8 Night Amalfi, Sicily & Greece Voyage – October 2017

2 – 10 October 2017

Join Wine Diva Deb on the Azamara Journey and love these favorite Mediterranean ports without the summer crowds. Join small group Amalfi Coast tours to farms, restaurants and little towns nestled by the sea or high in the hills, or spend a day at Capri or Pompeii. Stroll the town of Siracusa — you’ll find wonderful markets and produce shops and join an excursion to the ornate Baroque town of Noto. You’ll have a full day to explore Valletta’s Renaissance monuments, and another to hike the Samaria Gorge or shop and dine on Chania’s Venetian harbo. Enjoy lunch with a stunning view on Santorini, or visit the excavations of Akrotiri, a fishing village unearthed from volcanic ash.

Voyage Details

Port Details

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Rome has something special to offer to all visitors, no matter their interests and tastes. Whether you daydream about fighting with gladiators in the Coliseum, debating with togaed senators in the Forum, tossing a coin in a fabled fountain, or being awestruck by the magnificence of St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s masterpieces, Rome seems to live up to its sobriquet as the Eternal City. When you need sustenance, today’s Rome will provide delizioso pasta e vino. Or perhaps you draw strength from a little retail therapy—the Italians are also renowned for their sense of style.

Sorrento, Italy

With its many pedestrian-only streets, Sorrento is a lovely city to explore on foot, but there’s no way around it: If you really want to see Sorrento, you’re going to have travel vertically. Most of the town is set up on the cliffs, so to get to the top, you can hop on a mini-bus, take the lift, or go on a short but steep hike. Love to eat? You’ll find the dining experience here second-to-none, where lemon is the star. It’s in everything: risotto, olive oil, gelato, and, of course, limoncello. (There’s no chance you’ll be getting scurvy on this trip!) But if your mouth gets tired of puckering up, enjoy a dinner of Gnocchi alla Sorrentina—pillowy potato dumplings baked in a cheesy tomato sauce. Italian comfort food at its finest. Looking out from Sorrento, in the Gulf of Naples, is the isle of Capri. Well known for its sparkling Blue Grotto, it’s the playground of the rich and famous, and easily reached via a short hydrofoil. The island is divided into two main parts, Capri and Anacapri. Capri is full of Italian luxury, with designer stores and five-star hotels lining the streets, while Anacapri is slightly more down-to-earth. Take a relaxing chair lift ride to the very top of the island, as the views are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Amalfi, Italy

There’s a reason they named one of the most stunning coastlines in the world after this town: “La Vita e Bella” in Amalfi! It’s also one of the largest towns in the region, so take some time to explore it. Rub shoulders with the Italian elite as you walk the pedestrian streets, ducking into shops and galleries. Drop into a bar and order the drink the region is best known for: limoncello. Make sure when you get it, that its been chilled. Limoncello, like revenge, is best served cold. Amalfi extends down to the water, and its beaches are always popular with locals and visitors alike. (The Azamara pro-tip: Bring a pair of water shoes if you plan on spending any amount of time down at the lidos. While picturesque, the beaches are rocky, not sandy.) A trip to Amalfi isn’t complete without hitting the road in a car (ideally a convertible, of course!). We recommend taking in the views from the passenger seats—leave the winding, narrow cliff-side driving to the professionals. Whether you head up towards Positano and Sorrento, or down to Salerno, it will without a doubt be one of the most amazing rides of your life.

Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

You’re going to want to get an early start on your day in Siracusa. The city was once one of the largest and most important in Western Civilization, and its long history and strong culture means there’s still a lot to see and do here. Classic sights like the Ortygia, Neapolis, and the Basilica of Santa Lucia are always worth a visit, but if you’re looking for something a little more offbeat, take in a puppet theatre show. Opera dei Pupi performances (like the plays Pinocchio was a part of) are a traditional form of Sicilian entertainment. And while there’s no chance of one of your marionettes becoming a real boy, a puppet still makes for a great souvenir. The stunning Fonte Aretusa was once the source of the city’s drinking water, and now the pond and surrounding area is a scenic spot, perfect for a picnic lunch. Many shops sell delicious arancini (rice balls) and slices of square Sicilian pizza for take-away. And for a little dolce? You can’t leave the island without trying some of the world-famous cannoli (cannolo is the singular word, but let’s be honest, you’re going to want more than one!), crispy pastry filled with sweetened ricotta cheese. The Fonte Aretusa is also the sport where locals like to gather for their after dinner passeggiata, a leisurely stroll where the goal is to see and be seen.

Valletta, Malta

The Lilliputian capital of Malta, Valletta is one of the most concentrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. But despite its small size (less than half a square mile!), we think you’ll be wishing you had more time to see everything the city has to offer. Head for Triq ir-Republika for shops, cafés, and bakeries serving up can’t-miss treats like pastizzi (filo pastry with ricotta) and ftira, a savory flatbread. There’s plenty to see on the cobblestone side streets, too, like St. John’s Co-Cathedral, where an austere outside hides stunning frescoes and “the most beautiful floor in the world” inside. And if you get the feeling that you’re being watched while you’re wandering, look up. Thousands of colorful, covered balconies cling to the sides of the buildings and are the perfect spot for curious locals to watch the comings and goings of the city below. Given Valetta’s remote location it would have been easy for Old Man Time to simply forget about it. But thanks to cutting-edge, contemporary architecture like the new City Gate and Parliament Building (both designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano) the old city now exists seamlessly with the new.

