the small temple dedicated to Athena Nike, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. It was the most glorious evening taking a casual stroll along one of the most historical and architectural landmarks in the world.
The next morning, the four of us arrived at the Acropolis at opening time. We had the foresight to purchase tickets in advance so were able to avoid the line for tickets. We did have to wait in a separate line for entry, but it moved quickly. Had we arrived 30 minutes earlier, we could have avoided this as well, but the jetlag was unforgiving.
The views from the top are unparalleled. With an audio tour, we were able to learn more about the structures at our own pace.
And now for a little Instagram vs. Reality. Ha!
After the Acropolis, we went on a walking tour of the city where we saw Hadrian’s Arch – which was created to celebrate the arrival of Roman Emperor Hadrian circa 131/132 CE, the Temple of Zeus, Zappeion Hall (Greek Parliament), and the National Gardens of Athens.
We debated having lunch nearby, but decided to go back to our hotel area to try the other recommended restaurant, Elia Taverna, which is right next door to Oroscopo. Nóstimos! Another fantastic experience with the friendliest staff!
Shortly after, we met our driver at the hotel for our transfer to the port. This was our third sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line. Next to Disney Cruise Line, I’d say this is our second favorite. We appreciate the level of service Norwegian provides. And when we were comparing itineraries last year, we loved the number of ports Norwegian offered!
The Gem is a mid-size ship that sails the Mediterranean in the summer and fall. There is a large pool deck, and fun activities throughout the day. (Wheel of Freestyle winner here!) There aren’t any Broadway-style shows. The evening entertainment consists of comedy sketches, comedy shows, late-night movies, and the like.
We stayed in a Family Balcony Stateroom. It accommodated the four of us just fine, but did get cramped at times. For our next cruise, I think we’ll get adjoining staterooms. We’ll still be able to keep an eye on the kids, but will have more breathing room, and most importantly, two bathrooms!
You can watch the cabin tour below. It would mean so much to me if you’d like this and other videos, and subscribe to my channel, which I’m working diligently to grow.
Across the brand, Norwegian offers Freestyle Dining, which breaks away from the conventional method of a fixed dining schedule in the main dining rooms, giving guests more flexibility and freedom in their dining experiences. This works amazingly well for us!
Note that the specialty dining restaurants still require reservations. On this sailing we got to try Moderno Churrascaria and Cagney’s Steakhouse. The FamTrav husband is a huge fan of Fogo de Chão and went into Moderno Churrascario with those expectations, which fell a little flat for him. I think if he didn’t, the outcome would have been different. But Cagney’s Steakhouse was amazing!
This was a very intense itinerary ad we loved every minute! On a 9-night sailing, we had eight ports of call. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to write in-depth review of our time in port. Be sure to follow along!
Mykonos: Delos in 3D and an afternoon in Mykonos
Zakynthos: Shipwreck Beach & Blue Caves
Kotor : Blue Cave, Mamula Island, Submarine Tunnel, Lady of the Rocks
Venice: The Port That Almost Didn’t Make It
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