Taking the Kids: On a cruise in Greece during the pandemic

Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Content Agency on Sep 23, 2021

Everyone seems to have their favorite spot — the roof-covered, adults-only solarium, the martini bar where the bartenders put on a show juggling shakers, the Broadway-quality shows, the Rooftop Garden where movies are shown on the big outdoor screen and the specialty restaurants.

“I love having our own restaurant,” said Linda Breihar from Austin, Texas. She and her husband have opted for sky suites in The Retreat, kind of a private resort within the ship with access to the Retreat lounge with late-afternoon nibbles and cocktails, a concierge, the private sundeck and the Luminae restaurant for breakfast and dinner where the menu changes nightly and features signature dishes created with Celebrity Chef Daniel Boulud.

Perhaps because people want to splurge after not vacationing for so long or perhaps because they want more space, The Retreat cabins are getting booked first, said Belaubre.

Certainly no one would get bored with some 60 activities to choose from day and night, as well as all kinds of shore excursions. There was morning Tai Chi, pool games, a casino, live music in different venues, art sketching classes, movies, sessions on upping your metabolism and plenty of good eats and drinks, including the new Craft Social, featuring rare craft beers.

Many guests were so pleased they’d already booked their next cruises. “The ship is safer than ever before,” promised Belaubre. He added, “We have to get used to this. It’s not going to go away.”

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia, the 13th in the kid’s guide series, was published in 2020, with The Kid’s Guide to Camping coming in 2021.)