After 17 days of ocean views, unlimited room service, and what can only be described as a concerning number of empty tissue boxes, our Panama Canal cruise has officially sailed off into the sunset.

It was, without question, a trip of a lifetime, packed with those big, jaw-dropping moments and the small, quiet ones that sneak up on you and stay forever. And then there was the Canal itself. Watching a ship our size get lifted and lowered through the canal system is truly surreal.

In between our handful of port stops, we absolutely mastered the fine art of doing…nothing. And not just regular nothing, professional-level nothing. The kind where you briefly consider getting up and doing something, decide against it, and reward yourself with a cocktail. To be fair, the respiratory situation we both picked up helped justify this aggressive commitment to relaxation.

But honestly, if you have to be slightly miserable, doing it on a floating five-star resort isn’t the worst life choice. Unlimited room service? Check. A bathroom that feels like a spa? Check. A bed that gently rocks you to sleep like you’re a very spoiled baby? Also check

One of our biggest questions going into this was: will we get bored after this many days at sea? The answer: a very enthusiastic absolutely not. In fact, we were mentally prepared to extend our stay indefinitely. Someone hand us a permanent wristband - we live here now

We closed things out in style with Shawn’s favorite Virgin Voyages tradition: the legendary last-night beef wellington. It was a proper send-off, equal parts celebration and “let’s order multiple desserts because we’ve behaved so well all cruise.”

Would we do this exact cruise again? Probably not the Panama Canal specifically. The Canal crossing is the main event, and once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it. This is very much a repositioning cruise, with ports that lean more “industrial shipping hub” than “postcard-perfect beach town.” That didn’t bother us (clearly, we gold medaled in Olympic-level lounging), but it’s worth knowing.

That said, we are officially fans of the long-cruise itinerary. We’d do another one in a heartbeat (under certain conditions*).

*The Conditions: being in a suite made a huge difference. Having that extra space, comfort, and little luxuries elevated the entire experience.

Also, not-so-minor detail, it helps that we genuinely like each other. Three weeks in close quarters, most of it slightly under the weather, is either a relationship builder or a Dateline episode waiting to happen. Thankfully, we packed patience, a sense of humor, and enough love to avoid homicidal thoughts.

Now we’re home, still recovering, and definitely missing the sound of the waves.

I was on the mend and Shawn was fine, then that polluted air messed everything up. My respiratory system took a dive, and we were both coughing up a lung and going through boxes of tissues. The silver lining was that we are in a suite, so we have more space for being stuck inside, and free room service, including surprisingly excellent chicken noodle soup.

We stayed holed up the first two days, only requesting fresh towels and water. We weren’t trying to be patient zero, even though we don’t think it was anything contagious. Last night was the worst for me, the coughing triggered a migraine, but it was the best night of sleep for Shawn - he needed it.

After excessively long showers this morning, we both felt human again and ventured out of our cabin to allow housekeeping to come. We had breakfast ramen on the back of the ship, which felt magically medicinal.

This was definitely a good test run for longer travel where sickness happens. We’re going to be stocking our medical kits with a few more items going forward as a result.

Today is our last sea day before Cabo, so we’re just taking it easy.

Cest La Vie!

When we pulled into port we could see the volcano in the distance. It had just erupted 4 days prior, and was still spewing some smoke.

We didn’t think much about it, just started the morning in the hot tub, then moved back into our favorite cabana to enjoy the first half of the day. This time we brought the fixings for “Rockstar Hooch”, as Shawn classily dubbed it. We stopped by the Galley and filled our bottles with fruit, ice, and some orange juice, then popped our anniversary bottle of champagne to add to the mix. We also had carrot bran muffins, we’re not animals - breakfast of champions!

After lunch we decided to check out the port and local craft market. I bought some earrings and Shawn got a macadamia chocolate bar.

Once we returned to the ship we noticed how bad the air quality was outside. Shawn’s asthma was flaring up, and even I was feeling it. The air was so bad at this point that you couldn’t see the volcano anymore. We went back inside and stayed there the rest of the day. Had we gone on any of the excursions, we would have been stuck breathing that for the whole day. Instead we got iced coffee and entertained ourselves for a while before dinner.

Dinner that night was fantastic, and took our minds off the gross air situation. We got the best table at The Wake (probably because the ship was still pretty empty).

I started off the meal with hamachi crudo with pickled rhubarb, and Shawn had the bone marrow. We shared a filet and an incredible salt baked dorado with lemon caper sauce.

We called it a night earlier than usual because Shawn was still feeling the effects of the pollution in his lungs.

Now we have 3 sea days, Cabo, another 2 sea days, then LA. Gonna be a lot more of this…

And we are a-ok with that. ❤️🚢❤️

We got a cabana at Richard’s Rooftop and spent the whole day reading, sipping cocktails, and enjoying lunch.

After cleaning up, we had Opa Hour snacks at The Dock, then walked the promenade deck to watch the sea birds hunting

Back to Richard’s for happy hour, then got to enjoy the perfect weather to watch a beautiful sunset.

We finished the day with cocktails at On The Rocks before dinner.

Truly a perfect day.💕

Next stop, Guatemala!🇬🇹

The hammock is actually a very comfy bed, rocking gently with the waves as a soundtrack.

This was a relaxing day with lots of lounging about in various areas of the ship.

We had a snack at the Dock before the stand-up comedy show featuring Rodney Lane. Our Rock Star perks came in handy with not having to wait in the long line.

We got to catch up with our kids. It’s always great to hear how they’re doing and what’s happening in their lives.

It was a fun evening of cocktails and music at The Hostess’s cabaret show. She is a brilliant performer with great comedic timing, and she has a beautiful singing voice

Once again that evening my coughing fits returned, so back to the hammock at 4 in the morning I went. Bonus - I got a private sunrise dolphin show!

Going into a 7.5-hour nature marathon in Costa Rica after roughly zero sleep felt optimistic in the way people sign up for marathons and say, “How hard can it be?”

We started with a dainty breakfast because lunch was part of our excursion. We lounged in the waiting area like caffeinated zombies, ready for our Costa Rica cloud-forest adventure. It was advertised as a once in a lifetime adventure, with an amazing collection of wildlife and exotic orchids.

Act One of This Comedy of Errors: an alert announcing the tide was too low for the usual disembarkation, so plans changed and we were an hour behind before anything exciting had happened. Then, when we boarded the 1.5-hour bus trip, the driver kindly informed us construction had turned that into 2.5 hours. The route was the world’s windiest mountain road, mostly one lane, with enough switchbacks to induce nausea. Our guide mumbled what I assume were facts about Costa Rica between sympathetic shrugs.

At one point he asked the group to choose lunch: beef, chicken, or vegetarian. Everyone made their selection like eager contestants on a game show - we were all very hungry by this point.

We rolled up to Treetopia, the mystical cloud-forest venue, at 2:40 pm. This is where orchids, monkeys, sloths, and Instagram dreams allegedly live. Mood check: no one had eaten since breakfast, the bus had aged us a collective ten years, and we all felt slightly gross after those switchbacks. The tour suggested long pants (probably jungle etiquette). Our guide suggested, “You might want rain gear, but I don’t think you need it.” Famous last words.

