When I boarded a ship for the first time in twenty years, here is what I discovered.
While we were conversing in the hallway prior to the departure of the ship, our tall and self-assured captain, Jonas Lyddby, but at this very time, madly exuberant, told me, "I'm so nervous." "Today is a very important day," he continued.
A momentous day in every sense of the word, for both of us. After a twenty-year hiatus, I took a cruise for the very first time.
In September, I embarked on the Azamara Quest for its Croatia Intensive sailing, which lasted for a total of seven days. When I was just 17 years old, my parents took me on a cruise during the early years of the new millennium. We went during spring break. My first time setting sail as an adult was a whole new experience for me, which is apt for a cruise line that is still relatively young like Azamara. (In 2021, after being sold by Royal Caribbean, which had been its parent company previously, it started operating as an independent cruise line.)
It was a trip that I approached with a mixture of excitement and perplexity. What do I need to bring? Which expedition should I book off the coast? Which performances do I attend, which restaurants do I frequent, and what other activities do I partake in? After all, cruising is an entirely unique mode of transportation in its own right.
But by the time I reached the end of my trip, I had come to the conclusion that I could participate in everything or in nothing at all. This is because cruising is all about sampling everything you desire while avoiding anything you don't.
Ravenna, which is located in Italy, served as the embarkation point for our ship, and it was a beautiful start to our journey. The selection of a unique departure city was a deliberate decision made by Azamara, which strives to provide value to its passengers at each and every port of call, even if that port is simply the point of departure.
According to Mike Pawlus, Azamara's director of strategic itinerary and destination planning, "there are so many beautiful and fascinating places along the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts, but it is the smaller ports that are very popular with our guests, as they love to discover the unique personalities of these less-visited destinations that larger ships cannot reach." Pawlus made this statement in an interview with Travel + Leisure. "There are so many beautiful and fascinating places along the Adriatic and Dalmatian coasts." Because we are frequently the only ship in port when we make calls at smaller ports, we are able to provide our passengers with an experience that is both unique and exclusive.
In point of fact, this ship visited all of the locations that had never once crossed my mind as possible stops on a cruise. Before arriving in Athens, Greece, the tour stopped in Koper, which is located in Slovenia; Zadar, Split, Korcula, and Dubrovnik, all of which are located in Croatia; and Kotor, which is located in Montenegro.
"Our smaller ships also allow us to dock right near the city center, giving guests easy access to the heart of the destination," added Pawlus. "For instance, in Zadar, we typically get a prime docking location right in the middle of the city, and we stay late so that our guests can join the locals as they gather right near our ship to watch a breathtaking Croatian sunset."
However, when traveling with Azamara, it is not as simple as disembarking the ship, taking a few pictures, and reboarding the vessel. Even if only for a few hours, the cruise line provides guests with culturally enriching excursions that give them the impression that they have totally submerged themselves in the destination.
During my travels, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the community leaders in Koper, Slovenia. They informed me that their country is "the only nation with the word 'love' in its name." The natives were also very excited to tell me that almost sixty percent of the nation is covered in forest, that it is the land of beekeeping, and that I just have to go back there for a camping trip.
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"Qadr-474" cruise missiles had been mounted on two classes of the IRGC Navy vessels, namely… pic.twitter.com/K2692PiKJQ
In the city of Zadar in Croatia, I had the opportunity to speak with salt merchants. They informed me that the inhabitants of this region have been gathering salt in this precise area for over a thousand years, and that the majority of the workers are women.
Excursions that travel to locations further afield than a port city are an alternative for vacationers who wish to learn more about the places they visit.
"In smaller destinations, our guests can get away from the crowds to experience less-traveled towns and villages and connect with local culture and people on a deeper level," stated Pawlus. "In larger destinations, our guests can experience more well-known cities and towns." "For example, in Koper, our visitors can embark on an exciting excursion to the quaint old village of Padna, where they will be welcomed by hospitable inhabitants who will provide them with mouthwatering homemade treats. Our customers absolutely adore these kinds of trips because they go above and beyond the typical travel experience and give them the opportunity to delve deeper into locations that they may not have even heard of before.
In the city of Split, Croatia, I did exactly that: I separated myself from the group and hired bicycles with my trip buddy so that we could ride down the coast. We were able to find a secluded small cove that had a restaurant on the water, where we had a pleasant conversation with the restaurant's proprietors over pizza before making our way back to the ship in time for ice cream.
This trip had a distinct feeling of novelty, not only at the stops but also on the ship itself. I had a great time socializing with the other passengers on the trip while sipping cocktails inspired by the various ports of call. I looked forward to the nightly Destination Celebration events, which also featured local entertainment (for example, we had opera singers on board when we were in Italy), so that I could get an even deeper understanding of the place where I'd just spent the previous day.
"Our smaller ships also enable guests to enjoy their voyage at a more relaxed pace, as they don't have to feel crowded or be bound to set dining times," added Pawlus. "Our smaller ships also allow guests to experience more of the destinations we visit."
However, there was one event that was timed on board, and that was the meeting of the ships. Because it was the first time in history that all four Azamara ships had ever passed one another at Koper, Slovenia, Lyddby's had been so thrilled about our trip before we even set sail.
I got up before dawn and went out onto my balcony, where I sat with a cup of coffee in one hand and watched as the dark blue sky changed into a glorious combination of golden and orange as the sun rose over the grassy hillsides. I smiled and waved at the other ships, knowing that the passengers on board were getting a taste of the same places for only a fraction of the time that they deserved to spend there.
The next departure of Azamara's Croatia Intensive will take place in June 2023, and costs will start at $4,452 per person. Visit azamara.com for more information, including the complete itinerary and how to make a reservation.