Read the World
A family travel series where the books you love become the places you go. Read together before you leave. Explore together once you arrive. Remember it forever. Your children won't just read about ancient civilizations. They'll stand where they happened.
Chania · KatakolonPorts of Call
One-way sailing: fly into Athens, home from Rome.
Join the Interest ListWhat is Read the World?
Read the World is a family travel series where books become unforgettable adventures.
Every journey begins long before embarkation. Together, families read stories inspired by the destinations they'll visit, then experience those places firsthand through immersive travel, history, and culture.
Each Read the World Volume features a different destination, carefully selected books for every age, curated recommendations, and optional experiences designed to help families connect with both the places they visit and one another.
This isn't just another vacation.
It's a chance to read together, explore together, and create the kind of memories your family will talk about for years.
Read together before you leave. Explore together once you arrive. Remember it forever.
Listening to The Lightning Thief together before school.
Standing beneath the Parthenon a few months later.
Looking back years from now at the photo where fiction became reality.
Mediterranean
Live the stories you love.
From the creator of the wildly popular FantaSea Cruise, Read the World is a new kind of family vacation: a real ship, a real itinerary, and a story your kids already love waiting at every stop. Volume I sails from Athens to Rome, tracing the real settings behind Percy Jackson and The Odyssey — the exact stories everyone's obsessed with.
This isn't a themed cruise like you're used to. It's a real 7-night Mediterranean sailing on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, built for readers of all ages, including families with kids of every age — with bookish activities, curated swag, port guides, and onboard extras layered in so everyone arrives at each destination already living inside the pages. This isn't about visiting old ruins. It's about realzing the story was real all along.
Piraeus Harbor, Athens
7 Nights, Athens to Rome
This tale begins in Athens and concludes in Rome.
Athens
Walk in the shadow of the Parthenon.
Home of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and the gods of the ancient scrolls. Since this sailing is one-way, arrive a day or two early if you can — there's a lot to see.
- The Acropolis & Parthenon
- Acropolis Museum
- Plaka, the old town, on foot
- Changing of the Guard, Syntagma Square
- National Archaeological Museum
Mykonos
Sail past the sacred island where Apollo was born.
Whitewashed lanes, iconic windmills, and a short boat ride to Delos — the sacred island where Greek myth says Apollo and Artemis were born.
- Windmills of Chora
- Little Venice waterfront
- Day trip to Delos
- Panagia Paraportiani church
- Beach time for the family
Ephesus
Stand before the Library of Celsus.
One of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, and once home to the Temple of Artemis — a Wonder of the Ancient World.
- Library of Celsus
- Temple of Artemis ruins
- Terrace Houses
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Ephesus Archaeological Museum
Santorini
Watch the sun set over the lost world of Atlantis.
The blue-domed island everyone pictures when they think of Greece — and the volcanic caldera many scholars link to Plato's legend of Atlantis.
- Sunset walk through Oia
- Fira cable car & caldera views
- Akrotiri, the "Greek Pompeii"
- Volcano & hot springs boat tour
- Red & black sand beaches
Chania, Crete
Step into the legend of the Labyrinth.
Ancient home of King Minos and the Labyrinth. This is Minotaur country — the myth practically walks you through the old town.
- Old Venetian Harbour & lighthouse
- Chania Archaeological Museum
- Local market (Agora)
- Optional excursion to Knossos Palace
- Samaria Gorge hike (older kids/teens)
Katakolon
Run the original Olympic track at Olympia.
A small harbor town that's the gateway to ancient Olympia — birthplace of the Olympic Games and home to the ruined Temple of Zeus itself.
- Temple of Zeus ruins
- The original Ancient Olympic Stadium (kids can run the track)
- Temple of Hera, where the Olympic flame is still lit today
- Archaeological Museum of Olympia
- The harbor village of Katakolon itself
Rome
Stand inside the Colosseum where legends were made.
The voyage ends where Roman mythology takes over from Greek — same gods, new names, and a whole city built on the stories. Consider a post-cruise night or two here.
- The Colosseum
- Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- The Pantheon
- Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
- Trevi Fountain
A Reading List for Every Age, Every Stop
Whether you prefer to read solo or your family devours books together or every member of your book club has their own favorite genre, we've included some initial reader recs for every age.
