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23rd Jul 2026 | 10 nights | Azamara | Azamara Onward
Why do we love this cruise holiday? A week sailing through the Aegean, hopping from one postcard-worthy island to the next, all without the faff of ferries or repacking – it’s quite the way to see Greece. With a 2-night stay in Athens to start, there’s time to soak up the capital before stepping aboard for a rather refined way to travel. From the charm of lesser-known gems like Patmos and Syros to the bucket list beauty of Rhodes and Santorini, every stop brings something different. Late departures mean there's no rush, just golden sunsets and the chance to linger a little longer. With drinks and tips taken care of, it’s one of those rare holidays where you know exactly what you’re getting – and it just happens to be rather good.
What's included?
Additional amenities for Balcony Plus guests:
Cruise Circle Collection packages adhere to our 7 point charter:
Immersive Greek Island Elegance & Coastal Charm
6th Jul 26 | 12 nights
Azamara | Azamara Onward
from £3399.00
View Package
Croatian Coast Intensive | A Luxurious Cruise Through Adriatic Gems
27th Jun 26 | 11 nights
Azamara | Azamara Onward
from £3199.00
View Package
Luxury Italy, France & Spain With Monte Carlo, Marseille & Florence
12th Aug 26 | 10 nights
Azamara | Azamara Onward
from £2349.00
View PackageToday your holiday begins with an outbound flight to Athens.
Check-in to your 4* hotel for a 2-night stay in Athens.
Spend a day at leisure in this ancient city.
Named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world -- built around its namesake deity's temple, the Parthenon, which still stands today. But Athens feels far from an ancient city. While it has done an excellent job at preserving sites like the Acropolis (where the Parthenon is located) and Greek Orthodox churches, it has evolved into a hip and modern metropolis and homeport for ships sailing the Greek Islands. The city's recently overhauled Metro system also provides a cheap, safe and easy way to get around for sightseeing if you have extra time before or after your cruise. Aside from major landmarks, even once-dingy neighbourhoods like Plaka and Thissio have been restored, boasting fresh pastel-coloured painted facades and chic restaurants, bars and shops. Syntagma Square -- Athens' central square -- also has been reborn as a tree-filled haven from which to take in the city's gorgeous neoclassical Parliament building and catch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (Yes, that means you get to watch those men in frilly skirts, elaborate waistcoats and bobbled shoes do their high-kicking thing.) Athens, once (in some parts, still) one of the most frenetic and traffic-polluted cities in the world, now owns a real buzz and is well worth spending a few days in if your cruise starts or ends there.
Sailing into the harbor of Syros, you might not feel like you're in Greece. The island's port city could easily pass for a coastal town on the French Riviera or Italy's Amalfi Coast. That's because immigrants who came to Syros from France, Italy, Germany and other parts of Greece between the early to mid-1800s collectively influenced the architecture, which consists mostly of multistory stone buildings with arches and pops of pastels. The heart of Syros' port city -- Ermoupoli, which also happens to be the capital -- is Miaouli Square. Visitors to the square will be awed by its main attraction, the grand Town Hall, which not only serves as the island's political center, but also the archeological museum. Adjacent to the square are various cafes and shops, as well as a statue of Andreas Miaoulis, an admiral from the Greek War of Independence. The shops in Ermoupoli sell mostly goods handmade or manufactured in Greece, with lots of unique jewelry, handbags, clothes and cookware. Outside the port city, Syros continues to offer a taste of authentic Greece at its seaside villages with quaint restaurants and beaches. Aside from only a few small cruise lines, Syros is mostly visited by other Greeks, so it doesn't feel crowded with tourists like more popular islands Mykonos and Santorini.
One of the smallest of the Dodecanese Islands, Patmos is an island steeped in political and religious history. Visit the Grotto of St Anna or the fortress-monastery of St. John with its maze of Byzantine courtyards and arcades and its fascinating Treasury housing priceless icons and manuscripts.
On a sandy bay backed by mountains, lively Marmaris lies on a huge natural harbour. Pick up jewellery and leather goods in its bustling bazaar or take a boat trip to Cleopatra Island, a gift to the Eqyptian queen from Mark Anthony.
Crete's eastern corner is home to the resort of Agios Nikolas, a port that leads the way to the island's most significant ancient ruins. The ancient Minoans lived on Crete as far back as 2500 BC in a society that was by far the most advanced at the time. The ruins of the Minoan palaces that remain today date from 1700 to 1500 BC and reveal remarkable achievements. You may wish to visit the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos or Gournia, where an entire small town has been excavated. Gournia features a small palace, a shrine and a main street where many of the houses were evidently two stories high. Other significant periods in Crete's history include medieval times when Turkish artists and writers fled to Crete following the fall of Constantinople and resulting in a "Cretan Renaissance" era.
