Enchanted Memories Travel - Jenn Bache

07/23/2026

Our final stop on our amazing adventure was a quick afternoon in Dublin, Ireland! 🍀🇮🇪

After flying in from Venice the morning after our cruise, we made the most of every minute. Our first stop was the iconic Guinness Storehouse, a seven-story interactive experience that tells the story of Ireland's most famous stout—from the brewing process to the history of the Guinness family and the brand's legendary advertising. The highlight was definitely the Gravity Bar at the very top, where we enjoyed our complimentary pints while taking in incredible 360° views of Dublin. Even if you're not a big b**r drinker, it's a really fun experience!

From there, we wandered through the streets of downtown Dublin before making our way to Trinity College Dublin Ireland's oldest university, founded in 1592. Its beautiful historic campus is right in the heart of the city and is home to one of Ireland's greatest treasures—the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells Experience was awesome, showcasing the incredibly detailed illuminated manuscript created by Celtic monks over 1,200 years ago. And then there was the Long Room library...like being in Hogwarts - towering bookshelves filled with centuries of history. Even though many of the books were temporarily moved for restoration purposes, it was every bit as impressive as we'd hoped and the perfect way to end our trip.

The next morning, we boarded our direct flight home with enough memories to last a lifetime.

From the ancient ruins of Greece to the whitewashed cliffs of Santorini, the medieval cities of Croatia, the canals of Venice, and finally the charm of Dublin, this was truly a trip we'll never forget! Until the next adventure... ✈️🌍

07/20/2026

🇭🇷Split, Croatia was our next stop and the final port of the cruise. This coastal city is a mix of ancient history and modern waterfront life.
Built around the incredible 1,700-year-old Diocletian's Palace, Split feels like you're walking through a living museum, with Roman ruins, narrow stone streets, shops, cafés, and homes all woven together.

The kids enjoyed the challenge of climbing the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. The climb was definitely worth the panoramic views over the red rooftops, the harbor, and the sparkling Adriatic Sea. ⚓️

Of course, we had to stop by the famous Statue of Gregory of Nin. Legend says rubbing his big toe brings good luck, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity! (Judging by how shiny that toe is, we're definitely not the only ones!)

After exploring the old city, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Olive Tree along the beautiful Riva waterfront. Sitting outside with the sea breeze, surrounded by palm trees, boats, and bustling restaurants, it was the perfect place to relax and soak in the atmosphere.

Split was the perfect blend of history, culture, amazing food, and stunning scenery. Another memorable day of our overseas adventure!

07/17/2026

Athens, Greece! 🇬🇷

After our ship docked in Piraeus, the historic port that has served Athens for thousands of years, we were met by our private tour guide, Pantelis from Olive Sea Travel. He took us all around the city to see its most famous landmarks. Having a local guide made such a difference—we learned so much about the history and stories behind each stop, as well as about his life growing up there.

We watched the ceremonial Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, visited the Panathenaic Stadium—the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896—and climbed to the city's highest point, Lycabettus Hill, where we were rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views over all of Athens, stretching all the way to the sea.

🏛️Of course, the highlight was seeing Acropolis, the ancient hilltop citadel that has watched over Athens for more than 2,500 years and is home to the iconic Parthenon, one of the world's most recognizable symbols of ancient Greece.

It was a day filled with history, stunning views, and unforgettable moments. Athens truly is a city where ancient civilization and modern life blend together in the most remarkable way. Another amazing day on this unforgettable adventure! 🇬🇷

07/15/2026

🇬🇷 Santorini is one of the most iconic islands in Greece! After tendering from our cruise ship, we boarded buses that climbed the steep cliffs, treating us to incredible views of the Aegean Sea along the way.
☀️Our day began at the beautiful Royal Beach Club Santorini, a new, all-inclusive resort that included an unlimited Greek cuisine buffet, live music, unlimited drinks with lounge chair service, and top notch hospitality while enjoying the black volcanic sand beach and swimming in the sea. 🌊
Our next stop was Oia, Santorini's picture-perfect village famous for its iconic whitewashed buildings with blue domes, narrow cobblestone streets, and spectacular views. It's easy to see why it's one of the most photographed places in Greece! 📷
We also visited Fira, the island's capital, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the volcanic basin. 🌋
From relaxing by the beach to wandering through postcard-worthy villages, Santorini was another unforgettable destination! 🌅