We stepped off the bus and discovered the temperature had taken a dive. Nobody had the “right” clothes. So we were grouped with the organizational finesse of a toddler sorting Legos and shoved onto a three-minute gondola ride into the canopy. It was cold, windy, and damp; I donned a rain poncho more for heat conservation than weather protection

After we took some photos and gondola-ed back down, we assumed lunch had to be imminent. Instead, the guide announced a nearly two-hour nature walk where we would traverse two suspended bridges because, apparently, we didn’t have time for all five. We are running on fumes at this point.

Well, the scenery was gorgeous. We spotted exactly two birds, zero orchids, and a grand total of no monkeys or sloths. The air was astonishingly fresh, which was nice, because by then we’d used up our last reserves of patience and coffee. And, bonus, no one had a panic attack on the very wobbly bridges.

Confusion reigned again as we sorted getting everyone back on the busses. Then a “quick” drive to “lunch”… it’s after 5pm by now, so let’s just call it dinner. Everyone feels like hostages at this point knowing we have the very long, very windy drive back to the ship, only now it will be in the dark… and RIP to your dinner reservations- you got this bowl of rice with dry chicken instead.

The good news is that while everyone finished their food we went next door to a pharmacy to pick up some cough syrup for me and candy bars for our cabin crew.

Sometimes you don’t get the perfect day, and that’s when it pays to be with the perfect person. ❤️

Next up: a much needed sea day to recover 😂🚢

First view from our balcony was sailing under the Atlantic Bridge on our way to the locks.

We had a very early room service breakfast on our deck, then threw on some clothes to head for Richard’s Rooftop - the suites only outdoor lounge at the front of the ship. One of the reasons we booked a suite for this cruise was to have access to this space for the crossing, as we knew it would have the best possible views. When we walked in though, there was a huge crowd there, and no where for us to see the forward view. We quickly realized that the majority of people there were not suite guests (red wristbands vs black.) They had been able to come in due to a malfunctioning door lock. Security had to get them to leave, it wasn’t pretty, some were pretty rude about it, and I felt bad for everyone involved.

Once that was resolved, this was our view coming into the first lock.

All throughout the day, the captain would make announcements about each point we passed. The bridge camera was projected in the public areas of the ship as well.

You can see how tight the fit is for our ship in this view from our balcony, and how many officers are in the bridge.

We had a few tugboats helping us along the way.

A port camera captured this picture of our ship coming into the locks.

This was the view from the back of the ship as we left the first set of locks and sailed into Gaton Lake.

Shawn passed some time in his favorite spot on the ship while I took a million pictures of the gorgeous lake.

Then we had some relaxing time at the Dock as we continued our journey across the lake.

At about 3 in the afternoon we headed into the second set of locks, on the Pacific side of the lake.

The vibes were festive all over the ship, and when we entered the first lock, champagne was passed out all around.

We had a little crocodile friend traversing the locks with us.

Coming into the final lock of the journey.

Once we passed through the final lock, the whole ship celebrated.🎉

We even had a celebratory escort!

Our first view on the Pacific side was the impressive skyline of Panama City.

Goodbye little tugboat!

Passing under the Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific Ocean.

Another view of Panama City as we sailed away.

When we returned to our cabin, we found these. Such a nice touch from Virgin. What an incredibly special day. So thrilled we got to experience this together. 💕🥰💕

Today we have a sea day, then our next port stop is Costa Rica!

Bonus pic - someone from our tour in Colon managed to get a better sloth photo…

We arrived at Gaton Lake and boarded a boat with some of our fellow sailors for a high-speed trip to the islands where monkeys and other local wildlife are easily spotted.

Fist sighting was the Howler monkeys, which we heard before seeing them lounging in the trees. They’re the dark colored blobs… I know, I’m not a professional photographer.

Getting close enough to elicit a “Don’t touch the monkeys! They get irritated easily!” (honestly, same) were the Capuchins. Intelligent little creatures, they know the boat guides will give them pieces of banana.

Then the tiny Tee Tee monkey. That’s just what the locals call them, I don’t know their government name. They were super cute until you saw them up close, then kind of terrifying

As we came closer to one of the little islands, the holy grail of Panamanian wildlife was sighted… the sloth. You’re going to have to take my word for it though because that guy was hard to photograph. Our whole boat was trying to see a better view of him, and honestly he couldn’t have cared less. That cream colored lump in the leaves is as good a picture as we could get.

After monkeys and sloths, things took a turn towards less cuteness. We saw bats sleeping on a tree trunk, and got to hear about how they are tarantulas favorite cuisine.

A cayman posing for the cameras.

A big old iguana, sunning himself on a branch.

And a giant ants nest, hanging from a tree branch. Reason #432 why I don’t want to live in a jungle.

Once back on land we took a couple photos at the marina, then the long return bus ride to the ship.

Back onboard, we enjoyed happy hour with some new friends, then a lovely meal at Extra Virgin. This lamb pasta dish is our favorite thing we’ve eaten on the cruise so far.

We came back to our room to a sweet thank you note and towel heart from our cabin hosts for bringing them snacks we procured while on our excursion. Take care of the people who take care of you. 💕

Next up, the Panama Canal!

We’re not big fans of doing tours through the cruise line, with big groups, having to cater to the slowest pace, not in control of when you’re “done”, and straining to hear the guide over a bunch of yapping. However, with the ports we are visiting on this cruise- and the time the tours take - we opted to tough it out with ship excursions to guarantee we were back in time and for safety reasons.

Yesterday was our first port stop in Cartagena, and our tour was called Quintessential Cartagena- a walking tour of some of the city’s most famous areas. Sounds tame, right? Dear reader, it was not 😂😳

We got off the ship and boarded a bus with 30ish of our fellow sailors and headed for Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the largest fort in South America. Off the bus we got, into the 90 degree heat and humidity, and were told we were climbing to the top

Once our whole group made it up there we got to sit in an air conditioned room (thank goodness) to hear the story of the fort and its importance to Columbia- which was really interesting.

On the way down from the top, the guide took us through the strategic tunnels used at the fort. Unfortunately for Shawn, he is much taller than the average Colombian soldier for whom they were built.

Back to the bus and on to the walled city for a walking tour of old town.

We toured the old Spanish government buildings and heard our tour guide’s version of the origin of the term Black Friday, which was horrifying (and according to our research, maybe not true.) Slaves were sorted by price and sold accordingly- tall men with all their teeth and attractive women were worth the most. Once a year, on a Friday in November, there would be a 1/2 price sale for the slaves who had not sold yet.

After that sobering information, we headed to a museum and the oldest neighborhood in the town, where indigenous people still live and make beautiful art

We also had a stop at a hotel for empanadas and hibiscus tea. We were all wilting at this point and ready to get back to the port. Also notice I’m not wearing my jewelry anymore in the last photo- our guide had me take it all off for safety.

