It’s Okay to Leave the Kids... to take a luxury cruise!

It’s Okay to Leave the Kids to Take a Luxury Cruise

7 Nights of Iconic Mediterranean Magic with Viking Ocean Cruises—Barcelona to Rome

Sometimes the best thing we can do for our families is take a little time away to recharge—and a luxury cruise with Viking is just the way to do it. And we did just that! It was our first time on a Viking Luxury Ship. Their Iconic Mediterranean itinerary delivers the perfect mix of culture, cuisine, coastline, and calm, with seven nights of elegance and ease as you sail from Barcelona to Rome.

Here’s how our trip unfolded—and why this itinerary might just be the permission slip you need to say, “See you soon, kids.”

We Came Early. You Should Too. (Or we should have…)

We planned to fly into Barcelona a few days before embarkation, giving ourselves time to get over jet lag and explore the city at our own pace. (Unfortunately, Heathrow closed due to the unforeseen fire and threw air travel into a frenzy. More or that later. And an excellent reason to have travel insurance and fly in a few days before your cruise.) From Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Familia to tapas feasts in the Gothic Quarter, this was the perfect way to ease into vacation mode before stepping aboard. We ended up doing a being able to explore Barcelona but will have to go back to explore the little towns up the coast ro Costa Brava that we had planned.

The Itinerary: Day-by-Day Luxury

Day 1: Barcelona, Spain

Boarding day! We were welcomed with champagne, settled into our veranda stateroom, and enjoyed our first dinner onboard. We enjoyed ourselves so much I chose to leave my phone in our room. The ship was sleek, serene, and designed for grown-ups—just what we needed. And the ships are only a few years old. You can tell they are NEW!

Day 2: Montpellier (Sète), France

Charming canals, quaint cafés, and a local oyster tasting made this stop feel like a secret gem of southern France. Viking’s included excursion offered a guided walking tour, and we had time after to wander on our own.

This town kept me thinking of Babar the Elephant. A great book for kids. And a book I’d suggest as a gift to grandkids or kids as souvenirs.

After our included walking tour of the town we venture through the street market (AMAZING fresh food) before heading up to the top of the town. We hiked our way thru the town up some 384 stairs to Mont Saint-Clair where we were treated to a beautiful view of all the cities. You an get their by car and an excursion is available through Viking, but if your up to working odd a few of the calories your consuming on board and in town—the urban hike is great.

FOODIE TIP: Sète is known for a pastry called Tielle. For history on the yummy snack go here . We tried a few and I thought they were tasty—think delicate pastry dough with a wonderful tomatoe sauce and octopus. It really was different but GOOD! And of course I ate it too fast, and forgot to take a pictures.

Places to check out to try tielle: La Cettoise-Tielles, Tielles Giulietta, and Factory Tielles Sophie Cianni & co

Day 3: Marseille, France

We joined the included tour to the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde and then wandered Le Panier for local shopping. Viking provides an included overview of the town along the water before allowing you to explore on your own. The other exclusions were fantastic but we again chose to explore on our own.

We opt for exploring so we walked to the train station and rented a cute little car to explore to roads of southern France. BEST decision. Look what we found. [Keep in mind: most cars are stick shift. Lots of one way streets. Expect excitement and that you’ll be driving in circles for a bit.]

Gorgeous hikes and scenery only 45 minutes away. A perfect day trip for us! And still plenty of time to spare! And made it back for afternoon tea on board with our new friends we made on board.

Day 4: Monte Carlo, Monaco

We loved the guided walk through Monte Carlo’s old town, included with our cruise. Afterward, we made time for our own mini adventure: following the Grand Prix route and popping into the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo for a peek. There are tons of little streets to explore with small cafes and shops. Venture down to the shore to experience to high life or stay near the palace grounds and partake in the lovely gardens and history near the port.

Day 5–6: Florence or Pisa (Livorno), Italy

With two full days docked in Livorno, you can do a lot—and Viking helps you do it well. We chose their included Florence tour one day and arranged a Tuscan cooking class on our own the next. You could also venture to Pisa, Siena, or Lucca. The options are endless! Don’t forget to ask my about the best affagotos and best local dining experience.

Tip: Pre-booking a personal driver or small-group tour gives you flexibility and keeps the pace relaxed or opt for adventure and take the train (we can help and tell you exactly what you need to do!)

Day 7-10: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Our cruise ended in Civitavecchia, but we weren’t done yet. We stayed several extra nights in Rome, soaking up the Eternal City. We explored the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, and Trastevere—and enjoyed every espresso-fueled, cobblestone-stepped moment. We traveled this year during Jubilee which added a whole new spin on historical pilgrimages. Most recently the Pope passed in addition to the Jubilee so it is important to keep up to date with new and changing closures.

Tip: Viking offers post-cruise extensions, or you can plan your own. We’ll share what we did and tips for making the most of your time in Rome!

Why Viking?

• No kids, no casinos—just calm, culture, and connection

• Veranda staterooms for every guest

• Included excursions in every port, plus optional upgrades

• Free WiFi, wine with meals, access to the spa’s thermal suite, and more—all included

• An adult-focused onboard vibe that feels refined but not fussy

• And the elephant in the room: Viking is for the OLDER crowd. While the majority of the crowd is a retired and trends older...we loved it. We had some newly weds on board that were in their 20s, along with other couples in there 40s and 50s. This is a cruise to relax and enjoy--read a book, enjoy the scenes and have wonderful conversations.

• There were daily lectures, plenty of pool time-- NEVER CROWDED. And great stories to hear from new friends.

  
  

More Than a Cruise—It’s Your Adventure

What we loved most about Viking was the balance: expert-led excursions, free time to explore, and the ability to create our own memories along the way. We’ll be sharing our personal tips, favorite finds, and helpful hacks from each destination in upcoming posts—so you can plan your own perfect version of this iconic Mediterranean journey.

So yes—it’s okay to leave the kids.

And it’s more than okay to say yes to slow mornings, sunset sails, and fresh perspective. This cruise gave us all that and more.

Want help booking your own Viking Ocean Cruise? Or tips for extending your stay in Rome or Barcelona? I’d love to help you make it happen. Let’s plan something unforgettable.