Stockholm to Athens Grand Voyage
Stockholm to Athens Grand Voyage
Cruise overview
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About Stockholm
Stockholm is a city in the flush of its second youth. Since the mid-1990s, Sweden's capital has emerged from its cold, Nordic shadow to take the stage as a truly international city. What started with entry into the European Union in 1995 gained pace with the extraordinary IT boom of the late 1990s, strengthened with the Skype-led IT second wave of 2003, and solidified with the hedge-fund invasion that is still happening today as Stockholm gains even more global confidence. And despite more recent economic turmoil, Stockholm's 1 million or so inhabitants have, almost as one, realized that their city is one to rival Paris, London, New York, or any other great metropolis.With this realization comes change. Stockholm has become a city of design, fashion, innovation, technology, and world-class food, pairing homegrown talent with an international outlook. The streets are flowing with a young and confident population keen to drink in everything the city has to offer. The glittering feeling of optimism, success, and living in the here and now is rampant in Stockholm.Stockholm also has plenty of history. Positioned where the waters of Lake Mälaren rush into the Baltic, it’s been an important trading site and a wealthy international city for centuries. Built on 14 islands joined by bridges crossing open bays and narrow channels, Stockholm boasts the story of its history in its glorious medieval old town, grand palaces, ancient churches, sturdy edifices, public parks, and 19th-century museums—its history is soaked into the very fabric of its airy boulevards, built as a public display of trading glory.
About Helsinki
A city of the sea, Helsinki was built along a series of oddly shaped peninsulas and islands jutting into the Baltic coast along the Gulf of Finland. Streets and avenues curve around bays, bridges reach to nearby islands, and ferries ply among offshore islands.Having grown dramatically since World War II, Helsinki now absorbs more than one-tenth of the Finnish population. The metro area covers 764 square km (474 square miles) and 315 islands. Most sights, hotels, and restaurants cluster on one peninsula, forming a compact central hub. The greater Helsinki metropolitan area, which includes Espoo and Vantaa, has a total population of more than a million people.Helsinki is a relatively young city compared with other European capitals. In the 16th century, King Gustav Vasa of Sweden decided to woo trade from the Estonian city of Tallinn and thus challenge the Hanseatic League's monopoly on Baltic trade. Accordingly, he commanded the people of four Finnish towns to pack up their belongings and relocate to the rapids on the River Vantaa. The new town, founded on June 12, 1550, was named Helsinki.For three centuries, Helsinki (Helsingfors in Swedish) had its ups and downs as a trading town. Turku, to the west, remained Finland's capital and intellectual center. However, Helsinki's fortunes improved when Finland fell under Russian rule as an autonomous grand duchy. Czar Alexander I wanted Finland's political center closer to Russia and, in 1812, selected Helsinki as the new capital. Shortly afterward, Turku suffered a disastrous fire, forcing the university to move to Helsinki. The town's future was secure.Just before the czar's proclamation, a fire destroyed many of Helsinki's traditional wooden structures, precipitating the construction of new buildings suitable for a nation's capital. The German-born architect Carl Ludvig Engel was commissioned to rebuild the city, and as a result, Helsinki has some of the purest neoclassical architecture in the world. Add to this foundation the influence of Stockholm and St. Petersburg with the local inspiration of 20th-century Finnish design, and the result is a European capital city that is as architecturally eye-catching as it is distinct from other Scandinavian capitals. You are bound to discover endless engaging details—a grimacing gargoyle; a foursome of males supporting a balcony's weight on their shoulders; a building painted in striking colors with contrasting flowers in the windows. The city's 400 or so parks make it particularly inviting in summer.Today, Helsinki is still a meeting point of eastern and western Europe, which is reflected in its cosmopolitan image, the influx of Russians and Estonians, and generally multilingual population. Outdoor summer bars ("terrassit" as the locals call them) and cafés in the city center are perfect for people watching on a summer afternoon.
About Tallinn
Estonia's history is sprinkled liberally with long stretches of foreign domination, beginning in 1219 with the Danes, followed without interruption by the Germans, Swedes, and Russians. Only after World War I, with Russia in revolutionary wreckage, was Estonia able to declare its independence. Shortly before World War II, in 1940, that independence was usurped by the Soviets, who—save for a brief three-year occupation by Hitler's Nazis—proceeded to suppress all forms of national Estonian pride for the next 50 years. Estonia finally regained independence in 1991. In the early 1990s, Estonia's own Riigikogu (Parliament), not some other nation's puppet ruler, handed down from the Upper City reforms that forced Estonia to blaze its post-Soviet trail to the European Union. Estonia has been a member of the EU since 2004, and in 2011, the country and its growing economy joined the Eurozone. Tallinn was also named the European City of Culture in 2011, cementing its growing reputation as a cultural hot spot.
About Riga
Rīga has an upscale, big-city feel unmatched in the region. The capital (almost as large as Tallinn and Vilnius combined) is the business center of the area while original, high-quality restaurants and hotels have earned Rīga some bragging rights among its Western European counterparts. The city also doesn't lack for beauty—Rīga's Old Town (now a UNESCO World Heritage site) is one of Europe’s most striking examples of the art nouveau architectural style. Long avenues of complex and sometimes whimsical Jugendstil facades hint at Rīga's grand past. Many were designed by Mikhail Eisenstein, the father of Soviet director Sergei. This style dominates the city center. In many ways, the wonder of Rīga resides less in its individual attractions and more in the fabric of the town itself. In the medieval Old Town, an ornate gable or architrave catches the eye at every turn. The somber and the flamboyant are both represented in this quarter's 1,000 years of architectural history. Don't hesitate to just follow where your desire leads—the Old Town is compact and bounded by canals, so it's difficult to get totally lost. When the Old Town eventually became too crowded, the city burst out into the newer inner suburbs. The rich could afford to leave and build themselves fine fashionable mansions in the style of the day; consequently, city planners created a whole new Rīga. Across the narrow canal, you'll find the Esplanāde, a vast expanse of parkland with formal gardens and period mansions where the well-heeled stroll and play. Surrounding this is the art nouveau district. Encompassing avenues of splendid family homes (now spruced up in the postcommunist era), the collection has been praised by UNESCO as Europe's finest in the art nouveau style. The best examples are at Alberta 2, 2a, 4, 6, 8, and 13; Elizabetes 10b; and Strēlnieku 4a. If the weather permits, eschew public transport and stroll between the two districts, taking in the varied skylines and multifaceted facades, and perhaps stopping at a café or two as you go. The city has churches in five Christian denominations and more than 50 museums, many of which cater to eclectic or specialist tastes.
About Klaipeda
About Gdansk
About Karlskrona
About Rønne
About Szczecin
About Helsingborg
About Copenhagen
By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.
About Copenhagen
By the 11th century, Copenhagen was already an important trading and fishing centre and today you will find an attractive city which, although the largest in Scandinavia, has managed to retain its low-level skyline. Discover some of the famous attractions including Gefion Fountain and Amalienborg Palace, perhaps cruise the city’s waterways, visit Rosenborg Castle or explore the medieval fishing village of Dragoer. Once the home of Hans Christian Andersen, Copenhagen features many reminders of its fairytale heritage and lives up to the reputation immortalised in the famous song ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’.
About Leith
About Leith
About Aberdeen
With close to 220,000 inhabitants, Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city. Locally quarried grey granite was used during the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries for many of Aberdeen's buildings, and hence the nicknames it has earned as the Granite City, or the Grey City. Aberdeen granite was also used to build the terraces of the Houses of Parliament and Waterloo Bridge in London. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, Aberdeen has also been called the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe. It is no wonder that because of the oil fields in the North Sea, Aberdeen's seaport is very important. The Heliport with its flights to the oil fields is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world.
About Ullapool
Ullapool is an ideal base for hiking throughout Sutherland and taking wildlife and nature cruises, especially to the Summer Isles. By the shores of salty Loch Broom, the town was founded in 1788 as a fishing station to exploit the local herring stocks. There's still a smattering of fishing vessels, as well as visiting yachts and foreign ships. When their crews fill the pubs, Ullapool has a cosmopolitan feel. The harbor area comes to life when the Lewis ferry arrives and departs.
About Londonderry
Nestled behind lofty city walls, Londonderry is a destination of culture, which boasts an increasingly envied reputation. This Northern Irish city is still riding on the momentum of a fantastic 2013, when it was named as UK City of Culture, and singled out as one of Lonely Planet's top 5 destinations to visit. The wonderfully preserved city walls are perhaps Londonderry's most treasured charm, and they encircle 1,450 years of history, and are over 400 years old. The walls came to the fore of the city's history during the Siege of Derry, back in 1688 - when King James's forces attacked, causing mass starvation and suffering over 105 days of stalemate. It takes approximately an hour to wander the entire circuit of the walls, and see their seven gates, and you’ll absorb a feast of information along the way. View the mighty cannons that boomed during the siege, or stop into one of the plentiful cafes, should you need a little refreshment before continuing your journey. St. Columb’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1633, towers over the walled city, and is one of the city's most significant historic sites. Its dreamy spire contains a set of bells that have peeled out melodies here since 1638, making them Ireland's oldest.
About Greenock
Trendy stores, a booming cultural life, fascinating architecture, and stylish restaurants reinforce Glasgow's claim to being Scotland's most exciting city. After decades of decline, it has experienced an urban renaissance uniquely its own. The city’s grand architecture reflects a prosperous past built on trade and shipbuilding. Today buildings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh hold pride of place along with the Zaha Hadid–designed Riverside Museum.Glasgow (the "dear green place," as it was known) was founded some 1,500 years ago. Legend has it that the king of Strathclyde, irate about his wife's infidelity, had a ring he had given her thrown into the river Clyde. (Apparently she had passed it on to an admirer.) When the king demanded to know where the ring had gone, the distraught queen asked the advice of her confessor, St. Mungo. He suggested fishing for it—and the first salmon to emerge had the ring in its mouth. The moment is commemorated on the city's coat of arms.The medieval city expanded when it was given a royal license to trade; the current High Street was the main thoroughfare at the time. The vast profits from American cotton and tobacco built the grand mansions of the Merchant City in the 18th century. In the 19th century the river Clyde became the center of a vibrant shipbuilding industry, fed by the city’s iron and steel works. The city grew again, but its internal divisions grew at the same time. The West End harbored the elegant homes of the newly rich shipyard owners. Down by the river, areas like the infamous Gorbals, with its crowded slums, sheltered the laborers who built the ships. They came from the Highlands, expelled to make way for sheep, or from Ireland, where the potato famines drove thousands from their homes.During the 19th century the population grew from 80,000 to more than a million. And the new prosperity gave Glasgow its grand neoclassical buildings, such as those built by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, as well as the adventurous visionary buildings designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and others who produced Glasgow’s Arts and Crafts movement. The City Chambers, built in 1888, are a proud statement in marble and gold sandstone, a clear symbol of the wealthy and powerful Victorian industrialists' hopes for the future.The decline of shipbuilding and the closure of the factories led to much speculation as to what direction the city would take now. The curious thing is that, at least in part, the past gave the city a new lease of life. It was as if people looked at their city and saw Glasgow’s beauty for the first time: its extraordinarily rich architectural heritage, its leafy parks, its artistic heritage, and its complex social history. Today Glasgow is a vibrant cultural center and a commercial hub, as well as a launching pad from which to explore the rest of Scotland, which, as it turns out, is not so far away. In fact, it takes only 40 minutes to reach Loch Lomond, where the other Scotland begins.
