The “little sailboat” that became a Mediterranean cruise with my mother

The surprise

Keeping the ship secret was almost the hardest part.

The journey began in Rome and continued through the Mediterranean. I wanted the first sight of the ship to be part of the present, so I kept describing it as something much smaller.

Travelling with my mother changed the pace. The point was not to collect ports but to enjoy the time together and leave room for what she wanted to do.

Rome, Amalfi and Sicily

Three very different days on the same cruise.

Each port asked for a different plan: history and long walks in Rome, coastline and timing on the Amalfi Coast, and food and street life in Sicily.

A cruise itinerary looks simple on paper, but port distance, local transport and the time required to return to the ship can change the day completely.

What I would check

The ship matters, but the port logistics matter too.

• Check where the ship actually docks, not just the city name in the brochure.
• Leave margin for returning to the port and do not plan every minute.
• Choose the cabin and onboard package based on how you will really use the ship.
• When travelling with family, build the pace around the person you invited.