Wish List Travel

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

May 16–20: Walt Disney World: A last-minute steal! We snagged cheap Southwest flights with points, booked Disney’s All Star Sports for four nights using my travel agent perk (total: $465), and are using the Disney+ Perks ticket offer for three park days (note: not valid at Magic Kingdom). Perfect little warm-up to the travel marathon.

June 23–July 1: Carnival Venezia out of NYC: We’re sailing with friends — a mix of cruise veterans (hi cousins!) and first-timers — and stopping in Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and Grand Turk. Sun, sea, and new-ship vibes. Fingers crossed for great food and even better sunsets.

July 15 – July 28: Enchanted Princess: This is the big one and my first Wish List Travel group trip: 15 staterooms, 43 travelers, round-trip from Rome with stops in Salerno, Santorini, Kusadasi, and Katakolon. Many of us are arriving early for pre-cruise adventures. Our family has five nights in Rome to cram in the classics — Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, the Aventine Keyhole, the Catacombs, and, of course, the Roman cats at Torre Argentina. Might even squeeze in a day trip to Naples (pizza pilgrimage? yes, please).

Dec 17–22: Disney Magic Very Merrytime 5-Night Western Caribbean from Galveston: Sailing on one of the classics, decked out for the holidays, with stops in Cozumel and Progreso. After the cruise we’ll head straight to my brother’s for a family Christmas — holiday cruising, followed by holiday chaos, in the best way.

That’s the headline version — lots of cruising, a little Disney, and a whole lot of Italian gelato in between.