Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Istanbul

Yesterday was another sea day so not much to report and we had passed under the Canakkale bridge yesterday evening so I figured we would reach port overnight. I was still surprised when I opened our curtains in the morning and it felt we had landed in the middle of Istanbul. There was a mosque across from our deck and Galata Port was at our feet. I thought we would exit right onto it but it turns out there are ramps that take you down three stories to customs and you come out on the other side of the buildings you see here. The port consists of numerous shops and restaurants and was active into the night.

We had attempted to plan to see major sites in Istanbul but we soon discovered that Sunday is not a good day to explore the city. Major sites including the Grand Bazaar were closed. Despite the setback we still made a plan to transit to the Blue Mosque. Callie had done a great job this trip figuring out how to get around and she knew there was a train station near the port. We were lucky that the transit system had assigned someone to the ticket kiosk to push buttons since they didn't have an English option. 

Our first destination was the Blue Mosque that I'm assuming gets its name from the bluish marble that covers the site. It's an active mosque so he had been warned about the times for the call to prayer which are based on the location of the sun so they shift over the course of the year. We were greeted by two cats and I had to wear pants, while the woman had to ensure their head, legs and shoulders were all covered. We also had to take our shoes off before entering. The interior was quite beautiful with a carpet covering the entire area. It's definitely a must see sight.

After the mosque, the family stopped off to try out some Turkish coffee. There is a fairly elaborate method to brew it including finely grinding the coffee to the consistency of talcum powder and repeatedly heating and drawing off the form until you have your cup of coffee. I don't drink coffee so I can't describe what it tasted like but Kerry and Carter weren't fans. Kerry described it as being too sweet for her taste. After the coffee we walked by the Higia Sophia however it remained under major renovations and Callie indicated it wasn't worth seeing since so much was inaccessible.

If it hadn't been Sunday our next destination would have been the Grand Bazaar but since it was closed we headed to the Spice Bazaar which was nearby. On our way we did pass many streets of shops outside the Grand Bazaar. I can't say if it compares but I think our experience of buying from of the shops probably was. We entered one shop and were immediately offered free drinks and a seat and then the merchant went into their elaborate game of convincing you to purchase first tea, then spices followed by chocolate. You don't just ask for 100g. You ask but you end up with a giant scoop. It was fun and we were eventually able to say no and make our way out. 

Once we were done buying out spices that were packed like a block of cocaine that we hoped we could get out of the country we noticed we were only a few blocks from our ship so we decided to walk back. From where we were, you could see both Europe and Asia and the area was bustling with activity. I know we didn't do Istanbul justice but we still had a good experience and it was a nice way to cap off our cruise. I'm glad we decided to do this particular trip as it allowed us to see so many diverse locations. On to the next adventure.

 

Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Santorini

At no point on this particular day were we certain about the form of transport we were going to take next. There was a plan but the plan unfolded in a very unexpected way. Santorini is a beautiful island that doesn't have a dock big enough for the cruise ships so they anchor in the harbor and we have to tender in. Our troubles started the day before when we went to book. We'd been told we could book at the front desk at 3:00p however there was apparently an option to book on your TV starting at 1:00p. By the time we booked we were tender 14 leaving at 9:30a. 

This was just not good enough for Callie's plan for the day so after some discussions with the desk, they indicated we could try to arrive early and for each tender if people don't show we can potentially take an 'early bird' spot. We ended up strategically placing ourselves near the muster area and were able to get on tender #4 so the plan was back in place for a short moment. It's only about a 10 minute boat ride to where they drop us off and our next leg of the trip involved taking a gondola up the hill to Fira and then a bus to Oia. The problem was the gondola had a very long wait despite our early arrival. 

We did have options. We could walk the 588 steps or there was a nice pack of donkeys that would take us to the top. Neither of these were appealing to different members of our party so a third option presented itself. There was a speed boat that could take us to the base of Oia directly and then shuttle us up to our destination. I was hesitant as I saw overloaded speedboats leaving but turns out the tenders we came in on turn themselves into water taxi's. The price wasn't bad considering we would have had to pay for the gondola and the bus anyways and this got us there and back to Fira.

The boat dropped us off at the base of the hill and the shuttle got us to the top quickly. Our driver mumbled something about pick up every hour which wasn't reassuring but that was a problem for later since we knew we could at least take a public bus. Oia is the picturesque hillside town that you see in many Greek advertisements and was filled with jewelry, gelato and Instagram girls. I was surprised to find an elementary school at the top and the white walls were cool to the touch despite being in the direct sun.