Our final stop before getting back to the ship was a bird and monkey sanctuary. Easily the highlight of the day, even though I almost got beaned with a papaya husk that a monkey tossed down from his branch.

We got back to the ship a sweaty mess, but managed to get cleaned up to celebrate our wedding anniversary.❤️

Today we are docking in Colon, Panama, and have a jungle excursion with a nature guide to see local wildlife. Wearing more sunscreen, bug spray, and deodorant for sure. 😂

*Editors Note: I did this post all on my phone with the slowest internet connection possible, so please forgive any formatting issues 😩

We showed up at the Virgin terminal a full hour early for boarding, partly because we’re responsible adults, mostly because we wanted those black Rockstar wristbands on our wrists ASAP. Priorities. The excitement for the new ship and first time voyage through the canal was everywhere. Everyone was buzzing like it was the first day of summer camp… but with better outfits and significantly more champagne in our future.

Once we boarded the ship we dropped our luggage in our cabin immediately and headed to the Rockstar welcome to meet with our Agent (concierge for the cruise) and give him our preferences for in-room bar setup, bedding, and dining reservations, all while sipping champagne.

From there, we walked to the back of the ship to have a late lunch at The Dock, our unofficial “first stop every cruise” tradition for Mediterranean tapas and cocktails.

Next up: Richard’s Rooftop for happy hour and Sail Away. And this is where the plot twist hits.

Right as the party kicked off, I started feeling…off. Not seasick (thank you, Dramamine), just a vague, unwelcome sense of “uh oh.” It escalated as dinner approached, and I made the executive decision to call it a night early. Of course I had a complete freak out - what if I am coming down with something on day 1 of a 17 day cruise?? The good news: I woke up on Day 2 feeling about 90% human again. I am believing this upward arc is going to continue. Alcohol kills germs, right?

Day 2 was a sea day, which we spent doing what we do best: lounging at Richard’s Rooftop, the suites-only outdoor lounge at the front of the ship. There’s a constant breeze up there that tricks you into thinking you’re not getting that much sun. Reader, this is a lie. We got a lot of sun. Oops.

Dinner that night was at Extra Virgin (the Italian restaurant), and it was as good as we remembered, which is to say, dangerously good.

Before this cruise, we made a bold, optimistic decision: we would be “mindful” about how we eat for 17 days. Seventeen. Days. That’s a lot of opportunities to spiral into a breadbasket. So far, we’ve been sticking to our plan: healthy breakfasts, light lunches, and keeping dinner carbs somewhat in check.

Day 3 brought another sea day (feeling 95% today, fingers crossed it keeps getting better), and an early wake-up call thanks to a time change. We got our first bag of laundry ready to be picked up (we are doing laundry about every 5 days.) We had our first sit-down breakfast at Razzle Dazzle, then attended a lecture on the origins of the Panama Canal. I found it fascinating. Shawn… found his phone fascinating. To be fair, he’s listened to approximately 47 podcasts on the topic and probably could’ve guest lectured himself, if called upon.

The afternoon was very chill: card games, ocean views, and a relaxed lunch back at The Dock (grilled chicken and shrimp skewers, for those tracking our “mindful” era).

Tonight: dinner at The Wake, Virgin’s steakhouse. Tomorrow: our first port stop, Cartagena, Colombia. Let the adventures (and good eating decisions) continue!

Perk #1: Blacklane pickup 🚘
Nothing is better than a pre-arranged chauffer when you’re getting off a plane at 10pm. Our very fun ride (check out the space-themed ceiling of the car) whisked us to our first stop: The Tony.

The Tony: one-night wonder
Cute, spacious, and staffed by people who seemed genuinely thrilled we were there. Seriously, 10/10 for late-night enthusiasm. We only stayed one night because the real plan was to enter our Elite AMEX Perk Era starting the next day.

Next stop: Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach 💅
We Ubered over Wednesday at noon and activated:

• Early check-in

• Significant cash back discount

• Room upgrade

• Free breakfast

• Hotel credit for food, drinks, or spa services

Of course, Miami decided to serve rain and emotional damage, so we made an emergency Ross run where I got an unreal discount on a Rag & Bone cardigan (the South Beach Ross has an impressively different level of luxe than ours back home). Then we retreated to the hotel for champagne happy hour because - free bubbles!

Thursday: redemption arc ☀️
Weather improved, spirits lifted, and we hit the boardwalk after a buffet breakfast that was absolutely 5 star. Dragon Fruit for the win, IYKYK. At the end of our walk, another perk - free mojitos.

Late checkout (final perk!) meant we could take our sweet time getting ready before moving to our last Miami stop:

InterContinental Miami 🌊
Same perks, but much better room. 28th floor, ocean view, front-row seats to cruise ship traffic and lifestyles of the rich and famous.

We used more of our hotel food & beverage credit for cocktails, then walked to dinner at Niu Kitchen, a tiny Catalonian spot that absolutely delivered. Bonus: covered by a quarterly $100 AMEX credit. We are, at this point, essentially being paid to eat

Friday morning views:
Sunrise over the port + SIX cruise ships docked.

Breakfast here wasn’t quite Ritz-level, (no Dragon Fruit), but still solid. Weather went back to “I thought we were in Miami?” so we leaned into doing absolutely nothing until lunch at Asian fusion restaurant Novikov, which, no notes, was the food highlight so far. Covered with Shawn’s AMEX credit this time.

Tonight: seeing Project Hail Mary
Tomorrow: boarding the Brilliant Lady for 17 days 🚢

Stay tuned!

When Shawn and I got married, we had two major financial goals:

1. Invest in Ourselves: Retire when our youngest went to college.
To us, this meant two things:

• Being able to live well while covering all our current and future living and medical expenses & never becoming a financial burden to our children.

• Being able to travel comfortably and as often as we want while we are healthy and physically able.

2. Invest in Our Kids: Cover four years of college for each of them.
We wanted to give them the gift of stepping into adulthood with a Bachelor’s degree in hand without the headwind of student loan debt to go with it.

Every major financial decision we made circled back to those two goals. If it didn’t help Future Us or Future Kids, it got cut. (Proof: I still drive a car that requires an actual key in the ignition.)

We know how fortunate we have been to be able to set goals like these. Having two strong, steady incomes gave us choices we understand not everyone has. We’ve always tried to be mindful of that privilege.

Of course none of this would have been possible without Shawn as our family’s CFO. He not only kept us on track for our goals, he also taught our kids financial management. Budgeting and investing lessons were free in this household… and mandatory.

So here we are. Our youngest started college in 2024, and Shawn retired. He’s been patiently waiting for me to join him ever since, and it’s finally time.

I’ve worked my entire adult life, in an executive level role for the last 20 years of that, so I’m fully aware that this next phase will require some serious change management. Thankfully, Shawn has had a full year of post-work life under his belt, so he’ll be my retirement sherpa - guiding, nudging, and occasionally dragging me into the land of owning your own schedule.

What I know will be hardest to leave behind are the people - the colleagues I cheered on, the ones I watched grow into phenomenal leaders, and especially those who became friends. Those relationships are the souvenirs I’ll treasure long after I turn in my badge.

