Is anything more enticing than a cruise? The variety available today—from classic ocean liners to intimate small ships, from expedition voyages to river cruises—is astonishing. Who would have expected such a revival just a few years ago? For my October birthday trip I’m booked on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner with a group of loyal subscribers and members of our Globility Board. They’ve been organizing pre-cruise excursions for months; I thought I had time, but now I’m hurrying to choose the tours and sights I want to explore in and around İstanbul, where our voyage begins.
© Francis X. Gallagher
Twenty of us will sail together, and the Mariner calls at several ports I’ve never seen. After leaving İstanbul, we’ll spend a day cruising the Aegean Sea before arriving at our first stop: Ephesus (Kuşadası). There we plan to tour the ancient ruins, visit the House of the Virgin Mary and explore the Ephesus Museum. According to tradition, John the Evangelist brought Mary to Ephesus to protect her following the crucifixion.
From there we’ll sail to Mykonos, Greece, where we hope to visit a local monastery and take in the island’s iconic scenery. Next is Katakolon for a tour of Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Our final Greek port is Corfu, known for its elegant palaces and lush landscapes.
Continuing our journey, the ship will call in Montenegro before cruising along the Croatian coast with stops in Split and Zadar. In Zadar we’re considering an excursion to Šibenik and a nearby Dalmatian village—an opportunity to discover the region that inspired the names of our two Dalmatians, Beau and Ella. The voyage concludes in Trieste, Italy, where we’ll disembark and transfer to Venice Airport for our return flight on British Airways via Heathrow back to Newark.
We timed our return so we can attend the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center Roundup Gala on Oct. 24 in Philadelphia. I encourage contributions directly to CCTC or participation in the silent auction; details will be shared soon. Funds raised support CCTC’s vital work delivering comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to children and families across the Philadelphia region. These programs help address the effects of abuse, neglect and other early childhood challenges, enabling children to thrive in their homes, schools and communities.
Enjoy this Cruising Issue—I hope it inspires and helps you plan an exciting cruise for 2026.
Francis X. Gallagher
CEO and Publisher