About Belfast
Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster's ancient O'Neill clan. With the advent of the Plantation period (when settlers arrived in the 1600s), Sir Arthur Chichester, from Devon in southwestern England, received the city from the English Crown, and his son was made Earl of Donegall. Huguenots fleeing persecution from France settled near here, bringing their valuable linen-work skills. In the 18th century, Belfast underwent a phenomenal expansion—its population doubled every 10 years, despite an ever-present sectarian divide. Although the Anglican gentry despised the Presbyterian artisans—who, in turn, distrusted the native Catholics—Belfast's growth continued at a dizzying speed. The city was a great Victorian success story, an industrial boomtown whose prosperity was built on trade, especially linen and shipbuilding. Famously (or infamously), the Titanic was built here, giving Belfast, for a time, the nickname "Titanic Town." Having laid the foundation stone of the city's university in 1845, Queen Victoria returned to Belfast in 1849 (she is recalled in the names of buildings, streets, bars, monuments, and other places around the city), and in the same year, the university opened under the name Queen's College. Nearly 40 years later, in 1888, Victoria granted Belfast its city charter. Today its population is nearly 300,000, tourist numbers have increased, and this dramatically transformed city is enjoying an unparalleled renaissance.This is all a welcome change from the period when news about Belfast meant reports about "the Troubles." Since the 1994 ceasefire, Northern Ireland's capital city has benefited from major hotel investment, gentrified quaysides (or strands), a sophisticated new performing arts center, and major initiatives to boost tourism. Although the 1996 bombing of offices at Canary Wharf in London disrupted the 1994 peace agreement, the ceasefire was officially reestablished on July 20, 1997, and this embattled city began its quest for a newfound identity.Since 2008, the city has restored all its major public buildings such as museums, churches, theaters, City Hall, Ulster Hall—and even the glorious Crown Bar—spending millions of pounds on its built heritage. A gaol that at the height of the Troubles held some of the most notorious murderers involved in paramilitary violence is now a major visitor attraction.Belfast's city center is made up of three roughly contiguous areas that are easy to navigate on foot. From the south end to the north, it's about an hour's leisurely walk.
About Dublin
Dublin is making a comeback. The decade-long "Celtic Tiger" boom era was quickly followed by the Great Recession, but The Recovery has finally taken a precarious hold. For visitors, this newer and wiser Dublin has become one of western Europe's most popular and delightful urban destinations. Whether or not you're out to enjoy the old or new Dublin, you'll find it a colossally entertaining city, all the more astonishing considering its intimate size.It is ironic and telling that James Joyce chose Dublin as the setting for his famous Ulysses, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man because it was a "center of paralysis" where nothing much ever changed. Which only proves that even the greats get it wrong sometimes. Indeed, if Joyce were to return to his once-genteel hometown today—disappointed with the city's provincial outlook, he left it in 1902 at the age of 20—and take a quasi-Homeric odyssey through the city (as he so famously does in Ulysses), would he even recognize Dublin as his "Dear Dirty Dumpling, foostherfather of fingalls and dotthergills"?For instance, what would he make of Temple Bar—the city's erstwhile down-at-the-heels neighborhood, now crammed with cafés and trendy hotels and suffused with a nonstop, international-party atmosphere? Or the simple sophistication of the open-air restaurants of the tiny Italian Quarter (named Quartier Bloom after his own creation), complete with sultry tango lessons? Or of the hot–cool Irishness, where every aspect of Celtic culture results in sold-out theaters, from Once, the cult indie movie and Broadway hit, to Riverdance, the old Irish mass-jig recast as a Las Vegas extravaganza? Plus, the resurrected Joyce might be stirred by the songs of Hozier, fired up by the sultry acting of Michael Fassbender, and moved by the award-winning novels of Colum McCann. As for Ireland's capital, it's packed with elegant shops and hotels, theaters, galleries, coffeehouses, and a stunning variety of new, creative little restaurants can be found on almost every street in Dublin, transforming the provincial city that suffocated Joyce into a place almost as cosmopolitan as the Paris to which he fled. And the locals are a hell of a lot more fun! Now that the economy has finally turned a corner, Dublin citizens can cast a cool eye over the last 20 crazy years. Some argue that the boomtown transformation of their heretofore-tranquil city has permanently affected its spirit and character. These skeptics (skepticism long being a favorite pastime in the capital city) await the outcome of "Dublin: The Sequel," and their greatest fear is the possibility that the tattered old lady on the Liffey has become a little less unique, a little more like everywhere else.Oh ye of little faith: the rare ole gem that is Dublin is far from buried. The fundamentals—the Georgian elegance of Merrion Square, the Norman drama of Christ Church Cathedral, the foamy pint at an atmospheric pub—are still on hand to gratify. Most of all, there are the locals themselves: the nod and grin when you catch their eye on the street, the eagerness to hear half your life story before they tell you all of theirs, and their paradoxically dark but warm sense of humor. It's expected that 2016 will be an extra-special year in the capital, as centenary celebrations of the fateful 1916 Easter Rising will dominate much of the cultural calendar.
About Cobh
Cork City's nearby harbor district has seen plenty of history. Cork Harbour's draws include Fota Island—with an arboretum, a wildlife park, and the Fota House ancestral estate—and the fishing port of Cobh.
About Fowey
Nestled in the mouth of a wooded estuary, Fowey (pronounced Foy) is still very much a working china-clay port as well as a focal point for the sailing fraternity. Increasingly, it's also a favored home of the rich and famous. Good and varied dining and lodging options abound; these are most in demand during Regatta Week in mid- to late August and the annual Fowey Festival of Words and Music in mid-May. The Bodinnick and Polruan ferries take cars as well as foot passengers across the river for the coast road on to Looe.A few miles west of Fowey are a pair of very different gardens: the Eden Project, a futuristic display of plants from around the world, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a revitalized reminder of the Victorian age.
About Portsmouth
About Cherbourg
Originally a little fishing village, Cherbourg has developed into a historic port designed by Vauban. This was also a strategic naval port during the Napoleonic wars; there is a marina with over 1000 moorings. “Cap de la Hague” is to the West and the “Pointe de Barfleur” to the East. This port, which belongs to Normandy, is a region that has provided inspiration for countless artists and writers, and is the land of apple orchards and rolling farmland dotted with villages of half-timbered houses. Boasting a wealth of abbeys and châteaux, as well as a superb coastline, it offers something for everyone. Cherbourg was also the first stop of RMS Titanic after it left Southampton, England. On 19 June 1864, the naval engagement between USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama took place off Cherbourg. The Battle of Cherbourg, fought in June 1944 following the Normandy Invasion, ended with the capture of Cherbourg on June 30.
About Saint-Malo
Thrust out into the sea and bound to the mainland only by tenuous man-made causeways, romantic St-Malo has built a reputation as a breeding ground for phenomenal sailors. Many were fishermen, but others—most notably Jacques Cartier, who claimed Canada for Francis I in 1534—were New World explorers. Still others were corsairs, "sea dogs" paid by the French crown to harass the Limeys across the Channel: legendary ones like Robert Surcouf and Duguay-Trouin helped make St-Malo rich through their pillaging, in the process earning it the nickname "the pirates' city." The St-Malo you see today isn’t quite the one they called home because a weeklong fire in 1944, kindled by retreating Nazis, wiped out nearly all of the old buildings. Restoration work was more painstaking than brilliant, but the narrow streets and granite houses of the Vieille Ville were satisfactorily recreated, enabling St-Malo to regain its role as a busy fishing port, seaside resort, and tourist destination. The ramparts that help define this city figuratively and literally are authentic, and the flames also spared houses along Rue de Pelicot in the Vieille Ville. Battalions of tourists invade this quaint part of town in summer, so arrive off-season if you want to avoid crowds.
About Bordeaux
Bordeaux as a whole, rather than any particular points within it, is what you'll want to visit in order to understand why Victor Hugo described it as Versailles plus Antwerp, and why the painter Francisco de Goya, when exiled from his native Spain, chose it as his last home (he died here in 1828). The capital of southwest France and the region's largest city, Bordeaux remains synonymous with the wine trade: wine shippers have long maintained their headquarters along the banks of the Garonne, while buyers from around the world arrive for the huge biennial Vinexpo show (held in odd-number years).Bordeaux is, admittedly, a less exuberant city than many others in France, but lively and stylish elements are making a dent in its conservative veneer. The cleaned-up riverfront is said by some, after a bottle or two, to exude an elegance reminiscent of St. Petersburg, and that aura of 18th-century élan also permeates the historic downtown sector—“le vieux Bordeaux"—where fine shops invite exploration. To the south of the city center are old docklands undergoing renewal—one train station has now been transformed into a big multiplex movie theater—but the area is still a bit shady. To get a feel for the historic port of Bordeaux, take the 90-minute boat trip that leaves Quai Louis-XVIII every weekday afternoon, or the regular passenger ferry that plies the Garonne between Quai Richelieu and the Pont d'Aquitaine in summer. A nice time to stroll around the city center is the first Sunday of the month, when it's pedestrian-only and vehicles are banned.
About Bordeaux
Bordeaux as a whole, rather than any particular points within it, is what you'll want to visit in order to understand why Victor Hugo described it as Versailles plus Antwerp, and why the painter Francisco de Goya, when exiled from his native Spain, chose it as his last home (he died here in 1828). The capital of southwest France and the region's largest city, Bordeaux remains synonymous with the wine trade: wine shippers have long maintained their headquarters along the banks of the Garonne, while buyers from around the world arrive for the huge biennial Vinexpo show (held in odd-number years).Bordeaux is, admittedly, a less exuberant city than many others in France, but lively and stylish elements are making a dent in its conservative veneer. The cleaned-up riverfront is said by some, after a bottle or two, to exude an elegance reminiscent of St. Petersburg, and that aura of 18th-century élan also permeates the historic downtown sector—“le vieux Bordeaux"—where fine shops invite exploration. To the south of the city center are old docklands undergoing renewal—one train station has now been transformed into a big multiplex movie theater—but the area is still a bit shady. To get a feel for the historic port of Bordeaux, take the 90-minute boat trip that leaves Quai Louis-XVIII every weekday afternoon, or the regular passenger ferry that plies the Garonne between Quai Richelieu and the Pont d'Aquitaine in summer. A nice time to stroll around the city center is the first Sunday of the month, when it's pedestrian-only and vehicles are banned.
