Best Cruise EVER

Azamara Journey Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 6
Helpful Votes: 220

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5
Azamara Journey

12 Night Best Of Holy Lands (Athens To Istanbul)

Sail date: September 29, 2015

Ship: Azamara Journey

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 4028

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 9 years ago

Review summary

We had a FANTASTIC time on this trip.  The crew of the Journey reminds me of what cruising used to be.  Impeccable service delivered by happy crew.  Most important, and lost on the other guys, is the ATTITUDE of the ENTIRE staff.  Never an excuse (and really never a reason for one).  Ship is clean and neat.  The decor could use an "update" in style (kinda oldish for me).  Ports of call were UNBELIEVABLE.   This is NOT a party ship.  All live entertainment and bars were closed a bit past 11pm.  A main show, guitar player and piano man who both had overdone sound tracks to cover for their playing.  But because the ports were SOOOOO intensive, we really did not care.

Would go again in a flash.  The included drinks (and boy did the drinks flow - and WITHOUT ANY signature needed), and included tips really make this line compete quite affordabally with other higher end lines.  

Easy on and easy off.  Very few lines for anything.  Food was top notch, all the time.

AND..... ATTITUDE (listen up other lines) was positive, happy, upbeat, and NO EXCUSES or B.S. - ever!!!

Happy to answer specific questions.  This was our 15th cruise on 8 lines.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
PERFECT location. Great view at all ports. No noise. Easy access to dining. Used the elevator for the pool and sun deck.

Ship tip

Book thru a TA, they have some great incentives for Azamara

Ports of call

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

5 out of 5
Get to the Acropolis entry when it opens. It will still be crowded, but it will be better. Get a hotel on the train line away from the old city, you can save a bunch of money, and get a better hotel.

Ashdod, Israel

1 out of 5
The Kotel is a great thing to see, but make reservations MONTHS in advance.

Haifa, Israel

5 out of 5
If you want to see the temple, and you do, get there before noon.

Paphos, Cyprus

3 out of 5
Skip the long trip to ruins. Just stay in port and enjoy the ruins.

Kas, Turkey

5 out of 5
Take a boat trip to the sunken city. We used a local company sefer@xanthostravel.com for 1/4th the cost of the cruise line for 5 hours, including a lunch.

Lindos, Greece

5 out of 5

Patmos, Greece

5 out of 5
Rent a scooter and see the WHOLE island. Only $20 for all day. Make sure to see the Convent Of Evangelismos (better than St. John's) and the house of Simandiri.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

5 out of 5
Be prepared to walk walk walk. Don't get a cab that wants to wait. This could take 3-4 hours. Hire a cab just to get you to the entry (top one) and then get another, at the exit, to take you back.

Dikili, Turkey

5 out of 5
Good place for a rest and Turkish Bath

Istanbul, Turkey

5 out of 5
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3 Comments

Gwbigdog    2 years ago

Thanks for sharing

GerryBCruisin    2 years ago

Thank you for taking the time to share your cruise review.

viviennerowe    9 years ago

we will be aboard her in 150 days but counting!!!!