Puglia, on the eastern coast of Italy, has recently risen to the top of my destinations to explore in Italy. When I learned that our Mediterranean cruise would be ending in Rome, I jumped at the chance to finish up our trip to this beachy, sunswept region.
As a travel advisor, I typically design full‑service, door‑to‑door journeys—hotels, transfers, tours, trains, every detail handled. But sometimes you may only need that spectacular hotel you already found, and still want access to those coveted Virtuoso amenities. We get it. When it’s a hotel‑only stay, you may feel it’s simplest to book it yourself, especially knowing you’ll still receive the full Virtuoso benefits and have Curated Travel + Cadence standing behind your reservation with dedicated support for anything you may need along the way.
2025 turned out to be an unforgettable year of travel—three trips to Europe in just six months! That was a first for me, and what a whirlwind it was. Scott and I kicked off the year sailing through the Caribbean on Explora I, easing into January with sunshine, sea breezes, and that signature Explora luxury experience.
Embarking on a Mediterranean luxury cruise is like stepping into a dream—where ancient cities, sun-drenched coastlines, and indulgent amenities await. But to make the most of this opulent journey, a little preparation goes a long way.
Scott and I used to whisper it to each other over the years: “We aren’t really cruisers.” We happily schlepped our way through cobblestoned Italian hill towns, wandered along Mediterranean seafronts, and checked into luxurious beachfront resorts, proudly proclaiming ourselves land‑lovers through and through. But after one too many grueling European trips spent hauling luggage from place to place every few days, we realized that small‑ship cruising deserved a place in our travel repertoire.