The lady who solid us the ticket said we would probably be bored with Oia by about noon and she was correct. We went back to our drop off spot and ended up following some man who took us down the hill a bit to some full sized buses. No one was speaking English but they let us on and we managed to get back to Fira. Our next leg had us taking the city bus to Akrotiri and we attempted to leave from the main terminal which was a chaotic sea of tourists trying to figure out which bus to take and buses backing up trying to hit them. Our bus surprisingly left right when it said it would. 

Akrotiri is a fully covered 'active' archeological dig for what is considered the Pompei of Greece. It's a settlement that had a very rough time of it with multiple earth quakes followed by a volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago that covered the entire city. It wasn't as quick as Pompei so no bodies and the residents had time to pack most of their things but they left a lot behind assuming they would eventually return. The dig started in the 1960's and though they claim it's still active I didn't see any recent activity. Still interesting to see how modern their society was that long ago.

Just down the street from Akrotiri was a series of beaches called White, Black and Red beach. Callie had decided Red beach looked the most interesting and she was correct. It was a bit of a hike to get from the road and over a cliff but it was well worth it. There was a giant red cliff and a wide beach at the base. The family took a swim and then we headed back to the bus stop to catch the bus back to Fira. It was roughly on time but it only came every hour and initially drove by before turning around and picking us up on the way back. 

We managed to get back to Fira around 7:30p and were able to get tickets on the Gondola back down the hill. The friendly Donkey ride salesman was taking his donkey's home to rest for the evening. There was a lot of options for donkey soap, donkey Cheese and various donkey paraphernalia so they appear to be an important part of the islands economy. We saw quite a few people decide to take them up the hill and it's probably your best option if the gondola ever broke down unless you are in Grouse Grind shape. Santorini looks like a nice island to spend a week at though based on the number of Instagram girls it's probably expensive. 

 

Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Rhodes

Rhodes in Greece was a pleasant surprise. For so many of the ports we get off and the immediately have to find transit to get some place interesting. With Rhodes we were immediately at our destination as soon as we got off the ship. I think we were through the security check point within about 100 meters of our ship and on the main road that runs around the bay. At first all you can see is a stone wall with a road in front of it. I'm assuming at one point the wall was right on the water. There were several entrances that would take you in to an area with 100's of shops and restaurants. 

We admittedly have a habit of being drawn to the first shops we see but in this case there was likely something else drawing us here. The shopkeeper was named Kalli and one of the drinks was named Melissa. The family spent about 20 minutes tasting the various options and ended up taking several home. It was nice that they came in various sizes. We're pretty sure the limit is 1.5 liters per person and there is no limit on the number of bottles. If there is a bottle limit we are definitely way over our limit. We did not buy any of the penis shaped bottles which seems to be a theme wherever we go in Europe. 

As we were making our way through town we came on another kitten factory. There was one mom, a number of teenagers, and several kittens. The mom was quite protective and swiped at Callie when she went to pet her. She swiped at me as well but I knew it was coming so I was farther away and it was more of a warming swipe. The kittens look like they are living their best lives, playing under the watchful eye of mom. We've noticed many cats have clipped ears which is a way of marking the cats as having been neutered. The Mediterranean likes the cats, just not too many of the cats. 

We made our way to the top of the city where the Place of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes was located. It's a slow climb up many terraces and along the way they have various statues along with descriptive plaques. It's a different world when your history includes something that was built in 300BC and you just have it hanging outside on a gravel path. The castle had a $20 Euro fee to get in but we'd already seen plenty and decided it would be better to spend the money in the market.

We made our way back down and at one point entered a square that had a central fountain and numerous shops and restaurants surrounding it. It had a significant Disney feel in how it was laid out where every shop was unique and there were multiple layers with restaurants on the second level and in some cases living space above that. We will have many 'favorite' components of this trip and Rhodes was definitely our favorite for ease of access, quality of the shops and our ability to totally relax.

Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Kusadasi

I really had no idea what to expect in Turkey. I knew it was a primarily Muslim country and it's considered in the Middle East so I was expecting a lot of religious influence but Kusadasi feels more western European. The port was right in the middle of town and there was a giant Hollywood like sign on the hill. The town is a mix of modern and ancient and was quite clean. We arrived in port early and met up with our guide at 8:00a as today we had an actual tour planned. The cruise ship had something for $900 but we were able to find it for $300. We were part of a group of 12 and it included a van, a driver, a tour guide as well as site passes.

Our first stop was Ephesus which was about 8 km from the ocean. It was once a sea side town but 100's of years of silt had eventually closed the port and the resulting swamp bred mosquitoes which drove people from the town due to malaria. It is considered the home of Mary and once had one of the biggest libraries in the ancient world. It also had a 25,000 seat amphitheater which was under restoration while we were there. We met the Garfield of Ephesus which is a cat with an Instagram following of 14,000.

