My cruise with lifelong friends was all White Lotus luxury with none of the drama

The latest season of The White Lotus put female friendship firmly in the spotlight. And, as the show revealed, there’s nothing like a holiday with lifelong friends, as Vickie Maye discovered on a dream all-inclusive cruise

We booked our trip with Sunway, opting for Norwegian Cruise Lines. The 18-deck Viva is a classy, upmarket vessel.

The most recent season of The White Lotus brought female friendships to the fore. Some commentators focused on the trio’s troubled dynamics, others centred on the positive resolution — their lifelong bond would withstand all.

I focused on another element all together: their sun-soaked all-inclusive getaway.

Approaching a birthday milestone with my two school friends, we wanted our own exotic holiday. No dinners to cook, play dates to arrange, school drops to coordinate.

Laurie, Jaclyn and Kate in The White Lotus.

The trio on The White Lotus chose a Thai resort. My school friends and I opted for something a little closer to home — but just as luxurious.

Our getaway would take in the Greek islands of Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes, with an overnight stop in my dream destination, Istanbul.

And we would do it all from the five-star comfort of a cruise ship.

For those who recoil at the thought of a holiday at sea, it’s time to rethink the cruise stereotypes.

It’s not a holiday for retirees (our ship had people of all ages and demographics), nor is it tacky. Sure there are pool parties, but you can choose to ignore it all and while away an afternoon on a quieter outdoor deck.

A quiet outdoor deck on the 18-deck Viva vessel

We booked our trip with Sunway, opting for Norwegian Cruise Lines. The 18-deck Viva is a classy, upmarket vessel.

Deck eight was our go-to on board. Stunning infinity pools to cool down in, with sun beds and outdoor seating as luxurious as any five-star hotel. We opted for the all-inclusive option, so afternoon cocktails at the pool bar became part of a welcome routine.

There’s an all-day lavish buffet on deck 17, or you can choose table service at Indulge on the eighth floor.

An Infinity pool on the Viva vessel

Our €1,500 package also included the option to eat at three speciality restaurants — our highlight was the seafood dining at Pomador.

Our once-in-a-lifetime holiday didn’t come cheap, and took saving and planning, but we felt reassured that Sunway had found us the very best deal. And on an all-inclusive option, that cost was our only outlay.

For kids, deck 18 has three daredevil rides — The Drop is all you’d expect, and more. Incredibly, there’s even a karting track.

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Our package didn’t include spa treatments, but I was just as content with my morning runs in the ship’s state-of-the-art gym. If Broadway’s your thing, there are musicals at Viva theatre - we had Beetlejuice The Musical on the programme. The night time entertainment can be the cruise stereotype — or you could, like us, head upstairs to the classy Observatory lounge for after dinner drinks.

Viva was so vast we realised guests can tailor their cruise holiday to be anything they’d like it to be.

Vickie Maye: Viva was so vast we realised guests can tailor their cruise holiday to be anything they’d like it to be.

My highlight though was pulling open the curtains each morning to a different view, and with it, a new destination to explore.

On day one we explored the cobblestoned villages of beautiful Santorini with its white-washed buildings and sky blue roofs.

A word of warning — with towns heaving with tourists, we had to abandon the weaving queues for the cable car and walked the arduous 500 steps back to port. Not for the faint hearted.

Our stop at Ephesus the next day was another highlight — we opted for an NCL tour to really absorb the history.

Louise Dunne, Karen Hough and Vickie Maye on their trip of a lifetime

Day three was the one I’d been waiting for.

Long on my bucket list, Istanbul lived up to expectations. We toured the historic sites, from the iconic Blue Mosque to ancient Byzantine palaces at Hagia, bought souvenirs at the Grand Bazaar and watched the sunset from a rooftop restaurant under the Bosphorus Bridge.

The next day we caught the water ferry to the Asian side of the city, and stopped for Turkish coffee in one of Istanbul’s cool cafes.

