A Quest for the ultimate cruise
I left a cold London Gatwick airport and 1.5 hours later, landed at Nice Airport. We were whisked directly to the ship, and were comprehensively processed through the efficient check in process, taking all contact details, issuing us with boarding cards, and tagging our luggage for delivery to our state rooms. Within a short space of time, our cabin was ready, and we went down to inspect it.
The room was very well appointed and had a wonderful balcony where we would spend many an evening sipping a cocktail or drinking coffee. There was plenty of storage space, and while not massive, it suited our needs perfectly.
Once unpacked, we proceeded to explore the ship. There are so many public spaces to explore, it took a while…from a relaxing café, to a night club, four restaurants, internet room, gym, library, the list goes on and on. It was difficult to know where to start!
As the cruise is all inclusive, all your meals and drinks are included. They do offer a premium drinks package so if you prefer premium brands, you can also be totally catered for! There is breakfast, all day snacks in the café, afternoon tea and a full dinner every night, so you won’t go hungry! Before we knew it, dinner was served, and then we started moving on our way to Monte Carlo.
We spent two hours looking around the palace and the casino, walking through beautiful parks and immaculately manicured lawns before heading back to the ship for lunch. Alternatively, you can book on one of three organised tours that the cruise ship offers.
The next day, we were in St Tropez. It’s a place that is very special to me, as I spent many childhood holidays in and around the town. Here, the ship docks at anchor, and a regular tender shuttles guests to and from the medieval town. We spent several hours wandering around the old town, taking in the many shops, restaurants and alley ways that make up the town. We stopped on the quay side for coffee at the famous Senequier café….much frequented by Brigitte Bardot and other celebrities.
Next stop was Propriano in Corsica. We were only here for a few hours, but it’s a great little place to visit. Archaeological evidence indicates that the immediate area was occupied during the prehistoric era, but it wasn’t until much later that any notable development took place. The Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans all lingered in turn, although frequent pirate raids discouraged growth. Again, you can explore on foot, or there are three organised tours you can take.
Our penultimate stop was Amalfi on the Amalfi Coast. A very busy tourist destination, with lots of shops for even the most fervent souvenir hunter. We had an afternoon here, so not huge amounts of time, and again, we came ashore on tender. Two organised tours are offered here, but walking around and visiting the cathedral and alleyways is well worth it.
Last stop was the beautiful town of Sorrento. From here we visited Capri, Pompeii and Herculaneum (all possible as we had two clear days to explore). The destination is still touristy, but with so much more space to explore than Amalfi, it’s well worth a visit in its own right!
Before we knew it, we were sailing back to Rome. Disembarkation was smooth and effortless, and a 45 minute ride saw us safely back at Rome airport for our flight back to London.
If you haven’t experienced cruising before, I would thoroughly recommend you try Azamara. If you were put off (as I was) by the thought of a large drinks bill at the end of your holiday, or felt awkward about having to dress up for formal nights, none of this is an issue – no dinner jackets required, just no jeans in the restaurant for dinner. And there’s no drinks bill, as it’s all included! So give it a go! If you want a personal recommendation, or have cruising questions, give me a call as I now have first-hand experience!