About Bordeaux
Bordeaux as a whole, rather than any particular points within it, is what you'll want to visit in order to understand why Victor Hugo described it as Versailles plus Antwerp, and why the painter Francisco de Goya, when exiled from his native Spain, chose it as his last home (he died here in 1828). The capital of southwest France and the region's largest city, Bordeaux remains synonymous with the wine trade: wine shippers have long maintained their headquarters along the banks of the Garonne, while buyers from around the world arrive for the huge biennial Vinexpo show (held in odd-number years).Bordeaux is, admittedly, a less exuberant city than many others in France, but lively and stylish elements are making a dent in its conservative veneer. The cleaned-up riverfront is said by some, after a bottle or two, to exude an elegance reminiscent of St. Petersburg, and that aura of 18th-century élan also permeates the historic downtown sector—“le vieux Bordeaux"—where fine shops invite exploration. To the south of the city center are old docklands undergoing renewal—one train station has now been transformed into a big multiplex movie theater—but the area is still a bit shady. To get a feel for the historic port of Bordeaux, take the 90-minute boat trip that leaves Quai Louis-XVIII every weekday afternoon, or the regular passenger ferry that plies the Garonne between Quai Richelieu and the Pont d'Aquitaine in summer. A nice time to stroll around the city center is the first Sunday of the month, when it's pedestrian-only and vehicles are banned.
About Bilbao
Time in Bilbao (Bilbo, in Euskera) may be recorded as BG or AG (Before Guggenheim or After Guggenheim). Never has a single monument of art and architecture so radically changed a city. Frank Gehry's stunning museum, Norman Foster's sleek subway system, the Santiago Calatrava glass footbridge and airport, the leafy César Pelli Abandoibarra park and commercial complex next to the Guggenheim, and the Philippe Starck AlhóndigaBilbao cultural center have contributed to an unprecedented cultural revolution in what was once the industry capital of the Basque Country.Greater Bilbao contains almost 1 million inhabitants, nearly half the total population of the Basque Country. Founded in 1300 by Vizcayan noble Diego López de Haro, Bilbao became an industrial center in the mid-19th century, largely because of the abundance of minerals in the surrounding hills. An affluent industrial class grew up here, as did the working class in suburbs that line the Margen Izquierda (Left Bank) of the Nervión estuary.Bilbao's new attractions get more press, but the city's old treasures still quietly line the banks of the rust-color Nervión River. The Casco Viejo (Old Quarter)—also known as Siete Calles (Seven Streets)—is a charming jumble of shops, bars, and restaurants on the river's Right Bank, near the Puente del Arenal bridge. This elegant proto-Bilbao nucleus was carefully restored after devastating floods in 1983. Throughout the Casco Viejo are ancient mansions emblazoned with family coats of arms, wooden doors, and fine ironwork balconies. The most interesting square is the 64-arch Plaza Nueva, where an outdoor market is pitched every Sunday morning.Walking the banks of the Nervión is a satisfying jaunt. After all, this was how—while out on a morning jog—Guggenheim director Thomas Krens first discovered the perfect spot for his project, nearly opposite the right bank's Deusto University. From the Palacio de Euskalduna upstream to the colossal Mercado de la Ribera, parks and green zones line the river. César Pelli's Abandoibarra project fills in the half mile between the Guggenheim and the Euskalduna bridge with a series of parks, the Deusto University library, the Meliá Bilbao Hotel, and a major shopping center.On the left bank, the wide, late-19th-century boulevards of the Ensanche neighborhood, such as Gran Vía (the main shopping artery) and Alameda de Mazarredo, are the city's more formal face. Bilbao's cultural institutions include, along with the Guggenheim, a major museum of fine arts (the Museo de Bellas Artes) and an opera society (Asociación Bilbaína de Amigos de la Ópera, or ABAO) with 7,000 members from Spain and southern France. In addition, epicureans have long ranked Bilbao's culinary offerings among the best in Spain. Don't miss a chance to ride the trolley line, the Euskotram, for a trip along the river from Atxuri Station to Basurto's San Mamés soccer stadium, reverently dubbed "la Catedral del Fútbol" (the Cathedral of Football).
About Gijón
The Campo Valdés baths, dating back to the 1st century AD, and other reminders of Gijón's time as an ancient Roman port remain visible downtown. Gijón was almost destroyed in a 14th-century struggle over the Castilian throne, but by the 19th century it was a thriving port and industrial city. The modern-day city is part fishing port, part summer resort, and part university town, packed with cafés, restaurants, and sidrerías.
About Vigo
Dating from Roman times, the Galician city of Vigo has a fine natural harbour and is renowned as the biggest fishing port in the world. It is also full of history - it was in this fjord-like quay that the English and Dutch defeated the French and Spanish fleets in 1702. Today, the attractive marinas stand in contrast to the industrialised areas of the city, while further exploration will reveal the characteristic 17th-century architecture and attractive countryside beyond. The charming Old Town is a delight, with its labyrinth of winding narrow streets and shaded squares. Nearby is the Cathedral city of Tui, and further to the north is the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela, which can be reached by car in approximately 1¼ hours.
About Leixões
Ever since the Romans constructed a fort here and began using it as a trading post, Oporto has been a prosperous commercial centre. In the 15th and 16th centuries the city benefited from the wealth generated by Portugal’s maritime discoveries, and later, the establishment of a lucrative wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade. Today, Portugal’s second-largest city is a thriving, cosmopolitan place and is famous for its production of the fortified, sweet 'port' wine. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city was also awarded the status of European Capital of Culture in 2001. A large sandbar prevents ships from sailing into Oporto itself, so for over a century they have used nearby Leixões instead, a man-made seaport constructed nine miles from the city. Leixões is one of Portugal's major sea ports and is also home to one of the country's oldest football clubs, winners of the Taça de Portugal cup in 1961.
About Lisbon
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.
About Portimão
Portimão is a major fishing port, and significant investment has been poured into transforming it into an attractive cruise port as well. The city itself is spacious and has several good shopping streets—though sadly many of the more traditional retailers have closed in the wake of the global economic crisis. There is also a lovely riverside area that just begs to be strolled (lots of the coastal cruises depart from here). Don’t leave without stopping for an alfresco lunch at the Doca da Sardinha ("sardine dock") between the old bridge and the railway bridge. You can sit at one of many inexpensive establishments, eating charcoal-grilled sardines (a local specialty) accompanied by chewy fresh bread, simple salads, and local wine.
About Seville
Whether you pronounce it Seville or Sevilla, this gorgeous Spanish town is most certainly the stuff of dreams. Over 2,200 years old, Seville has a mutli-layered personality; home to Flamenco, high temperatures and three UNESCO-World Heritage Sites, there is a noble ancestry to the southern Spanish town. Not forgetting that it is the birthplace of painter Diego Velazquez, the resting place of Christopher Columbus, the inspiration for Bizet’s Carmen and a location for Game of Thrones filming, Seville is truly more than just a sum of its parts. This city is a full on experience, a beguiling labyrinth of centuries old streets, tiny tapas restaurants serving possibly the best dishes you’ll taste south of Madrid and a paradise of Mudejar architecture and tranquil palm trees and fountain-filled gardens.
About Seville
Whether you pronounce it Seville or Sevilla, this gorgeous Spanish town is most certainly the stuff of dreams. Over 2,200 years old, Seville has a mutli-layered personality; home to Flamenco, high temperatures and three UNESCO-World Heritage Sites, there is a noble ancestry to the southern Spanish town. Not forgetting that it is the birthplace of painter Diego Velazquez, the resting place of Christopher Columbus, the inspiration for Bizet’s Carmen and a location for Game of Thrones filming, Seville is truly more than just a sum of its parts. This city is a full on experience, a beguiling labyrinth of centuries old streets, tiny tapas restaurants serving possibly the best dishes you’ll taste south of Madrid and a paradise of Mudejar architecture and tranquil palm trees and fountain-filled gardens.
About Seville
Whether you pronounce it Seville or Sevilla, this gorgeous Spanish town is most certainly the stuff of dreams. Over 2,200 years old, Seville has a mutli-layered personality; home to Flamenco, high temperatures and three UNESCO-World Heritage Sites, there is a noble ancestry to the southern Spanish town. Not forgetting that it is the birthplace of painter Diego Velazquez, the resting place of Christopher Columbus, the inspiration for Bizet’s Carmen and a location for Game of Thrones filming, Seville is truly more than just a sum of its parts. This city is a full on experience, a beguiling labyrinth of centuries old streets, tiny tapas restaurants serving possibly the best dishes you’ll taste south of Madrid and a paradise of Mudejar architecture and tranquil palm trees and fountain-filled gardens.
About Gibraltar
Tagged on to the end of Iberia, the intriguing British outpost of Gibraltar is dominated by a sandy peninsula and the stunning 1,400-feet-high limestone Rock. Although small, Gibraltar has always been seen as having great strategic importance on account of its advantageous position where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, just 12 miles from the coast of Africa. Ever popular with British holidaymakers, Gibraltar is very much a home from home, boasting excellent duty-free shopping in many familiar British high street shops. Please note: Gibraltar’s small size and narrow winding roads mean that excursions are operated by 22-seater mini-buses, accompanied by a driver/guide. Local health and safety regulations prohibit the carriage of walking aids and collapsible wheelchairs on these vehicles. If you do wish to bring a mobility aid, we can arrange the Rock Tour by taxi, which has extra space. If this suits your requirements, please advise the Tours and Travel office when you join the ship, as numbers are limited.
About Málaga
As you sail into Malaga you will notice what an idyllic setting the city enjoys on the famous Costa del Sol. To the east of this provincial capital, the coast along the region of La Axarqua is scattered with villages, farmland and sleepy fishing hamlets - the epitome of traditional rural Spain. To the west stretches a continuous city where the razzmatazz and bustle creates a colourful contrast that is easily recognisable as the Costa del Sol. Surrounding the region, the Penibéetica Mountains provide an attractive backdrop overlooking the lower terraced slopes which yield olives and almonds. This spectacular mountain chain shelters the province from cold northerly winds, giving it a reputation as a therapeutic and exotic place in which to escape from cold northern climes. Malaga is also the gateway to many of Andalusia's enchanting historic villages, towns and cities.
About Motril
Motril is located in the Spanish region of Andalucia on the Costa Tropical. It is the biggest town on the Costa with a thriving commercial, fishing and leisure port. An hour and a half's drive east of Malaga and within easy reach of the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountain range, Motril makes an ideal base for exploring the many delights of the Andalucian coastline and its hinterland. Halfway between the resorts of Malaga to the west and Almeria to the east, nestling in the foothills of the Sierra Lujar mountains, Motril is at the heart of one of the most fertile and productive agricultural areas of Spain. The Costa Tropical takes its name from its sub-tropical climate which enables the cultivation of exotic fruits and crops such as sugar cane, oranges, lemons, apples, avocadoes, mangoes and bananas. One of the sights of Motril is the 17th-century church of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, dedicated to the town's patron saint.
