Royal Caribbean 7-Night Greece & Adriatic Tour with a Teenager

Royal Caribbean’s customer service started with our arrival at the Venice train station. They provided easy access to buses that took my 18-year-old nephew straight to the Ravenna port for minimal cost and maximum ease. I highly recommend purchasing The Key to make your boarding and onboard experience smooth and simple. It includes:

• Priority boarding (this means no standing in line in the hot sun)

• Onboard wifi

• Dedicated seating for shows

• Lunch at the Chops Grille Steakhouse on board

• Priority tendering at ports that require this

Our first stop was beautiful Santorini, Greece. And because of priority tendering, we didn’t have to wait long for the cable car to the top of the cliffs, which offered beautiful views. We both love hiking, so we opted to take a bus to Oia on the other side of the island and walk the entire island back to Fira. It is recommended to start in the morning because of the heat, but we arrived at 2 p.m. so such is life. We got turned around a few times on the hike, but nothing that Google Maps couldn’t fix. I highly recommend this option for active/budget travelers. There is a little kiosk shop about halfway through the hike where you can stop and chug some water as well as enjoy a small snack. Definitely recommend a hat, sneakers, and lots of water for this, but totally worth it. So many unbelievable views.

Photo-worthy views from the Santorini hike

At the next stop in Athens, I recommend an excursion with a tour guide in order to ensure you see the historic sights. This included a bus up to the sights of the Acropolis, like the famous Parthenon. This port was hot and busy. I’m glad we had a guide and an air-conditioned bus as the important stops were far from the port.

Ruins over the busy city of Athens

The last two stops were the most pleasantly surprising: Kotor, Montenegro and Zadar, Croatia. Again, we opted for a budget-friendly hike in Kotor and it was absolutely stunning. The zigzagged trail offered amazing views all the way up. In Zadar, we took a direct transfer bus to the Old Town. Strolling the city, walking up The Bell Tower of St. Anastasia, and relaxing to the sounds of the Sea Organ were simple highlights.

Photos can't do the arrival into Kotor justice

View of the Explorer of the Seas from the top of The Ladder of Kotor

Taking in the sounds of the Sea Organ in Zadar

I highly recommend watching the arrival into Kotor. The ship meanders through the Bay of Kotor, and the views all around are breathtaking. As mentioned before, purchasing The Key is worth it, especially with a teenager.

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