This Might Be the Best Way to Travel With Your Mom

One of the significant headaches of travel, at least in this travel writer’s opinion, is having to unpack and move hotels multiple times quickly. While it’s lovely to experience many destinations on a trip abroad, let’s not pretend that schlepping heavy luggage along winding cobblestone paths is remotely romantic. Enter the Viking cruise trip with my mom. We showed up at Valetta’s stunning Grand Harbour, slightly groggy from the transatlantic flight but impressed with our golden stone surrounds nonetheless. Upon check-in at the dock, we immediately surrendered our bags, awaiting us in our surprisingly spacious accommodations. We were assigned to a Penthouse Veranda room, which each features a private balcony. After unpacking and settling, we set out to tour the vast ship, the brand’s newest, The Viking Venus.

With this logistical headache out of the way, Patrish and I could focus on the excitement of our Mediterranean trek. The route took us from Malta’s vibrant capital of Valetta to the stunning Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, to four distinct stops in Croatia, and then back to the Maltese archipelago. Getting to experience multiple countries while only unpacking once is a true gift and makes for such a relaxing getaway.

Read the Ship Review: Viking Venus