Cruise Talk: Azur Christmas and New Year Cruise

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruising 1.0 » Azur Christmas and New Year Cruise

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Topic: Azur Christmas and New Year Cruise

Lind@
First Class Passenger
Member # 2443

posted 09-26-2001 09:53 AM

This will be our second cruise Last year we where on the Fasination Carribean Cruise and Had a fantastic time.
This year we are on the Azur Xmas and New year Cruise around the med. I know the weather will be somewhat cooler because of the time of year, but can anyone tell me what the temps will be (as to what clothes to pack)we will be visiting Olympia, Cairo, Jerusalem, Limassol, Rhodes ect. We are worried about the ports we are visiting e.g Eygypt because of the 11th september Tradgedy.
Has anyone or is anyone going on this cruise that can tell me what to expect we are taking our teenage daughters with us so hoping there will be other teenagers on board
all replys greatly appreciated.
Linda

Posts: 10 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 09-26-2001 12:01 PM

Hallo Linda !
During the winter the temperatures in the Mediterranean are cold. Even in Egypt you should expexct a dayly temperature around 20/2 °.In Greece is particularly cold, with dayly temperature around 14/6 °.A good news is the fact that the weather in the Eastern Mediterranean is always sunny, but particularly during the navigation often windy, so pack adequate clothes.
I have visited all these ports of call: each one offers un unfergettable experience.I think that due of the political situation in the Middle East area Festival Cruises will change the cruise itinerary, as other companies have already done, excluding the stops in Egypt and Israel ( they could be replaced with other calls in Greece ).
Festival Cruises offers a good cruise product, particularly tailored for the families, with dicated activities and spaces. The Azur is a nice intimate ship, very stylish, but doesn't offer the facilities of a megaship like the Fascination.The cabins are particularly small and only basically equipped ( the Azur is a converted ferry, originally owned by a P&O subsidiary ).
Have an excellent cruise.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Lind@
First Class Passenger
Member # 2443

posted 09-27-2001 05:09 AM

Thankyou Italian Cruiser
For your prompt reply, you sound very informed on this cruise, so I would like to ask you afew more questions hope you dont mind

Thanks for the weather info sounds like Bikinis or out LOL.
On last years Cruise we diddnt book the off shore excursions with the ship we found on disembarking that there where outside agencys in port that you could barter with for the excursions, catering them to your own specifications, these turned out not only cheaper than the ship excursions but also more informative and very enjoyable. Are we likly to see this at ports around the Med?or do we have to take the ship excursions?
And also as I mentioned in my previous post We are taking out Daughters with us age 19 and 16 With it being a smaller ship do they still have a disco etc for this age range? This will be thier first cruise and they are giving up the New Years Eve painting the town Red so to speak LOL So hoping that the age range on the Ship will vary.
Once again Thankyou

Lind@

Posts: 10 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 09-27-2001 01:42 PM

Hallo Lind@ !

Regarding the excursions I suggest you to reserve those offered by the company. In the Mediterranean area the situation is very different than in the Caribbeans, so the choice of individually arranged tour is quite limited.At KATAKOLON choose the tour that goes to Olympia, a very interesting even if not imposing classical archeological site.At LIMASSOL you can also visit yourself the city: it offers a nice medieval fortress, built by Richard Lionheart with a museum and many shops with excellent opportunities.If you would have a more complete tour of this island reserve a tour to Paphos, a wonderful greek/roman town located directly on the sea that conserves unfergettable mosaics in its various villas.You will also stop at " Petra tou Romiou " the place where Aphrodite was born, according to the legend.Regarding RODHES in this case don't take a tour but explore yourself this wonderful medieval town that conserves many interesting classical, christian and even octoman monuments ( don't miss the Suleyman Baths ).You can also take a taxi that in about 45 minute will take you to LINDOS, the most moundain place of the island. There is a medieval fortress built in the area of a great temple dicated to Athena, that dominates the sea ( it has the colour of a sapphire ) and a small greek village with typical shops.Also at your last port of call, PIRAEUS don't take a tour but explore yourself Athens taking a taxi ( the prices are very reasonable ). I suggest you to visit the " Plaka " a typical zone of Athens with many excellent restaurants, cafes and shops ( many jewelleries ).
FESTIVAL CRUISES is a good pan european cruise line: it offers a product specifically tailored for the families, so you daughters will have the opportunity to meet many new friends of all the ages.Festival is also an international cruise line thas operate onboard of its ship in several languges, so there are families who come from each part of the world ( Particularly many Italians, Germanies and Frenches ).The ship offers good facilities for the teenagers including a squash camp, but not a dicated disco or a computer center. Excellent cruise !!!

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 09-27-2001 03:27 PM

I make 4 Cruises of about 35 with the "Azur"
3 under Chandris Flag, 1 under Festival.
The ship has an good Price Ratio.
The Cabins are small, Passenger Space Ratio is small, Entertainment is not the Best.
The food and Service are good for the Price
paid.
Family Athmosphere with relatively many younger People.
International Passenger Mix, Greek Officers,
Goan and Philippine Waiters.
The Ship is Multi-Lingual.

It is an good Choice in Summary!

Posts: 1034 | From: Gutach, Black Forest, Germany | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Lind@
First Class Passenger
Member # 2443

posted 09-30-2001 10:39 AM

I would just like to thank you both for your very detailed answers it is great to be able to speak to people that have already been on the ship.And Italian I will be printing and taking your advice on excursions with me as my memory is like a sieve put it down to age lol.
A further question we are flying into Milan Linate, And sailing from Genoa how far away is the port from the airport how long will it take to get there? coming back we fly from Milan Malpensa why we are landing and going from two different airports I dont know .
Anyway once again Thankyou both

Posts: 10 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 09-30-2001 01:33 PM

Hi Lind@.
Just a question: Is the flight to Italy arranged by Festival Cruises or have you reserved it providing yourself ?
There is infact a direct flight from London to Genoa Airport, provided by British Airways, so I suggest you to take a reservation on this or to ask to Festival to do it.Linate and Malpensa are the two airports of Milan( Lombardia ). In about 2 hours and half, depending from the traffic, you can reach Genoa that is in Liguria.Your ship should be docked at " Ponte dei Mille ", the main cruise terminal of Genoa, a very comfortable place equipped with a bar, a duty free shop and many seats for long waitings: during the winter season there aren't infact other ships in Genoa with the exception of some ferries.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Lind@
First Class Passenger
Member # 2443

posted 10-01-2001 04:46 AM

Hi Again Italian

It is a package holiday so the flights come with the cruise all arranged by festival.I got the feeling when we booked that the travel agants found festival quite a odd company to deal with as there are 3 airports in and around London which festival use but they do not tell you before hand which airport you will be flying from you have to actually make the booking before you get this information ODD

Your reply has quite surprised me as that is a considerable drive especially if there is a airport in Genoa.

Posts: 10 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Lind@
First Class Passenger
Member # 2443

posted 10-01-2001 01:59 PM

I have rang Festival today, and apparently all flights to Genoa on the date we fly are full, that is why we are flying to a different airport. You where right Italian it is a 2 and a half hour transfer, which makes me really cross, as we had planned to meet with Italian friends of ours before the ship set sail, doesnt look as though there will be much time for that now. I also asked if they where any plans to change the ports of call because of recent events they laughed and said no!!! I dont know i am getting an uneasy feeling about this cruise

Lind@

Posts: 10 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

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