Our Second Curated Travel Group Cruise Sets Sail on the Mediterranean
Our second group cruise hosted by our very own Curated Travel embarked from Venice on September 28th, 2019. Following a couple of days exploring the iconic charms of Venice our group of friends/clients (who’ve become friends) was ready to set sail on the Azamara Pursuit on a boutique-style smaller ship cruise cruising the Dalmatian and Amalfi Coasts.
Life onboard the Azamara Pursuit includes all-inclusive luxury and just about every amenity you can imagine: fresh flowers, luxury linens, robes & slippers, unlimited beverages, free bottled water, gratuities, 24 hour room service and much more.
Our first stop on this Dalmatian and Amalfi Coast cruise was Koper in Slovenia where we enjoyed exploring the colorful village plus a complimentary ‘Azamara AzAmazing’ concert onshore for our evening entertainment.
In Sibenik, Croatia, we toured the historic city center, were awed by the ornate cathedral and enjoyed local seafood and wines.
Our complimentary Virtuoso day trip to charming Kotor included a private walking tour, a visit to the museum, a wine tasting on the private terrace, a boat ride out to Our Lady of the Rock plus a foodie style seafood lunch at the chic Regent Porto Montenegro one of our preferred brand partners.
Corfu, Greece!
Cerulean waters, golden beaches and panoramic views for days.
The next day ushered in a charming stroll on the Corso Umberto high on the mountain in Taoramina, Sicily.
Scott and I discovered a gem for lunch serving mouthwatering pizza, cannoli and local wine with views of the sea.
For obvious charm and this pizza, Taoramina was one of our favorite stops.
Our final full day included a boatride along the stunning Amalfi Coast and an aperitif (with a side of shopping!) in Positano.
Our only rule? Celebrate Everything!
The White Night Party, a ‘BIG’ birthday plus a heartwarming engagement!!
Our Mediterranean cruise was even more fun than we could’ve imagined. Just reviewing these photos to create the post makes me smile. A big thank you to our friends for joining us on the Amalfi & Damaltian Coasts cruise and to Azamara for the fabulous service and amenities.
For more on our trip visit our pre-cruise stop in Venice plus Scott and I explore Puglia at Canne Bianche Lifestyle post-cruise.
For More on Curated Travel in Italy:
I’ve read that half the pleasure of travel is the anticipation. I’m in that phase now with my upcoming solo trip to Italy. I find myself envisioning the sights, sounds, tastes, and even the rose gold hues of sunset over the Arno River bathing Florence. I can almost taste the cacio e pepe (we made it in a cooking class in Tuscany) and the gelato di caffe’. I’m checking the weather report daily (mostly highs in the upper 60s) to envision my daily clothing needs and am fully packed early for this trip.
Arriving at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is an event in and of itself. Our driver whisked us through majestic gates, past antique statuary and formal gardens to this stately, historic property. It sits on 12 acres on the peninsula just north of Sirmione and is bordered on both sides by Lake Garda. This location yields the most amazing lake views from all angles.
The first stop on my long-awaited return trip to Italy, for a luxury travel event, was Milan. Though I have traveled through Milan, with stops at Malpensa airport and the train station, I have never ventured out to explore the heart of the city. On this trip, I blocked out time to recover from jet lag and acquaint myself with this vibrant city for a couple of days. And yes, on this trip my luggage arrived with me!
After numerous canceled trips over the last 2 1/2 years, Italy is finally back on my horizon! I’m beyond excited to be invited to attend Travelux, a fully hosted luxury travel event in Venice, hosted by Nebe Club. If you’ve followed this blog for several years you may remember that I attended this same event at Lake Como in 2018. Yes, that’s the one where I had all the fancy events and my luggage didn’t arrive for 6 full days! Travelux is an exceptional experience and I found it to be a life-changer for my travel business.
I wish I could say I’m writing to you from Italy today but, no, not just yet. Last week I spent three glorious days connecting with brand partners in Italy through Duco Virtuale, an invitational luxury travel network in Italy. It was wonderful to connect on one-to-one zooms with old and new Italian friends in the industry. With all the downtime this last year, hotels and resorts have refurbished, refreshed, created new protocols, and reimagined unique ways to experience la dolce vita. They are counting the days until they can welcome Americans again and we have much to look forward to.
I'm reminiscing on a game-changing solo trip I took to Italy three years ago this week. Though I’ve enjoyed several Italian adventures in the years following this entire travel experience opened new doors for my Curated Travel business and reaffirmed my staunch adoration for the magic, beauty, and deliciousness of Italy and the charm and verve of the Italians. Plus, I learned some essential packing strategies I will never forget!
Virtual travel is more popular than ever with all the time most of us are spending at home these days. There is nothing more delectable than pasta in Italy and I’ve been looking forward to sharing a cooking class we experienced at Casina delle Rose at Fonteverde in Tuscany. Famed Chef Salvatore Quarto was our master teacher and the classic dish pici cacio e pepe (pasta with cheese and pepper) was on the menu. This delicious dish is simple yet decadent. We hand-rolled each strand of pasta for class but with some pecorino cheese, fresh pepper, and a lovely premade or even dried pasta, it’s easy to recreate from the pantry.
I had planned to arrive in Italy today for a luxury travel event in Venice. My itinerary included a brief stay in Milan, a hosted tour of Turin, followed by a full weekend of luxury events in Venice. I have been looking forward to Travelux 2020 since I attended for the first time in March of 2018. That event, hosted at Lake Como, was filled with luxury travel experiences in and around Lake Como, San Remo, and Abano Terme. The trip caused me to fall even more in love with Italy, Italians and living la dolce vita. The event was also a life-changer for my new travel business.
A collection of blog posts written/photographed by Heather Lindstrom, owner/travel advisor at Curated Travel, on nearly twenty years of travels to Italy.
Enjoy a glimpse of ‘la dolce vita’!
Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Curated Travel
I’m Heather Lindstrom, founder and owner of Curated Travel, where I design seamless, story‑driven travel experiences for the modern traveler who values beauty, intention, and ease.
I craft bespoke itineraries for clients with a passion for wanderlust‑worthy destinations—whether it’s the charming streets of Italy, the romantic allure of France, the vibrant culture of Spain, the ancient history of Greece, the scenic landscapes of the UK, or the breathtaking coastlines of Croatia. I also curate elevated all‑inclusive escapes and luxury cruises throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Mexico, French Polynesia, and beyond.
My love for travel, design, art, wine, and cuisine—paired with trusted relationships across the world’s leading luxury travel brands—allows me to secure exclusive amenities, thoughtful perks, and meaningful upgrades for my clients. In today’s travel landscape, expert and seamless planning isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential. My role is to ensure your journey unfolds effortlessly, beautifully, and far beyond what you imagined.
One of our favorite regions of Italy is the Italian Riviera, and we find ourselves returning again and again. The dazzling Italian Riviera is situated in the region of Liguria, in northwestern Italy. It stretches along the beautiful Ligurian Sea, beginning near the French border at Ventimiglia and extending to the Tuscan border near La Spezia. Nestled between the sea and the rugged hills, this iconic coastline is famed for its Mediterranean charm, colorful villages, and idyllic landscapes.