Worldsurfer

We just received an update from Azamara that our scheduled port call on August 15 is still on, but that some excursions will have to be "adjusted." Unsure what that means, but in general, the fact that ships are still visiting the island might be encouraging.

FYI

https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-rhodes-island-greece-heatwave-europe-df9155c19c7af5b81d9e6b2afa7fafd1

Ports: Like most cruisers, we started with the cruise line and over time have evolved into planning our own unless the excursion takes us far from port. That said, we have booked our own Ephesus excursion so we could avoid the rug and pottery hard-sell stops. The moorings for Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Zadar are right in their lovely old towns and do not require excursions unless you are interested in something specific. I tend to think that there is no reason to do Azamara branded excursions on small islands (except, perhaps, Santorini) since the main reason to book with the cruise line is that guarantee that the ship won't leave without you if there is a delay.

Do your research (Cruisemapper.com) on the number of ships in port on the day you moor in Santorini; the challenge there is getting up to the crest with thousands of your fellow cruisers, so I advise pre-planning your choice for transportation and decide it's worth it to pay for the ship's excursion that will get you bussed to the top or wherever you might be going (like "Oia on your own). 
 

OBC: I like to have a list of services that I wish to have booked when I call - and when you call, be prepared to be on hold for an hour or more.. It is extraordinarily annoying that the website makes booking excursions all but impossible, but still we play the game..

Spa: That's been covered. 

Specialty dining: We are vegetarians, so Prime C offers nothing special for us, but we do recommend the Chef's table, especially if you are socially inclined - good conversation and an enjoyable, elevated dining experience. The main dining room has a nice ambiance and scale compared to most ships these days, and we have never been unhappy dining there. The Patio is really enjoyable for casual dining, especially in the evening. 

 

On 3/7/2023 at 12:06 PM, Hlitner said:

One can easily spend 2 hours (or more) just walking through the ruins at Ephesus and one should make sure that the tour includes a visit to the Terrace Houses (this is within the Ephesus grounds but has a separate fee and is often bypassed by cruise line excursions.

Hank, thank you most sincerely for this tidbit. This is exactly the kind of information that makes this board so informative. Hope I can return the favor at some point. Private tour booked, terrace houses on the itinerary. Cheers! 

We, a family of vegetarians, have dined at the Chef's table and it was a lovely experience. No one batted an eye at our requests that we made at the time of our reservation, and the other diners thought nothing of it. I was told that the chef enjoyed the opportunity to color outside the lines. Wines were pared beautifully and our dishes were given the same considerate explanations. The other guests who joined us at the table were lovely, and the conversation was purely enjoyable. 

Thank you for taking the time during your vacation to share your travels. I happened across this thread while planning an Italy/Switzerland cruise/drive vacation this summer. In considering a FP vacation to celebrate my husband's retirement in 2024, I was delighted to find so many helpful suggestions in this thread. Safe travels, and wishing you an early and warm spring in Spokane. 

Hlitner, good input. Our adventure was anything but exhausting! On the trip I described, we reveled in the city and had plenty of time to relax in the piazzas, most especially the Piazza dell Signoria, Piazza del Duomo, and Piazza Santa Maria Novella enjoying the magnificent architecture, dining from rooftops, and lingering over the art. 

What helps is that we research and planned extensively in advance. On this particular trip, we saw the city on our own and visited the major sites in the evenings or mornings when crowds were all but non-existent. We had all of our tickets in advance and dined at our leisure, as you suggested, off the main squares. The time that most people spend waiting or in the crowds, or waiting for tour guides, we were visiting the places we love most. My point is that one really can see Florence in a couple of days if time-restricted and have a fabulous experience.

We tend to visit cities over a few days and then rent a car or take trains to the more outlying regions rather than zig-zagging in and out of cities. It is really a matter of preference;  you can't go wrong!  

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

One of my favorite hotels in one of my favorite areas of Rome. Excellent for walking around, many restaurant choices. And yes, love that terrace!!  (However, you should be aware that it closes somewhere around late October for the winter season.) 

Very good point an one of which I was unaware. Still, as you have mentioned, a very nice hotel  in a location well-suited for waking to many interesting places.

I am fond of the Albergo del Senato, on the Piazza della Rotunda where the Pantheon sits. The rooms are old style - good enough, the building lovely, the breakfast heavenly - but the secret of secrets is that the rooftop bar overlooks the Pantheon and much of the city. Our first evening in Rome with a late drink, olives and tapas overlooking the Pantheon and the piazza is an experience that stands out in my mind as one of the best of my life. 