About Cartagena
A Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, southeastern Spain, Cartagena’s sheltered bay has attracted sailors for centuries. The Carthaginians founded the city in 223BC and named it Cartago Nova; it later became a prosperous Roman colony, and a Byzantine trading centre. The city has been the main Spanish Mediterranean naval base since the reign of King Philip II, and is still surrounded by walls built during this period. Cartagena’s importance grew with the arrival of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century, when the Navidad Fortress was constructed to protect the harbour. In recent years, traces of the city’s fascinating past have been brought to light: a well-preserved Roman Theatre was discovered in 1988, and this has now been restored and opened to the public. During your free time, you may like to take a mini-cruise around Cartagena's historic harbour: these operate several times a day, take approximately 40 minutes and do not need to be booked in advance. Full details will be available at the port.
About Valencia
Valencia, Spain's third-largest municipality, is a proud city with a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene, quality museums, and spectacular contemporary architecture, juxtaposed with a thoroughly charming historic quarter, making it a popular destination year in year out. During the Civil War, it was the last seat of the Republican Loyalist government (1935–36), holding out against Franco’s National forces until the country fell to 40 years of dictatorship. Today it represents the essence of contemporary Spain—daring design and architecture along with experimental cuisine—but remains deeply conservative and proud of its traditions. Though it faces the Mediterranean, Valencia's history and geography have been defined most significantly by the River Turia and the fertile huerta that surrounds it.The city has been fiercely contested ever since it was founded by the Greeks. El Cid captured Valencia from the Moors in 1094 and won his strangest victory here in 1099: he died in the battle, but his corpse was strapped into his saddle and so frightened the besieging Moors that it caused their complete defeat. In 1102 his widow, Jimena, was forced to return the city to Moorish rule; Jaume I finally drove them out in 1238. Modern Valencia was best known for its frequent disastrous floods until the River Turia was diverted to the south in the late 1950s. Since then the city has been on a steady course of urban beautification. The lovely bridges that once spanned the Turia look equally graceful spanning a wandering municipal park, and the spectacularly futuristic Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), most of it designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, has at last created an exciting architectural link between this river town and the Mediterranean. If you're in Valencia, an excursion to Albufera Nature Park is a worthwhile day trip.
About Barcelona
The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tile and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!)—one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention. The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches. A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Famíliaand his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city. Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too. Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
About Palamós
One of the best ways to arrive in Catalonia is by sea, especially via the Costa Brava. This coastline, also known as the Rugged or Wild Coast, stretches from Blanes to the French border. Its name aptly refers to the steep cliff of ancient twisted rocks, which runs its entire length and is bounded inland by the Catalan mountain ranges. The intensity of the coast’s colour, the ruggedness of the rocks and the scent of the plants all combine to add to its attraction. The history of this region is long and varied. Traces can be found of the advanced culture of the Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. With Wilfred I and the independence of Catalan countries, the Catalan dynasty was born. Later, in 1479, Catalonia became a part of unified Spain following the marriage of Isabel, Queen of Castile, and Fernando, King of Aragon. The port of Palamos, some 36 miles northeast of Barcelona, has been in existence for nearly 700 years thanks to its location on one of the deepest natural bays in the western Mediterranean. The town itself is the southernmost of a series of resorts popular with sun worshippers. For the most part, Palamos has managed to retain some of the charm of a fishing village. The port also serves as a gateway to such inland locations as Girona, the capital of the province. Art lovers may want to visit Figueras, famous for its bizarre Teatre-Museu Dali, the foremost of a series of sites associated with the eccentric surrealist artist, Salvador Dali. If you choose to stay in Palamos, you can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the town or spend some time at a nearby beach. The town has a long seagoing tradition and busy harbour. The fish auction, prompted by the arrival of the fishing boats, is a spectacle worth seeing. The Fishing Museum illustrates the history and the life of the families who live off the sea.
About Sète
The fishing village of Sète serves as gateway to Montpellier, in the North. Other noteworthy destinations in this area include Carcassone, Aigues Mortes, the Abbaye de Fontfroide, and Pezenas. For a look at the real fisherman's life, however, stay right where you are. Sète is the Mediterranean's biggest fishing port. Canals winding through town make it fun to stroll around, and there are a number of good walking paths leading to the beach (about 30 minutes to the west). Although it's small and unspectacular, Plage de la Corniche has calm, pristine waters that are perfect for swimming. For a panoramic view of the area, climb Mont St-Clair or Les Pierres Blanches and pick a beach to settle down on.
About Marseille
Since being designated a European Capital of Culture for 2013, with an estimated €660 million of funding in the bargain, Marseille has been in the throes of an extraordinary transformation, with no fewer than five major new arts centers, a beautifully refurbished port, revitalized neighborhoods, and a slew of new shops and restaurants. Once the underdog, this time-burnished city is now welcoming an influx of weekend tourists who have colonized entire neighborhoods and transformed them into elegant pieds-à-terre (or should we say, mer). The second-largest city in France, Marseille is one of Europe's most vibrant destinations. Feisty and fond of broad gestures, it is also as complicated and as cosmopolitan now as it was when a band of Phoenician Greeks first sailed into the harbor that is today's Vieux Port in 600 BC. Legend has it that on that same day a local chieftain's daughter, Gyptis, needed to choose a husband, and her wandering eyes settled on the Greeks' handsome commander Protis. Her dowry brought land near the mouth of the Rhône, where the Greeks founded Massalia, the most important Continental shipping port in antiquity. The port flourished for some 500 years as a typical Greek city, enjoying the full flush of classical culture, its gods, its democratic political system, its sports and theater, and its naval prowess. Caesar changed all that, besieging the city in 49 BC and seizing most of its colonies. In 1214 Marseille was seized again, this time by Charles d'Anjou, and was later annexed to France by Henri IV in 1481, but it was not until Louis XIV took the throne that the biggest transformations of the port began; he pulled down the city walls in 1666 and expanded the port to the Rive Neuve (New Riverbank). The city was devastated by plague in 1720, losing more than half its population. By the time of the Revolution, Marseille was on the rebound once again, with industries of soap manufacturing and oil processing flourishing, encouraging a wave of immigration from Provence and Italy. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Marseille became the greatest boomtown in 19th-century Europe. With a large influx of immigrants from areas as exotic as Tangiers, the city quickly acquired the multicultural population it maintains to this day.
About Nice
United with France only since 1860, Nice has its own history and atmosphere, which dates back 230,000 years. It was on Colline du Château (now château-less) and at the Plage des Ponchettes, in front of the Old Town, that the Greeks established a market-port in 350 BC and named it Nikaia, which would become Marseilles' chief coastal rival. The Romans established themselves a little later on the hills of Cimiez (Cemenelum), already previously occupied by Ligurians and Celts, and quickly overshadowed the waterfront port. After falling to the Saracen invasions, Nice regained power as an independent state, becoming an important port in the early Middle Ages.So cocksure did it become that in 1388, Nice, along with the hill towns behind, effectively seceded from the county of Provence, under Louis d'Anjou, and allied itself with Savoie. Thus began its liaison with the House of Savoy, and through it with Piedmont and Sardinia, it was the Comté de Nice (Nice County). This relationship lasted some 500 years, tinting the culture, architecture, and dialect in rich Italian hues.By the 19th century Nice was flourishing commercially, locked in rivalry with the neighboring shipping port of Genoa. Another source of income: the dawning of tourism, as first the English, then the Russian nobility, discovered its extraordinary climate and superb waterfront position. A parade of fine stone mansions and hotels closed into a nearly solid wall of masonry, separated from the smooth-round rocks of the beach by what was originally named Camin deis Anglés (the English Way), which of course is now the famous Promenade des Anglais. This magnificent crescent, which is seeking UNESCO recognition, is one of the noblest in France. Many of Nice's most delightful attractions—the Cours Saleya market, the Old Town streets, the Hotel Negresco, and the Palais Masséna—are on or close to this 10-km (6-mile) waterfront, making it the first stop for most visitors, while the redevelopment of Nice's port, around the other side of the Colline du Château, makes it easier for amblers who want to take in the Genoese architecture or peruse the antiques at the Puces de Nice, now part of the Promenade des 100 Antiquaires, along Quai Papacino. Nice also has the distinction of the "Family Plus" label, with free strollers, play areas, and restaurants with child-friendly activities.
About Saint-Tropez
At first glance, it really doesn't look all that impressive. There's a pretty port with cafés charging €5 for a coffee and a picturesque old town in sugared-almond hues, but there are many prettier in the hills nearby. There are sandy beaches, rare enough on the Riviera, and old-fashioned squares with plane trees and pétanque players, but these are a dime a dozen throughout Provence. So what made St-Tropez an internationally known locale? Two words: Brigitte Bardot. When this pulpeuse (voluptuous) teenager showed up in St-Tropez on the arm of Roger Vadim in 1956 to film And God Created Woman, the heads of the world snapped around. Neither the gentle descriptions of writer Guy de Maupassant (1850–93), nor the watercolor tones of Impressionist Paul Signac (1863–1935), nor the stream of painters who followed (including Matisse and Bonnard) could focus the world's attention on this seaside hamlet as did this one sensual woman in a scarf, Ray-Bans, and capris. Vanity Fair ran a big article, "Saint Tropez Babylon," detailing the over-the-top petrodollar parties, megayachts, and Beyoncé–d paparazzi. But don't be turned off: the next year, Stewart, Tabori & Chang released an elegant coffee-table book, Houses of St-Tropez, packed with photos of supremely tasteful and pretty residences, many occupied by fashion designers, artists, and writers. Once a hangout for Colette, Anaïs Nin, and Françoise Sagan, the town still earns its old moniker, the "Montparnasse of the Mediterranean." Yet you might be surprised to find that this byword for billionaires is so small and insulated. The lack of train service, casinos, and chain hotels keeps it that way. Yet fame, in a sense, came too fast for St-Trop. Unlike the chic resorts farther east, it didn't have the decades-old reputation of the sort that would attract visitors all year around. For a good reason: its location on the south side of the gulf puts it at the mercy of the terrible mistral winter winds. So, in summer the crowds descend and the prices rise into the stratosphere. In July and August, you must be carefree about the sordid matter of cash. After all, at the most Dionysian nightclub in town, a glass of tap water goes for $37 and when the mojo really gets going, billionaires think nothing of "champagne-spraying" the partying crowds—think World Series celebrations but with $1,000 bottles of Roederer Cristal instead of Gatorade. Complaining about summer crowds, overpricing, and lack of customer service has become a tourist sport and yet this is what makes St-Tropez—described by the French daily newspaper Le Figaro as the place you can see "the greatest number of faces per square meter"—as intriguing as it is seductive.
About Ajaccio, Corsica
Considered Corsica’s primary commercial and cultural hub, the largest city and regional capital of Ajaccio is situated on the west coast of the island, approximately 644 km (400 miles) southeast of Marseille, France. Founded in 1492, vestiges of ancient Corsica in this ville impériale revolve around the city’s most famous son, Napoléon Bonaparte, whose family home—now the national museum Maison Bonaparte—pays tribute to the emperor’s historical influence.Remnants from what was originally a 12th-century Genoese colony are still visible around the Old Town near the imposing citadel and watchtower. Perfect for exploring, the luminous seaside city surrounded by snowcapped mountains and pretty beaches offers numerous sites, eateries, side streets, and a popular harbor, where sailboats and fishing vessels moor in the picturesque Tino Rossi port lined with well-established restaurants and cafés serving fresh local fare.
