Egypt & Greek Isles with Azamara Cruises

**April 15th 2023 9 -Day Spring Voyage on the Pursuit By Michael J Garcia 05/16/2023

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In the second week of April during Greek Easter and Ramadan I enjoyed a fantastic, immersive spring cruise aboard Azamara Cruise lines. The ship Pursuit took us from Athens to Alexandria Cairo, Limassol, Rhodes, Agios Nikolaos and Heraklion Crete. The weather was perfect; crisp, sunny, and clear with temperatures varying from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The blooming wildflowers everywhere made the visit enjoyable for adventure, exploring, roof top dining, brisk walks past beautiful scenery and landmarks. The crowds are minimal. I instantly understood the term ‘immersive small ship boutique style cruising concept’, with each day aboard. The personalized attention to detail and service was excellent.

Arrival Athens, Greece: We landed at Athens’ newly updated Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International Airport. There were little to no crowds, and all went smoothly, taking a cab to our Athens hotel for our pre-night stay. Athens offers many hotels, private homes, and luxury accommodations ranging from The Grande Bretagne Hotel to our more simple but elegant, refurbished art deco hotel, The Stanley. Many hotels offer a roof top pool, dining, or bar lounge offering you a great view of the city below. Make sure your hotel choice has this great amenity for your stay.

The Stanley Hotel Athens Roof Top Pool and Dinning View, The Acropolis, Acropolis Colosseum

Athens Greece: Staying in Athens city center you will find an efficient subway system and cabs everywhere you look. They will allow you to see the most in a day. Make sure to wear very comfortable shoes. Purchasing a multi pass will allow you to enter all the sites, of which the majority are scattered within walking distance of each other. We got plenty of steps in this day, enjoying great weather, snacks, shopping, and meals. The Acropolis of Athens has been updated with a pathway, as well as a wheelchair accessible lift. Now all guests can enjoy the ruins.

(Tip) If experiencing the area all on foot make sure you have a map or keep your phone map app handy, as its very easy to get lost down winding streets and roads. Again, wear VERY comfortable shoes.

Pyramids of Giza, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Nile River, Catacombs of Komel Shoqafa

Alexandria Cairo Egypt: Full of culture, colors, treasures, and no doubt the most famous structures on earth, Egypt did not disappoint in any way. Experiencing the humblest areas hiding ancient ruins, the impressive, partially excavated catacombs of Komel Shoqafa, the Pyramids of Giza, floating on a traditional Egyptian lunch cruise on the Nile, viewing mummified bodies and treasures of once vast and thriving civilizations that are now forever preserved in Egypt’s museums, not one moment was boring.

(Tip) Stay close to your tour guides and do not wander off. In my opinion, the best handmade souvenirs are at the pyramids. If you are interested in reproductions, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities offers the best prices. Attempts at photographing mummies will get your camera or phone confiscated, only to have your pictures deleted and you risk ejection from the museum. Gold is very well priced in Egypt. Unless you are a very good negotiator, you may wish to avoid the main tourist areas to make your gold purchases.

Old City, Kourion, and Kolossi Castle

Limassol Cyprus: Bursting with spring blooming wild margarita flowers, every corner Limassol was quaint, tranquil, and breezy. We enjoyed crowd-free tours of the hilltop ruins of Kourion, overlooking gorgeous seaside white cliffs, and Kolossi Castle. Ending our day with a marina stroll (sometimes with lunch and a cocktail!), we walked down ancient roads to a refurbished monastery that was turned into a restaurant. This stop was very relaxing. The city as well as the cruise port are modern, but boast a small, seaside town feel.

(Tip) Local seafood, high end marina side shopping, local honey, and olive oil are favorites here. The more you explore the walkways and roads the more you find.

Inside Rhodes walls, the Acropolis and Lindos, world known Hellenic pottery master artist Savva’s workshop.

Rhodes, Acropolis at Lindos: This day started with a visit to the Acropolis at Lindos, which offered phenomenal views, shopping, and treats, while walking to the top of the hills fortress and temple ruins. This is a very active tour due to all the walking and steps to maneuver, but worth the effort. We visited the Savva Master Hellenic Pottery Workshop where we viewed the techniques behind the recreation of ancient pottery. Passed down for generations, modern day artists are contracted to reproduce replicas of ancient museum pieces. Traveling the winding paths behind the walls of Rhodes, we concluded the day by strolling through the many shops and buildings that were selling art, jewelry, and leather goods. For lunch we enjoyed more local seafood at one of many restaurants and burned more calories walking down the streets and around the marina with the locals, who were out in droves. Rhodes is one of the most well-preserved medieval cities offering a little something for everyone to appreciate.

(Tip) The local cuisine is quite exceptional, and the shopping is high quality and negotiable, so Inside Rhodes walls and Lindos is a place you want to take advantage of in more ways than just historically.

Knossos Minoan Ruins, Crete Archaeological Museum, lasithi Plateau, Zeus’s Cave

Agios Nikolaos and Heraklion Crete: Here we enjoyed great tours at the ruins of Knossos, the birthplace of Western civilization. The endless Crete Archaeological Museum is sure to leave you wondering about the creation of the mythological and ancient Western world’s beginnings. We then took an off-road expedition up above the Lasithi Plateau, visiting local farmers, shops, and sheep herders. We explored the mythological birth cave of Zeus, then concluded the day with a delicious local lunch overlooking the plateau.

(Tip) Wear comfortable, slip proof shoes. The walk up to Zeus’s cave is strenuous but there is an ancient path as well as a modern, paved path to get there. There are plenty of shopping options and many opportunities to do so in the city itself. Try to have lunch at the Lasithi Plateau when visiting Zeus’s cave, as it’s a magical and serene experience.

Conclusion: My experience aboard Azamara’s Pursuit did not disappoint. I do recommend clients take a balcony stateroom or higher, depending on their expectations as bathrooms are very small and shower curtains in Ocean or Inside staterooms. Service was personable and efficient, the staff abundantly friendly, and the cuisine comparable to any five-star cruise line’s menu-bright and full of flavor! The interior décor is tasteful and visually appealing. Tour staff and vendor tour guides are beyond knowledgeable, covering all aspects of culture, politics, ancient and modern-day life at each port. The strong points for this cruise line are its immersive experiences with overnight stays, seeing the local culture both night and day, great itineraries, delicious cuisine and fantastic staff.

Azamara is independently owned by Sycamore Partners. Purchased in 2021 they immediately began building new ships and investing in this quality star brand. I feel we will be hearing more from them in the near future.