Live from Greece and Croatia

[uktog]

5 minutes ago, Kimbasmum said:

You went through a lot to get that meal, and the food looks splendid.  What a pity the ambience conspired against you too!  Sounds like one of those occasions/meals you will remember forever for all the wrong reasons - I think most of us can relate to that at some time!  Enjoy your downtime with Downton and the duvet.

Thanks you are right it will have lots of memories but today I’m just trying to keep an eye on the positive ones especially given how wet it is outside. But still warmer than back home another positive to hang ontoBut still warmer than back home another positive to hang onto

[nordski]

I admire your positive attitude and the meal you were served looks fantastic.

 

I find it a bit mystifying as to why they would offer a speed boat experience on the idyllic waters around Kotor, but obviously there is a market for such a tour. 
 

Really appreciate the time and effort you are devoting to helping us share in your experience. It’s been a delight to read.

[uktog]

Yes Corfu was a day of pizza and movie in the room and we thoroughly enjoyed it especially as something we’ve never done before. It rained all day so I did feel sad for those who did not see the beauty of Corfu that we had seen the week before.
 

Darren did an outstanding show and certainly the first sitting that we saw was even better than last week if that is imaginable and he was clearly taken aback when he got a standing ovation at the end of a song not at the end of the show - of course there was another ovation at the end of the show.  You can see why he was previously a headliner guest act on big cruise ships such is his talent. 
 

Today the weather gods are happier with us - the sunrise was stunning

 

and we are enjoying a glorious day in Argostoli in what is Azamaras first ever stop here. It is quite a breezy day which could make white  nights a little bit interesting for those who decide to go on deck. We will eat in prime C me go down for the dancing later. 
 

 

One of the features of Argostoli  is that down at the harbour front there is a large colony of loggerhead turtles who are being looked after and monitored by specialist conservationists. We did like being able to chat with two of them who were from the UK and to see that excitement when a new young turtle was spotted in the area which  they did not think they had tracked  before.

The residents female  is big Barb we were lucky to spot her who has evidently been here for over 30 years and is still laying eggs but is very lazy and relies on the fisherman to throw off cuts to her something that bothers the biologists because she actually puts herself and her young at much greater risk of a propeller strike as a result. 
 

we walked around town (not a lot to see) 

 

 

it’s quite a long walk from the ship the pier alone is over 800 m long and there is no buggies or anything to help you up. There is also no shuttle to town - you can see the distance from this balcony view

 

so whilst the ship said it was a 15 to 20 minute walk it’s double that. In the morning we were pestered quite a bit on the walk by local taxis trying to get us to come on Ireland to us with them so certainly if you want to do your own thing here it’s going to be pretty easy. There was also a local train €10 that took you around the town but you had to walk a good mile to get to it which kind of for Cruisers defeats the object

[DS]

On 10/14/2022 at 3:39 AM, Kimbasmum said:

You went through a lot to get that meal, and the food looks splendid.  What a pity the ambience conspired against you too!  Sounds like one of those occasions/meals you will remember forever for all the wrong reasons - I think most of us can relate to that at some time!  Enjoy your downtime with Downton and the duvet.

UKTOG.... we are INSANELY JEALOUS of you!   We are on ONWARD and had Kotor chef tour booked for months.   when we boarded Monday in Ravenna we were told it was cancelled for "operational reasons"!   Yet you got it the day before!   Did you eat all the food in town!  Glad you enjoyed it... We have been on a couple of these and they are always great. 

       Famishedly yours, DS

[uktog]

33 minutes ago, DS said:

UKTOG.... we are INSANELY JEALOUS of you!   We are on ONWARD and had Kotor chef tour booked for months.   when we boarded Monday in Ravenna we were told it was cancelled for "operational reasons"!   Yet you got it the day before!   Did you eat all the food in town!  Glad you enjoyed it... We have been on a couple of these and they are always great. 

       Famishedly yours, DS

Sorry to hear it got cancelled. All our eating of the chefs hard work was on the ship. I’m hearing that a lot gets cancelled on onward for operational reasons - wonder why 

[Dylandude]

18 hours ago, uktog said:

 we are enjoying a glorious day in Argostoli in what is Azamaras first ever stop here. It is quite a breezy day which could make white  nights a little bit interesting for those who decide to go on deck. 

I beg to differ on this point. We were in Argostoli in June this year whilst cruising on board Onward.

 

Everything else you wrote summed up our experience of the day there.

[uktog]

42 minutes ago, Dylandude said:

I beg to differ on this point. We were in Argostoli in June this year whilst cruising on board Onward.

 

Everything else you wrote summed up our experience of the day there.

Thanks. I was only quoting what Captain Filip told the guests in his arrival announcement 

[Nippy Sweetie]

Currently on Onward. The highlight of our cruise so far has been Kotor. Just lovely. A relaxed amble around this historic city and marvel at the huge colony of cats. All well looked after and very friendly. We met the lady who looks after them. She really cares. 

Edited October 16, 2022 by Nippy Sweetie

[silkismom]

All those kitties, I'd just spend the day sitting on those steps and giving them all loves.