07/14/2026

🇭🇷Dubrovnik, Croatia was hands down my favorite port of the trip!
Walking the ancient city walls was absolutely unforgettable — every turn brought another incredible view of the Adriatic Sea, the terracotta rooftops, and the beautiful Old Town.
Dubrovnik is known for its remarkably preserved medieval Old Town, stunning stone walls, and as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
After walking the walls surrounding Old Town, and enjoying a delicious meal, we decided on an impromptu swim in the Adriatic Sea! The kids loved jumping off the rocks.
From the history and architecture to the breathtaking views from the walls, this was one of those places that completely exceeded our expectations. We already want to go back! 💙✨

07/12/2026

🚢 All aboard Royal Caribbean’s The Explorer of the Seas for the second half of our trip! 🌊
This ship has has an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, multiple pools and whirlpools, a spa and fitness center, live entertainment, specialty restaurants, mini golf, wave rider and more.
Here was our 7-night Greece & Croatia itinerary from Port of Ravenna:
* Day 1: Depart Ravenna, Italy
* Day 2: Dubrovnik, Croatia
* Day 3: Day at sea
* Day 4: Santorini, Greece
* Day 5: Port of Piraeus (Athens, Greece)
* Day 6: Day at sea
* Day 7: Split, Croatia
* Day 8: Return to Ravenna, Italy.

📷 Stay turned for more pics from each of these incredible ports!

07/11/2026

🇮🇹Venice! A magical Italian city built on 118 islands, where cars are replaced with boats on winding canals under historic stone bridges.
Fun Fact: This city is built entirely on wooden piles driven into a salt lagoon.

🚄 After a train ride from Rome, a water taxi picked us up and brought us to our hotel: Hotel Colombina. These taxis are beautiful small wooden speed boats - like being in a James Bond movie.

We spent the day walking through the winding streets, exploring the little shops, crossing countless bridges, and making our way around St. Mark's Square, experiencing St. Mark's Basilica, and Doges Palace, and watching local artists along the canal.

Of course, we had to take a gondola ride—it was such a fun experience and definitely a highlight of the day.

🎼After enjoying more amazing Italian food, we ended the evening with a classical concert of Italian symphonies inside the Church of San Vidal, and a late night stroll back to our hotel stopping for gelato along the way. The music and the setting made for a really special night.

🫶Venice completely won us over. It's one of those places that's hard to describe until you experience it for yourself.
If we're ever lucky enough to return to Italy, Venice will be our top place to visit again! 🌟

07/10/2026

🇻🇦Vatican City, is home to St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and some of the most famous artwork and treasures in the world.

We toured with a small group, and an extremely knowledgeable tour guide.

The pictures don't even come close to showing what it's really like. You just keep walking through room after room, and every single one is filled with unbelievable paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and details in the ceilings, walls, and floors.

As many pictures as we took, they really don't capture the scale or the feeling of actually being there. It's definitely one of those places you have to experience for yourself, and we're so glad we had the chance to see it.

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

🇮🇹The next stop on our adventure was the Naples area...

We started the morning exploring Pompeii, and it was one of those places that really leaves you in awe. Pompeii was a thriving Roman city until Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, burying it under ash and preserving it for nearly 2,000 years. Walking the ancient streets, seeing the homes, shops, and ruins, it was amazing to imagine what life was like all those centuries ago.

Next, we were treated to a wonderful lunch, w**e tasting, and tour at Bosco de' Medici Winery. The vineyard sits right beneath Mount Vesuvius, so we enjoyed delicious local food and w**es while taking in some spectacular views. It was a relaxing and memorable experience.

Our last stop was the breathtaking Royal Palace of Caserta. The palace is absolutely massive and filled with beautiful artwork, grand staircases, and elegant rooms that seem to go on forever. It was built in the 1700s for the kings of Naples and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world. Ethan requested visiting here as he knew some scenes from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones were filmed there, with the palace standing in as the Royal Palace of Naboo!

Every stop on this trip has been so different, and today was the perfect mix of history, incredible scenery, and delicious food and w**e.

Next stop: Vatican City!