This past May, the Gaugler family—parents and three young adults—came together from across the U.S. to enjoy a memorable Mediterranean cruise. Their journey began at JFK, where they flew to Athens and stayed at The Modernist Athens Hotel in the upscale Kolonaki neighborhood, benefiting from perks via Tablet Hotels. This boutique hotel, housed in a former Canadian embassy, provided a chic and comfortable start to their trip.

Their first day in Athens included a privately guided four-hour walking and orientation tour, followed by an early morning exploration of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum the next day. Afterward, they headed to Piraeus to board the Sun Princess, a newly debuted ship.  They stayed in two balcony cabins. They opted for the Princess Plus package, which they found worthwhile for its inclusion of drinks, desserts, fitness classes, Wi-Fi, and gratuities—though the limited package availability in their triple cabin proved a slight inconvenience. Despite this, they found the ship fabulous and cherished their sea days spent relaxing or exploring onboard activities.

At each port, they chose mostly privately guided tours tailored to their interests. Highlights included:

• Visiting the ruins of Delos while docked in Mykonos.
• Exploring Kotor and Budva from Montenegro’s new port of Bar.
• Touring Corfu’s landmarks followed by a delightful lunch in the Old Town.
• Discovering Messina’s charming towns and the Ganzirri Lakes in Sicily.

Their sailing ended in Barcelona where they spent a night at the Renaissance Barcelona in the Eixample neighborhood, enhanced by Marriott Luminous benefits. While in the city, they visited Casa Batlló, marveling at its newly restored façade, and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of Barcelona.

The family described the trip as seamless and perfectly organized, despite the complexity of coordinating flights, transfers, hotels, and tours. Corfu and Barcelona stood out as their favorite destinations, leaving them eager to return for further exploration.