Nicknamed 'The Rock,' the reason behind this will become apparent as you arrive into port. There's a sense of being paused in time as you see dramatic cliffs and striking houses and churches clinging to the hillsides. The old town of Monemvasia includes a medieval settlement that is not only well preserved but still inhabited. The turbulent history of the island is shown through examples of Venetian, Ottoman and Byzantine influences. A stretching but rewarding walk is the cobbled path toward Ano Polo that offers stunning views of the town and sea beyond. Be sure to grab a bottle of the local wine before heading back to your ship.
Named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world -- built around its namesake deity's temple, the Parthenon, which still stands today. But Athens feels far from an ancient city. While it has done an excellent job at preserving sites like the Acropolis (where the Parthenon is located) and Greek Orthodox churches, it has evolved into a hip and modern metropolis and homeport for ships sailing the Greek Islands. The city's recently overhauled Metro system also provides a cheap, safe and easy way to get around for sightseeing if you have extra time before or after your cruise. Aside from major landmarks, even once-dingy neighbourhoods like Plaka and Thissio have been restored, boasting fresh pastel-coloured painted facades and chic restaurants, bars and shops. Syntagma Square -- Athens' central square -- also has been reborn as a tree-filled haven from which to take in the city's gorgeous neoclassical Parliament building and catch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (Yes, that means you get to watch those men in frilly skirts, elaborate waistcoats and bobbled shoes do their high-kicking thing.) Athens, once (in some parts, still) one of the most frenetic and traffic-polluted cities in the world, now owns a real buzz and is well worth spending a few days in if your cruise starts or ends there.
This morning your holiday comes to an end as you disembark the ship. At the scheduled time take your return flight to the UK.
Azamara Onward joined destination-focused cruise line Azamara in March 2021. The ship was purchased from Carnival Corp. -- having sailed for Princess Cruises as Pacific Princess since 2002 -- and underwent extensive refurbishment work before entering service in May 2022. Constructed in 1999, Azamara Onward began life as R Three, part of the defunct Renaissance Cruises R-Class ships, along with Azamara Journey (formerly R Six), Azamara Quest (formerly R Seven), and Azamara Pursuit (R Eight).
Azamara Onward Deck Plans
The reimagined 670-passenger Azamara Onward bears the same blueprint and deck plans as fleetmates Journey, Quest and Pursuit, and has the same layout and upmarket feel onboard. Accommodation on Azamara Onward features inside, outside, balcony and suite-class cabins, starting at 143 square feet. There are two categories of balcony cabins: Club Balcony and Club Balcony Plus. Both measure 175 square feet, plus a 40-square-foot balcony. There are four categories of suites, and the entry-level Club Continent Suites measure 266 square feet with a 60-square-foot balcony. Club Spa Suites, located by the spa, measure 414 square feet with a balcony measuring 60 square feet, and the Club Ocean Suites measure 478 square feet with a balcony measuring 173 square feet. The largest cabins are the Club World Owner's Suites, which measure 603 square feet with a 233-square-foot balcony and feature separate living and bedroom areas.
Azamara Onward's seven dining venues include Discoveries Restaurant, the ship's main dining room which offers flexible dining at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with no assigned seating. It is also the place for the line’s Destination Immersion dinner buffet featuring local flavours from the ship’s ports of call. Other eateries include the Windows Cafe casual buffet and The Patio, a casual pool grill option by day and the Swirl Top candlelit alfresco restaurant serving Destination Immersion menus in the evening. The two speciality restaurants are Aqualina, serving a six-course Italian menu, and the steak and seafood restaurant Prime C. There is also 24-hour room service. Public areas include five bars and lounges, the Drawing Room Library and Cabaret Lounge. Azamara's signature White Nights party, with canapes, drinks and a live DJ on the pool deck, will also take place on voyages of seven days or more.
Azamara Onward Excursion Program
As with the rest of the fleet, guests can expect a focus on the destination, with excursions and activities that go way beyond standard city tours. Azamara Onward features overnight stays and docks at smaller, less-travelled ports. The excursion program is curated with independent, local tour operators and features experiences such as making mozzarella cheese by hand at the home of an Italian family and visiting food markets frequented by locals with the ship's executive chef. Back onboard, Azamara Onward will also showcase AzAmazing Evenings focused on destinations the ship visits.