Athens
Home of the Olympian gods and the myths that started it all
Mykonos
Gateway to Delos, the sacred birthplace of Apollo and Artemis
Ephesus
Once home to the Temple of Artemis, a Wonder of the Ancient World
Santorini
Ancient Thera — the volcano many say inspired the legend of Atlantis
Chania, Crete
Home of King Minos, the Labyrinth, and the Minotaur
Katakolon
Gateway to Olympia, home of Zeus's temple and the first Olympic Games
Rome
Where the myths keep going — same gods, Roman names
Something for Every Age on Sea Days
Little Explorers
- Adventure Ocean's Aquanauts & Explorers groups
- Splash pad & pools
- Storytime & arts and crafts
- Public ice-skating sessions, Studio B
- Character breakfasts & family game shows
Middle Grade Crew
- Adventure Ocean's Voyagers group
- Rock climbing wall
- Mini golf & sports court
- Hands-on science experiments
- Foosball & capture-the-flag tournaments
Teens
- Optix, the teens-only club (DJ booth, soda bar)
- Rock-wall challenges & open-mic karaoke
- Late-night teens-only parties
- Perfect Storm water slides — Cyclone & Typhoon
Parents' Chapter
- Spa & fitness center
- Adults-only Solarium
- Specialty dining, just the two of you
- A quiet corner and an actual chapter or ten
- Suite Sun Deck, for suite guests
Cabin Categories
Choose the stateroom that's right for your family's adventure.
Interior
- Cozy, budget-friendly option
- Full access to all ship activities
Ocean View
- Window or porthole sea views
- Full access to all ship activities
Ocean View Balcony
- Private balcony
- Fresh air & sea views on demand
Junior Suite
- Roomier layout with private balcony
- Plush Royal Caribbean bathrobes
- In-room Lavazza espresso machine
- Upgraded bathroom amenities
- Priority boarding & reserved Suite Sun Deck
Owner's Suite (1 BR)
- Everything in Junior Suite, plus:
- Separate bedroom & largest suite layout
- Personal concierge service
- 24-hour complimentary room service
- Priority dining reservations
- Access to the Suite Lounge
- Behind-the-scenes ship tours
Extend the Adventure
Pre- & Post-Cruise Stays and Excursions
We're finalizing optional pre- and post-cruise hotel packages in Athens, plus curated shore excursions bookable through Read the World. Details will be added here soon — join the interest list below to be the first to know when they go live.
Reading The Lightning Thief together before school.
Standing beneath the Parthenon a few months later.
Looking back years from now at the photo where fiction became reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need passports?
Yes. Because this is a one-way sailing between Greece and Italy, every guest needs a valid passport — a birth certificate alone won't work for this itinerary. Your passport must stay valid for at least 6 months after our return date of June 14, 2027. See Royal Caribbean's official travel document guidance for more detail.
How old does my kid have to be for the kids' club?
Adventure Ocean welcomes potty-trained children ages 3–11, split into age groups so your little one is playing with kids their own size. Teens 12–17 have their own space, Optix. See Royal Caribbean's official youth program FAQ for full details.
Do you recommend travel protection?
Yes! Travel protection is strongly recommended. I can send you options with our preferred provider, Travel Insured, to make sure your family's vacation investment is protected.
What's included in the cruise fare?
Your stateroom, dining (buffets, a la carte, and the main dining room each evening), and Royal Caribbean's entertainment are included. Drink packages, WiFi, specialty dining, and excursions cost extra. See Royal Caribbean's full breakdown of what's included.
How do I book?
Fill out the form below or reach out to me directly and I'll walk you through pricing, stateroom options, and deposit details for your family — just make sure to select me, Erica McCall, as your agent.
Are gratuities included?
No, gratuities are separate from your cruise fare. Many families prepay them before sailing so it's one less thing to think about onboard. See Royal Caribbean's gratuity policy for current rates.
What if we haven't read these books yet?
No pressure at all — the reading list is meant to add to the adventure, not be homework before it. Some families read together for months beforehand, others pick up a book or two along the way, and some just enjoy the trip and dive into the stories after they're home. Every path works.
As a mom of two nerdlets, avid reader, former classroom teacher, certified librarian, and award-winning travel agent, I can assure you that this group is going to be unlike anything you’ve been part of before!
Fill out the interest form below. Be sure to select Erica McCall as your agent so the request comes directly to me.