Three generations, three family suites, seven Mediterranean ports—and the kind of memories you can’t put a price on.
I travel a lot. I’ve explored more than 150 countries across all seven continents, and I’m always looking forward to the next place on my list.
But some trips simply mean more.
This summer, Dave and I traveled through the Mediterranean with our children and grandchildren—10 of us altogether. Three generations of Badgers and Elkins began our journey in Venice, sailed aboard Norwegian Pearl through Croatia, Montenegro and the Greek Islands, and ended our adventure in Athens.
Was it the most luxurious trip I’ve ever taken? Perhaps not.
But luxury wasn’t the point.
It was one of the most meaningful journeys of my life because, as much as I love discovering the world, there is something incredibly special about experiencing it with your family.
It All Began in Venice
If you want to begin a family vacation with a little magic, Venice is pretty hard to beat.
We stayed at Relais Il Doge, an amazing little property with only five rooms, tucked just around the corner from St. Mark’s Square. Our family occupied four of the five rooms, so it almost felt as though we had our own little Venetian home.
And the location was extraordinary.
From our window, we could look directly onto St. Mark’s Square.
During the day, it was filled with people. But early in the morning and late at night, it became an entirely different place.
I would look out and see this magnificent square almost completely empty—sometimes with only an occasional security patrol walking through. Those quiet moments are some of my favorite memories of Venice.
For several days, we explored the city together—wandering along the canals, crossing little bridges, eating pasta and gelato, visiting Doge’s Palace and taking a private boat to Murano and colorful Burano.
For the grandchildren, Venice became far more than a place they had seen in photographs. History, art and culture came alive around them.
And, of course, there was time simply to stop for a spritz and watch Venice go by.
Then it was time for the next part of our adventure.
All Aboard Norwegian Pearl
After several days in Venice, we transferred to the cruise port in Ravenna, where we boarded Norwegian Pearl for a seven-night cruise through Croatia, Montenegro and Greece.
Our itinerary was terrific:
Ravenna → Dubrovnik → Kotor → Corfu → Katakolon/Olympia → Santorini → Mykonos → Athens
For a multigenerational family vacation, Norwegian turned out to be a very good fit.
We booked three 2-Bedroom Deluxe Family Suites with Balconies—one for each family group. That setup was perfect for the 10 of us.
We could spend as much time together as we wanted while everyone still had a comfortable space to retreat to at the end of the day. When you’re traveling with 10 people, that matters!
I also appreciated Norwegian’s relaxed, freestyle approach to cruising.
There wasn’t a feeling that all 10 of us had to be in the same place at the same time every day. We could choose where and when we wanted to eat, enjoy different activities and then come back together.
That gave the grandchildren freedom to have fun, allowed the parents to enjoy time together and gave Dave and me the opportunity to experience the journey with everyone—without every day feeling overly scheduled.
Our dining benefits and drink package made the experience even easier. We could enjoy dinners together without turning every meal into a production, and the adults could order a cocktail or glass of wine without thinking about the cost each time.
For a family group, that flexibility was one of Norwegian’s greatest advantages.
A Different Adventure in Every Port
One of the reasons I loved this itinerary was its variety. Each port offered something completely different—and our family didn’t always have to do the same thing.
In Dubrovnik, some of us explored the marble streets, historic walls and beautiful Old Town, while others headed out on a Jet Ski adventure. That evening, all 10 of us came back together for dinner at Gradska Kavana Arsenal.
That became one of the rhythms of our trip: separate adventures during the day, followed by stories and laughter around the dinner table at night.
In Kotor, some of the family chose a rock-climbing adventure, while others toured more of Montenegro and explored the region at a relaxed pace. Surrounded by mountains and one of Europe’s most beautiful bays, everyone experienced the destination in a way that suited them.
Corfu brought us turquoise water, pine-covered cliffs and the spectacular coastline surrounding Paleokastritsa. We boarded a small local boat to explore sea caves and hidden grottos, including the famous Blue Eye, and then enjoyed time beside the water. Later, we traveled to the village of Lakones for panoramic views and a taste of Greek appetizers.
At Katakolon, we stepped back thousands of years at Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. We walked among the ruins, imagined the grandeur of the Temple of Zeus and stood at the starting line of the original Olympic stadium.
