Azamara Cruises... Worlds Apart

Some people take a cruise for the ship, others for the destination. See why Azamara is the perfect blend of both.
Running time: 6:55min

$300 US Onboard Credit
Royal Caribbean International

$300 Onboard Credit
Norwegian Cruise Line

Save $400 per Couple
Globus

Traditional Europe

"The old towns of Central Europe are like a fairy tale come to life. The medieval buildings, narrow cobbled streets, people meeting at the markets - this is the traditional scene we were hoping to see."

"We took a river cruise from Prague to Vienna calling at Nuremburg, Regensburg, Melk and Salzburg. Every one of these places was a highlight. To see all they have to offer definitely requires more than one trip however the river cruise let us experience so much of the area in just one sailing."

Christmas Markets

"In December, every town has a Christmas Market set up in the old part of town where the locals congregate to enjoy the festive season and visitors shop and take in the atmosphere. It is like a party in every town with locals meeting friends, eating and drinking. Sausages of all types, pretzels, gingerbread and the seasonal Glühwein (mulled wine) were readily available. The markets are as much a meeting place as they are a place to shop. The festive Holiday atmosphere was wonderful. It is a really appropriate time to visit the area."

"For shoppers, there are Christmas decorations and crafts like blown glass balls for $20, real hand decorated eggs, creative date and fig people and lots of things for children. Cuckoo clocks are available for $500 to $1,000. Nuremburg has a Children's toy market."

"The Christmas Markets are right beside high-end shopping so you can wander into stores like Gucci at the same time."

"You would think this is the off season but not so. The Christmas Markets attract visitors from within Europe as well as abroad and towns were busy. Salzburg is a good example as we were there on an Italian National Holiday. It was that much more difficult to see things of interest or relax at a cafe to enjoy a Viennese coffee. Getting into the shops was hectic and parcels were constantly jostled. We could see the wisdom in the reminders by our guides to be careful with our valuables and security minded."

"The weather in early December was pleasant – cool, clear and bright – and the grass was green. We only encountered rain in Vienna. You do need to take warm winter clothes and an umbrella at this time of year especially since you spend a lot of time walking outdoors."

The River Cruise

"We sailed aboard the Avalon Tranquility on a 10-day sailing from Prague to Vienna and it was an excellent way to see the area."

"There was some spectacular scenic cruising through the Wachau Valley with its many castles and an excursion to the Danube Gorge from Regensburg."

"Every day we tied up in the centre of a new town and took an excursion to see the sights. At night we sailed and transited the 24 locks along our route. We didn't have any problem with noise from the locks but it was strange to look out the window and see a wall of concrete during the locks transit. They have the routine down to a fine art and it was smooth sailing at all times."

"The food on board was excellent, on par with upscale cruise lines, and we looked forward to dinner every night. The service was also excellent. As well, a tea and coffee bar was available all day."

"In the evenings there was a cocktail hour and the tour director gave a port talk for the next day which was very informative, as were the guides who took us on tour each day. Evening entertainment included a beer tasting evening and a crew show. A piano player and one man band played in the lounge each evening after dinner."

"Appropriate for Vienna, we attended a recital of music by Strauss and Mozart."

Tips and Recommendations

• "Get in shape for a lot of walking before you go. In every town the excursions involve walking on uneven surfaces for at least one to two hours. You can take a walker on board so if you need one, don't hesitate to take it.
• Be sure to have comfortable walking shoes or boots with you. For our late November-December cruise, boots were best. Wear them on the plane so you they don't take up room in the suitcase.
• Pre and/or post cruise hotels stays are conveniently included with the cruise giving you extra time to explore.
• If you take the river cruise company air, be sure to discuss the routing as the flights they put you on may not be convenient.
• If doing your own air, you may not need to purchase transfers. In Prague and Vienna, it would have been better for us to just take a taxi between the airport and hotels rather than waiting for the coach transfer.
• The river cruise company will warn you about pick pockets, not wearing jewellery ashore etc. While it is important to always be cautious and alert when travelling, we had no problems with any muggings on our trip. Just always be sure not to count your money in public. The more you can act like a local the better.
• Don't buy anything for the first 24 hours until you are sure of the currency and the cost of things.
• We would go in December again and spend more time in each place to really take in all the cities had to offer. The Christmas markets were an added bonus with their festive atmosphere.
• For warmer weather, consider a Spring or Fall itinerary. The low season (typically) offers the best travel values in March and November. Bring an umbrella.
• Keep in mind that the summer season is very busy and cities are quite crowded."

By Susan Milne

IMPORTANT: When booking, ask us for the appropriate supplier brochure for complete details and terms and conditions for your vacations and as well inquire about any possible past guest savings. Offers are space available and may be withdrawn at anytime without prior notice and are not combinable with other offers (unless stated otherwise). All prices, details and offers are subject to change. We are not responsible for errors or omissions.

Articles written by Susan Milne.