Let me just say, the Soto Sisters are all about the cruise life! This was mine and the girls' first cruise, and it did not disappoint! I was very nervous and overwhelmed by the idea of being on a cruise for 7 days, but once you step on the ship...it feels like you are at a resort. The girls have asked, many times already, when is our next cruise. Ha! I have outlined below our itinerary, along with, my pros and cons of cruising.
We cruised on the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas. We did their 7 night Mediterranean Cruise. Like I said before, I was worried 7 nights would be too long, but it was really a lot of fun! Here are the stops:
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Day 2: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Day 3: Marseilles, France
Day 4: Florence/Pisa, Italy
Day 5: Rome, Italy
Day 6: Naples, Italy
Day 7: Cruise back to Barcelona, Spain
Since we had visited most of these places, before, we didn't feel the need to rush off and explore. In Mallorca, we got off to have lunch with friends, who were also in Mallorca.
For Marseilles, we didn't have a lot of time to explore. We basically got off for lunch, then headed back to the ship. The place we wanted to eat, was "completely full" and turned us away. (I think it was because we had kids). It was a really cool rooftop restaurant, with beautiful views of the city. I would have loved to taste the food, as it had great reviews. Day 4, we got off and headed to Cinque Terre. Most people headed to Florence or Pisa, but we wanted to see Cinque Terre. If you aren't familiar with Cinque Terre, it is 5 small villages on the coast of Italy. All of them tucked away, into the cliffs. We chose Manarola, It was so charming! I wish we had more time to explore it, and the other villages. We had lunch at Trattoria dal Billy. The food was delicious! The fresh pasta had all of us happy as clams. HIGHLY RECOMMEND the frozen berry cream desert - I know there is a proper name for it, but it is escaping me. I got tiramisu, and it was good, but I would have gladly switched with the girls. The frozen berry cream was just so good! The view, from the restaurant, was the cherry on top!
Rome was the stop for Day 5. We knew most people would be getting off, so we planned to stay on. We visited Rome, this time last year, so we didn't feel the need to get off. It was a day full of enjoying the ship. The girls went to kids club, they went swimming, we did a family scavenger hunt, and relaxed. I would definitely recommend a day or two of staying on the boat, and exploring. We did this, and still didn't see all of which the boat has to offer.
Day 6 was the highlight of the cruise for me. We did an 8 hour tour of the Amalfi Coast, with a private guide. Pictures do not do this place justice. It is stunning. Every corner is absolutely beautiful. If you are planning a trip to Amalfi, I highly recommend Josef of Amalfi Driver. He planned the best day, with the best stops. He kept us right on time, for our dinner reservations on the ship. He was so understanding, when Leighton threw up (20 minutes into the car ride). Our tour included stops in: Ravello, Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento. Ravello is so picturesque and not full of tourists. In Positano, we enjoyed gelato and cannolis. In Sorrento, where pizza was invented, we had the most amazing lunch. Josef booked a table, at a family owned, farm to table restaurant. Hands down, the best pizza I have ever had was here, at Zio Sam. The mozzarella was so fresh, the sauce was so fresh, the dough was just right. The atmosphere was wonderful. Simply, amazing! After exploring Sorrento, we headed back to Napoli to board the ship again. Amalfi really spoke to Fernando and I, and we can't wait to get back. I could spend an entire week exploring all of the little villages along the Amalfi Coast. It is breathtaking!!
Day 7 was cruise day. We enjoyed a napkin folding class, a towel folding demonstration, a show, a parade, and more. The ship was full of entertainment for our day at sea.
PROS
First, the ship offers endless entertainment for adults and kids. The Adventure Ocean staff was incredible. The girls loved going to kids club every day. They played games, did arts and crafts, watched movies, etc. The shows were enjoyed by all of us. The two, which we all agreed were our favorites, 365 Days: The Seasons On Ice and The Effectors. We got a front row seat for The Effectors, and I highly recommend!! There were "villains" running all around us, we all were so entertained. Fernando, also, really enjoyed The Intense show. Leighton and I did not make it to this one, but it looks so cool!
Second, the staff overall was incredible. Our housekeeper, Kumar, was simply the best. Once he found out how much the girls loved his towel animals. We had a new character every night. We was always smiling and happy. Our wait staff at the main dining room, Kent and Ronias, were great! Ronias quickly caught on to Leighton's personality, and he was very playful with her.
One of the things I appreciated the most, was the fact we got to explore a new place every day, without having to shlep your bags around. I love seeing new cities, but I do not enjoy moving from one city to the next, with all of our luggage. It stresses me out. I really enjoyed unpacking the first day, and not touching our suitcases again, until it was time to pack up.
CONS
There really weren't many cons. The one thing, which stuck out to me, was the cost of everything on board. Everything was overpriced, in my opinion. From the drinks, to the items in the shops, it all was really overpriced.
The only other con would be not enough time!!! The ports tend to be around an hour or so from the city you want to explore. Losing two hours for exploration is a lot. I really would have enjoyed more time in Cinque Terre and Amalfi.
Overall, the experience was a 10, as the girls say. Again, the girls weren't ready to leave, and they can not wait for the next one. We told them we would do one to the Caribbean, once we move back to the States. If you want to see more of our adventures, I have a highlight on my instagram page, which has pictures of each day's activities. Check it out, and if you aren't following me, click the follow button! :)
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