So Many Beautiful Ports of Call... but is it too much for a first-time cruiser?

Join us back onboard the Marella Discovery 2 as we start our port-packed itinerary with the beautiful Turkish port of Kusadasi, followed by the cultured Greek island of Mykonos. There's so much to see and explore here; from history soaked streets to vibrant coastlines, we're going to explore them all. But the adventure doesn't stop at the ports; join us onboard for a wealth of shenanigans, fuelled by endless food and drink. What more could you want! We'll also be weighing in on a first-time cruiser's first impressions of holidays at sea, and sea what they think of it... if you pardon the pun! #marellacruises #cruisevlog #cruiselife /// Day 3: Kusadasi - Hilltop Views and Ships Galore Our day began with Marella Discovery 2 arriving at our first port of call of this port-packed itinerary, Kusadasi. With a busy port, and many opting to either stay onboard or travel to Ephesus, we kept the port in our sights and walked up to the Sevda Tepesi viewpoint for some breath-taking sights of Kusadasi. We were lucky enough to watch the Norwegian Viva sail in, whilst we soaked up the sun and sights. Some bopping and dancing later, it was back for a sneaky Snack Shack lunch, before heading out of into the port once again. This time, we were lucky enough to see the Ambassador ship leaving from the portside. A short walk to the local beach before our time in Kusadasi came to a close. We had much to say about someone's first port of call, before time was cut short as we had to enjoy a beautiful sailaway, a sunset, and then a relaxing dinner from the buffet. 00:00 Welcome to Our First Port of Call 03:14 Dancing at Sevda Tepesi 06:09 Sneaky Snack Shack 06:52 Sailaways and Beaches 07:47 Chatting About Kusadasi 10:26 A Sunset Sailaway 12:20 Delicious Buffet Dinner /// Day 4: Mykonos - Seabus Rides and Windmill Vibes Our port-intensive itinerary continued with Mykonos, a culture-rich Greek island offering coastline views and plenty of sunshine. We were able to get to the old town by sea bus, that picked us up directly opposite where the ship docked. There was so much history and architecture to soak up here as we took a slow stroll, exploring each street that caught our eye. After exploring the side streets, the beach, and a few ruins, we found ourselves at the famous Windmills of Mykonos; a desired destination of a certain first-time cruiser. There was a chance whilst here to soak it all in, before food called us back to the ship. It was a surprise afternoon tea that filled our bellies, with some downtime to follow. We took the opportunity to show off our sub-par golfing abilities on Marella Discovery 2's mini-golf course, before taking some time to reflect on the day's activities. After someone's jacket incident that led to them being late to the sailaway, it was one that was reflected on as "rather dull" as Marella Discovery 2 headed straight out of port and into the open ocean. It was beautiful none the less with an equally beautiful sunset to match. It was another delicious meal in buffet as the promise of Tex-Mex drew someone in. Some line dancing around the buffet later, and we found ourselves reflecting on the cruise so far, as we sadly reach the half-way point. 13:25 Arriving on Mykonos Shores 16:10 Soaking Up the Local History 17:17 A Peaceful Walk Around the Town 18:12 The Windmills of Mykonos 21:49 Seabus Back to the Ship 22:39 Afternoon Tea and Sub-Par Golfing 25:37 A Day in Review with Captain Announcement 34:21 A Late Sunset Sailaway 35:28 Dancing Round the Buffet 36:43 Halfway Holiday Sad News 39:39 Is Marella Discovery 2 Too Old? 43:56 First Time Cruisers Experience 54:36 The Adventure Ahead