Piraeus (Athens) – 1 Night Pre-Cruise
We spent one night in Piraeus before boarding the cruise. There was plenty to explore on foot, it was quite a lively place with waterfront walks, bakeries, and great local restaurants for dinner.
Celebrity Infinity
We cruised Celebrity Infinity, and the cruise itself, the service, itinerary, and entertainment was amazing! We ate in the main restaurant for the first 2 nights but then got a bit bored of it and ended up at the buffet each night instead. There was a lot more variety, and the food was so good!!!
We had the basic drinks package included for free through our agent rate, so I definitely can’t complain about it. However, if I were paying as a regular guest, I’d consider upgrading to the premium package. After a while, I found the standard cocktail selection a bit bland.
After the cruise, we stayed 2 nights in Athens, which felt like enough time to experience the city. Athens really comes alive at night, with a real lively atmosphere, bustling streets, and plenty of places to eat and drink. I highly recommend a drink at a rooftop bar. Super expensive, but nice way to take in Athens. Make sure you book ahead!
One experience I highly recommend is stopping for a cocktail, cup of tea, or breakfast at Little Kook. This magical cafe is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and other fairytales, with decorations, themed rooms, and crazy displays that make it feel like you’ve stepped into another world. We enjoyed morning cocktails and breakfast there, and it was such a fun and unique experience
Absolutely breathtaking and just like the postcards!! I genuinely think cruising is one of the best ways to experience the Greek Islands, visiting several destinations in a short amount of time. Every island had its own unique differences. 7 nights was perfect for me personally!
Thessaloniki – Must-Do Food Tour
I highly recommend doing this food tour Thessaloniki Food Tour. It was one of my highlights of the trip.
Our guide, Lucy, was so awesome! She’s a retired chef with incredible local knowledge and even prepared some homemade Greek treats for us to try while walking the markets. We learnt about traditional spices, teas, olive oils, and their health benefits, and visited some hidden gems that we would never have found ourselves. She knew everyone in the street, it was quite the buzz!
Kusadasi (Ephesus)
While we were in Kusadasi, our tour to the ancient ruins included a visit to a traditional carpet demonstration, which was really cool to see how they collect the silk and hand make the carpets. (some take up to 2 years to make) They definitely pressure you to buy a carpet at the end (they only cost more than my holiday) From a cultural perspective I still thought it was well worth doing. Here we also visited the Virgin Mary’s House. -To be honest it’s quite commercialised, but still cool to say we have been there!
Istanbul
Istanbul was by far the most intense destination on the itinerary, but I did love the buzz! On day 2 I became very cold hearted, Be prepared to be continuously harassed…
- The Grand Bazaar is not for the weak! Make sure you come with your strong hustle game! – We found the side streets to be cheaper outside of the Bazar. Definitely tourist prices in the Bazaar.
- Carry Turkish Lira in cash and pay in the Lira rather than Euros. They will try make you pay in Euros because obviously the dollar is stronger.
- When shopping for shoes – Double-check the size before you leave! We asked for one size, they didn’t have it in stock but still handed us a completely different size and told us it was correct. (I now have a size 9 pair of heels) This happened to me twice. I figured out their tactics the second time around. So cunning!!
- Pickpocketing is massive in Turkey, and known to happen at the airport also. Keep ya bag close!
- If using taxis, ask your hotel to organize one and negotiate a price beforehand!
I had tried Uber thinking they couldn’t rip me off – after the trip I realized the price deducted from bank was triple! Uber refunded the difference after we contacted them. -so dodgy!! - Turkish bath is a must!!!! Awesome experience.
- Hagia Sofia was covered in scaffolding, our tour guide recommended to skip this while renovations were going on.
Once we figured out Istanbul’s metro system, it was a good way to get up and down the hill through the city and other areas. You’ll need an Istanbulkart, which can be topped up with Turkish Lira and used across all public transport.
I highly recommend a Bosphorus dinner cruise. The scenery was so pretty, the food was amazing and the entertainment was awesome! – belly dancers, traditional Turkish performances, and unlimited drinks.
We stayed at Seven Hills Palace & Spa, and overall, it was in a great location along the waterfront. Normally I like being right in the hustle and bustle, but Turkey completely
took that out of me 🤣. It was actually so nice to escape the madness and come back to a peaceful hotel at the end of the day. It’s only about a 5-minute walk to the Blue Mosque area.
The resort itself was beautiful, and having the pool was an absolute bonus after a day of exploring.
We later discovered there was a little back street behind the hotel with beautiful hidden restaurants and shops, and we actually ended up eating at the same rooftop restaurant twice. It was the perfect spot to sit with a drink, and watch the Blue Mosque glowing at night. The owner turned out to be a hair transplant surgeon who wanted to collaborate on holiday package deals 🤣.
We booked a family room, and to be honest, it probably wasn’t the best room type for five ladies. It would be ideal for a family with young kids, but I was quite surprised by the condition of it- ripped wallpaper, not very well maintained, and the downstairs beds were fold-out wall beds that were rock hard. From what we saw, this seemed to just be the family room though. The standard rooms that slept 2-3 people were absolutely beautiful, with gorgeous Turkish Ottoman-style furniture.
One of the locals had told us the hotel is owned by the mafia 🤣🤣😅. Bloody typical! We were also told that half the businesses around the area are family owned – the cousin owns the supermarket, the uncle owns the restaurant up the road, and so on. It honestly felt like one big family operation 🤣.
Singapore Stopover
Having a full day in Singapore was a good way to break the journey up. I got a FOC into the Gardens by the Bay. Magical place! On our way over we had 6 hours and decided to visit the Jewel. – Really can’t believe that something so pretty exists at an airport!
Entry/Exit System
We experienced the new EU Entry/Exit process, which is meant to speed up immigration. However, we ended up waiting ages in a line that wasn’t even that long! Meanwhile, the customs officers were casually standing there smoking a ciggie with their guns on them while everyone was being processed. Once it was finally our turn, the process itself was straightforward – fingerprints, a photo, and then we were through.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines exceeded my expectations. It was some of the best airline food I’ve ever had. The onboard service was great too! We ended up being delayed for about 6 hours at Istanbul airport, we were well looked after and given food vouchers. Istanbul airport is HUGE!! And it was so busy. Every second person in line had a new nose, boobs or hair transplant!