As for our joint retirement plans? They’re big! The slow-travel spreadsheet has officially come out of hibernation, and we’re already plotting 2026 and 2027. So far we’ve locked in a Panama Canal cruise in the spring and a couple months in Portugal over the summer. After that, we’re eyeing Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Nordic countries. But nothing is set in stone; as JP Morgan said: Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.

Cheers to new horizons!

We didn’t start out that way. But after a few hard-earned lessons involving heat that felt personal, and crowds so thick you couldn’t tell where you ended and the tour group began, we made a rule:

We won’t chase destinations. We’ll chase good weather and fewer people.

Everything else - food, culture, charm - works itself out if you’re not melting into the pavement or being shoulder-checked by a mega-ship’s worth of cruise passengers.

Enter: The Spreadsheet

Below is one of the first iterations of our slow-travel spreadsheet. It’s evolved since then (some destinations added, others removed), but this version gives you the general idea.

Green means:

• Pleasant temperatures (for us, anyway)

• Lower crowds

• Minimal chance of regretting our life choices

White (or blank) means:

• Too hot

• Too cold

• Too wet

• Too crowded

• Or some unholy combination of all four

If it’s not green, we probably won’t go. And you’ll notice December is permanently greyed out; we want to be home for the holidays.

The Schengen Zone (aka the Fine Print That Matters)

You’ll notice our spreadsheet is split into “Europe – Schengen” and “Europe – Non-Schengen.” This isn’t random. This is strategy.

The Schengen Zone is a group of European countries that allow free movement between them with no border checks, no passport stamps, no tiny booths where someone asks why you’re there.

But here’s the catch (and it’s a big one):

As a non-EU tourist, you’re allowed 90 days in the Schengen Zone within any rolling 180-day period.

Not 90 days per country.
Not “reset when you cross a border.”
Not “close enough if you don’t count weekends.”

It’s 90 days total. And yes, they count everything.

Enter: The Non-Schengen MVPs

Non-Schengen countries are what keep slow travel in Europe possible long-term. Places like:

• Georgia

• Romania

• Turkey

• Ireland

• Scotland

These are the destinations that let you stay in Europe longer without draining your Schengen time bank. They’re not consolation prizes, either. Each are fantastic in their own right, often less crowded, and sometimes even better suited to slow travel.

The Real Luxury of Slow Travel

It turns out the real luxury isn’t five-star hotels or first-class flights, it’s timing.

Arriving when a place can be itself.
When locals aren’t exhausted by tourists.
When you can walk for hours, eat outside, and think, Yes. This was the right call.

So yes, we’re planning our adventures with a spreadsheet.

First Port Stop - Tortola: We chartered a small boat called the Lickety Split, which sounds adorable until you’re bouncing across open water like popcorn kernels in hot oil. Suddenly those boat seats shaped like saddles made perfect sense. But the perk of being on a tiny, slightly feral vessel? We could zip into Sandy Spit, a pocket-sized island that looks like it was photoshopped into reality. Just a few palm trees, some hermit crabs, and us. This is what paradise looks like! We also got to visit a couple beach bars accessible only by boat on Jost Van Dyke. We needed the liquid courage for the ride back to port!

That evening, we cleaned up from our Mr. Toads Wild Ride of a boat outing for the Splash of Romance happy hour. There was a dreamy sunset, live music, and that perfect ocean breeze that makes you feel like you’re starring in your own travel commercial.

We ended the night at Gunbae, Virgin’s Korean BBQ restaurant, where they kick off dinner with a drinking game that involves math. Math. After cocktails. Unsurprisingly, I was eliminated almost instantly, but Kathy absolutely dominated. We also made instant friends - nothing bonds strangers like shared confusion, sizzling meat, and competitive soju consumption.

Barbados: We spent the day on the pristine white sand of Carlisle Beach, which is simply stunning. Warm water, powder-soft sand, and a level of relaxation that should honestly be medically prescribed.

St. Lucia: We had booked a scooter tour for all four of us, imagining cute little Vespa vibes. Absolutely not. These were mini Harley Davidson hell beasts disguised as “scooters.” Kathy and I took one very tentative test drive and immediately opted to become passenger princesses - crowns metaphorically on, pride fully intact. The boys bravely powered on, and by the time the tour ended, the general consensus was: “We’re just happy to still be alive.”

That night was Virgin’s famous Scarlet Night, an octopus-themed ship wide extravaganza where everybody wears red and there’s glitter in places glitter should probably never be. At Pink Agave, the Mexican restaurant, the boys sampled margaritas topped with dried crickets (tastes like chicken). Kathy and I enjoyed more complimentary champagne.

St. Maarten: our final port day. We hired a local driver, Maria, who whisked us around both the French and Dutch sides of the island like a one-woman tour-de-force. We visited the iconic Maho Beach, where planes take off and blast spectators with sand and jet-engine enthusiasm (we survived and still have eyebrows). Then we wrapped up with Guava Berry Coladas and a blissful afternoon lounging at Orient Bay.

Best of all, we had an absolute blast hanging out with Troy and Kathy the whole time - whether we were bouncing across the ocean, dodging death scooters, or singing our lungs out to 80’s music. If this is how our first trip together went, we can’t wait to see what kind of chaos the next adventure brings.

The next morning, I didn’t care at all about the elevator when we woke up to this view from our deck:

Day One - Food Tour!

After the brothers finished an intense morning foosball match in the aforementioned fancy suite (it’s important to warm up for a day of eating), we set out on a food tour of local restaurants and cafés.

We kicked things off at a coffee roaster where we tasted what might actually be the smoothest cup of coffee on the planet. Puerto Rican coffee has this magical quality where it contains zero bitterness - like it’s been to therapy or something. We followed it with incredibly fresh ceviche, and then a stewed chicken and mofongo: fried plantains that we got to smash together with garlic, pork cracklings, and salt. Deliciousness in carb form.

It was hot! But we were mostly walking in the shade of the buildings, and did get to stop for a passionfruit popsicle break.

The tour ended at a Cortes chocolate shop, famous for slipping Spanish-language children’s books into their hot chocolate bars back when English was being pushed as the primary language in schools. Nothing like a little chocolate-fueled rebellion.

After the tour, we wandered through Old San Juan, popping into local bars for cocktails because hydration is important - just not always with water. We wrapped up the evening with a relaxing beach stroll before dinner.

Day Two – Ron del Barrilito Rum Distillery

This was the surprise highlight of our Puerto Rico stay: a fantastic tour and tasting at Ron del Barrilito, the smaller of the two major rum distilleries - the other being the big (touristy) Bacardi.

We tasted five different rums, including the very fancy, very smooth 5-star bottle. By the end, we were basically rum sommeliers in our own minds. Troy even bought himself a special bottle as a souvenir.

By the end of our Puerto Rico stay, we’d eaten our weight in carbs, survived the tropical heat, become accidental rum experts, and fully settled into vacation mode. It was the perfect warm-up for the cruise ahead - good food, good drinks, and even better company.