Lovely photos, Bennybear. I am watching the Bologna episode as I type. Watching this show is like having a crush and just hoping to catch a glimpse of the object of your love. Though I enjoy the foodie aspect, I enjoy it most for the scenery - hill towns, piazzas, sculptures, vineyards....

The last time I traveled, I sandwiched an Azamara Italy intensive cruise between two weeks on each side traveling independently. Looking forward to the next similar travel plans that will take me around Italy and up through the Dolomiti into Austria and Switzerland

I am tragically in love.

I concur with going to Florence. On our last trip landed in Rome, took the train immediately to Florence (a lovely trip through parts of Tuscany), went to our hotel, had a leisurely dinner at a nearby cafe and then went to the Accademia and Uffizi late afternoon and evening. That night we returned to enjoy a rooftop meal, and were up leisurely to climb the dome and other sights that were less congested. That evening, we took the train back to Rome to our hotel adjacent to the Pantheon. We rounded out that evening with another rooftop bar overlooking the Pantheon It sounds hectic, but it was pure heaven. We returned to Rome for three more days before setting sail. I couldn't recommend that itinerary more! 

That's a terrific little bit of insight, Lookyboy. Thanks for the tip! 

Lifelong vegetarian here too. Thank you, Fern, for your summarizing your experience. We will definitely speak to the food and beverage manger thanks to your helpful advice. That said, we feel like we have had more dining options on our cruises than in many of our local restaurants. Pleased to see the cruise lines making the effort!

I expect that leaving early will require speaking with Guest Relations. 

How early can we disembark?

Can we remove our own luggage, or is it mandatory to have the crew take care of it? We are thinking that by leaving with our own luggage, there might be some time saved.

With plans to stay in Ortesei that night (and perhaps take a lift up before five), we are hoping to get on the road early.

Hiccups, a running tour is something that I had never crossed my mind. What a great idea! Thanks.

It sounds like the hairdryer is mediocre, but I am still unclear about which wattage to bring. It sounds like my 1875 wattage will be too powerful.

What does work? Utog, good to know about the GHD. Is it 1600 watts?

Thanks in advance.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your thoughtful review. It helps us anticipate some highlights and how to adapt to changes. 

l appreciate the information on times and distance. 

Good mention of the carts/trolleys. That I hadn't anticipated. I like to think that I am a cooperative, respectful runner, so I'll definitely defer to pedestrian traffic. 

For those of you who track their runs, you will understand when I say that my favorite maps of my runs are those that show ovals over a blue sea!

I run alone, so I am a little hesitant about running in ports, but I will investigate.

Thank you for mentioning balance issues. Since I'm a surfer, it will be interesting to see if this is a factor.

Thanks to all of you for helping run enough calories to enjoy the pasta!

I have to say that the removal of the casino was one of the factors that weighed into our decision to try Azamara on this cruise. We aren't against the idea, per se, just delighted to have what looks like another attractive place to spend time, which makes quite a difference on a smaller cruise ship. 

I would appreciate input from you more seasoned Azamara cruisers:

Fans: Do they have any small fans that can be requested for use in the staterooms?

Hair Dryers: Are they adequate enough or am I better off brining my own? Does anyone know the wattage of the ones that are supplied?

Clothing Steamers: Are they approved for use in the room? We have butler service. Is a quick press part of the service? 

Thank you, as always.

Thank you for the candid description of what to expect, Lookyboy. I hope that a crowded track isn't always the norm as I one of the reasons that I booked was the dedicated place for runners. It didn't occur to me that it would also serve as the primary promenade for people strolling. The "dreadmill" will have to for the sail away.

Werangels, good tips and most appreciated. The raffle scene is a familiar one for this corporation. 

42 minutes ago, uktog said:

I would say yes just dodge the oooh aaah sightseers 

Well, as those would be sightseers of the ship and scenery, instead of me, I doubt I'll have much to dodge :-D.

Thank you. Yes, I imagine the pool would be more easily navigated than the spa/gym areas. You just got me thinking that if possible it might just be better to go run on the dedicated track.

Hello, all.  

Is either the pool area or gym open during the boarding process? I am hoping to do something active rather than succumb to a mountain of snacks before ever leaving the port.

Thanks so much!

As a runner, I can see why it's impossible to jog and nearly impossible to walk this deck and will comply with the no jogging rule. Sa to see that the loungers are gone too. While I appreciate the dedicated jogging track, this really is the end of an era to what was one of the most enjoyable aspects of cruising that even a balcony stateroom cannot provide.