Experiences like Olympia gave the grandchildren something no textbook could provide. They could stand where history happened and begin to understand how the ancient world continues to influence our lives today.
After exploring Olympia, we traded history for relaxation with an afternoon beside the Ionian Sea—the perfect balance for a family with different interests and energy levels.
Then came Santorini.
There are places you have seen hundreds of times in photographs, yet when you finally stand there, they still take your breath away.
Santorini is one of them.
We began in Oia, perched high above the Aegean Sea, and continued through the island’s beautiful villages. Whitewashed buildings, blue domes and cliffs dropping into the brilliant caldera surrounded us at every turn. We enjoyed a meal overlooking the water before ending in Fira and descending to the port by cable car.
Santorini was every bit as beautiful as we imagined it would be.
In Mykonos, our family had a private minibus and the flexibility to explore at our own pace. We wandered through whitewashed lanes, saw the famous windmills and waterfront, and then ventured beyond town to experience some of the island’s beaches.
The cruise allowed us to experience ancient ruins, medieval cities, sea caves, beaches and Greek-island villages without packing and unpacking every day.
For a family of 10, that alone is a very good reason to cruise!
And Then There Was Athens…
We disembarked in Piraeus, but our adventure wasn’t over.
A private driver met us at the port and took us to our hotel to drop off our luggage. From there, we began a private guided tour that brought Athens to life through its myths, gods and ancient history.
We explored the Acropolis and stood beneath the Parthenon while learning the stories of Athena, Zeus, Poseidon and the heroes who shaped Greek mythology. We visited the Erechtheion, Propylaea and Temple of Athena Nike before continuing to the Acropolis Museum, where sculptures and artifacts connected those stories to the ruins we had just seen.
For the grandchildren, it was an extraordinary learning experience. Ancient Greece was no longer something found only in books.
They were walking through it.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, I turned 75.
My family celebrated my birthday with me at Kuzina, a rooftop restaurant overlooking the illuminated Acropolis.
Seventy-five years old, sitting beneath the Athens sky, surrounded by my husband, children and grandchildren.
I’ve had some extraordinary travel moments in my life.
That one is near the top.
The following day, part of our family joined a guided tour through Athens’ neighborhoods and food markets. We sampled olive oils, cheeses, meats and traditional Greek dishes while learning about everyday life beyond the famous landmarks.
Others followed their own plans, and we later enjoyed time to wander, shop, revisit favorite places and sit together at neighborhood cafés.
Once again, everyone had the freedom to experience Athens in their own way—and then come back together.
The Best Part Had Nothing to Do With the Destinations
Of course, I loved Venice.
I loved exploring Croatia and Montenegro.
I loved sailing through the Greek Islands.
And I’ll never forget celebrating my 75th birthday overlooking the Acropolis.
But when I look back at this trip, those aren’t the first things I think about.
I think about the 10 of us sitting around a dinner table.
I think about the conversations while walking back to the ship.
The grandchildren laughing.
Someone always looking for food.
Someone wanting to shop.
Someone ready for a cocktail.
Someone moving faster than the rest of us—and someone else telling them to slow down.
In other words… family.
Traveling with 10 people isn’t always simple. Everyone has different interests, energy levels and ideas about what makes a perfect day.
And that is exactly why this combination worked.
We planned certain experiences together, gave everyone room to do their own thing and always found our way back together.
Norwegian gave us a wonderful home base. Our three family suites provided the space we needed, and the itinerary offered something for every generation.
But the real gift was time.
Uninterrupted time with the people we love most.
After traveling to more than 150 countries, I’ve learned that the destination matters—but who you share it with matters even more.
If you have been thinking about taking that big family trip someday, here’s my advice:
Don’t wait for someday.
Take the trip.
Bring the children. Bring the grandchildren. Figure out the logistics. Make the reservations.
Because years from now, you probably won’t remember every dinner you ordered or every excursion you took.
But you’ll remember exploring ancient cities together.
You’ll remember the grandchildren discovering history beyond the pages of a textbook, the parents having time to relax and everyone gathering around the dinner table at the end of the day.
Most of all, you’ll remember being together.
The Mediterranean was spectacular.
But the time we shared was priceless.
And that is what made our Mediterranean family adventure truly unforgettable.
If you have been dreaming about bringing your own family together for an extraordinary journey, I would love to help you create it.
Travel Better. Travel Smarter. Travel Elite.