Once we landed in Frankfurt, we hopped on the train into the city and walked a few blocks to our hotel.

Shawn really pulled out all the stops for our final night (courtesy of the AMEX Fine Hotels program) with a stay at a five-star hotel that now ranks among the best we’ve ever experienced: the Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof.

Thanks to booking with the AMEX program, we had a credit to use for room service, free breakfast, and were upgraded to a deluxe room that was absolutely gorgeous. We didn’t want to leave it…so we didn’t. We decided to have a night in.

By this point, we were pretty vacationed out, so we stuck with our fallback move for the last night of a trip: cheeseburgers and fries via room service. Only this was five-star room service, and these burgers were better than most we’ve had at actual restaurants. Even the sides were outstanding. The fries were crispy and nicely seasoned, the caesar salad was crisp & flavorful. And the coleslaw (no mayo) was the right amount of tart + sweet. We paired our fancy burgers with the complimentary wine that was so good, we’re now on a mission to hunt down an entire case.

The next morning, we suited up in our workout clothes for one last walk and headed to the river. The green parks and classic German architecture were a refreshing change, although the weather was still surprisingly warm. Apparently, Germany hadn’t gotten the memo about not participating in the heat wave.

We made our way back to the hotel for the breakfast buffet, which was every bit as fantastic as the room service the night before.

Then it was time to gear up for the long journey home: Frankfurt to Seattle, then Seattle to Phoenix.

We flew Condor business class to Seattle, and I’ve got to say, it was the best business class I’ve ever experienced.

The service was incredibly friendly, the food was actually delicious, the in-pod entertainment screens were huge, and the tiny airplane salt and pepper shaker? Stop it. Too cute.

What an incredible trip. I’m so grateful to Shawn for his top-notch planning, eagle-eyed deal finding, and expert-level navigation. (And I got to hear him speak a little German, the icing on the cake!) Truly the best travel partner I could ever ask for.

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

This morning we said goodbye to the Resilient Lady. (Picture us being dragged off the ship, clinging to our black wristbands, pleading to stay.) Our private car, one last glorious Mega Rockstar perk, was waiting at the port to take us to the Athens airport. After getting in some terminal walking for that step count, we boarded a two-hour flight to Split, Croatia.

Let me just say: the Split airport was a pleasant surprise. Imagine a sleek, modern terminal wrapped in palm trees and blooming flowers, with ocean views so pretty they almost made you forget you just flew in on a budget airline, and had to carry your suitcase down the stairs to deplane.

An Uber driver met us outside for the 30-minute drive to our Airbnb near the port. The scenery was all rolling hills, olive groves, and sparkling sea views.

The Airbnb was incredibly charming. The manager gave us a warm welcome and a quick tour. Turns out it’s the winter home of a local artist, filled with eclectic art and souvenirs from her travels. But the real showstopper? The view from the balcony, looking out over the port and Split’s Old Town.

We picked up a few groceries at the local market and had a laid-back dinner on the balcony. Just us, some cheese and crackers, a bottle of wine, and a front-row seat for the sunset.

Day 2: Old Town… and Cats!

We started our first full day in Split with a walk to a nearby bakery for pastries and cappuccinos. The neighborhood was lovely, and had cats, which automatically made it better. Fueled by sugar and caffeine, we headed to Old Town.

We entered through the tunnel of Diocletian’s Palace, another Game of Thrones filming location and UNESCO World Heritage site. Old Town feels like a fairy tale, if fairy tales featured cobblestone alleys, ancient Roman ruins, apartments with ornate doors, and boutiques tucked into crumbling walls.

We wandered until lunchtime, when the sun made it very clear that it was time to get indoors. It was ridiculously hot.

Thankfully, Shawn found a tiny pub with stone walls that kept the small interior with only a handful of tables cool. This is where we had the most unexpectedly amazing roasted eggplant. I'm not even an eggplant person, and this one nearly brought me to tears. I strongly considered writing the chef a love letter.

After lunch, we returned to the apartment for some much-needed air conditioning and a siesta, stopping to greet a few locals along the way.

Once the sun started to set, we headed back to the ocean-front plaza for cocktails. It was buzzing with tourists and locals at all the little cafes surrounding the main square. We sipped, people-watched, and soaked it all in.

We had dinner at Focaccina, the Instagram-famous sandwich shop where we probably raised the average customer age by a couple of decades. We grabbed our sandwiches to go and ate on the balcony, watching the ferry boats pulling into port.

Day 3: Marinas, Margaritas, & Melting

We started the day with a walk to the neighborhood beach, where the older locals go for a brisk morning swim.

Today’s breakfast mission: Burek. This flaky Balkan pastry comes stuffed with meat or cheese. We chose cheese (the rope looking pastry on the bottom shelf.) It was rich, satisfying, and gave us just enough energy to walk along the marina and gawk at yachts we'll never own.

Also, those amazing loaves of freshly baked bread in the photo? They only cost about $1 each. I love European bakeries.

Split, by the way, is packed with beautiful buildings and even more beautiful people. Tall, tan people who look like they’re on their way to a Vogue shoot. I felt like a melted candle in comparison. Shawn, with his height advantage, fit right in.

For lunch, we took a sweaty 20-minute walk to a modern spot called Sexy Cow. We ordered ice cold, spicy margaritas that had a dry ice bubble effect, and enjoyed delicious wraps and truffle fries.

Back at the apartment, we surrendered once again to the air conditioning. The heat had officially declared itself the winner.

That evening, we returned to the plaza for one last round of cocktails. Our waiter remembered us and surprised us with a round of drinks on the house. The hospitality here was next level.

We wrapped up our final night with dinner at Bokeria. The interior was sleek, our upstairs table had a great view, and the other diners, mostly trust fund twenty-somethings lamenting the "exhausting" club scene, provided better entertainment than the menu. The food was fine. The people-watching was five-star.

I ordered a lemon drop, assuming it was a universal cocktail. The bartender had never heard of it, but insisted on looking it up and making it anyway. It was fantastic.

One last twilight stroll through Old Town. We soaked up every charming corner before heading back for the night.

Bonus Morning: Cat + Statue = Perfection

Before heading to the airport, we made one final trip into town for cappuccino and a pastry, with one very important mission: finding a cat posing dramatically on a statue.

Mission accomplished:

Then it was off to the airport for our flight to Frankfurt, slightly sunburned, fully caffeinated, and completely in love with Split.

Next Up: Part 4 – Frankfurt, Germany

This might be the most excited we’ve been for a vacation in a long time. We were about to sail in Virgin Voyages’ top suite category: Mega Rockstar! Here’s the post about how we got this suite if you're curious. And here are our previous Virgin cruise posts: Standard Balcony - November, 2024; Rockstar Suite- April, 2025

After a short lounge wait, we were the first group allowed to board the ship. Straight to Deck 15 we went, heading for our Gorgeous Suite.

