2022 Sep - Azamara Pursuit - Amsterdam to Barcelona to Civitavecchia around Sicily to Rome

Legend

Boat
Bus
Train
Plane

Fiumicino, Italy ‐ Oct 16, 2022

After arriving Fiumicino Airport we took a taxi to our motel where we rested and walked around the town. We ate our lunch and walk along the river, stopping at a bar for a beer. We returned to the motel for the night and caught the shuttle to the airport the next morning and caught our flight home.
Civitavecchia ‐ Oct 15, 2022

We docked at 7:00 am and caught the bus to the airport but too late to catch a flight
Amalfi

7:00 am - 2:00 pm Amalfi is a town in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs on Italy’s southwest coast. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, it was the seat of a powerful maritime republic. The Arab-Norman Sant'Andrea cathedral at the heart of town, with its striped Byzantine facade, survives from this era. We wandered through the town and were disappointed the church was not open.
Sorrento ‐ Oct 14, 2022

We arrived back at the boat late and decided not to go up to the town
Capri

We caught a ferry to Capri and took a tour boat around the island. It was an intesting place which was famous for the celerbrities that stayed there.
Sorrento

8:00 am - 11:59 pm Sorrento is a coastal town in southwestern Italy, facing the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. Perched atop cliffs that separate the town from its busy marinas, i
Naples ‐ Oct 12, 2022

Our day in Naples was a day in rest as it rained all day and we had already seen the city and did not feel like walking in the rain so we stayed on the boat and played trivia and drank beer.
Trapani

8:00 am - 4:00 pm Trapani is a city in western Sicily with a crescent-shaped coastline. At the western tip, offering views as far as the Aegadian Islands, is the 17th-century Torre di Ligny watchtower. It houses the Museo di Preistoria e del Mare, with archeological artifacts. North of the harbor, the Chiesa del Purgatorio church holds wooden sculptures that are paraded around the city during Easter’s Processione dei Misteri. We took a tour to Erice. After a 45-minute coach drive to the cabl [...]
e station, we took the cable car up to the top of a mountain. While up there, wel explore the medieval town that is Erice. Wandering the winding cobbled streets, we visit the Mother Church that’s stood there for over 700 years, and admire the Castle of Venus where the son of Athena, goddess of love, built a temple in his mother’s honor. Tthe gorgeous Balio Gardens in all their glory. We enjoyed the atmosphere in Erice’s tiny plaza, had a snack a alocal cafe before taking the cable car back down to our waiting ship.
Porto Empedocle ‐ Oct 11, 2022

8:00 am - 5:00 pm A town and comune in Italy on the coast of the Strait of Sicily, administratively part of the province of Agrigento. It is the namesake of Empedocles, a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and a citizen of the city of Akragas, in his day a Greek colony in Sicily. Visited the Valley of the Temples and walk between the various remains of the temples. The Temple were destroyed by early christians however the Temple of Concordia was converted to a church and was the best preserved. [...]
Several of the other temple had been subject to restoric work.
Valletta, Malta ‐ Oct 10, 2022

12:01 am - 6:00 pm Valletta (or Il-Belt) is the tiny capital of the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. The walled city was established in the 1500s on a peninsula by the Knights of St. John, a Roman Catholic order. Took a tour of Mdina, Malta's old capital, a walled city. Visited the cathedral and walked the walls,. then walk to an old house where we had snacks.
Gozo ‐ Oct 9, 2022

8:00 am - 6:00 pm Gozo is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, one of 21 that make up the Maltese archipelago. Inhabited for thousands of years, it shows evidence of historic immigration and rule by the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Sicilians, French and British, among others..We took a tour of the island visiting the inland sea, then the Natioal Shine of the Blessd Virgin before traveling to Vicyoria, the capital city o f Gozo. We wandered through the narrow streets to the Citadel. Finally on th [...]
e way back to the port we visited the Gganttijja Temples, erected about 3500 B.C.
Catania, Italy ‐ Oct 5, 2022

After returning to the ship, I took a dip in the hot tub and drank some Strawberry Daiquiri before dinner. The had to groups of entertainers on the ship. A 5 person band in the main lounge that played pop music and a duo in the Compuss Rose
Taormina

