The journey begins : Silversea Cruises Voyage 5424

Piraeus (Athens), Greece to Venice, Italy on Silver Spirit

Silver Spirit photo by Silversea Cruises.

I am heading off to LAX where I board an Alitalia flight to Rome before transiting to Athens, Greece. I will spend the night in the city before heading out to Piraeus, which is the main port city in Greece and the largest passenger port in Europe. My final task will be embarking Silver Spirit for a 7-day cruise that will call on ports in Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, and Italy. I am excited to sail on Silver Spirit again, the last time I saw her was in the Canary Islands in October of 2012 (you can read about that cruise here).

Silver Spirit: cant’s wait to say “hi” again to the largest ship in Silversea’s fleet

With a capacity for 540 guests and measuring just 36,000 gross registered tons, this small luxury ship is just the right size. Perhaps in my old age (upper forties, if you are wondering) I have outgrown the super-sized ships where I have to fight the herd for a cup of coffee, a lounge chair by the pool, or a persistent waiter presenting me with a bill for the drink of the day (with the exception of when I am traveling with my kids-who love the arcades and non-stop activities – sans the crowds).

Another reason to love Silver Spirit is the truly all-inclusive nature of the cruise. Although I am traveling as a media guest on assignment (disclosure), when I was an agency owner of an agency, I often counseled prospective travelers about the value of paying once for everything up front, which allows for a more relaxed environment on the ship. For most would-be cruisers, value went beyond having a mini-fridge stocked with favorite libations or ordering drinks, specialty coffees, sodas, wines and beer when you want anywhere on the ship. Instead the most prized value proposition for discerning cruise passengers was service. The service, like that found on Silversea Cruises, is what luxury cruising is all about.

The itinerary: Piraeus (Athens), Greece to Venice, Italy

Besides the onboard experience, I am also truly intrigued by the our itinerary. The voyage covers a lot of places that are rich in history: Ancient Greece, medieval towns founded by the Venetians as well as the coastal regions of Montenegro and Croatia (two trending places to travel these days). The ship will overnight in port on a couple of occasion: once in Kotor and then prior to debarking in Venice, Italy. The ability to stay in port for the night is great because it allows guests to experience more of the culture, especially the nightlife. I have a Pinterest travel board set up so you can see an interactive map of the journey (click here).