Hi gang! Well we made it to Venice! Thanks for all your prayers to allow us to get here smoothly. Anytime you fly standby, especially flying in on the day of the cruise, it’s risky, but what a great reward! Free airfare across the pond, and we got Premium Economy seats, where the seat has a foot rest like a Lazy Boy recliner and we have food similar to first class on dishes with real silverware! As if we won’t have enough to eat on the cruise! Lol.
Our flight arrived right on time and we had signed up for the Azamara cruise line’s shuttle to take us to the port of Ravenna, Italy which was about 2 hours south of Venice. The bus stopped half way for a bathroom break so we walked down to see this beautiful old church out in the middle of nowhere. Hopefully a sign of beautiful old buildings to come!
As soon as we got to the port we got checked in and after a short safety briefing we went right to our room. We got settled in and went up and got lunch. The food was really good and they had a wide variety. Then, since we had never been on an Azamara ship before, we took the free tour they offered to show us all the decks on the ship. The ship is not that large (only 590 passengers!) so it already seems pretty easy to navigate and get around. And we love all the little places tucked away to just relax at.
After that we went to get showered since we pretty much had been traveling for over 24 hours (is that me that smells or is that you?? Lol). We then went up for dinner and saw the show. Given we had not slept much the last 24 hours we made it an early night. On to Opatija!
PS: For those that didn’t get my email a few days ago about this trip, here is the explanation Azamara gives for our itinerary. It sounds amazing and we can’t wait to experience it!
Your voyage begins in Ravenna, Italy’s famed “Mosaic City” known as the final resting place of Dante. Spend some time exploring the gold, emerald, and sapphire hues of the city’s colorful Byzantine churches before enjoying your first evening on board. Your Croatian journey starts the next morning in Opatija, an elegant resort town to rival Saint-Tropez.
Next, it’s on to the eclectic city of Zadar. A later stay means you have plenty of time to visit the waterfalls in Krka National Park and the world-renowned Sea Organ. Split, Croatia’s second-largest city where the old world collides with modern life, is another late stay. During your visit, let intuition be your guide as you spend the day meandering through the cobblestone streets.
Leaving Split, you continue on to a late-night stay at the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Dubrovnik. A simply outstanding city, with massive stone walls, winding streets, and charming squares dating back to the 7th century. Spend the next day outdoors soaking in the sun on the island of Hvar—fondly known as “the sunniest place in Europe”. From there, it’s on to Sibenik, a charming city whose international influences come to life in its many churches, palaces, Dalmatian houses, and fortresses. Your voyage concludes back in Ravenna.
The Wandering Italian 