More used to budget hostels, reporter Owen Sennitt gets his first taste of cruise life. On a week-long trip spent island hopping around the Aegean Sea, he quickly finds the delights of sailing the high seas hard to resist.
I have seen panoramic sunrises and sunsets that can only be described as sublime. I have had enough pina coladas to make a coconut blush. I have seen more sun than a Californian raisin.
After an incredible seven-day adventure across the Aegean Sea on board Tui’s Marella Cruises, I am hooked on the joys of cruising and within hours of returning, I was already looking to set sail again.
In July, my partner Kelly and I had the privilege of being invited on Marella Cruises' Marella Discovery ship for the Ottoman Odyssey cruise, which visits six destinations in Greece and Turkey.
Together with more than 1,800 passengers, we explored the mesmerising streets of Istanbul, ancient ruins on the historic islands of Bozcaada, Crete and Rhodes and the port towns of Marmaris and Bodrum.
I'll admit I was initially somewhat sceptical about cruise holidays – I thought it may be more geared towards families or retirees.
But I was wrong and we both found there was so much to experience that there was never a dull moment.
RELAXATION FROM THE OUTSET
Since moving to Norwich nearly a decade ago, holidays abroad have often got to a chaotic and stressful start.
Getting a bus in the early hours of the morning or a train that arrives in the nick of time to a London airport is usually the routine.
But flying from Norwich has been a revelation, helping it turn into a relaxing experience right from the outset. Why did I not do this before?
While Norwich is small, it has all the facilities you need and going through security and checking in was a breeze.
Our flight to the Turkish airport of Dalaman went off without a hitch, despite a recent global tech outage that caused many larger airports to face huge delays.
By late afternoon following a short coach transfer, we were on board at the lively port town of Marmaris in southern Turkey.
I had also downloaded the Tui app beforehand, which made keeping track of our itinerary effortless.
LIFE ON BOARD
Arriving in our balcony room, we were greeted by panoramic views of the harbour and a bottle of fizz on ice, which was swiftly popped open.
It has everything you would need inside and ample storage. Throughout our stay, our home was kept in tip-top condition by Jemali, Ketut and Mark, who made us feel welcome and cared for, especially thanks to the little chocolates on the pillow at night.
The ship is vast, with two swimming pools, numerous bars and restaurants, gym, casino and even a Broadway-style theatre, which had entertainment to enjoy every night.
We enjoyed learning some Latin dance moves, which we later got to try out at the club, which stays open till 2am.
The entertainment was fantastic and these events really helped bring everyone together – particularly the deck parties which were soundtracked by some great musical acts. Four Tunes, billed as the best band on the seven seas, lived up to the high praise.
For a real treat, we enjoyed a couple’s massage one evening, choosing the hot stones treatment, which left us feeling so relaxed it was hard not to stay horizontal.
FABULOUS FOOD
Of course, one of the most important things about a cruise is the food.
Despite mostly following a vegan diet, we found we were spoilt for choice.
One night, you can enjoy a romantic Italian meal at Gallery 47 then the next, overindulge at the Islands buffet.
More laid-back options like the Snack Shack were perfect for poolside treats.
There are also three fine dining restaurants that serve steak, sushi and speciality pan-Asian dishes at a very reasonable additional cost between £16 - £30 for a three-course dinner.
Every meal we had was delicious and full of flavour. I particularly enjoyed the curry night and salad bar at the buffet restaurant while Kelly's favourite place to be wined and dined was in the beautiful setting of Gallery 47.
RUINS AND MEZZE
The Ottoman Odyssey is a trip likely to satisfy everyone. From the vibrant city life of Istanbul to the gorgeous beaches of Crete, there is something to appeal to everyone, provided you don’t mind the heat - temperatures soared to 36C on some days.
History buffs in particular will find the destinations fascinating, giving people the chance to explore the ancient ruins of Troy, the Minoan palace of Knossos, the medieval walls of Rhodes and much more.
We went on a number of excursions. These included paddle boarding at the beach, and a trip to Lindos to see the acropolis - one of the most stunning archaeological sites in the world.
One of our favourite days was in Bozcaada, where we spent hours wandering through meandering cobbled streets marvelling at the white-washed buildings draped with vibrant-pink bougainvillea flowers.
There was plenty of time at each stop to explore, giving you the opportunity to indulge in a wine tasting, stop for a Turkish coffee pick-me-up or enjoy a lavish mezze feast.
I would jump at the chance to visit any of these places again.
'A TRIP TO REMEMBER'
For Kelly and I, this cruise adventure was an incredible trip that we will be gloating about for years to come.
We were made to feel truly special and made so many memories in the process - I would recommend this trip to anyone.
CRUISE FACTS
Owen Sennitt was a guest of Tui's Marella Cruises, which has a seven-night all-inclusive Ottoman Odyssey cruise on the Marella Discovery ship from £1,112 per person.
The trip included return flights from Norwich to Dalaman, Turkey.
Visit tui.co.uk for more information.
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