The suite…

Once inside, we spent a good chunk of time oohing and ahhing over our home for the next seven nights. Then it was time to start exercising our free bar tab. Mega Rockstars not only get an in-room bar that’s restocked daily, but any drink under $25 anywhere on the ship is included. Off we went to begin Shawn’s mission: completing his Rum Challenge punch card. (Complete it and you get a special pin. We’re easily motivated by shiny objects.)

Naturally, our next stop was The Dock for tapas and cocktails. My personal favorite drink here is the Bees Please - mostly because it comes with a tiny clothespin holding the dried pear garnish. (I may have a collection of these now)

We also popped by Sip Lounge to try a couple of new cocktails before heading back to the suite. That’s where we met Dino, our butler, and our two fantastic housekeepers, Mamita and Aurora. They were a blast and didn’t bat an eye as we awkwardly discussed our laundry and bedding preferences like we were royalty on Downton Abbey.

Next up: the Sail Away Party! I love the energy of the Happenings Cast as they dance on deck while the ship pulls out of port. Although, I’ll admit this crowd felt a little more subdued compared to the US-based sailings we’ve done.

After that, it was off to one of the theaters to see Persephone, a show inspired by Greek mythology. The dancers, acrobats, and singers were ridiculously talented.

For our first dinner onboard, we were escorted to a window table just in time to watch the sunset as we sailed out to sea. Pretty perfect.

Day 2: At Sea (And… Fuzzy)

Our day started with Dino bringing our requested coffees, which we sipped on the balcony while listening to the waves. Then we walked the ship to get our steps in, showered, got ready, and had brunch.

Do I remember the rest of the day? Not really. Were there more cocktails? Absolutely.

Day 3: Kotor, Montenegro (And Cats)

We woke up early to watch the ship navigate the stunning channel leading to Kotor. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful places we’ve seen. Shawn squeezed in some hoop time and deck lounging while I took a million photos.

We wandered straight into Kotor’s old town, which is famous for its large feral cat population, a legacy from the plague years. Much like the cats in Athens, they were aloof, clearly well-fed by locals, and generally unimpressed with tourists wielding iPhones.

After a solid cat-spotting session, we joined a food tour (because… of course). It kicked off at the local market where we sampled meats, cheeses, and olives. Then we sat down for a classic Montenegrin lunch: charcuterie, roasted pepper and salted fish spreads, local mussels cooked in wine and garlic (amazing), and squid ink risotto. I was nervous about that last one - it looks like it should taste like asphalt - but it turned out mild and delicious.

By noon the heat was pretty intense, so after lunch we headed back to the ship. First though, we grabbed a stash of potato chips from a plaza shop, not for us, but for Dino, Mamita, and Aurora. They rarely get to leave the ship, but when they do they said they always try and find potato chips. Their faces when we handed over the snacks made it totally worth it - take care of the people who take care of you!

Back onboard? More cocktails, of course. That night we had dinner at Razzle Dazzle, the bistro-style restaurant. We had never had dinner here on previous cruises, only brunch, but this ended up becoming our favorite place due to the variety and outstanding service.

We ordered blue cheese burgers off the secret menu, Shawn got their caramel corn cocktail, and I had a lemon drop. We also gifted a bottle of bubbly to the couple at the next table. Mega Rockstars get two bottles a day, so why not spread the joy?

Day 4: Dubrovnik, Croatia (AKA King’s Landing)

We pulled into another jaw-droppingly gorgeous port, where most of the King’s Landing scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed.

A quick bus ride got us to the walled city. It’s incredibly well-preserved and just plain beautiful. It was also, yet again, hot enough to fry an egg on the cobblestones. We got there early to beat the worst of the heat and skipped the long walking tour in favor of exploring on our own. Bonus: more cats.

We grabbed drinks at a cafe overlooking the port and then hightailed it back to the air-conditioned ship for frozen espresso martinis.

Later, we grabbed pizzas (Virgin makes a solid pizza) and took them to The Dock for afternoon cocktails. My top pick: pepperoni, well done, with a drizzle of pesto.

Day 5: Corfu, Greece (And Too Many Kumquats)

Sunrise over the Greek Islands was stunning from our balcony.

Video taken from our balcony:

Shawn said this was his favorite port. We wandered through the old town and local markets. Corfu is all about kumquats, and they use them in everything. We bought some at the farmers market, and I may have eaten way more than necessary while cooling off with drinks.

Once again, the afternoon heat drove us back to the ship where I ordered a Miami Vice (half strawberry daiquiri, half piña colada). I drank it on our balcony while quietly feeling sorry for the people on the much older ship docked next to us.

That night was Scarlet Night, Virgin’s signature red-themed party. We dressed up and headed to dinner. Sadly, this was the one night I wasn’t feeling great. Too many kumquats? Possibly. So we had a cozy movie night in the room after dinner instead.

Day 6: At Sea (Also Fuzzy)

Did we start the day with brunch at the best table in The Wake? Yes.

Do I remember much else? No.

Were there cocktails? Without question.

There may have also been a secret magic show… but we’re not allowed to talk about that. 😉

Day 7: Mykonos, Greece (White Walls, Pink Pelican, and More Cats)

After brunch, we took a tender boat into port to explore Mykonos, a true Greek beauty with iconic white buildings and tiny winding streets.

This is where the ultra-rich come to play. Think Beverly Hills with ocean views. The shopping was… well… let’s just say, out of our league. Still, the town was a picturesque maze and we enjoyed wandering. It’s probably not a place we’d return to; it’s a little more glam than our usual vibe. But it’s undeniably gorgeous. Plus, cats. And a locally famous pink pelican.

Back onboard, we had a late lunch of tapas at The Dock while enjoying live music. Virgin never disappoints with musicians.

For our last night, we asked Dino to set up a private dinner on our balcony at sunset as we sailed away from the Greek Islands. Before dinner, we squeezed in one final round at On The Rocks with our favorite bartender, Nemanja.

Back at our suite, dinner was set and a surprise bottle of champagne was waiting on ice. Shawn ordered the special Beef Wellington, and I had a filet from The Wake with asparagus and a wedge salad. I can’t fully describe how special this dinner was; it’s one of those moments that stays with you forever.

Mega Rockstar vs. Regular Rockstar: Was It Worth It?

Since we’ve sailed as regular Rockstars before, we were curious how different the Mega Rockstar experience would feel. Here’s my totally subjective breakdown:

The Butler (Dino):
Dino could do things a Rockstar agent couldn’t:

• Bring us specialty coffee at a set time

• Arrange / set up the special balcony dinner

• Get us any restaurant reservation we wanted

He was lovely, but honestly, we didn’t utilize him as much as we could have. Our Rockstar agent on our last cruise was fantastic, and with a little effort on our part, we could’ve replicated most of this.

The Booze:
Unlimited drinks were fun! We tried cocktails we normally wouldn’t and didn’t stress if we didn’t love one. The in-room bar? Barely touched it. Richard’s Rooftop? We only went a couple times. The free drinks during rooftop happy hour? Skipped them, because free drinks were everywhere already.

