Discovering Greece's Gems: A Journey with Azamara's Greek Intensive Cruise
Are you ready for an unforgettable exploration of Greece's historical and picturesque treasures? Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Azamara Cruise Line's Greek Intensive Cruise, an experience designed to immerse you in the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture of this ancient land.
My husband and I had the opportunity to sail this itinerary in July 2023, in one of Azamara's luxury spa suites, and it was, indeed, luxurious. Each identical ship in Azamara's fleet of four holds up to 700 passengers, though our particular sailing was only at 50% capacity. Even if full, I can't imagine how it would feel crowded. And, the cruise line prides itself on its personal attention to each guest. By the second day, most officers knew us by name and waitstaff who knew us brought us our favorite drinks without asking.
Our ship, the Azamara Quest, docked in Kavala, Greece. This turned out to be our favorite port, so charming that we even found ourselves perusing the real estate listings and dreaming of a life there!
To note, Azamara’s itineraries are fluid, much like the ocean. Unlike the mega-ships, that often sail the same itinerary, back and forth, for months on end, Azamara’s ships sail around, visiting new and different parts of the world as they move. The exact itinerary that we visited below may not be replicated, though the line will always have a Greek Intensive itinerary that visits some, if not all, of these ports. Visit Azamara’s web site to see the current itineraries, or give me a call so that I can help you plan your Greek Isles journey!
Our glorious spa suite came with two closets. The bathroom area is to the right, running the length of the room. And the location was directly next to the spa, making it easy to grab a massage or dip in the thalassotherapy pool.
The BATHTUB. Yes, this was our room’s bathtub, and exactly where you’d find me with my coffee every morning, watching the ship sail into port.
Istanbul, Turkey - The Gateway to East and West
Our adventure began in Istanbul, a city where the East meets the West. We immersed ourselves in its captivating blend of cultures, architecture, and cuisine. It is always a good idea to arrive a day before your cruise departs, to avoid any worry about flight delays. We arrived two days early to allow for some sightseeing. We booked a private tour which we customized with the tour company, including dropping us at the cruise port on the second day. We felt comfortable knowing our guide would teach us about Istanbul's history and landmarks, but also guide us through cultural etiquette, such as when I should cover my head or when we needed to remove our shoes.
The Blue Mosque was as beautiful as we had imagined, both inside and out…
Troy, Turkey - Where Mythology and History Meet
Our first stop on the cruise was Canakkale, Turkey, sitting at the mouth of the Dardanelles. Just a short drive from Troy, we chose to visit the ruins of the ancient city. The echoes of the Trojan War resonated through the ruins, and the aura of Greek mythology surrounded us at every corner. Walking through these historic grounds, imagining the legendary battles and heroes of old, was simply awe-inspiring.
Our tour included a visit to the Trojan Horse. This is the actual prop from the 2004 movie. The archeological site also has a recreation, though it was under scaffolding on the day of our visit.
Kavala, Greece - Charming Village that Captured our Hearts
We spent our day in Kavala wandering the panagia, or old town. We explored its ancient ruins, including the Roman aqueduct and the iconic Kavala Castle, offering stunning views of the city and Aegean Sea. We visited gorgeous churches and the home of Mohammed Ali, future de facto ruler of Egypt. And, after all of that walking, it was only fair to eat a delicious, Greek lunch at a family owned restaurant where they treated us like, well, family!
It was a long hike to the top of the acropolis of Kavala, but this view made it worth it! (We discovered on our way down that there’s a tram to take you there if you don’t want to walk!)
Thessaloniki, Greece - A Tapestry of History and Modernity
One of the few "big city" ports, Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece. We had only one thing we KNEW we wanted to do, which was ride on the Arabella pirate ship! A legitimate vessel built in the 1930s that sailed missions during WWII, it's now a bar that takes 30 minute sails around the bay all day long. Cost of the ride? A drink! After our sailing, we took time to visit some of Thessaloniki's sites, such as the White Tower and Kapani Market.
Our night in Thessaloniki was what Azamara calls its AzAmazing Evening. This is a free shore excursion included on sailings 7 or more nights, where the entire ship is taken to a cultural immersion experience. We were treated to a performance by the Thessaloniki Youth Symphony plus a 30 member adult choir, performing pieces about Alexander the Great by the Greek composer Vangelis (Chariots of Fire), in a concert hall at Aristotle University. The musicians were as young as 8 years old, but oh my goodness!
Meteora, Greece - A Surreal Journey to the Monasteries in the Sky
Built on the top of pillar rock formations, Meteora consists of 6 (formerly 24!) operating Eastern Orthodox monasteries/convents. The pictures really don't do justice to how beautiful it is. This was an all day trip for us, as we actually docked at Volos, a 2 hour drive away. But I think Meteora was the one place both my husband and I were most excited to see before our trip. The monasteries have stair access now, not the rope pulley that used to bring guests up the cliff side. I had read it was 350 stairs, so had been practicing at work for months climbing from the 1st to the 10th floor at lunch. Turns out, we visited the two easiest! 😆 The Monastery of Agios Stefanos was a simple bridge, the Holy Monastery of Varlaam only 120 stairs, so I was ready!
Syros, Greece - A Hidden Gem of the Cyclades
Syros invites you to explore its authentic charm and relaxed ambiance. Our ship docked at Ermoupoli, the island's capital, known for its neoclassical architecture, picturesque streets, and vibrant cultural scene. This was a surprise stop for us, as we had a last minute itinerary change. We were supposed to visit the port of Nafplio, but a change to our visit to Mykonos (see below) meant we stopped at Syros, instead. We thought the marble paved streets and little shops were gorgeous, but our biggest fun was finding a swimming spot in the sea right behind our ship, full of locals who encouraged me to get in even through it was SO COLD!! I don't speak Greek, but their enthusiasm transcended translation!
Mykonos, Greece - The Jewel of the Cyclades
What you will find when you sail with Azamara is the ability to visit ports of call that those mega-ships cannot, smaller villages often unscathed by the tourist experience. Or, as happened on our sailing, they may change the itinerary to avoid crowds. On our sailing, we were set to visit Mykonos on Day 6, but our captain discovered that multiple other ships holding 5,000 passengers each were visiting Mykonos that day. We found out on embarkation day that we’d be visiting Mykonos on Day 7 instead, a day when literally no other cruise ships were at the island. We enjoyed strolling the island’s narrow alleys with charming, whitewashed buildings. But our activity of choice that day was a mosaic making class where we made our own souvenirs!
All the buildings are white washed on Mykonos, though the residents can choose a color for the doors and shutters
My husband and I displaying our mosaic souvenirs that we made ourselves!
Athens, Greece - A Culmination of Ancient History
The final stop of our Greek odyssey brought us to Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. We had visited Athens before, and reconnected with the same tour guide who guided us a decade before. We visited the Parthenon, an obligatory stop, and then enjoyed a delightful food walking tour throughout the city. We had so much food we brought leftovers back to the hotel!
Yummy Greek donuts covered in honey, just one of our many stops on the food tour in Athens. You will NOT end your tour hungry, that’s for sure!
This Greek Intensive Cruise with Azamara promises an exhilarating adventure, blending history, culture, and natural beauty in a seamless voyage through the Aegean Sea. If you’re ready to take an unforgettable journey exploring the heart of ancient Greece and creating memories to last a lifetime, let’s talk!