Cruise 2017

Cruise 2017 ~ Spring Break
April 2017
For this spring break, we surprised the kids with a 
cruise around the Mediterranean
We started in Venice and visited Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia and ended in Venice. 


NCL - Star ship

This fun adventure started off in Venice. We arrived with Gram-gram and Grandpa from Gatwick airport.

The beautiful sunsets in Venice while riding along the canals in the water taxis.

Yes, Venice is as magical as I thought it would be. 

Ty and Ike looked pretty good here :)

The streets and canals were amazing! 

The famous Rialto bridge along the Venice Gran Canal.

Mom: (Reading about the history from Rick Steves Travel Book aloud to 

everyone.."blah, blah, blah"...(Anne:) "look mom a gondola!"

Mom: (not listening then looks up and say's) "Everybody that's a gondola." haha!

The Bridge of Sighs

 Where a prisoner was taken from the Doge Palace to the prison cell and they could look out one more time at beautiful Venice before they were put into a dark, yucky prison.

Walking towards St. Marks Square

Handsom Boys

Santa Maria della Salute

In 1630, Venice experienced a devastating outbreak of the plague.  As an offering for the city's deliverance from the pestilence, built and dedicate a church to Our Lady of Health.

We couldn't leave Venice without traditional Venetian Masks!

We took a boat out to the island of Murano- grandpa had fun taking pictures of us and the 

stunning Comet Glass Star! 

Going to church in Venice..

Michelle and Keola joined us Sunday morning before church! 

We had such a great time with them.

Off to the Cruise Ship!

the Norwegian Star cruise ship

Each night the room service would make cute towel animals for our state rooms.
this was one of the many cute animals!!

Kotor, Montenegro 

We were greeted by a darling tour guide who had a small speed boat that took us out to a church on an island.

Our Lady of the Rocks

According to legend, this islet was made over the centuries by local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and Child portrait, that hangs in the church today, on the rock in the sea on July 22, 1452 that miraculously healed one of the seaman. Upon returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the islet gradually emerged from the sea. The custom of throwing rocks into the sea is alive even nowadays. Every year on the sunset of July 22, an event called fašinada in the local dialect, when local residents take their boats and throw rocks into the sea, widening the surface of the island, takes place.

Riding bikes through the small streets and coast of Kotor!

Gorgeous view from the mountain. 

These views blew our minds!!

our favorite boys

The view before we sailed

As far as anyone knows- we are a normal family. 😉

Corfu, Greece

We found a touring company who showed up in two Mercedes vans to drive us around the island. 

Both of the men's names were Spyros! Apparently, most men in Greece are named Spyros! 😂

Ty looked just like these guys with his new sun glasses!

Could Greece get any prettier?!?

grandma, aunt michelle, keola, grandpa

We visited a small monastery (Paleokastritsa Monastery) while the rest of the boys went to the beach. 

Keola found a new friend. Cats are everywhere...

Mouse Island

We were hauling (walking at a VERY quick clip) to catch the boat because we were a little late and grandma left us in the dust! She's super speedy walker woman! 

We were just sad we couldn't get a picture of her ahead of us before we arrived back to the boat! 

The gorgeous waters of greece💖

Santorini, Greece

Family picture in Oia 

(photo credit to Anne)

Unbelievable

White washed city with blue doors and roofs

We couldn't get over these views! 

Greece has some pretty great photo-ops. 

Ty- "man I look good"

The Greek blue doors never disappointed.

Beautiful Santorini

Walking down the steps to the cruise ship

Mykonos, Greece

We met the most fun family- the Fitzgibbon family. They were so neat, upbeat, positive and a blast to hang around.. we spent the rest of the cruise with them :)

Michelle, Grandpa, Grandma, Keola, Grace, Ike, Anne, Marylouise, Ethan, Spencer, 

Dylan, Jim, Ty, Luke, Brittany and Josh

The crystal clear blue waters 

Ike & Keola

The famous windmills of Mykonos

Mykonos was our beach day!!☼

We had to have a football match!

Team Whales

Team Poseidon 

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The city walls around Dubrovnik were spectacular! So medieval. 

It's a given that we had to pose by the easter decorations

The church was stunning

The Croatian flag

Spencer & Anne

we were a big group ;)

Handsom Ike

Spencer and Michelle

We kind of liked the backdrop Croatia gave us :)

Ike & Anne Elyse

Marylouise & Jim Fitzgibbon, Spencer & Brittany

Everyone had such a fun time on this trip. With the unlimited food, free room service, games all day everyday, the  unlimited drinks and all you can eat ice cream, we all agreed that we should do a cruise again. 😉