Azamara Onward's Maiden Voyage & Itineraries
Azamara Onward entered service in May 2022. Azamara Onward 2022 itineraries will focus on Europe, sailing in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea to destinations including Italy, Greece, Croatia, France, Turkey and Africa.
Azamara Onward Specs
Azamara Onward is 30,277 gross tons and carries 670 passengers at double capacity, with 400 crew.
Azamara may have smaller ships that other cruise companies, but their entertainment and onboard activities live up to the standards of the mega cruise ships on the oceans of today.
Discover Broadway-styled shows, musicals and performances as you sit back and enjoy with your favourite cocktail in hand. Their wonderful performance schedule will keep you entertainment throughout your cruise. Don't forget their special performances and shows such as comedy, magicians and unique instrumentalists. If you want something a little more relaxing, there are plenty of choices available around the ship in their many bars and socialising areas.
If you want to treat your mind, body and soul to some special treatment, the onboard spa and fitness centre is the perfect place to visit on your voyage. Treat yourself to a luxury treatment or massage at the Sanctum Spa or why not experience a memorable moment as you enjoy an ocean front massage, manicure or acupuncture treatment with stunning views.
If keeping active on your holiday is important to you, then you will find all you need at the well-equipped onboard gym and fitness centre. Go solo with professional gym equipment or why not join in one of their fitness classes such as Pilates, cycling, yoga or nutrition talks. If you want to push boundaries then you can take advantage of the personal training plans available from the resident fitness instructor.
Azamara brings to all guests remarkable experiences and memorable moments with their creative destinations and itineraries. They also serve mouth-watering, freshly made cuisine inspired by the destinations on your holiday.
There is a restaurant for every mood and occasion. From their Steakhouse (Prime C) to their Italian inspired restaurant (Aqualina), they offer delicious food at every meal. If you are looking for a casual dining experience, they have a number of cafes and grills to indulge in the wide variety of mouth-watering food available.
Walking into the staterooms and suites onboard Azamara Onward, you will be welcomed by the contemporary polished style and stellar service of your own retreat at sea. From the Club Staterooms to the Suite life, discovery the true luxury of each voyage and experience the memorable boutique at sea.
Baby boomers, older Gen Xers and foodies who prize destination immersion and experiences rather than things
Big-ship cruisers looking for lots of onboard activities and late-night parties
Azamara primarily attracts baby boomers who are active and well-travelled, and looking for port-intensive itineraries that include marquee cities and offbeat places. About 60 percent come from North America, 18 percent from the U.K., 11 percent from Australia and New Zealand, and the remainder from the rest of the world.
Yes and no. The dress code does prohibit bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps, bathing suits and shorts in the dining room or speciality restaurants, and jeans are not permitted anywhere after 6 p.m., but formal wear is never required. In general, most women wear sundresses and trouser and blouse outfits in the evening, while men will put on nice pants and collared shirts. In the casual Windows Cafe, cruisers can dress more casually even at dinner but are always required to wear shoes and a cover-up or shirt.
No, but the fare is semi-inclusive, with items like select standard spirits, international beers and wines, gratuities, bottled water, soft drinks, speciality coffees and teas, self-service laundry, shuttle service to and from port communities (where available) and concierge services for personal guidance and reservations all included. All cruises, except transatlantic and transpacific sailings, also include one special evening shore excursion, referred to as an AzAmazing Evening, a private onshore experience that is specially arranged by the cruise line for its passengers. On top of all the standard inclusions, suite passengers also receive English butler service and free dining in speciality restaurants. Extra costs include speciality dining, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, spa treatments and retail store purchases.
Azamara's shoreside activities are the real attention-getters. Shore excursions are divided into different types (Taste Local, Bike Local, Meet Local) and often sell out. Many passengers take advantage of overnight excursion options to inland cities like Berlin, Madrid and Moscow or to UNESCO World Heritage sites like Bagan and Angkor Wat that require full days or longer. In the evening, passengers gather for shows, one of which is an at-sea version of New York supper club and cabaret, Feinstein's 54 Below with Broadway talent, along with local dancers and musicians from the destinations. Enrichment lectures with the World Wildlife Fund Guest Speaker Series are well attended, and foodies hit the culinary demonstrations and wine tastings. There are ship parties, like ABBA Night, dancing in the Living Room and occasionally karaoke, but destination immersion rules.
