It was an easy decision to make.

What could be better than a “road trip” that does not require packing and unpacking along the way? 

Choosing from a wide variety of travel dates, itineraries, and comfort levels provides so many options!

We will traverse numerous passages. First, we will fly to our initial destination and spend a couple of days in a chosen area of that country before beginning our tour. Similarly, we will end our adventure with exploration of our last destination before flying home.

Determining the total cash outlay that is required will not be a matter of guesswork. We will pay for a package that includes the cost of travel between ports, accommodations along the way, endless food (yikes!), and nightly entertainment.

Making it work

While there was no doubt that cruising the Mediterranean would be ideal, would it be affordable? Finding a way for us to travel together but not share sleeping accommodations could be problematic. It quickly became apparent that it could not be done through exploration of cruise line websites.

Fortunately, looking for bargains is as easy as googling “Last Minute Cruise Deals.” There are a plethora of companies vying for our travel dollars. The most attractive cruise for our purposes was found on a few different websites, at varying prices. Choosing the one with the lowest daily cost just made sense, as it was being offered by a company that proved to provide good travel value in the past.

Let’s explore our itinerary together

As the map below illustrates, we will be visiting 6 countries plus the independent City State of Monaco. We will stop at 11 ports, and have access to 13 cities. Some of those cities are also ports.

We will first fly to England and spend a couple of days visiting Canterbury, in the District of Kent. I have never been there and have a friend who lives nearby. Traveling by train, we will then make our way to Southampton, UK. From there we will begin our sea journey, first crossing the English Channel.

Arriving in Le Havre, France we will take a day trip to Paris and back. For the following three days we will be at sea.

Passing from the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar we will enter the Mediterranean Sea. Soon thereafter we will arrive at the port of Barcelona, Spain. On day six we will dock at the port of Cannes on the French Riviera. Day seven takes us to Livorno, Italy which provides access to Florence and Pisa. Then we move on to Civitavecchia, Italy from where we will travel inland to Rome. On day nine we arrive in Naples, Italy where we can see the nearby ruins of Pompeii.

Another day at sea will take us to Santorini Island, Greece. Its picturesque white buildings and blue roofs make it easily recognizable. We go on from there the following day to the port of Piraeus, Greece. The port is situated 12 kilometers southwest of the center of Athens.

After being at sea for a 5th day, we arrive at Split, Croatia on day 14. The following day we disembark in Venice, Italy, which we will spend a couple of days exploring before flying home. Can’t wait!

What makes this cruise so attractive?

First, “Last Minute” is loosely defined. We are not required to make final payment until almost 19 weeks prior to the date of departure. This provides ample time to make all necessary preparations.

Secondly, the cruise line is among those that were rated on cruisecritic.com as being the best, not including luxury cruise lines which are too expensive for most solo travelers. These ratings are based on totally subjective reviews, but at least they shape expectations, which is key.

It is noteworthy that the cruise line is rated 4 out of 5, overall.  Moreover, the offshore excursions were highly rated.  As always, reviews vary from person to person, but many found the food disappointing. Of course, it’s a matter of taste. Literally. Friends tell me they truly enjoyed the food on that same cruise line. In any case, we may be somewhat relieved if we are not tempted to overindulge. After all, we will be in a constant battle to avoid the weight gain that is so often part of cruising.

Since we’ll be traveling at the end of the busy cruising season, we should be able to explore these 11 ports and the cities beyond while enjoying cooler temperatures. We will also encounter fewer crowds than would be expected in the peak season.

Taking care of almost all our travel costs before we leave home means we need not dread the receipt of credit card statements when we return.

Above all, the offer of a reduced rate takes the sting out of being identified as senior at age 55! Pride flies out the window when we’re looking for bargains.

Its a matter of perspective

A stateroom with a balcony is obviously desired, and something I have enjoyed in the past. But for most of us mere mortals it is neither affordable nor necessary when we’re not sharing the cost with someone. So, if booking an inner stateroom is what it takes to make the trip affordable, it’s not just the only choice, but the perfect choice!

An inner stateroom, in which to sleep, bathe, and dress is perfectly adequate, especially when only one of us is using the space. While awake we will have access to a huge ship that is full of activities while we’re at sea. When we’re in port there will be places to explore on land. So, if we ever feel cooped up in our staterooms it will be a problem of our own making.

Surprisingly, the cost of one person booking an inner stateroom as part of this last-minute deal is equal to or less than the per person cost of sharing any other type of stateroom that was featured! So, paying to share close quarters with anyone other than someone with whom you are intimate or from whom you can’t be apart, makes no sense.

There is every reason to expect we will have a bon voyage!