Holly was not feeling well so I took the tourby myself. The bus took an hour to reach the Taormina. Located on the top of mountain/hill. The city was established by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C and renovated by the Romans. The tour took use through the narrow street to a acient Greco-Roman Theattre which is still use today for concerts and other events. I than had a hour free time to wander though the city. I would have liked to take the cablecar up to the castle but not enough time.
Catania

We docked in the city below Mt Etna, but did not visit the city but took a tour to Taormia.
Civitavecchia

caught the early morning train and arrived in the afternoon and checked into the hotel. We wandered around the town and the next morning walked to the train station and caught the shuttle bus to the port and boarded the Windstar Wind Surf. Our cabin was small with 2 porthole windows. We toured the boat visiting the veranda where we would eat lunch, and the main lounge and Compus Ross lounge where we would have drinks and then the hot tubs where I would spend lazy afternoons.
La Spezia ‐ Oct 4, 2022

Took the bus to the hotel and rested and prepared for next day travel
Riomaggiore

Through train did not stop
Manarola

Through train did not stop
Corniglia

Corniglia, the third of five villages in Cinque Terre, sits high above the train station. The village can be reached by a footpath known as Lardarina (377 stairs) located to the left of the station. Though panoramic, this is a difficult climb and we took the electric shuttle bus that runs every 10 to 15 minutes, which is included with the Cinque Terre Train and Trekking Card we purchased. We again walked the town and had a beer before calling it a day and catching the train back to La Spezia. [...]
We had seen enough of the Cinque Terre and the crowds of tourists.
Manarola

Manarola Perhaps the most famous of the five villages, Manarola is a must-see in Cinque Terre. This seafront station has staffed public restrooms and a tourist office. There is no bar, ticketing office, or luggage storage available. The center of Manarola can be reached by walking through a well-lit pedestrian tunnel. We walked around the town and had lunch before moving on.
Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is the town furthest to the south of Cinque Terre. Just steps from the train station, you'll discover the trailhead to the coast's famed Via dell’Amore hiking trail. This train station features a bar, public restrooms, and a staffed ticketing office. You can reach the village through the pedestrian tunnel, which is about a five-minute walk. In addition to the popular hiking trail, the station is also located right next to the Cinque Terre National Park visitor center. We walked th [...]
rough the town and climbed up to the church, then an elevator up to the castle before catching the train north.
La Spezia ‐ Feb 17, 2022

we checked out early and took a early train to La Spezia and dropped off our bags at the hotel. The next day we toured the town, starting with a strool down the main street to the harbour then up the main shopping street. After taking a elavator up to the funicular then up to the Castle which was now a museum. In the after noon we took the tour train around the town before stopping fo a few beer,
Genoa ‐ Oct 2, 2022

Arrived late in Genoa and checked into hotel. The next day we took the Hop On - Holp Off around the town to get the lay of the land. We took the tram/elavator up to the castle. A interesting ride. First we rode on the tram down a tunnel deep under the hill, to the end where it turned into an eleator that ttook us straight up to the hill. The castle was an interesting museum with the collection of the previous owner.. The next day we walked into the center of the city to visit a couple pala [...]
ces. and wander the streets.
Fiumicino

Got into Rome after a 2 hour flight and then a 4 hour layover before heading to Genoa
Barcelona, Spain ‐ Sep 30, 2022

Dock 6:00 am and got off boat at 9 am and took a taxi to airport and caught the noon flight to Rome
Valencia ‐ Sep 29, 2022

8:00 am - 6:00 pm We had visited Valencia before and decided to take a tour of an underground river. The caves were located north of the city and the tour quite interesting
Cartagena ‐ Sep 28, 2022

8:00 am - 6:00 pm The seat of ancient Carthage, this Spanish port city is steeped in over 2,000 years of history. We took a city tour exploring everything from Roman ruins right up to modern creations inspired by Gaudi.
Málaga ‐ Sep 27, 2022

8:00 am - 6:00 pm Málaga is like a beautiful work of art. And it’s no wonder considering, considering it was the birthplace of Picasso. We started the day by visiting a cultural museum that was once the Bishop's house and then the cathedral. Afterward we visited the ruins of a Roman theater and an old castle. The line was too long at the Picasso museum so we just had a few beers before returning to the ship.
Gibraltar, Gibraltar ‐ Sep 26, 2022