We said goodbye to Turkey, and returned to Greece for day trips to Mykonos and Rhodes. We explored these stunning islands each morning, returning to the ship each afternoon to deck eight for sunshine, laughter, and afternoon cocktails.

We spent the week reminiscing on four decades of memories together, while building more for the years ahead – all without a trace of White Lotus controversy.

Cruise control: Pick what's best for you

“Choosing the right cruise depends on your interests, travel style, budget, and timeframe,” says Deirdre Sweeny,
general manager of cruises at Sunway.

“A very general breakdown of the cruise companies is as follows: NCL Cruises are foremost in luxurious cruises for couples. Fun on board is around adventure — waterslides and a Formula 1 racetrack as well as luxurious fine dining and Broadway-style shows, live music, comedy, and interactive game shows — especially on their newer ships like Norwegian Viva, Prima, Encore, and Escape.

“Royal Caribbean are the perfect ship for families. They have large ships with lots to do like waterparks, surf simulators, and parades. Royal Caribbean ships have surf simulators (Flow Rider), a skydiving simulator (Ripcord by iFLY), Zip lines, 10+ story dry slides (The Ultimate Abyss), ice skating rinks, an AquaTheater with live high-diving shows at sea as well as laser tag, bumper cars, and escape rooms.

“Celebrity is best known for luxury, romance and culture. Celebrity is also known for its specialty dining — perfect for foodies. They offer excursions focused on culture, cuisine, nature, wellness, and adventure — with a more elevated, adult-focused, and curated experience compared to most mainstream cruise lines.

“Disney cruises are perfect for families with young kids. They have top-tier kids clubs, Disney shows, and themed dining often involving characters, storytelling, interactive environments, and rotating venues that are completely different from each other.

“MSC cruises are budget-friendly cruises. MSC is an Italian-based cruise line, and many ships reflect that heritage. MSC has a ‘pay for what you want’ approach – you can upgrade from Bella, which is standard, to Yacht Club, an exclusive area with suites, private restaurant, pool deck, lounge, and 24/7 butler service.

“Princess Cruises stands out from other cruise lines with its blend of elegant, relaxed luxury, destination-focused travel, and a quieter, more mature atmosphere — often appealing to adults, couples, and experienced travellers. Guests often describe it as ‘a floating boutique hotel’. It’s ideal for couples, honeymooners, solo travellers, and retirees. Princess is widely considered the top cruise line for Alaska.

“Virgin Voyages is a radically different cruise line — designed from the ground up for adults, especially millennials and Gen Xers, who want a modern, fun, upscale cruise without the norms of traditional cruising (no buffets, no kids, no dress codes). There are no kids allowed. Virgin dropped the old dining model — no main dining room, no assigned seating or times, but there are 20 restaurants to choose from.”

Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself to ensure you pick the bestoption for your party:

Destination and itinerary: Where do you want to go? How long? What ports of call?

Cruise line and ship type: What vibe do you want? Family-friendly? Luxury? Adventure? Adults-only? Solo?

Budget: What’s included in the fare (meals, drinks, gratuities, wifi, excursions)? What are the extra costs (specialty dining, alcoholic drinks, shore excursions, spa treatments)?

Cabin type and location: Cabin style and budget, location on the ship.

Dining options: Is there rotational dining, flexible dining, or buffet only? Are specialty restaurants included or extra?

Onboard activities and entertainment: What interests you? Pools, water parks, theatres, casinos, fitness, enrichment lectures? Entertainment style: Broadway shows, live music, comedy, cultural performances.

Shore excursions: Are excursions included or paid? What is on offer?

Travel dates and duration: Details of offers and shoulder season deals for better prices and fewer crowds.

Booking tips: Book early for best cabins and deals, or last-minute for your best shot at a discounted rate. Use a travel agent – they will have insider knowledge.

Travel on the Norwegian Prima to the Mediterranean taking in Rome, Nice, Florence and Salerno on May 24. The Fly/Cruise special offer is €1,169 for seven nights full board, with
return flights and checked bag. Add €279pp to include a Premium Drinks package, wifi, speciality dining and a shore excursion credit.

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