[kent4489]

6 hours ago, Dylandude said:

I beg to differ on this point. We were in Argostoli in June this year whilst cruising on board Onward.

 

Everything else you wrote summed up our experience of the day there.

Yes, we also made a stop there in June.

[seaventuregal]

Hello, we will be in Corfu on the Azamara Pursuit on Wednesday, October 19.  Does Azamara or the port provide a shuttle into Old Town Corfu?   We were planning on a taxi tour of the island but think we may rather just walk around the town for a few hours.   

[uktog]

2 hours ago, seaventuregal said:

Hello, we will be in Corfu on the Azamara Pursuit on Wednesday, October 19.  Does Azamara or the port provide a shuttle into Old Town Corfu?   We were planning on a taxi tour of the island but think we may rather just walk around the town for a few hours.   

Yes they do. You need to take two shuttles one to the terminal and one to the town. 

[uktog]

Today at Zakinthos we had such bouncy seas I knew given how I was still hurting from the Kotor speedboat that going into a bumpy tender was not an option. 
So all I can tell you is second hand - the ride in was very bumpy, the town was ok and you had to queue for ages behind hoards of Chinese tourists to get photos of shipwreck beach. 
 

We had a nice day onboard just reading and relaxing. 
 

And tonight we were rewarded with the best sunset of the two cruises ahead of the Assistant Cruise Director Grace’s excellent show 

 

[seaventuregal]

1 hour ago, uktog said:

Yes they do. You need to take two shuttles one to the terminal and one to the town. 

Thanks.  Appreciate your help!

[uktog]

Today is the last day and the Jazz brunch. In Journey this is where I see a cutback. The buffets (white nights and brunch) aren’t nearly as extensive as before. Brunch today apart from small individual plates of two prawns and a huge table of various granola platters there is nothing special that is not on the breakfast buffet other than a roast joint being carved. The pasta is purely boiled up and added to premixed sauces. None of the ability to customise or towers of prawns etc. Cheeses were the same as every day nothing special. 
OK better than we would have at home but not nearly as in the past 

Edited October 17, 2022 by uktog

[Host Jazzbeau]

The biggest problem with the brunch, from my point of view, is that everything was pre-made.  Even the poached eggs! (which were cold)  Croque Monsieur is a lovely thing when hot off the griddle, but mine was tough and flavorless.  The only saving grace was that I have a bottle of Riesling Auslese that must be finished today, so I brought that down to the brunch.  Halfway through the second glass, the deficiencies didn't seem quite so bad...  😉

[uktog]

5 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

The biggest problem with the brunch, from my point of view, is that everything was pre-made.  Even the poached eggs! (which were cold)  Croque Monsieur is a lovely thing when hot off the griddle, but mine was tough and flavorless.  The only saving grace was that I have a bottle of Riesling Auslese that must be finished today, so I brought that down to the brunch.  Halfway through the second glass, the deficiencies didn't seem quite so bad...  😉

Agree. Food just wasn’t special or very edible. Unfortunately despite asking for champagne I got a poor imitation. Luckily I’m elsewhere now with the proper stuff so the disappointing memories will soon fade 

[voyager1964]

On 10/16/2022 at 2:30 PM, uktog said:

hoards of Chinese tourists

I hoped this is the thing from the past 😞 Could you please tell more? Are they ubiquitous yet again?

[uktog]

3 hours ago, voyager1964 said:

I hoped this is the thing from the past 😞 Could you please tell more? Are they ubiquitous yet again?

In parts of the trip yes. They are young groups so may be students who have come out of China pre or post covid. 

[uktog]

On 10/12/2022 at 9:01 PM, Desert Cruisers said:

Enjoying your travelogue. Currently on the QM2 crossing to Southampton. Getting on the Journey next Tuesday.   Please post your Piraeus docking location when known. 

Looks like it’s E12 

[Desert Cruisers]

20 minutes ago, uktog said:

Looks like it’s E12 

Thanks. Hopefully that means Terminal C which is near Gate 12. 

[Mrs Miggins]

3 hours ago, uktog said:

In parts of the trip yes. They are young groups so may be students who have come out of China pre or post covid. 

Large numbers of tourists of any nationality mean popular places are less pleasant.  Everybody on a cruise ship adds to the problem.  We are a large part of the problem whether we are from the USA or Europe or anywhere else.  I have stayed on several of the smaller Greek Islands and would have been horrified to see hordes of cruise passengers arrive.

[uktog]

As was reported to me (as I said it was second hand information) the large groups were not conscious of the impact of their behaviour (large groups all taking numerous selfies and silly poses taking ages to shoot)  such that most of the group from the ships tour got no clear photos as the guide could not extend the stopping time at the view point.
 

It’s often the case with young groups. I’d hope Azamara cruise groups generally behave much better wherever they land!  

[silkismom]

Who ever invented "selfies" should be shot. Just my opinion.

[uktog]

Re disembarkation times in Athens this was what was applying today. The gangway did not open until after 7.15