1:00 am - 10:00 pm The towering Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold. Overlooking the mouth of the Mediterranean from a height of 1,400 feet, it’s a natural fortress. It’s also home to huge caves and troupes of Barbary macaques that have taken up residence on The Rock’s upper reaches. We took a tour of the rock, visiting tunnels dug over the hundred years the British have occupied the rock and a museum of past occupants. Holly refused to make friends with the monkeys.
Seville, Spain ‐ Sep 23, 2022

Dock 9:00 pm ( 2 nights) Depart 9:00 pm 9/25 The ship sailed up the river and was docked in town close to where the 1929 world fair was held. The city also has a rich history evident in its landmarks. The Alcazar, the main palace, is exquisitely decorated in Moorish style, with themed gardens laid out in terraces. We took a city tour the first day and then wandered the streets on our own, visiting the cathedral and other old landmarks. The next morning, we continued to explore the city.
Lisbon, Portugal ‐ Sep 30, 2022

8:00 am - 6:00 pm One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon is rich in architecture and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. We took a tour of Sintra and Cascais. Sintra was a small mountain town once used by the royalty and wealthy to escape the heat in the city. It is now tourist hot spot. We were only there a short time and did not tour the Pena Palace nor the fortress. We then moved on to Cascais, once a fishing village home to a beautiful beach, and now an upscale ci [...]
ty. We visited the old part of town where we had beer and visited a local history musum. Not enough time in either city.
Vigo, Spain ‐ Sep 21, 2022

8:00 am - 8:00 pm Located less than 20 miles from the north Portuguese border in the Galicia region, the city of Vigo dates back to the Middle Ages. We hiked up the hill to a city park, but not to the top where the castle was located. We then wandered around the town and having some beers before returning to the ship.
A Coruña ‐ Sep 20, 2022

8:00 am - 8:00 pm La Coruna is a city shaped by the sea. You can see this influence in the Roman Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lighthouse marks one end of the spectacular Paseo Marítimo promenade, one of the longest in Europe. Take a stroll to see other waterfront highlights like the Marina, Castelo de San Antón, the Millennium monument, and the most popular beaches. We did not climb up to the top of the lighthouse, but did visit the fortress and downed some beers.
Bilbao (San Sebastian) ‐ Sep 19, 2022

8:00 am - 2:00 pm Welcome to a cultural and architectural renaissance, Bilbao's factories and ports have been transformed into spectacular urban projects. The ultra-modern Guggenheim Museum is a definite standout, (but it was closed) and this gem in Basque country is brimming with fine wines, exceptional cuisine, and a vibrant spirit.
Bordeaux, France ‐ Sep 16, 2022

Dock 12:15 pm (days) Depart 12:15 pm 9/18 The ship said up the river to Bordeaux and docked in the city within walking distance of the main sites. After we docked, we took a tour to the Saint Emilion Winery and had a Wine Tasting at a local wine shop. Then we toured the town before returning to the ship for the night. The next morning, we took a bus tour of the city and then toured the city's old theater before taking another winery tour in the Médoc Region with Winery Visit & Tastings, befo [...]
re returning to the ship for the night. The next day got off the boat early and wandered around the town visiting sites we had seen from the bus tour.
Nantes ‐ Sep 14, 2022

Dock 8 am overnight depart 5 pm Known as a city of reinvention, Nantes shines with Gothic architecture and quirky, cool art installations. It’s the ideal blend of modern and medieval, where castles and cathedrals meet magical mechanical animals and funky restaurants and galleries. We took a tour the first day to a castle/chatue that the same family had lived for 1,000 years. The tour guide was the Marque and showed us the house. We had a wine tasting before going to the town of CCCCC. It w [...]
as an old medieval town with a historic castle and church. During the visit it started to rain and most of the businesses were closed. We skipped the walk to the river and returned to the bus. Overall this part of the excursion was disappointing. The next day we took an excursion to the town. We visited the castle then the church which was closed due a fire. We then visit the old city and wandered through the streets. Finally, we visited Jules Verns park which was built to showcase inventions inspired by the author. The star attraction was a mechanical elephant that people could ride.
St-Malo ‐ Sep 12, 2022

Tendered 8:00 am - 8:00 pm History comes to life in the seaside walled city of St. Malo. We got off the ship and walk into town. We walked the wall around the town and then visited the harbor. We stopped for a beer before wandering the streets and returning to the ship.
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin ‐ Dec 1, 2020