We (loosely) kept track of how many drinks we had, and calculated that if we were in a regular cabin we’d have to pre-purchase about $1,000 in bar tab to get a similar experience. If we were regular Rockstars, it would be a bit less than that because we would have spent more time at Richard’s Rooftop during the free cocktail hours and utilized the in-room bar.

If we were travelling with another couple who were not Mega Rockstars, this perk would have been fantastic (for them). We could have utilized our in room bar extensively, bought them drinks around the ship (we could each buy up to two drinks at a time), and shared bottles at dinners.

Unlimited Laundry:
Glorious! We did laundry almost daily, (if we got it in by 10am we had it back by 5pm), which was perfect for our two-week, carry-on-only trip. Plus, Dino made sure special washing instructions were followed (we wanted some things hung to dry.)

On a regular cruise, our loyalty perks give us two big bags of laundry for free, with extra bags at $50 each. If we were in a regular cabin we would have just been more strategic about laundry and made the 2 bags work.

Preferential Treatment:
We noticed a slight difference here. We got pulled out of restaurant lines, seated at prime tables, greeted by name, and managers checked in with us regularly.

That said, as Rockstars, we were still treated very well. We didn’t always get the best table, but we usually got a better than average one.

The Gorgeous Suite:
Size and layout were the big wins here. More living space, a proper sitting area, a huge balcony with cushioned lounge chairs.

We loved all the extra room, especially on a longer trip, but truthfully, we were also perfectly happy in the Seriously Suite as Rockstars.

Transportation:
Private luxury car service to and from the ship was a big perk. Virgin arranged pickup from our Airbnb in Athens and later from the port to the airport. It saved us hassle and felt fancy.

This could be replicated for $300–$400 with a little planning.

Would we go Mega Rockstar again?
Yes, but only if we scored a crazy good upgrade bid. Rockstar feels like a fancy enough upgrade for us. The difference between sailing in a standard balcony cabin and as a Rockstar is significant. The difference between Rockstar and Mega Rockstar was slightly less significant for us.

For any future cruises we book on Virgin, we’ll probably book a standard balcony and toss in an upgrade bid when we can. The only time we’d book Rockstar from the start would be for a bucket-list itinerary, like we did for our 2026 Panama Canal cruise.

Final Thoughts: We continue to be impressed with Virgin Voyages and haven’t grown tired of them yet. They’re jokingly referred to as the cruise line for people who hate cruising, and I can see why. They mitigate or eliminate almost every annoyance that you see on a typical cruise. The service, food and vibes are outstanding. We’re already looking forward to our next one!

Next Up: Part 3 – Split, Croatia

Day 1: This was the amazing view as we walked into our Airbnb in Athens after traveling for 28 hours (including three flights). We were slightly loopy and felt more than a little gross, but after a quick freshen-up, we headed out to explore our neighborhood.

Rule #1 for avoiding massive jet lag: Get outside and stay awake until it’s dark.

As he does, Shawn researched local restaurants and found one with great reviews that wasn’t too far away. It was down a beautiful little street lined with flowers and trees.

We ordered a salad, moussaka, and pita with tzatziki dip for our first Greek meal. Everything was super fresh and delicious.

After dinner, we walked around a bit more to orient ourselves, then headed back to our apartment to collapse. But not before noticing that the nighttime view of the Acropolis from our apartment was even more breathtaking

Day 2: The next morning we woke up early, (easy to do when your body hasn’t adjusted yet), and walked to a local bakery for cappuccinos. Then we met our guide, Zephy, for an almost-private food tour. (We had one other guest with us, a college grad who’d gifted herself a solo Europe trip and was touring several cities on her own.)

We started with a typical Greek pastry: spanakopita, a flaky dough stuffed with spinach and feta. YUM.

Next on our tour was the market. We love visiting local markets when we travel, especially when you get to smell all the spices. One of the olive vendors let us sample several different types of olives. They were all so good, very briny and fresh, nothing like the jarred ones we get at home.

After that, we visited a deli where we got to sit down to a charcuterie board with preserved meats and cheeses. They paired it with local red and white wines, plus the Greek version of grappa (Raki) to sample as well

We were starting to get stuffed, but our tour guide wasn’t done with us yet! Next up was a small restaurant packed with locals. Very intimidating, you just have to know what to order. Zephy took care of that for us and brought out a sampling of typical dishes: giant beans in tomato sauce, greens sautéed in olive oil and lemon, tomato salad with feta, and bread with a yogurt garlic sauce.

Everything was really good. I especially liked the sautéed greens. (Do we look sweaty in this photo? There was a serious heat wave going through the area.)

To finish the tour, we stopped at one of the oldest bakeries in Athens for a cookie sampling. Unfortunately, I tried our guide’s favorite, which had powdered sugar and rosewater, and my mouth tasted like soap for the next hour. But hey, that’s the gamble of trying new foods. Occasionally you hit one that’s not your favorite.

One of the things I loved about Athens was the abundance of cats everywhere. They all seem well-fed and cared for by the locals. They are mostly aloof, but I did get a couple pets in while we were here.

That afternoon, we walked to a different neighborhood to check out a popular craft cocktail bar - rated as #12 bar in the world - Line Athens. The drinks were so creative, and we loved everything we tried before taking an Uber back to our apartment - we weren’t walking back from that one.

For dinner, we decided to wander our neighborhood again and grab a cocktail at another top bar before our meal, #17 in the world - Baba au Rum. There are so many bars & restaurants with outdoor seating, and everyone’s out having a good time once the sun goes down.

Day 3: We got up early again for a tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon. It was a long tour with lots of walking and heavy crowds, all in high heat and humidity. I cannot imagine doing this in the afternoon when the crowds and heat are even worse.

Note to future travelers: This is definitely not a tour for anyone who’s agoraphobic or has mobility issues.

All that aside, the history was fascinating, our guide was excellent, and seeing the Acropolis up close is something you just cannot miss when you’re in Athens.

We walked back to our neighborhood for an afternoon snack, and Shawn found what would become our favorite restaurant of the trip - Enastron. A charming little place with a few outdoor tables under a verandah, and the most welcoming and friendly owners.

We ordered their white anchovies preserved in olive oil, salt, and lemon juice and almost died and went to foodie heaven. It was so delightful that we made a reservation to come back for dinner.

Everything we ate was spectacular, and the owner even brought us shots of Raki and a little dessert. If we had stayed longer, we would have been back there every night.

After our last dinner in Athens, we walked around, soaked in the nighttime city sights, and said hello to all the cats, of course.

Departure Day: The next morning, we woke up early again and walked to a place our food tour guide had recommended (Stani) for a typical Greek breakfast: sheep’s milk yogurt with local honey and walnuts. I was nervous it would be too sweet, but the yogurt was so dense and sour that the honey balanced it perfectly. Honestly, it was one of the best things I’ve eaten

We said our goodbyes to all the neighborhood cats on the walk back, packed up, and got ready for the private transport to the cruise terminal.

Next Up: Part 2 – Our Mega Rockstar Cruise Experience

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Let’s face it: travel is fun. Dragging a 60-pound suitcase up a flight of stairs in a no-elevator Airbnb? Not so much.