About Nice
United with France only since 1860, Nice has its own history and atmosphere, which dates back 230,000 years. It was on Colline du Château (now château-less) and at the Plage des Ponchettes, in front of the Old Town, that the Greeks established a market-port in 350 BC and named it Nikaia, which would become Marseilles' chief coastal rival. The Romans established themselves a little later on the hills of Cimiez (Cemenelum), already previously occupied by Ligurians and Celts, and quickly overshadowed the waterfront port. After falling to the Saracen invasions, Nice regained power as an independent state, becoming an important port in the early Middle Ages.So cocksure did it become that in 1388, Nice, along with the hill towns behind, effectively seceded from the county of Provence, under Louis d'Anjou, and allied itself with Savoie. Thus began its liaison with the House of Savoy, and through it with Piedmont and Sardinia, it was the Comté de Nice (Nice County). This relationship lasted some 500 years, tinting the culture, architecture, and dialect in rich Italian hues.By the 19th century Nice was flourishing commercially, locked in rivalry with the neighboring shipping port of Genoa. Another source of income: the dawning of tourism, as first the English, then the Russian nobility, discovered its extraordinary climate and superb waterfront position. A parade of fine stone mansions and hotels closed into a nearly solid wall of masonry, separated from the smooth-round rocks of the beach by what was originally named Camin deis Anglés (the English Way), which of course is now the famous Promenade des Anglais. This magnificent crescent, which is seeking UNESCO recognition, is one of the noblest in France. Many of Nice's most delightful attractions—the Cours Saleya market, the Old Town streets, the Hotel Negresco, and the Palais Masséna—are on or close to this 10-km (6-mile) waterfront, making it the first stop for most visitors, while the redevelopment of Nice's port, around the other side of the Colline du Château, makes it easier for amblers who want to take in the Genoese architecture or peruse the antiques at the Puces de Nice, now part of the Promenade des 100 Antiquaires, along Quai Papacino. Nice also has the distinction of the "Family Plus" label, with free strollers, play areas, and restaurants with child-friendly activities.
About Genoa
Genoa is a port city in the Northwest of Italy. Home to the Genoa Aquarium, famous for having the largest exposition of biodiversity in Europe, the city is also a great place to visit for anyone interested in architecture.
About Portofino
One of the most photographed villages along the coast, with a decidedly romantic and affluent aura, Portofino has long been a popular destination for the rich and famous. Once an ancient Roman colony and taken by the Republic of Genoa in 1229, it’s also been ruled by the French, English, Spanish, and Austrians, as well as by marauding bands of 16th-century pirates. Elite British tourists first flocked to the lush harbor in the mid-1800s. Some of Europe's wealthiest drop anchor in Portofino in summer, but they stay out of sight by day, appearing in the evening after buses and boats have carried off the day-trippers.There's not actually much to do in Portofino other than stroll around the wee harbor, see the castle, walk to Punta del Capo, browse at the pricey boutiques, and sip a coffee while people-watching. However, weaving through picture-perfect cliffside gardens and gazing at yachts framed by the sapphire Ligurian Sea and the cliffs of Santa Margherita can make for quite a relaxing afternoon. There are also several tame, photo-friendly hikes into the hills to nearby villages.Unless you're traveling on a deluxe budget, you may want to stay in Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure rather than at one of Portofino's few very expensive hotels. Restaurants and cafés are good but also pricey (don't expect to have a beer here for much under €10).
About Portovenere
The colorful facades and pedestrians-only calata (promenade) make Portovenere the quintessential Ligurian seaside village. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its harbor is lined with tall, thin "terratetto" houses that date from as far back as the 11th century and are connected in a wall-like formation to protect against attacks by the Pisans and local pirates. Its tiny, carruggi (alley-like passageways) lead to an array of charming shops, homes, and gardens and eventually to the village's impressive Castle Doria high on the olive tree covered hill. To the west standing guard over the Mediterranean is the picturesque medieval Chiesa di San Pietro, once the site of a temple to Venus (Venere in Italian), from which Portovenere gets its name. Nearby, in a rocky area leading to the sea, is Byron's Cave, a favorite spot that the poet loved to swim out into the sea from.
About Livorno
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history. In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa. In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it. Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map. After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here. The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this. (The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port. In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours. Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed. Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before. Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists. Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage. Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city. The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish. Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color. The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
About Livorno
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history. In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa. In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it. Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map. After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here. The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this. (The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port. In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours. Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed. Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before. Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists. Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage. Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city. The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish. Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color. The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
About Portoferraio
Elba is the Tuscan archipelago's largest island, but it resembles nearby verdant Corsica more than it does its rocky Italian sisters, thanks to a network of underground springs that keep it lush and green. It's this combination of semitropical vegetation and dramatic mountain scenery—unusual in the Mediterranean—that has made Elba so prized for so long, and the island's uniqueness continues to draw boatloads of visitors throughout the warm months. A car is very useful for getting around the island, but public buses stop at most towns several times a day; the tourist office has timetables.
About Olbia
Amid the resorts of Sardinia's northeastern coast, Olbia, a town of about 60,000, is a lively little seaport and port of call for mainland ferries at the head of a long, wide bay.San SimplicioOlbia's little Catholic basilica, a short walk behind the main Corso Umberto and past the train station, is worth searching out if you have any spare time in Olbia. The simple granite structure dates from the 11th century, part of the great Pisan church-building program, using pillars and columns recycled from Roman buildings. The basilica has a bare, somewhat somber interior, its three naves separated by a series of arches.
About Porto Santo Stefano
About Civitavecchia
Italy's vibrant capital lives in the present, but no other city on earth evokes its past so powerfully. For over 2,500 years, emperors, popes, artists, and common citizens have left their mark here. Archaeological remains from ancient Rome, art-stuffed churches, and the treasures of Vatican City vie for your attention, but Rome is also a wonderful place to practice the Italian-perfected il dolce far niente, the sweet art of idleness. Your most memorable experiences may include sitting at a caffè in the Campo de' Fiori or strolling in a beguiling piazza.
About Sorrento
Sorrento may have become a jumping-off point for visitors to Pompeii, Capri, and Amalfi, but you can find countless reasons to love it for itself. The Sorrentine people are fair-minded and hardworking, bubbling with life and warmth. The tuff cliff on which the town rests is spread over the bay, absorbing sunlight, while orange and lemon trees waft their perfume in spring. Winding along a cliff above a small beach and two harbors, the town is split in two by a narrow ravine formed by a former mountain stream. To the east, dozens of hotels line busy Via Correale along the cliff—many have "grand" included in their names, and some indeed still are. To the west, however, is the historic sector, which still enchants. It's a relatively flat area, with winding, stone-paved lanes bordered by balconied buildings, some joined by medieval stone arches. The central piazza is named after the poet Torquato Tasso, born here in 1544. This part of town is a delightful place to walk through. Craftspeople are often at work in their stalls and shops and are happy to let you watch; in fact, that's the point. Music spots and bars cluster in the side streets near Piazza Tasso.
About Amalfi
At first glance, it's hard to imagine that this resort destination was one of the world's great naval powers, and a sturdy rival of Genoa and Pisa for control of the Mediterranean in the 11th and 12th centuries. Once the seat of the Amalfi Maritime Republic, the town is set in a verdant valley of the Lattari Mountains, with cream-colored and pastel-hued buildings tightly packing a gorge on the Bay of Salerno. The harbor, which once launched the greatest fleet in Italy, now bobs with ferries and blue-and-white fishing boats. The main street, lined with shops and pasticcerie, has replaced a raging mountain torrent, and terraced hills flaunt the green and gold of lemon groves. Bearing testimony to its great trade with Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, Amalfi remains honeycombed with Arab-Sicilian cloisters and covered passages. In a way Amalfi has become great again, showing off its medieval glory days with sea pageants, convents-turned-hotels, ancient paper mills, covered streets, and its glimmering cathedral.
About Catania
Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily's east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit. The city's wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell'Elefante statue and richly decorated Catania Cathedral. In the southwest corner of the square, La Pescheria weekday fish market is a rowdy spectacle surrounded by seafood restaurants.
About Crotone
About Kotor
Backed by imposing mountains, tiny Kotor lies hidden from the open sea, tucked into the deepest channel of the Bokor Kotorska (Kotor Bay), which is Europe's most southerly fjord. To many, this town is more charming than its sister UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, retaining more authenticity, but with fewer tourists and spared the war damage and subsequent rebuilding which has given Dubrovnik something of a Disney feel.Kotor's medieval Stari Grad (Old Town) is enclosed within well-preserved defensive walls built between the 9th and 18th centuries and is presided over by a proud hilltop fortress. Within the walls, a labyrinth of winding cobbled streets leads through a series of splendid paved piazzas, rimmed by centuries-old stone buildings. The squares are now haunted by strains from buskers but although many now house trendy cafés and chic boutiques, directions are still given medieval-style by reference to the town’s landmark churches.In the Middle Ages, as Serbia's chief port, Kotor was an important economic and cultural center with its own highly regarded schools of stonemasonry and iconography. From 1391 to 1420 it was an independent city-republic and later, it spent periods under Venetian, Austrian, and French rule, though it was undoubtedly the Venetians who left the strongest impression on the city's architecture. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, some 70% of the stone buildings in the romantic Old Town have been snapped up by foreigners, mostly Brits and Russians. Porto Montenegro, a new marina designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest super yachts, opened in nearby Tivat in 2011, and along the bay are other charming seaside villages, all with better views of the bay than the vista from Kotor itself where the waterside is congested with cruise ships and yachts. Try sleepy Muo or the settlement of Prčanj in one direction around the bay, or Perast and the Roman mosaics of Risan in the other direction.
About Venice
Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.
About Venice
Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.
About Koper
Today a port town surrounded by industrial suburbs, Koper nevertheless warrants a visit. The Republic of Venice made Koper the regional capital during the 15th and 16th centuries, and the magnificent architecture of the Old Town bears witness to the spirit of those times.The most important buildings are clustered around Titov trg, the central town square. Here stands the Cathedral, which can be visited daily from 7 to noon and 3 to 7, with its fine Venetian Gothic facade and bell tower dating back to 1664. Across the square the splendid Praetor's Palace, formerly the seat of the Venetian Grand Council, combines Gothic and Renaissance styles. From the west side of Titov trg, the narrow, cobbled Kidriceva ulica brings you down to the seafront.
