Exploring from Istanbul to Venice - June 2025

It often seems that planning a trip is as much fun as actually being on the trip. When you can travel with others, it adds to excitement of planning. And if you can make it a surprise and pull it off without letting the cat out of the bag, all the better. 

We combined this adventure with something we called “Operation Gobsmacked”. The latter an act of covertly planning this particular trip to join two other couples, one in the know and cahoots while the other in the dark about an additional two travellers revealed to them on the morning of embarkation and the kick off to a celebration of a lovely woman’s 80th birthday. 

What follows is a candid report of twelve days at sea and our pre and post additions—where the sunsets are eternal, the buffets endless, and the only thing that is unpredictable is your elevator luck.

Embarking on a cruise aboard the Norwegian Pearl is not simply a matter of stepping onto a ship; it is an adventure where the scenery changes daily and you are castaway from daily life along with more than two thousand other travellers.  From 21 June to 2 July 2025, we became willing castaways, whisked away on the Norwegian Pearl, each with a balcony cabin as our private window to the eastern Mediterranean’s ports of call on our itinerary.

Our cruise journey began, as all epic tales do, with a quest: to affix our luggage tags without mangling them past recognition. The boarding process was straight forward. The only hiccup was an assertive request for wheelchair aid to cover the zigzag distance woven to board the JEWEL for our octogenarian duo. It took about 30 minutes, but we did get two porters who entertained us and may have engaged in a friendly bit of chair racing with excellent maneuvering skills and the utmost safety adherence. 

Once upon the ship we needed refreshments, so we headed to the bar. Enjoying the More at Sea package where the drinks and tips were included was the easy choice. The package cost $27 per day, while individual ship cocktails are about $15 each, so it quickly proved cost-effective. So, we fell into our routine. 

Upon arrival at our balcony stateroom, I unleashed a pleased little giggle. The room was spotless, the ocean view sublime, and the balcony promised a front-row seat to maritime majesty and port operations. 

Awakening with the gentle rock of the ship, I performed my morning ablutions with a view of infinite blue. Nothing says “carpe diem” like enjoying coffee in pyjamas while the world glides by.

We then discovered that the breakfast buffet, if you choose, is less of a meal and more of an endurance sport. Waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs—each station presented new temptations and, occasionally, new acquaintances. I may have succumbed to a few of the ooey gooey, freshly baked and glazed cinnamon buns over the course of our cruise while my cruise companion enjoyed the fixings for his English breakfast energy boost for a busy day in port…and there were many ports on this trip!

The Norwegian Pearl herself is a ship that wears her personality proudly. She glimmers with lively bars, energetic lounges, and a casino that seems perpetually hopeful. The décor is a whimsical blend of Art Deco and tropical fever dream, with a splash of Las Vegas for good measure.

Daily strolls on the promenade deck became a ritual, although I was swiftly reminded that the fitness centre exists for a reason. It seems possible to consume four thousand calories at the buffet in under twenty minutes—science has yet to explain this phenomenon, but I have my suspicions.

There’s a unique magic to a balcony cabin. Each morning, I’d open my curtains to see what new setting ours for the day was. The balcony itself became many things: a reading nook, a contemplative hideout, a private setting for cinematic-like sunset viewing, and occasionally a makeshift drying rack.

Many an evening, we would simply gaze at the stars, wondering if the folks in the suite above envied our unobstructed view. FORBES TRAVEL TIP – of course, we will ensure that your stateroom has unobstructed views. 

We approached the Pearl’s culinary scene with the enthusiasm of well-fed explorers. Specialty dining venues beckoned with the promise of exotic flavours and the thrill of trying to pronounce “carpaccio” with confidence. We booked four reservations prior to boarding, and we were easily able to make amendments and adjustments on board. There was no fear of going hungry or being without a table. And while the buffet is always a possibility, we didn’t dinner there once. Rather we enjoyed the specialty options, or one of the two main dining rooms over our eleven nights on the Pearl. 

The ship’s entertainment roster is a whirlwind of lights, sequins, and the occasional off-key trumpet. I attended a Broadway revue that had me humming show tunes for days, followed by a magician whose sleight of hand made me question reality and my own ability to keep track of my room key.

For those seeking quieter thrills, there were trivia contests, themed dance nights, and the unsung hero of cruise entertainment - bingo.

While the Pearl is a destination herself, the ports of call added flavour to the journey. Each morning brought new horizons, eager tour guides, and an honest attempt at pretending I knew a word or two in the local language.

Sailing out of Istanbul, we visited Kusadasi, Mykonos and Delos, Athens, Iraklion, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, ONE DAY AT SEA, and Koper, before docking in our final port of Trieste. In total we visited Turkey, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy over eleven days with the Norwegian Pearl crew and other guests. 

Shore excursion, private tour or wander on your own is always the question. We did all of these, and each has its own advantages. Excursions ranged from the culturally enlightening, the wining and dining, to the adrenaline fuelled. Each time we returned, sun-dazzled and enriched, our balcony awaited—a sanctuary above the bustling port.

With six travellers, the cost for a private tour compared to six of the ship’s shore excursion charges worked out to be the almost the same so we did opt for three private tours – Istanbul, Athens, and Kusadasi. These worked out very well for us, meeting our guide/drivers as arranged and the day was ours. We could spend as much or as little time as we wanted in each place, so we set the pace after a reconfirmation of the plan with our guide. The best of the three private tours was Chris in Athens, including taking us to two amazing viewpoints that would not have been navigable by a traditional motor coach. 

