Cruise Guide: Embrace Your Inner God / Goddess on the Adriatic

Before embarkation, I suggest an early-morning tour of the great Acropolis of Athens. We chose a company called Context.

Our Context tour was full of information from the moment you step through the entrance gates, and we were aided with many tools for a view into what the Acropolis looked like centuries ago.

The tour includes a trip to the Acropolis Museum — which is an absolute must-visit! Here, many of the things that we discussed on top of the Acropolis were brought to life. You also get an up-close view of the Caryatids - marble ladies of stature who served as the columns supporting the entrance of the Erechtheion Temple.

Tip: When checking in for your cruise, schedule a Fire and Ice Pedicure for later that night. This treatment is the usual pedicure, but it includes a hot stone calf massage and Elemis spa products to cool tired muscles. It’s the perfect way to treat your feet after a busy Acropolis adventure.

On our cruise, we were excited to explore the small Peloponnese town of Monemvasia, but mother nature had other plans. We were rerouted to another part of the region due to weather, where we anchored near a town called Gytheio. Those booked for an excursion through Windstar were bussed to Monemvasia, where they enjoyed previously scheduled activities.

Gytheio is an idyllic Greek fishing town that to me is a snapshot of the real Greece. Step into the port and encounter freshly prepared octopus tentacles for sale. Stroll these streets and you will find several cute souvenir shops, jewelry stores, bookshops — even a shoe store with well-established fashion brands! It was in Gytheio that we had our first Greek coffee. It’s a charming town that we might not have ever known if the Monemvasia water hadn’t been too choppy for a tinder. But life at sea can always throw you a surprise.

Katakolon is the second-busiest port city in all of Greece, because it’s the port closest to the historical home of the Olympics, Olympia. Windstar offers several excursions for your day in Katakolon, all of which lead to the home of the Olympic games at the Archaeological Site of Olympia.

In Olympia, you will walk the ruins and see the remains of the original temples built in honor of the gods. You learn about the dishonor of cheating — although I still don’t know where athletes would have hidden anything when competing in the nude. Your guide might even host an Olympic race between shipmates, with an olive wreath waiting to crown the victor.

The excursion options include additional treats, like a tour of the Archeological Museum of Olympia. Our tour visited a local olive farm for lunch, where we enjoyed a Zorba dance and some shopping before heading back to port.

Corfu is a city with a rich and varied past. Here, I recommend a walking tour of Corfu City. You will learn the history of the island and see elements of architectural style left behind by each of the island’s previous rulers. At stops along the way, you will eat!

On our tour, we feasted on pastries and all sorts of kumquat delights, on meats and cheeses, on local fruits and Veg. There was a stop for olive oil and spices, which we missed due to an unexpected rainfall that sent us inside. But that was fine, because once inside, we sat down for a full-sized, family-style Greek lunch. It was a feast for our bellies and our eyes!

It is in Corfu where you begin to see the influences of Greek culture slowly transition to Venetian.

Be strategic with your time in Kotor, as this is the city where you spend two days in port.

Your first day in Montenegro is an afternoon arrival, so today is a good day to take a Windstar excursion. These tour departure times are coordinated with the ship’s arrival, making it a seamless day to explore.

We opted for an excursion that took us inland, where we visited the capital city of Montenegro, Cetinje. We also stopped for a snack at a restaurant on the mountain tops, enjoying local treats such as Njeguška pršuta, Montenegro smoked ham.

Back down the mountain, our full-size charter bus zigged and zagged a roadway called the Kotor Serpentine. While it was not for the faint of heart, there is an opportunity to stop for one of the most beautiful panoramic views I’ve ever seen, looking down upon Kotor Bay.

With a full second day in Kotor, we focused on coastal Montenegro with a private tour.

Our guide was waiting outside the port gate, and he gave us a history of his country as we walked through Old Town Kotor.

From there, we met our driver who took us to the fishing village of Perast, one of the most breathtaking little villages I’ve seen on all my travels! We immediately hopped on a boat and made our way to Our Lady of the Lake, a church on an artificial island, full of beautiful and mysterious things.

After a quick walk through Perast, we were driven down the coast to a little beach town called Budva. Here we explored what felt like every square inch of this darling coastal gem, learning some secrets from Budva history. Although this is a tiny town in a tiny country, don’t assume it is any less cosmopolitan than the beach towns of the Rivieras. We visited a beautiful scarf shop in some of our free time, which was full of the best of Hermes designs.

Dubrovnik might be a compact medieval city, but it needs its own guide. The pictures don’t capture the unspeakable beauty of this town.

We walked straight to the tourism office and bought a Dubrovnik Pass. Our main goal was to climb the city walls (which you absolutely must do!), which cost about the same as a Daily Pass. Entrance to the walls is included in your pass, along with many other activities.

With your Dubrovnik Pass, don't miss my favorite spot, the Dominican Friary. On the way through the complex, do spend some time in the museum. If you are an art lover, look closely and you'll notice paintings by Artemisia Gentileschi. Continue into the cloisters, where you will find a peaceful, serene green space amid the hustling, bustling busy tourist city of Dubrovnik.

Tip: Do make your way up to Mt. Srd for amazing views, but not at sunset. You will need to arrive extra early and hold your spot for the best sunset view. You don’t have that much time in Dubrovnik today. To get there, you can follow a foot trail, hike your own trail, float upwards by cable car (we did) or catch a taxi.

Plan to go a bit slower in Hvar. There is much to see, but it’s a bit more spread out. It’s a beautiful place to explore at your leisure. Several charming stores for all your shopping needs are scattered across town, as well as many notable places for lunch or a craft cocktail.

But the highlight of today is the Spanish Fortress. While this is a climb up the side of a mountain, the space is very accessible. You will find many ramps instead of stairs, and almost all under the canopy of large trees. There is a botanical garden along the path and many lounge chairs, where you can rest with a view.

Once inside the fort, there is a café for lunch, a snack or an afternoon happy hour. It’s a great little treat after you’ve come all this way! With fewer crowds here, you don’t feel rushed to head back down the mountain.

Zadar had me at hello!

We arrived at the perfect time to enjoy the Sea Organ, a little after dawn and early enough before people began to fill the sidewalks.

Visually, the Sea Organ is a very wide limestone staircase that descends into the sea. But hidden in each of the steps is a series of pipes. When the sea waves splash against the steps, the pipes in the steps begin to moan. The pitch changes throughout the day as the tide comes in and the tide goes out. Between the low roar of these sea pipes and the gentle crash of the waves on the steps, it is both tranquil and serene, and also the most memorable time you will spend with a work of art. This is the first place you want to go as soon as you get off the boat. Timed right, the Sea Organ is something like this.

Tip: Take a free walking tour in Zadar. Although it’s compact, there is a lot of history here that locals know best. Some stories might just be legends, but half the fun is deciphering fact from fiction.

Windstar's staff makes it so tough to part ways, but you do have to leave the ship. You have a floating city to explore!

The best thing to do in Venice is wander. Venice is the best place to explore and be completely in the moment. After all, it’s a small island. How lost can you really get?!

Tonight, I recommend a tour after dark for a look at the secrets and mysteries of Venice. There are fewer people in the evenings, so you have more space as you move around, and you can take your time.

Tip: Absolutely under no circumstances, take recommendations from friends and family for lunch or dinner. You will spend half your day trying to find it, and undoubtedly you will pass the same bridge at least five times. Trust me, you’re never far from a delicious meal in Venice.