About Zadar
Dalmatia's capital for more than 1,000 years, Zadar is all too often passed over by travelers on their way to Split or Dubrovnik. What they miss out on is a city of more than 73,000 that is remarkably lovely and lively despite—and, in some measure, because of—its tumultuous history. The Old Town, separated from the rest of the city on a peninsula some 4 km (2½ miles) long and just 1,640 feet wide, is bustling and beautiful: the marble pedestrian streets are replete with Roman ruins, medieval churches, palaces, museums, archives, and libraries. Parts of the new town are comparatively dreary, a testament to what a world war followed by decades of communism, not to mention a civil war, can do to the architecture of a city that is 3,000 years old. A settlement had already existed on the site of the present-day city for some 2,000 years when Rome finally conquered Zadar in the 1st century BC; the foundations of the forum can be seen today. Before the Romans came the Liburnians had made it a key center for trade with the Greeks and Romans for 800 years. In the 3rd century BC the Romans began to seriously pester the Liburnians, but required two centuries to bring the area under their control. During the Byzantine era, Zadar became the capital of Dalmatia, and this period saw the construction of its most famous church, the 9th-century St. Donat's Basilica. It remained the region's foremost city through the ensuing centuries. The city then experienced successive onslaughts and occupations—both long and short—by the Osogoths, the Croatian-Hungarian kings, the Venetians, the Turks, the Habsburgs, the French, the Habsburgs again, and finally the Italians before becoming part of Yugoslavia and, in 1991, the independent republic of Croatia. Zadar was for centuries an Italian-speaking city, and Italian is still spoken widely, especially by older people. Indeed, it was ceded to Italy in 1921 under the Treaty of Rapallo (and reverted to its Italian name of Zara). Its occupation by the Germans from 1943 led to intense bombing by the Allies during World War II, which left most of the city in ruins. Zadar became part of Tito's Yugoslavia in 1947, prompting many Italian residents to leave. Zadar's most recent ravages occurred during a three-month siege by Serb forces and months more of bombardment during the Croatian-Serbian war between 1991 and 1995. But you'd be hard-pressed to find outward signs of this today in what is a city to behold. There are helpful interpretive signs in English all around the Old Town, so you certainly won't feel lost when trying to make sense of the wide variety of architectural sites you might otherwise pass by with only a cursory look.
About Split
Split's ancient core is so spectacular and unusual that a visit is more than worth your time. The heart of the city lies within the walls of Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace, which was built in the 3rd century AD. Diocletian, born in the nearby Roman settlement of Salona in AD 245, achieved a brilliant career as a soldier and became emperor at the age of 40. In 295 he ordered this vast palace to be built in his native Dalmatia, and when it was completed he stepped down from the throne and retired to his beloved homeland. Upon his death, he was laid to rest in an octagonal mausoleum, around which Split's magnificent cathedral was built.In 615, when Salona was sacked by barbarian tribes, those fortunate enough to escape found refuge within the stout palace walls and divided up the vast imperial apartments into more modest living quarters. Thus, the palace developed into an urban center, and by the 11th century the settlement had expanded beyond the ancient walls.Under the rule of Venice (1420–1797), Split—as a gateway to the Balkan interior—became one of the Adriatic's main trading ports, and the city's splendid Renaissance palaces bear witness to the affluence of those times. When the Habsburgs took control during the 19th century, an overland connection to Central Europe was established by the construction of the Split–Zagreb–Vienna railway line.After World War II, the Tito years saw a period of rapid urban expansion: industrialization accelerated and the suburbs extended to accommodate high-rise apartment blocks. Today the historic center of Split is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
About Dubrovnik
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost
About Kotor
Backed by imposing mountains, tiny Kotor lies hidden from the open sea, tucked into the deepest channel of the Bokor Kotorska (Kotor Bay), which is Europe's most southerly fjord. To many, this town is more charming than its sister UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, retaining more authenticity, but with fewer tourists and spared the war damage and subsequent rebuilding which has given Dubrovnik something of a Disney feel.Kotor's medieval Stari Grad (Old Town) is enclosed within well-preserved defensive walls built between the 9th and 18th centuries and is presided over by a proud hilltop fortress. Within the walls, a labyrinth of winding cobbled streets leads through a series of splendid paved piazzas, rimmed by centuries-old stone buildings. The squares are now haunted by strains from buskers but although many now house trendy cafés and chic boutiques, directions are still given medieval-style by reference to the town’s landmark churches.In the Middle Ages, as Serbia's chief port, Kotor was an important economic and cultural center with its own highly regarded schools of stonemasonry and iconography. From 1391 to 1420 it was an independent city-republic and later, it spent periods under Venetian, Austrian, and French rule, though it was undoubtedly the Venetians who left the strongest impression on the city's architecture. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, some 70% of the stone buildings in the romantic Old Town have been snapped up by foreigners, mostly Brits and Russians. Porto Montenegro, a new marina designed to accommodate some of the world’s largest super yachts, opened in nearby Tivat in 2011, and along the bay are other charming seaside villages, all with better views of the bay than the vista from Kotor itself where the waterside is congested with cruise ships and yachts. Try sleepy Muo or the settlement of Prčanj in one direction around the bay, or Perast and the Roman mosaics of Risan in the other direction.
About Corfu
Corfu town today is a vivid tapestry of cultures—a sophisticated weave, where charm, history, and natural beauty blend. Located about midway along the island's east coast, this spectacularly lively capital is the cultural heart of Corfu and has a remarkable historic center that UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site in 2007. All ships and planes dock or land near Corfu town, which occupies a small peninsula jutting into the Ionian Sea.Whether arriving by ferry from mainland Greece or Italy, from another island, or directly by plane, catch your breath by first relaxing with a coffee or a gelato in Corfu town's shaded Liston Arcade, then stroll the narrow lanes of its pedestrians-only quarter. For an overview of the immediate area, and a quick tour of Mon Repos palace, hop on the little tourist train that runs from May to September. Corfu town has a different feel at night, so book a table at one of its famed tavernas to savor the island's unique cuisine.The best way to get around Corfu town is on foot. The town is small enough so that you can easily walk to every sight. There are local buses, but they do not thread their way into the streets (many now car-free) of the historic center. If you are arriving by ferry or plane, it's best to take a taxi to your hotel. Expect to pay about €10 from the airport or ferry terminal to a hotel in Corfu town. If there are no taxis waiting, you can call for one.
About Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete
Having been controlled by Arabic, Venetian and Ottoman empires over the years - it's no surprise that Heraklion is a diverse patchwork of exotic cultures and historical treasures. Celebrated as the birthplace of the Spanish Renaissance artist, El Greco, you can visit to explore the storied ruins of the Minoan empire's capital, and unearth the rich cultural treasures that Crete’s bustling modern capital has to offer.
About Santorini
Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shape Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if it's necessary to enjoy the sensational sunsets from Ia, the fascinating excavations, and the dazzling white towns with a million other travelers. Called Kállisti (the "Loveliest") when first settled, the island has now reverted to its subsequent name of Thira, after the 9th-century-BC Dorian colonizer Thiras. The place is better known, however, these days as Santorini, a name derived from its patroness, St. Irene of Thessaloniki, the Byzantine empress who restored icons to Orthodoxy and died in 802. You can fly conveniently to Santorini, but to enjoy a true Santorini rite of passage, opt instead for the boat trip here, which provides a spectacular introduction. After the boat sails between Sikinos and Ios, your deck-side perch approaches two close islands with a passage between them. The bigger one on the left is Santorini, and the smaller on the right is Thirassia. Passing between them, you see the village of Ia adorning Santorini's northernmost cliff like a white geometric beehive. You are in the caldera (volcanic crater), one of the world's truly breathtaking sights: a demilune of cliffs rising 1,100 feet, with the white clusters of the towns of Fira and Ia perched along the top. The bay, once the high center of the island, is 1,300 feet in some places, so deep that when boats dock in Santorini's shabby little port of Athinios, they do not drop anchor. The encircling cliffs are the ancient rim of a still-active volcano, and you are sailing east across its flooded caldera. On your right are the Burnt isles, the White isle, and other volcanic remnants, all lined up as if some outsize display in a geology museum. Hephaestus's subterranean fires smolder still—the volcano erupted in 198 BC, about 735, and there was an earthquake in 1956. Indeed, Santorini and its four neighboring islets are the fragmentary remains of a larger landmass that exploded about 1600 BC: the volcano's core blew sky high, and the sea rushed into the abyss to create the great bay, which measures 10 km by 7 km (6 mi by 4½ mi) and is 1,292 feet deep. The other pieces of the rim, which broke off in later eruptions, are Thirassia, where a few hundred people live, and deserted little Aspronissi ("White isle"). In the center of the bay, black and uninhabited, two cones, the Burnt Isles of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, appeared between 1573 and 1925. There has been too much speculation about the identification of Santorini with the mythical Atlantis, mentioned in Egyptian papyri and by Plato (who says it's in the Atlantic), but myths are hard to pin down. This is not true of old arguments about whether tidal waves from Santorini's cataclysmic explosion destroyed Minoan civilization on Crete, 113 km (70 mi) away. The latest carbon-dating evidence, which points to a few years before 1600 BC for the eruption, clearly indicates that the Minoans outlasted the eruption by a couple of hundred years, but most probably in a weakened state. In fact, the island still endures hardships: since antiquity, Santorini has depended on rain collected in cisterns for drinking and irrigating—the well water is often brackish—and the serious shortage is alleviated by the importation of water. However, the volcanic soil also yields riches: small, intense tomatoes with tough skins used for tomato paste (good restaurants here serve them); the famous Santorini fava beans, which have a light, fresh taste; barley; wheat; and white-skin eggplants.
About Ermoupoli, Syra
Syros is an island in the Aegean Sea, 78 miles (125 kilometres) southeast of Athens, and the administrative, commercial, intellectual and cultural centre of the Cyclades. Syros is 32 square miles (82.8 square kilometres) in area. Its largest towns are Ermoupoli, the capital of the island and Cyclades, Ano Syros and Vari. Although Syros belongs to the Cyclades islands, its architecture is more medieval than Cycladic. The beaches of Syros are especially inviting, and surrounded by many tourist facilities and accommodations.
About Athens
Our largest suites have been transformed with contemporary design elements that are both elegant and organic, with design that draws inspiration from nature- a sandy cliff, flowing river beds, exquisite white sand beaches, and rustling grasses. Enjoy a spacious living room, separate bedroom and all the amenities that come with our most luxurious suite.
Suite Features
- Spacious living room with a separate master bedroom
- Master bedroom with one queen size bed and a flat-
- screen television
- Flat-screen television in living room
- Marble master bathroom with shower. Journey and Quest suites feature a tub.
- Dressing room with vanity and ample closet space
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors in living room and master bedroom
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Stateroom: 560 sq. ft. (52 sq. m.) Veranda: 233 sq. ft (21.7 sq. m.)
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises sailing before April 1, 2026)
- $300 Onboard Credit
- Unlimited Standard Wi-Fi
- Laundry - 2 bags/stateroom/week
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises on or after April 1, 2026)
- Ultimate Beverage Package
- Unlimited Standard Starlink Wi-Fi
- Unlimited Laundry
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
The Panorama Suite introduces a new pinnacle of onboard living, offering expansive interiors, generous living and dining space, and sweeping panoramic views. Designed for guests seeking the most immersive and elevated suite experience at sea.
Suite Features
- Spacious living room with a separate master bedroom
- Master bedroom with one queen size bed with a 55" flatscreen television
- 55" flat - screen television in living room
- Marble master bathroom with shower.
