Last Minute and Lovin’ It!
By: Susan Kelly Costello

I’m not very good at last minute vacations. I like the planning, the research, and the anticipation. Sometimes, however, you just have to realize that the stars have aligned, and all components of the trip have fallen into place. The next thing you know, you’re leaving in 10 days!

This was the situation for me and my husband’s cruise October 18 – 25, 2004. My husband Tom liked to think of it as our One Year Anniversary trip. With that as our excuse, we were off to join the Seven Seas Voyager from Istanbul to Venice. While we had visited Venice, Dubrovnik and Corfu last year on our honeymoon, this was our first visit to Turkey. With little more than a week’s notice, I contacted our Virtuoso On Site, United Travel Services, who graciously helped me arrange our hotel in Istanbul, transfers, and private guides for Istanbul and Kusadasi. We stayed one night before our cruise at the Ritz Carlton in Istanbul and found it to be outstanding. The Ritz is a gorgeous and modern building, perfectly located close to the water, with an exceptional staff, and the most comfortable bed a jet lagged traveler could ask for! The next morning our guide met us for a full day tour of Istanbul. We visited the spice markets, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and of course the Grand Bazaar. Our guide was wonderful – her knowledge and personality really made us feel welcome and at ease. We found the city to be friendly, beautiful, and safe.

After our tour, we boarded our fabulous Regent Seven Seas Voyager, the same ship we had sailed on our honeymoon. Some ships just have a graceful ease about them – The Voyager has it. She is beautiful, well appointed, impeccably maintained, and upscale without being stuffy. Regent Seven Seas is a special cruise line for those looking for a special experience.

Our next port of call was Kusadasi for Ephesus. Again, we used our Virtuoso On Site for a private guide and driver. While the cruise lines offer a tour of Ephesus, I strongly recommend this personal tour. We had the opportunity to visit the Terrace Houses in Ephesus, which are not on the typical cruise line excursions. We were the only visitors in the whole building – amazing! These homes are just now being excavated, and were the highlight of our visit – they are a must see!! We again came away from our experience with memories that will last a lifetime. It was a whirlwind trip, and a last minute decision, but oh, was it worth it! By Susan Kelly Costello

Kelly Cruises has preferred relationship agreements with some of the most prestigious tour operators, resorts and hotels around the world. We can assist you with customized shore excursions and tours, private cars with drivers and much more.