We got off the ship around 9 am and walk into town and wandered the streets, stopped for a beer, had lunch, and then walked up a hill to a fort that was a museum about the liberation of Cherbourg.
Honfleur ‐ Sep 10, 2022

7:00 am - 6:00 pm We sailed past Honfleur as we entered the channel.
Rouen ‐ Sep 8, 2022

Dock 1 pm overnight depart 6 pm Rouen is Normandy's historical capital and one of region's biggest. The city was among the richest in Europe during Middle Ages. On the right bank of Seine River, the old city contains so many historical buildings, that some call it "museum town". Joan of Arc was imprisoned and burnt at the stake at Rouen's marketplace. During WW2 (1939-1945), the buildings on the left bank were almost totally destroyed. Even though it is located 120 km (75 ml) inland, Port Rouen [...]
serves ocean-going vessels (including small cruise ships) as an alternative port for Paris. Among city's best attractions are its astronomical clock and cathedral. Rouen, although far from sea, was the country's main seaport during the 16th century. However, in the 19th century it was surpassed by Le Havre (port to Paris). It is exciting to cruise up River Seine from the British Sea to the city surrounded by beautiful scenery punctuated by forests, cliffs, medieval chateaux and abbeys. Upstream from Giverny (the village where Monet spent his last years) and approx 100 ml / 160 km further on is France's capital Paris. In the morning, we sailed down the Siene and docked at Rouen. Holly took a walking tour through Monet’s garden while I toured the town. We were getting ready to sail when a dock hand dropped a mooring rope which got caught in the propeller and we had to stay overnight and cancel the stop in Honfleur. So Holly got to visit the cathedral and the art museum in Rouen.
Amsterdam, Netherlands ‐ Sep 4, 2022

Arrived in Amsterdam and after checking in at hotel took a walk through the narrow streets, had lunch and a couple beers and visited the Rembrandt house. The next day we visited Ann Frank house then took a canal tour and finally the Tulip museum. We had lunch and a couple beers before returning to our hotel. In the evening we walk around town and had dinner. In the morning we packed up and checked out, but stored our bags while we visited the Sex museum and then had a beer before returning to [...]
the hotel to catch a taxi to the dock. We boarded the Azamara Pursuit Sep 6 about 1:30, had lunch and wander around the ship. We revised our excursions using on board credit and had dinner and attended a show. The departure was delayed due to low water levels resulting in the port requiring vessels to leave during high tides. As a result we did not get out of Amsterdam until 2 am and we had to skip the port of Honfleur, France. The following day was sea, so we did our laundry, played trivia and ate and drank..
Rotterdam ‐ Sep 2, 2022

Upon arriving we purchased a 2 day transit card and Rotterdam card. We took a walk down to the harbour and took a harbour tour. Took a tram back to the main station and our hotel. Ate at the Hilton and visited the Holland casino. We had to go through a security review to get in. The next day we took the metro to the Rotterdam museum on 1940 invasion, than ate at a chinese floating restaurant before taking the metro back to the station for a walking tour of the town, visiting the town hal [...]
l, cathedral, market pavilion, and the cube houses. Had a few drinks at the old harbour before grabbing dinner and heading back to our hotel.
Antwerp, Belgium ‐ Aug 31, 2022

After arriving we tour the rail station than took a bus tour of the historic area of the town. In the evening we went to the zoo and listen to a band before having dinner. The net morning we walk through the town, visiting Ruben's house, the Cathedral of Our Lady , and the Museum aan de Stroom. Then back to our hotel for beers, dinner & beers.
Brussels ‐ Aug 30, 2022

Took the Metro to visit Musée Magritte Museum & Musee Old Master Museum, then walked down the see the Palace place, the pissing boy fountain and the central station before taking the metro out to see Parc du Cinquantenaire, a U-shaped complex that dominate the park were commissioned by the Belgian Government under the patronage of King Leopold II for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Belgian Revolution. Then back to our hotel and dinner.
Ghent ‐ Aug 29, 2022

Took a day trip to Gent. It was a half hour by train. We walked around the town and tour a tour of the Ghent alter-peace the Lamb of God. It was a virtual tour and quite good. Visited a number of other churches and other old building, drank a few beers before catching the train back to Brussel.
Brussels, Belgium ‐ Aug 28, 2022

Arrived in Brussels after airline mixup. No problems getting to Hotel. After settling in took a walk to North train station and than a walk through the neighborhood and had dinner before heading to bed.