2025 - Spring Cruise from Canaries to Lisbon

Friday, March 21st, we docked in Lisbon at 1 pm but we would not be disembarking until the following morning.  Because I would be staying on in Portugal for another 11 days, I decided to just stay on the ship.  Of course, I had to pack up my stuff - it's always sad when you come to the end of a cruise and have to do that - and I wanted to rest as well.   I stopped by The Den at 5 before heading upstairs to the Living Room to chat with Ruby and Donovan who had been so fantastic throughout the cruise.  Ruby is a true gem and Azamara is lucky to have her.   Astrid was performing there at 5:45 as her show earlier in the cruise had to be cancelled because of the rough seas.  Even though she couldn't do her full show which I'd seen on my cruise last October, she is a very talented person and we enjoyed hearing her sing some of her favourite songs.   Lisa, Vanessa, Toby and I had dinner together in the dining room - these were three of the pass...

March 20th, we docked in Cadiz, Spain, which was our last port of call before the cruise ends in Lisbon. Cadiz is the capital of the province of Cadiz in the Andalusia  region of Spain. It is on the coast 126km from Seville , the capital of Andalucia.  Cadiz is Europe's oldest city.  Originating from 1100 and founded by the Phoenicians, although legend has it that Hercules himself founded Cadiz. The city sits on a fist shaped piece of land sticking into the sea. I had booked a walking tour with a company called GuruWalks which was free and you just paid what you thought it was worth.  It began in front of the city hall and there were about 22 people on the tour.  Our guide, Anna, thankfully used a microphone or it would have been impossible to hear her.  She was very good.    From there we walked up a street that took us by the old city wall which was built by the Romans.   From there, we walked up to the seafront and, from one plac...

Another one of the signature events held on Azamara cruises in addition to the Azamazing Evening, is White Night.  Passengers are encouraged to dress all in white - some even show up in the white bathrobes - to eat, drink and party on the pool deck with live music.  During the event the crew, with the exception of those working, parade along the upper deck and down the stairs all carrying the flags of their country.  It is really fun to watch.   Unfortunately, on that evening still docked in Gibraltar, it was cool and quite windy.  However, we made the most of it although I did scoot down to the dining room for a quick meal rather than eat at the buffet on the deck. After dinner, I did something I haven't done for years, I danced and danced and danced.  Oh boy, did I pay for that over the next few days as my legs and knees were not at all happy!  That being said, it was a wonderful and fun evening, especially as I got to share it with new friends!...

Gibraltar  is a British overseas territory just northeast of the Strait of  Gibraltar . Since the 18th century,  Gibraltar  has been a symbol of British military strength, and it is commonly known as “the Rock.”   His Majesty's Government of Gibraltar is the democratically elected government of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The head of state is King Charles III who is represented by the Governor.   Unfortunately, when we docked in Gibraltar at 1 pm, the Rock, as it is known, was shrouded in cloud.  This is what we were supposed to be able to see but the other photos are what we saw. Because of the time our ship was docking, I was unable to find any independent tours that worked so I chose a ship shore excursion called  City Under Siege.   As it turned out, it wasn’t about WWII which I thought it would be but about a siege of Gibraltar that took place in the 19 th  century.  However, we did get to g...