- Dressing room with vanity and ample closet space
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors in living room and master bedroom
- Included Suite Amenities
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Stateroom: 656 sq. ft. (61 sq. m.) Veranda: 63.5 sq. ft. (5.9 sq. m.)
Included Suite Amenities
- Ultimate Beverage Package
- Unlimited Standard Starlink Wi-Fi
- Unlimited Wash and Fold
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
- Afternoon In-Suite Tea Service
With a large living room and a separate bedroom —plus your own private veranda —your suite offers a restful retreat after your immersive experiences on land. Enjoy elegant, contemporary d6cor, and rich marble touches. You'll be spoiled by the attention to detail in these beautiful suites, and of course, all the pampering too.
Suite Features
- Spacious living room with a separate master bedroom
- Master bedroom with one queen size bed with a flat-screen television
- Flat-screen television in living room
- Marble master bathroom with shower. Journey and Quest suites feature a tub.
- Dressing room with vanity and ample closet space
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors in living room and master bedroom
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Stateroom: 440-501 sq. ft. (40.9-46.5 sq. m.) Veranda: 233 sq. ft. (21.7 sq. m.)
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises sailing before April 1, 2026)
- $300 Onboard Credit
- Unlimited Standard Wi-Fi
- Laundry - 2 bags/stateroom/week
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises on or after April 1, 2026)
- Ultimate Beverage Package
- Unlimited Standard Starlink Wi-Fi
- Unlimited Laundry
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
Located next to the tranquil Sanctum Spa. our newest suites are the ultimate in contemporary design, comfort and pampering. With easy access to the Spa open decks, swimming pool and our great restaurants, the Club Spa Suites surround you with organic, elegant décor, and the finest, most soothing amenities. Suites feature comfortable sitting area, daily delivery of healthy snacks, Frette plush robes, and in-room spa music. For the ultimate in serene surroundings, the spacious glass-enclosed spa soaking tub and separate rain shower bring the outside in, with views to the endless seas beyond.
Suite Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one queen size bed
- Spacious glass-enclosed bathtub
- Separate rain shower
- Comfortable sitting area
- Flat-screen television in sitting area
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
- Veranda
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Stateroom: 414 sq. ft. (38.5 sq. m.) Veranda: 40 sq. ft. (3.7 sq. m.)
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises sailing before April 1, 2026)
- $300 Onboard Credit
- Unlimited Standard Wi-Fi
- Laundry - 2 bags/stateroom/week
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises on or after April 1, 2026)
- Ultimate Beverage Package
- Unlimited Standard Starlink Wi-Fi
- Unlimited Laundry
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine service
- Turndown treats
Spacious and comfortable, our Club Continent Suites feature fresh new décor inspired by natural elements. With two beds convertible to a queen, a cozy sitting area, breezy balcony and refreshed bathroom with a bathtub or shower, this is your wonderful, refined home away from home.
Suite Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one queen size bed
- Spacious and comfortable sitting area
- Flat-screen television in sitting area
- Roomy bathroom with shower. Some also feature a tub.
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
- Veranda
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Stateroom: 266 sq. ft. (24.7 sq. m.) Veranda: 60 sq. ft. (5.6 sq. m.)
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises sailing before April 1, 2026)
- 240 Minutes Standard Wi-Fi
- Laundry - 2 bags/stateroom/week
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine-service
- Turndown treats
Included Suite Amenities (For cruises on or after April 1, 2026)
- Unlimited Basic Starlink Wi-Fi
- Laundry - 2 bags/stateroom/week
- Exclusive Acamar Experience Dinner
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast at Aqualina
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and shore excursions
- Priority check-in
- News delivery
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoeshine-service
- Turndown treats
The Grandview Suite blends refined contemporary design with floor-to-ceiling views and an expanded, spa-like bathroom. Thoughtfully designed to maximize light and comfort, offering a modern suite experience with select amenities.
Suite Features
- Spacious suite with king-sized bed
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Comfortable sitting area
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Flat-screen television in sitting area
- Writing desk
- Roomy bathroom with shower
- In-room safe
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Veranda
- 243.15 sq. ft. (22.59 sq. m.) Veranda: 60 sq. ft. (5.6 sq.m.)
- Mini-bar
Included Suite Amenities
- Unlimited Basic Starlink Wi-Fi
- Priority check-in
- Laundry - 2 bags/stateroom/week
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Dedicated butler and concierge service
- Terry bathrobes
- Full in-suite dining and daily evening hors d'oeuvres
- 24-hour room service
- Complimentary Specialty Dining and exclusive breakfast
- Tote bag at Aqualina
- Use of umbrella
- In-room premium spirits and champagne
- Shoeshine-service
- Thalassotherapy Pool access
- Turndown treats
- Personalized assistance planning spa appointments and
- Afternoon In-Suite Tea Service shore excursions
Spacious and comfortable, our Club Continent Suites feature fresh new décor inspired by natural elements. With two beds convertible to a queen, a cozy sitting area, breezy balcony and refreshed bathroom with a bathtub or shower, this is your wonderful, refined home away from home.
Suite Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one queen size bed
- Spacious and comfortable sitting area
- Flat-screen television in sitting area
- Roomy bathroom with shower. Some also feature a tub.
- Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
- Veranda
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hair dryer
- Stateroom: 266 sq. ft. (24.7 sq. m.) Veranda: 60 sq. ft. (5.6 sq. m.)
Included Suite Amenities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
- Complimentary 240 minutes of Basic Wi-Fi or 50% off the Unlimited Basic Wi-Fi package, per person.
- One free bag of laundry service per suite, each seven days*
- Complimentary specialty dining
- Complimentary access to the Thalassotherapy pool and spa deck
Introducing a new way to see the world with Azamara@. With our Club Veranda Plus Staterooms, enjoy spectacular ocean and destination views, plus a host of guest-favorite amenities—all at a great value. Everything you love about our Club Veranda Staterooms is included, plus extra perks and amenities to elevate your time on board.
With our Club Veranda Plus Staterooms, enjoy spectacular ocean and destination views, plus a host of guest-favourite amenities-all at a great value. Everything you love about our Club Veranda Staterooms is included, plus extra perks and amenities to elevate your time on board
Stateroom Features
- Veranda
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Sitting area with flat-screen TV
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- Stateroom: 175 sq. ft. (16.3 sq. m.) Veranda: 46-64 sq. ft. (4.3-6 sq. m.)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)
- Gratuities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes and slippers
- Select standard spirits, international beers and wine
- 24-hour room service
- Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas
- Fresh-cut flowers
- Self-service laundry
- Tote bag
- Shuttle service to and from port communities, wher
- Use of umbrella
- Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
- Complimentary Internet (120 minutes or 25% off the unlimited internet package) per guest
- One free bag of laundry service per stateroom, every seven days
- One night of complimentary specialty dining for two, every seven days
- Priority embarkation and debarkation
- Complimentary in-room spirits
Refreshing sea breezes and stunning destination views come standard in our staterooms that offer your own private veranda. Greet
the day with room service on your balcony, or toast to another stunning sunset. Polished touches and professional service
perfectly compliment the warm, friendly attention you'll receive from our staff and crew.
Stateroom Features
- Veranda
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Sitting area with 40" flat-screen TV
- Refrigerator with mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voicemail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- Stateroom: 175 sq. ft. (16.3 sq. m.) I Veranda: 40 sq. ft. (3.7 sq. m.)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes and slippers
- 24-hour room service
- Fresh -cut flowers
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
Introducing a new way to see the world with Azamara@. With our Club Veranda Plus Staterooms, enjoy spectacular ocean and destination views, plus a host of guest-favorite amenities—all at a great value. Everything you love about our Club Veranda Staterooms is included, plus extra perks and amenities to elevate your time on board.
With our Club Veranda Plus Staterooms, enjoy spectacular ocean and destination views, plus a host of guest-favourite amenities-all at a great value. Everything you love about our Club Veranda Staterooms is included, plus extra perks and amenities to elevate your time on board
Stateroom Features
- Veranda
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Sitting area with flat-screen TV
- Mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voice mail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- Stateroom: 175 sq. ft. (16.3 sq. m.) Veranda: 46-64 sq. ft. (4.3-6 sq. m.)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
- Complimentary Internet (120 minutes or 25% off the unlimited internet package) per guest
- One free bag of laundry service per stateroom, every seven days
- One night of complimentary specialty dining for two, every seven days
- Priority embarkation and debarkation
- Complimentary in-room spirits
Refreshing sea breezes and stunning destination views come standard in our staterooms that offer your own private veranda. Greet the day with room service on your balcony, or toast to another stunning sunset. Polished touches and professional service perfectly compliment the warm, friendly attention you'll receive from our staff and crew.
Enjoy ocean views a sea breezes on your private veranda. Stateroom price based on deck and location of the ship.
Refreshing sea breezes and stunning destination views come standard in our staterooms that offer your own private veranda. Greet the day with room service on your balcony, or toast to another stunning sunset.
Stateroom Features
- Veranda
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Sitting area with flat-screen IV
- Refrigerator with mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voicemail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- Stateroom: 175 sq. ft. (16.3 sq. m.) Veranda: 40 sq. ft (3.7 sq. m.)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes
- 24-hour room service
- Tote bag
- Use of umbrella
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
A vacation home with an ocean view, our Club Oceanview Staterooms offer all the style and amenities of a boutique hotel. Relax with plush cotton robes, slippers upon request, French bath products, and 24-hour room service.
Revel in the polished style and stellar service of your own private retreat, boasting a modern and contemporary décor. Enjoy picturesque ocean views outside your window, and all the finer touches included in every stateroom.
Stateroom Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Some staterooms feature sofa bed
- Flat-screen TV
- Refrigerator with mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voicemail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- 143 sq. ft. (13.3 sq m)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)
- Gratuities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes and slippers
- Select standard spirits, international beers and wine
- 24-hour room service
- Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas
- Fresh-cut flowers
- Self-service laundry
- Tote bag
- Shuttle service to and from port communities, wher
- Use of umbrella
- Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
A vacation home with an ocean view, our Club Oceanview Staterooms offer all the style and amenities of a boutique hotel. Relax with plush cotton robes, slippers upon request, French bath products, and 24-hour room service.
Revel in the polished style and stellar service of your own private retreat, boasting a modern and contemporary décor. Enjoy picturesque ocean views outside your window, and all the finer touches included in every stateroom.
Stateroom Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Some staterooms feature sofa bed
- Flat-screen TV
- Refrigerator with mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voicemail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- 143 sq. ft. (13.3 sq m)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)
- Gratuities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes and slippers
- Select standard spirits, international beers and wine
- 24-hour room service
- Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas
- Fresh-cut flowers
- Self-service laundry
- Tote bag
- Shuttle service to and from port communities, wher
- Use of umbrella
- Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
With the polished style and stellar service of a Club Interior Stateroom, you'll enjoy our plush cotton robes, slippers upon request, French bath products, and 24-hour room service.