We took decided to try a ship excursion booked the DELOS archeological tour that was a smooth excursion filled a wealth of knowledge. Audio earpieces make the current tours easier than I remember, as you do not miss anything the guide has to tell you. 

What was my favourite port? Do I have to pick only one? OK. Just two but I could go on about them all. 

I must admit that I am curious to return to Kotor, Montenegro. Located at the base of the Bay of Kotor the well-preserved Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets, narrow lanes and stone churches inside the fortification wall that is on a backdrop of towering mountains. If you have a bit more stamina ensure you do the steep hike to the St John Fortress for sweeping views of the old town below, and out across the Bay of Kotor. The hike is not for the faint of heart and do not let 1,300 steps lull you into a false confidence as they are steep and the sun can do you in. Wear good shoes, have a lot of water, and take your time. The reward at the end is amazing…. I am told.

And Corfu caught my interest as we wandered this port on an independent basis. Maybe because I watched the PBS miniseries “The Durrells in Corfu”, I can see returning to spend some more time to explore the island and have time to swim and paddle in the waters of the Ionian Sea. 

In addition to the above two favourite ports, we also visited:

Istanbul, Turkey - Our regret was not allowing more time to explore Istanbul. But we got a quick overview with our Tours by Locals guide, Mehmet taking in the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and the cacophony of the Grand Bazaar along with history and then a game of Tetris with our luggage for our transfer to the port. It was close, but they made it all fit and left no one behind. 

Kusadasi, Turkey -   Site of the Library of Celsus, the symbol of Ephesus this partially restored ancient roman building that was once home to over 12,000 scrolls and the Virgin Mary’s House, where the Virgin Mary lived after the crucifixion, until her death. 

Mykonos, Greece - known for its whitewashed houses and worn stone streets in Chora one of ten villages on the island. And just a 30-minute ferry ride is the island of Delos. Delos itself is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and well worth a trip here. Allow yourself four hours to visit and return from Delos. 

Athens, Greece – How can you take in all the Greek history in eight hours? We touched the highlights here visiting the stadium of the first modern Olympics and in better shape than many of the venues of the 2004 games. Of course, a visit to Athens must include the Parthenon, perched atop the Acropolis. It was in Athens that I had my best meal of the trip. At Gyristroula located across from the Thissio Station… a delightfully fresh and flavourful halloumi salad. 

Iraklion, Greece – Located on the island of Crete, more ancient ruins as the site major center of the Minoan civilization at Knossos. 

Corfu, Greece - here among the Venetian influenced architecture we wandered the small narrow streets for a relaxed day in port.   Found a lovely street café for a beverage and some of the salty snacks that come with the beverages in these sidewalk cafes boarder the city park.  A short walk away we explored the Clock Tower and took in the views across to Mon Repos Palace.  

Kotor, Montenegro – after winding our way through the bay of Kotor we enjoyed an overview by riding the Hop On Hop off bus of Kotor, joined a free walking tour of the old town, and then contemplated the 1,300 step climb to the old fortress vs the Kotor Cable Car but enjoyed a few beverages instead, before returning to the ship this day. 

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Our travelling companions had been to Dubrovnik before, and the birthday girl was happy to take a respite and relax on the ship while the other four of us planned to walk the Walls of Dubrovnik.  Just under 2 km in total length once you climb the 25m staircase from one of the two entrances it is an easy walk.  Shaped to surround the old city in the 13^th century this is a wonderful vantage to view many points of the city and the bay surrounding the city and view the many orange tiles that top the buildings inside the city walls.  Take your time. Stop and have a drink at one of the cafes. 

Split, Croatia – we made it into the waters here. Wandering a short distance from the ship we explored the local market but didn’t find anything of interest and made a couple of misguided turns before getting back on track to return towards the ship and thanks to Google Maps, discovered that just the other side and around the bay from the terminal was a public beach.  I finally made my way into the Adriatic waters and had a little paddle for the afternoon!

Koper, Slovenia – We decided to see what the port had to offer.  Nothing planned in advance, so we bought a Panoramic Tour to Piran with a Sweet Surprise from the kiosk at the port.  Boarded a bus and enjoyed a panoramic tour via the Gulf of Trieste to the medieval town of Piran where we enjoyed two hours to explore the town and climb to the viewpoints before returning to Koper itself and some shopping and perhaps an ice-cream. 

Trieste, Italy – our launching point for Venice. Easy access to the train station for our final two nights in Venice. 

Venice, Italy - How this city has changed since I visited about 25 years ago. The island continues to feature narrow streets and alleys, but now includes modern brands and signage such as Starbucks, Hard Rock Café, Chanel, and Gucci, making it more commercialized than in previous years. We did stumble up on a concert being set up in St Mark’s Square. How often do you get to go to an open air concert, in Venice’s St Mark’s Square? The artist was Jean-Michel Jarre… Tickets were available… We bought them and had a wonderful final night to our vacation, just the two of us. And as my husband has been telling people since we returned, “I did not even realize that evening was on my bucket list, but I am so glad I can say I’ve done it now. It was wonderful!”

We experienced the full spectrum: sunrises that turned the sky to molten gold, afternoons kissed by gentle breezes, and the occasional cloud that photobombed my sunset shots. The only storm met was a heated debate over whether we had time for another cocktail before dinner. 

A cruising holiday can be a busy holiday. And it certainly gives you a taste of each port. Think of it as a sampler to figure out if you want to go back and explore some of the stops with a more leisurely mix of history, rest, and relaxation.