We embarked on our 10 days (9 nights) cruise – the first time on a cruise for us! – from Trieste to Istanbul (and back) with hopes of a leisure vacation with interesting stops. And we got exactly that.
We enjoyed our time on the ship and the great food with a variety of choices. Especially the evening 3-course meals (and somebody else cleaning the dishes). We thought that there was no need for a housekeeper to make up the room twice a day. But we liked that it was nice and neat. We also loved not moving each day and driving, but still seeing many interesting places. Exploring all our stops alone (except Arbelobello because of the time pressure) was perfect for us. We are really are not into group trips. The ship was crowded at times (MSC Splendida can welcome 3900 passengers and has 1300 staff). But we learned when not to go to the buffet restaurant. Hint: after the return of the group trips. We wondered how tidy you have to be for the formal nights, and packed appropriately. However, you do not need an evening gown, if you do not wish to. The children’s playroom for the littles was nothing special. But Gaja loved the pool area and all the corridors with carpets for crawling (and they regularly cleaned them). Overall, cruise holidays are probably not for everyone, but we had a really relaxed and nice holiday.
Our room
We had a balcony room on the 12th floor. It had a big double bed, Gaja’s infant bed, a sofa, a vanity area, and a private bathroom with a shower. Because of the position of our room, we enjoyed an especially big balcony, which was great for Gaja’s playtime.
Our stops
Day 1: Embarkation in Trieste, Italy
We have visited Trieste many times before. This is why we wanted to board the ship quickly and start enjoying everything it offers. Our trip started with a walk through the reception area, admiring the majestic main stairway. Which by the way has stairs that have Swarovski crystals inside them. Before checking into our room we had lunch with amazing views of Trieste’s waterfront and Piazza Unità d’Italia. Then Gaja had to try out the outside (and later also the inside) pool. We left Trieste while seated at our first delicious dinner at La Reggia Restaurant.
Day 2: Day at sea
It was time for a detailed exploration of the ship. We walked around its many bars and stores, peeking into the theatre. We were amazed by the blue sea views, sunbathed (in the shade), and enjoyed the pool. With some cocktails in our hands of course.
Day 3: Katakolon, Greece
Katakolon is known as the “Gateway to Olympia”, the site of the ancient Olympic games. But we took advantage of this stop for some beach time. We visited St. Andrew beach, enjoyed the fresh and clear Ionian sea, and hid from the sun on our deckchairs. Gaja happily played with her bucket and spade. On the way back to the ship we stopped in Katakolon town. We windows shop stores on its main street, and visited the port.
Day 4: Piraeus & Athens, Greece
We hopped on a public bus and metro to get from the port of Piraeus to the center of Athens, to Monastiraki Square. Our first stop was some Freddo espresso, the delicious Greek iced coffee. Then we walked around colourful streets below the Acropolis Hill, and admired all the archeological heritage. Then we went to Areopagus Hill for the view of the city (and the Acropolis of Athens). We hid in the shade at every possible moment, because Athens in summer can be really hot. We ended our time in the city with delicious Greek salad and gyros.
Day 5: Istanbul, Turkey
Arriving in Istanbul by ship, you get majestic views of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Galata district. After docking in the modern underground Galataport, we hopped on the tram to see the main sites of the city. We stopped in Gülhane Park for some shade, then visited the beautiful Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The mosques, especially their beautiful interior, are both something special. Gaja loved the carpets in the mosques for crawling around. We continued our way toward the Grand Bazaar, walked its numerous streets, and admired the offer of the shops. Instead of shopping, we chose to sit down at a little lovely cafe. We ordered some delicious baklava, Turkish tea, and some ice cream for our little explorer.
Day 6: Istanbul, Turkey
On our second day in the city, we hopped on an underground funicular to reach Taksim Square from the seafront. Firstly, we observed how the kebab sellers bring a giant piece of kebab meat to their restaurant. Then we continued our way to the popular Istiklal Street. We stopped in one of the narrow neighboring streets for some traditional Turkish coffee that was made over hot sand. Looking at all the shops, nice architecture, and red picturesque trams, we walked all the way to the Galata Tower. Admiring also the Galata Bridge we returned by the waterfront to our ship.
Day 7: Day at sea
We spent the second day at sea as the first one. Mainly at the poolside, enjoying endless sea views, exploring new parts of the ship, and eating delicious food.
Day 8: Corfu, Greece
We had breakfast on our balcony. This ment admiring the amazing views of Corfu Town while entering the port was even better. Having a full day on this lovely Greek island, we first visited the city and stopped for Greek coffee. We walked around the lovely old town, and admired the sea views. We bought some local olive oil and kumquat marmalade for souvenirs.
After lunch on the ship (and Gaja’s afternoon nap), we hopped on a local bus to get to Dassia Beach. We enjoyed cocktails on our deckchairs, and Gaja loved the warm seawater and playing in the sand. When returning back to the ship by bus, we encountered a traffic accident. And stayed almost still on the road for an hour. Luckily, we had enough time to return to the ship before departure. When you do activities by yourself, you really have to be aware of the “all aboard” time.
Day 9: Bari & Arbelobello, Italy
At this short stop in Bari, we decided to take our first (and only) cruise group trip to the famous Arbelobello. The town is known for its picturesque trulli houses; traditional dry stone huts with a conical roof, and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. I really liked white trulli houses, and wandering around narrow Arbelobello streets full of flowers and cute shops. Exploring nice viewpoints, and sipping on Italian cappuccino, was nice despite the crowds.
Day 10: Disembarkation in Trieste, Italy
The disembarkation process starts actually in the evening prior to your departure. You leave your luggage before the cabin door and you are left with only your hand luggage. On the day of departure, you leave your room in the morning. After breakfast you wait for your designated disembarkation time. This time we actually docked at the cargo terminal. This meant we had to wait quite some time to get on a bus and into the city center, where the passenger terminal and our luggage were. But despite waiting, we left the ship with amazing memories from our cruise adventures.
Visited: June & July 2023