Chania, Crete, Greece

On the northwest side of Crete rests the old Venetian port of Chania, the second largest city on the island. Inhabited since the Neolithic era, Chania is a modern city built over the ruins of the ancient city of Kydonia. Stroll through the old city and see how it has been touched by the intersection of diverse civilizations throughout history, with a mixture of Greek, Venetian, and Ottoman influences on every corner: Minoan ruins, Byzantine churches, and impressive frescos. The Archaeological Museum of Chania houses an extensive collection of Minoan and Roman artifacts, and with replicas of ships dating back to the Bronze Age, the Naval Museum is a great way to explore the ages of Chania. Discover the Byzantine collection in the restored Venetian Church of San Salvadore, or venture to the nearby national park and hike the Samaria Gorge. Local handicrafts make for great shopping or relax at a seaside restaurant and café.

Santorini, Greece

It’s been said the sunset from Oia on the island of Santorini is the most beautiful in the world. But you don’t have to wait until dusk to see your share of postcard-worthy views. Santorini is stunning any time of day. The capital, Fira, clings to the rim of the caldera 900 feet above the sea. Take the cable car—or if you’re looking for a more authentic experience, giddy up on a donkey to climb the 588 zigzagging steps to the top. The white cobblestone streets bustle with shops, tavernas, and cafés perfect for sampling the tomatoes and white eggplant for which Santorini is renowned. If you’re feeling ambitious, hike to nearby Oia, a quintessential Greek village. Plan your day accordingly to “schedule” yourself on a patio enjoying a glass of Vinsanto (a sweet, strong dessert wine) as the sun sinks into the sea, and then make up your own mind about the village’s famed sunset. Drive by black, white, and red volcanic beaches and head south to the 3,500-year-old Minoan town Akrotiri. Often called Greece’s answer to Pompeii, the well-preserved ruins provide a glimpse into Santorini’s storied (and explosive) past.

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

You could spend a lifetime in Europe’s oldest city and still not see everything it has to offer. Settled over 3,500 years ago, Athens is like a mythological crossroads of the past and present, where modern buildings share the skyline with spectacular ruins like the Parthenon. To see a veritable “greatest hits” line-up, make your way to Vasilissis Amalias Street for the archaeological walk. Winding through the heart of the ancient city, the route leads to landmarks like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Agora, Arch of Hadrian, and of course, the Acropolis. After all that archaeological digging, metaphorically speaking, you’re probably going to work up quite an appetite. So head to the Central Market for fresh fruit and veggies, nuts, olives, and Grecian cheese like feta, graviera, and aged kefalotyri. (Snacking is not a bad idea since Athenians usually don’t head out for dinner until at least 9:00 PM.) And if you need a little extra pick-me-up to make it that late, have a frappe—a Greek creation of strong iced coffee with milk and sugar. Neighborhoods like Pangrati, Exarhia, and Petralona feature fantastic tavernas where you can rub elbows with the locals while dining on the sidewalk well into the wee hours of the night. Opa!

On Board Inclusions

• The services of a Concierge Host (Wine Diva Deb) to assist you throughout your journey
• An invitation to a Private Cocktail Reception to meet like-minded VIPs
• An Exclusive Shore Event to truly connect to the local culture

• An AzAmazing Evening^SM event (on most voyages)
• Select standard spirits, and international selection of beers and wines throughout the voyage
• Gratuities (dining, bar and housekeeping)
• Shuttles to/from port communities, where available
• Destination-influenced entertainment & enrichment
• Bottled Water, Sodas and specialty Coffee & Teas
• Concierge Service
• Self-Service Laundry
• All gourmet meals
• Casino
• Aqua Spa and Fitness center
• Piano and Wine bar, and Live Entertainment

For Suite Guests

All standard amenities plus:

• English butler service
• 235 complimentary Internet minutes
• One free bag of laundry service per suite, each seven days
• Complimentary dining in specialty restaurants
• Afternoon tea service in suite
• Guests in Club World Owner’s and Club Ocean suites may choose a complimentary Insider Access^SM or Nights in Cool Places^SM excursion

Pricing Details* (per person US$)

*Airfare not included in prices listed

	Balcony Cabin	$3,013
	Window Cabin	$2,563
	Inside Cabin	$2,262
	Suite	$3,688

To Reserve your space

Send email to: winedivadeb@yahoo.com or call Wine Diva Deb on 206-617-6160.

A deposit of $1,100/cabin or $2,220/Suite is required.

All reservations based on double occupancy. Travel Insurance highly recommended as well as Personal & Medical Insurance.

Azamara Club Cruises reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel exceeds US$65 per barrel.