Our second stop was the Temple at Artemis which was very underwhelming at first except for the stork on top of the single pillar. It was only when our guide indicated that it was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world did I start to pay closer attention. When you consider how big the foot print was and how tall it was, it would have been very impressive. Our guide explained that at the time ruins wouldn't have been 'historic' and were quickly plundered after major events like earthquakes. Not much is left but they do figure that there has been a stork ion that column for 200+ years. 

Our final destination was a Turkish rug warehouse. The rugs themselves can take up to 6 months for a 5'x7' and start around $7,000. This particular location is supported by the government and is where the makers go to get certified. Much of the actual work is done at home by women so they can do it while running the house. They showed us the silk cocoons that is used to make some of the thread as well as how to tie the individual knots. I'm glad the government is supporting the industry because it is an artform that deserves to survive.

We got dropped off back at our port and wandered around the local Bazaar. I had assumed the 'Great' bazaar was going to be in Istanbul, but the one in Kusadasi was no slouch. Hundreds of stalls and unlike some places you visit, it had a lot more local creations versus cheap tourist fare. We had some Turkish delight which is when I realized why a Big Turk is called a Big Turk. We bought a few more souvenirs but saved our cash for when we visit Istanbul. I'll explain why you shouldn't bother getting any Turkish Lira when you visit and can stick to Euro when I do that blog. 

 

Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Athens

Monday was a day at sea where we spent time exploring the ship including minigolf, darts and watching one of the chefs make fruit animals. Darts was fun because the board tracked your score and offered interactive games such as trying to topple a castle like in Angry Birds. It would tell you where to aim to hit the blocks or explosives. Both were extra money but the screens for minigolf weren't working so they were offering it for free. We haven't done the go-karting yet but maybe Carter will try it out on our next at sea day. 

We arrived early and were able to disembark around 7:30 as we had to meet our ride to the Acropolis. I think this is the first time we've ever had a driver pick us up and have one of those signs with your name on it. The cost was quite cheap at $39 Euro's and our guide was very informative. He told us all the tips and tricks of how to explore the Acropolis and even gave us free water. The trip was close to an hour as it was rush hour. For most of our ports we're never quite sure what it's going to be like getting around and after our issue getting to the ship in the first place we're looking to secure our transportation in advance where we can.

We arrived at the Acropolis at 9:00a and I've never been to a tourist spot that was so busy so early. This is partly to do with the popularity of the spot but it's also on the top of a hill with very little shade so I think people try to come early if they can. We were dropped off right at the spot where you walk to the ticket booth. We passed several roman soldiers available for pictures though I don't think they were part of the site. Our driver had recommended we immediately climb to the top and explore things on our way down which was good advice.

I think I first learned about the Acropolis in grade 5 where myself and a classmate had to build a diorama out of popsicle sticks and homemade clay. I remember being very frustrated with the process because none of the adults available to us had any recommendations on how to do it. Looking back, I think I would have become a maker much earlier in life if I had access to YouTube like Callie has had. The site itself is under constant restoration and was as big as I was expecting but wasn't as complete as I was expecting. Still amazing.

The view of Athens from above was great too. Athens as we were driving in was diverse in it's cleanliness. Interspersed with new buildings were hollowed out apartments with graffiti. The city extended out in all directions and most buildings were under 10 stories tall. Greece ran into some economic troubles after the hosted the Olympics and it shows. The fun part for me was that you'd have a relatively new looking set of buildings and then on the corner would be some wall or arch that could be thousands of years old.

The Acropolis didn't take us very long to see as it's really just a short hike up some stairs, around the main feature and then you head down past an amphitheater, so we decided we'd check out the Acropolis Museum. Callie and Carter got in for cheap as they are students. The museum itself has bits and pieces found on the site that have been taken down and replaced by replicas so the originals can be better preserved. It's also built right on top of an open excavation of the foundations of the town. It would have been a nerve wracking construction site with all the history to be avoided.

The area also had a local market and Callie was drawn in to an eclectic bead store which included dream catchers covering the ceiling. The timing of our visit was good because as we were leaving Callie's new sandals broke. It was just a clip that connected two pieces of leather so we bought a piece of string from the store for 40 cents and tied her shoes back together. I found another spoon for my poor choice of a travel collection. I think I might max out my display with this trip and then maybe I'll switch to coins or pins. Spoons are becoming hard to find.

As soon as we had arrived at the Acropolis I asked the local taxi how much to get us back to the ship and they had indicated $45 Euros but we found a much cheaper option. There is a train station just down the hill in the market and for $1.50 a person we could get a 90 minute ticket that was good the train and the short bus ride to get us from one end of the port to the other. Both the train and the bus left frequently so I was glad we accidentally found the station though Kerry had a friend tell her about it so she knew to look for it. 

Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Bar

We were up early again as we attempt to get acclimated to the time change. The family insisted I attend breakfast at Hudson's with them. I don't mind the company but I prefer the options in the buffet. I kept things simple and ordered the yogurt parfait and a side of sausage which for some reason came on a big plate. Bar was not our original port of call though we did have fun finding different ways to use the word bar. Kerry eventually barred us for coming up with new ones. Bar is our only port in Montenegro and was not a very lively place on a Sunday.

The port itself is definitely not set up to accept cruise ship passengers and although it might have been a bustling port at one time there was virtually no economic activity. There were rows upon rows of aluminum billets stacked up as well as a parking lot of Peugeot cars but most of the port sat empty. We had to take a shuttle from the dock to a promenade just outside of the shipping area. My complaint here is that if this wasn't our original port of call it would have been nice for them to bus us a bit further to something interesting. Callie indicated they have their own 'old town' but it wasn't really worth paying to get to considering our other ports.

The one thing Callie did find was a church that looked interesting. The only trouble we ran into was that it was Sunday so mass was underway and it's not nice to wander around taking pictures while the priest is chanting so we had to wait a bit.  The church had beautiful murals but it was primarily just plaster domes and arches with the paintings. I'm not sure the denomination but the service involved mostly chanting. The highlight of the day was that Carter saw another famous basketball player. They are easy to spot and he looked him up to confirm he did come from this area.

We wandered about a bit but since it was Sunday not much was open and the town isn't really set up as a tourist destination. The area we were in had a few people asking for change and some derelict buildings. We stopped by the beach to dip our feet into the Adriatic sea before heading back to the ship. Callie and Kerry attended a Salsa class and we went out to dinner as a family. Our next destination is Athens which will take us two days to get there so we'll be at sea all day tomorrow. I don't mind the break but I'm sure I will be going a bit squirrely by the afternoon. 

Schwab Family Cruise 2026 - Dubrovnik

Our day started early when all of us up except perhaps Callie was up around 3:00a. I don't think Carter and I were truly conscious but we were alert enough to know that Kerry asked if we wanted to go outside to see the stars. We woke again around 5:00a and watched the coastline as our ship approached our next port of call. I had a starter breakfast around 7:00a and then the family had a sit down breakfast around 8:00a. Personally I prefer just grabbing stuff from the buffet. The crew is much too friendly for 8:00a. We had a slight delay as we were docking due to high winds but the pilot boarded and expertly parallel parked the ship.

After our last adventure trying to find transport, the family made a good call of getting tickets for the shuttle into Old Town. The bus picks you up right from the dock and leaves every 30 minutes or so. Dubrovnik is a beautiful city and one of the shooting locations of Game of Thrones. Our destination was a fort that sits right on the ocean. All you have to do is remove the people and cell phones and you'd be instantly transported back 500+ years. The inside of the fort is a mix of shopping and what appear to be private residents. 

We were dropped off in a courtyard very near the fort and after dodging people try to sell us tours, we entered over a literal draw bridge. The walls are many feet thick and are in incredibly good condition. The whole area appears to be solid rock so there was not settling of buildings like in other places I've been. As we entered there was a church and past that a wide street lined with smooth marble. I'm assuming it gets very slippery when its wet but the weather is in the 30's so not a problem today.

Along each side of the main street were door ways into individual stores. Each was beautifully constructed with a small doorway with an area to the right where the merchant could have a display. I'm going to assume it was designed to be a market from the beginning. There were holes in the wall where they can install an awning for shade. I'm sure there wasn't a gelato place in 1300 nor did they sell Game of Thrones merchandise but there were probably a few bakeries. You had to pay to walk the fort walls but there were still plenty of areas to explore.

Callie has done a ton of research on each of our ports of call and took us to a beach on the other side of the fort. Dress code was 'European' and the beach was packed. You could rent a couple of beach chairs and an umbrella for $70 Euro which was a bit rich for us but we were able to find a spot to place our towel and the family went for a swim. The water was a nice temperature and I only stuck around for a short while before escaping up the stairs to some shade where I could take in a few of the whole bay.

We made it back to the ship in time for a late lunch and a nap. I went to the buffet for dinner while the family went to the sit down restaurant again. I've been told I need to plan to have dinner with the family going forward. I stayed on the ship while the rest of the family went back to Old Town to watch the sunset. I wasn't necessarily against such a thing but it was a last minute decision and I wanted to stick around and watch the Canada game. Sunset was amazing again. If you want a sunny vacation, Dubrovnik would be a great destination. Plenty of things to explore, boats to rent and places to relax.