Here’s why I’m going carry-on only for a trip like this (and why you might want to try it too):

Why Go Carry-On Only?

1. No Lost Luggage Meltdowns
Raise your hand if you’ve ever stood at a baggage carousel with slowly mounting dread as everyone else grabs their bags and leaves. 🙋‍♀️ Yeah, me too once, years ago. Never again. The risk seems higher now, and I’d rather keep my bag where I can see it (or at least within overhead-bin distance).

2. Baggage Claim is a Vibe Killer
Waiting for luggage eats into your gelato time. So does schlepping a massive suitcase over cobblestones or up charming but evil spiral staircases. Even worse? Trying to wedge an oversized bag onto public transportation in a busy city. No thanks.

3. We Can Actually Lift Our Bags
Our bags top out around 25 pounds. Even with my husband’s lifting restriction, he’s got it handled, and I lift my own bag so he isn’t doing repetitive lifting. One of my travel pet peeves? Watching someone board a plane with a suitcase they clearly cannot lift, then expecting help. PSA: If you can’t hoist it overhead, check it.

4. We’re Seasoned (Packing) Pros
We’ve checked a bag once in the last 20 years, when our kids were tiny. Otherwise, we’ve traveled internationally dozens of times, from tropical beaches to chilly European cities, without ever checking a bag. Practice makes… perfectly packed cubes.

Step 1: The Pre-Packing Spreadsheet

Yes, I have a spreadsheet. I tweak it after every trip. It sparks joy.

It’s my ultimate travel-planning tool: organized by climate, activity, and number of days. Post-trip, I review it like a mission debrief and adjust. Nerdy? Sure. Effective? Very. Here’s an example:

Page 1: The Personal Item - Nomad Lane Bento Bag

Page 2: The Suitcase - Monos Carry-On Plus

For this trip, we have 7 flights, including two European carriers, so lightweight packing is key. Bonus: we have unlimited laundry service on our cruise, which helped me scale down even further.

Things to keep in mind when packing for Europe:

• Try everything on. Make sure your items go together, are comfortable, and that you have the appropriate undergarments for everything.

• Shoes: Test-drive required. Cute doesn’t count if you’re limping. A trip to Europe is not the time to break in a new pair of shoes. Even if you’ve worn a pair of sandals around town at home, you’ll likely be walking a lot more steps than usual, and on uneven surfaces, so be prepared with some moleskin just in case.

• Laundry is usually wash only. If you’re booking an AirBnB and hoping to do laundry, it’s probably only going to have a washing machine. If you’ll need to do laundry on your trip, pack items that dry quickly while hanging.

• Respect local customs. If you're from the US, you're unlikely to blend in as a local in Europe, but you can still avoid looking like a walking advertisement for 'Merica!' and reduce your chances of attracting pickpockets and scammers. A few things to stay away from in general:

  • Prominent logos

  • Tight athletic wear (unless you’re actually working out)

  • Denim shorts or distressed denim jeans

Also, be mindful of the expectations for dress/coverage when visiting religious sites.

Step 2: Suitcase Tetris Begins

Once I’ve laid everything out, it’s go time. I cross each item off the spreadsheet like a game of Packing Bingo.

Inside the Bento Bag:

• Front: Essentials

• Top: TSA + snacks

• Inside back packing area: Makeup, meds, in-flight freshening magic

• Inside front packing area: Tech Pouch, Extra cardigan, Ziploc bag with change of socks & undies

• Laptop slot: Kindle + bleach wipes

In the two easy access top pockets I keep my liquids bag and snack bag. Since we’re going through the notoriously picky security at Heathrow, I opted for the zip top quart size Glad Flex & Seal bag for my liquids, (they’re slightly stretchy, so you can cram more in there), instead of my normal TSA bag.

The Bento Bag opens up clamshell style and has packing compartments on both sides. In the back section I have 3 pouches I like to have handy during the flight; there’s also a top zipper for this section which makes it easy to access.

The black and grey pouches are the Travelon Compact Hanging Toiletry Kit. Black has all my non-liquid makeup items. Grey is my “medicine cabinet” with all my prescription and OTC meds, hydration packets, and extra mints. The leopard bag is my in-flight “bathroom bag” with things like hair ties, lip balm and deodorant wipes.

Inside the Carry-On Plus:

Zip side:

• Taos sandals (in shoe bags)

• Flat sandals tucked on the edges

• Jewelry sleeve and important docs in the mesh zips

• 2 Packing cubes:

  • 3 dresses + 1 pants (large cube)

  • 2 workout sets, swimsuit & coverup (medium cube)

Compression side:

• Travel blow dryer

• Toiletry bag

• Cross-body purse

• 4 Long/Skinny Packing cubes:

  • Hair tools

  • Undies/socks

  • 4 tops + Bras

  • Shorts (2 pairs)

• Curling iron

Everything fits. Everything has a place. And when we touch down, I’m not stuck playing suitcase roulette with airline staff or dragging a mini-fridge-sized bag over cobblestones through a medieval village.

Final Thoughts

Is carry-on-only travel for everyone? Maybe not. But if you like saving time, avoiding stress, and knowing your stuff will arrive when you do, give it a shot. Just maybe start with a long weekend before tackling Europe + Cruise + Flights x7.

Or go all in, I'm not here to stop you. Just bring moleskin.

Then came the email: Virgin invited us to bid for an upgrade. (Cue flashbacks of champagne in the private lounge.) So of course we decided to try our hand at the bidding process. Or, more accurately, Shawn transformed into a cruise upgrade economist, built spreadsheets, stalked cruise forums, and did so much math!

All of his work resulted in 8 thoughtful bids on Rockstar Suites… and one laughably low bid on an ultra fancy, completely ridiculous Mega Rockstar Suite, because why not?

Just over a month before the cruise, he noticed a hold on our credit card for the amount of the laughably low bid - WHAT?! We tried not to get too excited —and then it disappeared 8 days later. No change to our room. No upgrade confirmation. Boo! We told ourselves, “It’s fine! We’re happy with our cute little balcony room!” and then each secretly continued to check the app 12 times a day.

Then, boom: Three weeks out, the upgrade became official. Email confirmation. App updated. Virgin’s concierge team reached out. Holy crap, we’re in a Mega Rockstar Suite!

What does Mega Rockstar even mean? Think “Rockstar Suite on steroids” Like, Beyoncé-level extra. Private transfers. Unlimited drinks. Butler service (yes, a butler) to fulfill any reasonable request, and some unreasonable ones. Daily bar restocks. Free laundry. Priority everything.

So what did we learn?

• Bid like you care... but also like you might be joking.

• Do the math (or have Shawn do it, because I barely made it through Statistics).

• Embrace the chaos. This process is just as much roulette as it is planning.

• And check your bid page once in a while—just in case your “LOL why not” bid accidentally wins.

Even if we’d stayed in our original room, we’d be thrilled just to be on this cruise. But this unexpected twist made everything a little more ridiculous—and way more fun.

Stay tuned for the review of our biggest & bougiest cruise yet at the end of June!