Explore the world in comfort and luxury in this stylish, elegant stateroom featuring all the amenities of a boutique hotel at sea. Relax with plush cotton robes, 24-hour room service, and more.
Stateroom Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Flat-screen television
- Refrigerator with mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voicemail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- Stateroom: 158 sq. ft. (14.7 sq. m.)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)
- Gratuities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes and slippers
- Select standard spirits, international beers and wine
- 24-hour room service
- Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas
- Fresh-cut flowers
- Self-service laundry
- Tote bag
- Shuttle service to and from port communities, wher
- Use of umbrella
- Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
With the polished style and stellar service of a Club Interior Stateroom, you'll enjoy our plush cotton robes, slippers upon request, French bath products, and 24-hour room service.
Explore the world in comfort and luxury in this stylish, elegant stateroom featuring all the amenities of a boutique hotel at sea. Relax with plush cotton robes, 24-hour room service, and more.
Stateroom Features
- Two lower beds convertible to one Queen size bed
- Flat-screen television
- Refrigerator with mini-bar
- Thermostat-controlled air conditioner
- Direct-dial telephone with voicemail
- Writing desk
- In-room safe
- Hand-held hairdryer
- USB ports under bedside reading lamps
- Stateroom: 158 sq. ft. (14.7 sq. m.)
Included Stateroom Amenities
- Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)
- Gratuities
- Luxurious cotton bed linens with duvet
- Terry bathrobes and slippers
- Select standard spirits, international beers and wine
- 24-hour room service
- Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas
- Fresh-cut flowers
- Self-service laundry
- Tote bag
- Shuttle service to and from port communities, wher
- Use of umbrella
- Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
- Shoe shine-service
- Turndown treats
- Daily news bulletin
Azamara Quest
The Azamara Quest is a mid-sized ship with a deck plan that’s intimate but never crowded, and offers everything modern cruisers are looking for—plus some unexpected extras.
Ship Facts
| Launch Year | 2000 | ||||||||||
| Refit Year | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Language | en-US | ||||||||||
| Gross Tonnage | 30277 | ||||||||||
| Length | 180 | ||||||||||
| Width | 25 | ||||||||||
| Currency | USD | ||||||||||
| Speed | 18 | ||||||||||
| Capacity | 704 | ||||||||||
| Crew Count | 408 | ||||||||||
| Deck Count | 8 | ||||||||||
| Cabin Count | 352 | ||||||||||
| Large Cabin Count | N/A | ||||||||||
| Wheelchair Cabin Count | 6 | ||||||||||
| Electrical Plugs |
|
Deck 12
- Sun Deck
Deck 11
- Grandview Suites
- Panaroma Suites
- Elevator
Deck 10
- The Living Room
- Card Room
- In Touch
- Table Tennis
- Jogging Track
- The Drawing Room
- Aqualina Speciality Dining
- Prime C Speciality Dining
Deck 9
- The Sanctum Spa Terrace
- Salon
- Fitness Centre
- The Sanctum Spa
- Pool Bar
- Pool
- Swirl & Top
- The Patio
- Windows Café
- Sunset Bar
- Spa Suites
Deck 8
- Continent Suites
- World Owner's Suites
- Veranda Plus Staterooms
- Interior Stateroom
Deck 7
- Veranda Plus Staterooms
- Veranda Staterooms
- Ocean Suites
- Oceanview Staterooms
- Interior Staterooms
- Self Service Laundry
Deck 6
- Veranda Plus Staterooms
- Veranda Staterooms
- Ocean Suites
- World Owner's Suites
- Continent Suite
- Oceanview Staterooms
- Interior Stateroom
Deck 5
- Cabaret Lounge
- Shore Excursions
- Cruise Again
- The Quest Shop
- The Den
- Photo Shop
- Indulgences
- Mosaic Café
- Discoveries Bar
- Discoveries Restaurant
Deck 4
- Ocean View Staterooms (x2 Accessible Staterooms)
- Interior Staterooms (x3 Accessible Staterooms)
- Guest Relations
- Concierge Desk
- Medical Facility
Azamara offers a choice of six distinctive dining options, including room service. Whether you’re a fan of haute cuisine or down-home cooking, expect the same delicious quality. Bon appétit! Buon appetito! ¡Buen provecho! No matter how you say it, you’re in for a real treat.
Pre-Cruise Specialty Dining Reservations
All guests can now book pre-cruise reservations for Prime C, Aqualina, or Chef’s Table—our most sought-after specialty dining experiences.
Priority Access
Pre-cruise dining reservations open 150 days before sailing for suite guests and Azamara Circle Discoverer-level and above. All other guests may begin booking 140 days prior.
Aqualina
At Aqualina, you’ll find some of Italy’s most authentic dishes. Pastas made from scratch, traditional recipes, and scrumptious vegetarian dishes that make sure there’s something for everyone. Plus our famous desserts: Sorrento lemon liqueur mousse, hazelnut chocolate soufflé and more.
Prime C
Your choice of steak, cooked to perfection. Herb-coated rack of lamb, duck confit and Chilean sea bass—all paired with savory sides. At Prime C, you’re in for more than delectable dining. Expect a great evening with stunning views and lush décor.
Discoveries Restaurant
Discover the world through dishes and flavors from the places we visit. Of course, you’ll also enjoy a wide variety of nightly selections such as filet mignon with black truffle sauce. Choose being seated at a table for two or as part of a larger group of fellow guests.
The Patio and Swirl & Top
Casual “pool grill” by day. A sit-down al fresco dining experience by night. Taste your way around the world with exclusive personalized dishes using local flavors of the places we visit. Plus a self-serve frozen yogurt station—Swirl & Top. With a variety of flavors and your choice of toppings, it’s the perfect way to cool off.
Mosaic Cafe
Stylish and cozy, Mosaic offers your favorite coffee drinks exactly as you like them. Relax in a comfortable seat and enjoy. It’s the perfect spot to start or end your day, and it just might become your favorite place on the ship.
Windows Café
Our daily themed dinner often takes its inspiration from the region we’re visiting—Indian, Mexican, Spanish, Italian. We also create an extra live station made from local ingredients purchased in port: Greek salad made with local feta (Greece), pasta prepared with local mushrooms (Italy), fresh Mussels served with garlic bread (Netherlands).
Room Service
The best time for room service? Whenever you say it is, 24-hours a day. Order from the full breakfast menu between 6:30 AM and 10:00 AM, and we’ll deliver at your appointed time. Lunch and dinner room service features a menu of hearty soups, fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches, pizzas and desserts.
Sit back and enjoy your evenings on a high note with our onboard entertainment. From local cultural shows to our playbill that features a variety of amazing performances to keep you entertained while onboard.
Bars, Lounges & Gathering Spots
A cozy nook to sip coffee. An intimate space to raise a glass and celebrate. A lively setting to catch the latest shows and international entertainment. Watch the world go by, drink in hand from any of Azamara’s bars, lounges, and gathering spaces.
White Night
Join Azamara officers and crew for our signature dinner and entertainment event hosted al fresco on the pool deck (weather permitting). With an array of delicious food and engaging entertainment, your White Night experience will almost certainly be one of the most memorable times from your cruise. And don’t forget to bring something white to wear for the evening.
The Living Room
The idea of the Living Room is just that. To “live in” and to enjoy time with friends and fellow guests! Much of the room is furnished as a living room, with clusters of large comfortable chairs and sofas....
Club Crooner
Step into a swanky nightclub as the great songs of the most magnificent artists come alive on stage. From classic crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, to current songbirds such as Natalie Cole and Michael Bublé, there’s a song for every time and everyone. Enjoy a beverage, sit back, and be serenaded by the melodies of our lives with CLUB CROONER
Mosaic @ Night
Our onboard coffee corner may very well become your favorite nook on the ship. With elegant and comfortable furniture, it's bound to be one of the the most stylish places, too. Find all your favorite coffee drinks crafted just the way you like. Slip right into a comfortable seat and sip for a while—you never know who'll walk by.
Discoveries Lounge
This congenial bar is a favorite gathering place for great conversations and delicious drinks. Bar service includes a full selection of fine wines, mixed drinks, and premium spirits…plus the entertaining banter of Azamara’s friendly bartenders.
Cabaret Lounge
Enjoy live performances of professional full-stage musical revues, classical soloists, bands and other entertainment in a cabaret nightclub with a full bar and cozy tables.
The Den
By day, The Den is a cozy, inviting space perfect for planning your next adventure—home to the Cruise Again desk and photo gallery, and filled with destination inspiration. By night, it transforms into a lively piano bar with craft cocktails, a talented live pianist, and a warm, social atmosphere. Whether you're mapping out future travels or enjoying the music with a nightcap in hand, The Den is where stories begin, and where many guests return night after night.
The Drawing Room
This library is one of the quiet jewels of Azamara, a peaceful and beautifully appointed space for reading or relaxing after dinner. Browse the collection and feel free to borrow the library books. Or simply relax in the tranquil atmosphere.
The Pool
Join Azamara officers and crew for our signature dinner and entertainment event hosted al fresco on the pool deck (weather permitting). With an array of delicious food and engaging entertainment, your White Night experience will almost certainly be one of the most memorable times from your voyage. And don’t forget to bring something white to wear for the evening.
Pool Bar
Our Pool Bar serves refreshments while enjoying the Pool during the day, and cocktails of your choice in the evening.
Sunset Bar
Adjacent to Windows Café, the Sunset Bar is a welcoming outdoor patio with covered and open -air seating, and a bar. It's the perfect place for dining alfresco, enjoying a refreshing drink, taking in the sights of your favourite port, or simply watching the world sail by.
Performances
Oh, What A Night
Get ready to be transported to the world’s most beloved travel destinations in one exhilarating night. As we explore all four seasons in a new city, travel along with our dynamic Signature Singers & Dancers as they sing and dance their way through an eclectic mix of music from around the world. Come and experience Oh, What A Night!
Take Two
Get ready to grab your clicker and turn up the volume as we take a trip down memory lane celebrating the most cherished movie soundtracks of all time. As we flip through the channels together, you will be taken back to a time when stars were born, the ring is open, and yes... ghosts really do exist. We invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the music of the movies! Lights... Camera... ACTION! TAKE TWO!
Britrock!
Join your Signature Singers and Dancers, along with your Azamara band, to celebrate the music that includes famous British musical artists such as Adele, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, George Michael, The Beatles and more! Azamara invites you to sing along, as we hit the playback button and take a stroll down memory lane to relive the music that is BRITROCK!
The Quest Shop
It's one-stop shopping in The Pursuit Shop. Apparel, sundries, handbags, candies, souvenirs and lots more await. If you find that you forgot to pack something, chances are you'll find it in The Pursuit Shop.
Photo Shop
Our photographers capture both fun and professional photos throughout the voyage, whether it is your portrait, or photos of the destinations you visit. You can also find an assortment of supplies for your own photographic endeavours.
Indulgences
Aptly named, Indulgences will satisfy your desires for the finer things in life. If you are looking for designer jewellery, it's the perfect place to window shop or to find that extra special purchase.