Where would you love to cruise to in 2025?

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Where would you love to cruise to in 2025?



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[Mervyn and Trish]

The Baltic with Saga

[Ray B]

Greece on Azura. Oh, we will be.

[Stephen]

Same here.

[Portsmouth]

Does that cruise include a stop at Kusadasi ?

[oldbluefox]

They always used to do a cruise to the Black Sea calling in at Odessa and Istanbul. Clearly Odessa is off limits but I wonder why they dropped the Black Sea. Istanbul sounds fascinating.

[Jan Rosser]

They always used to do a cruise to the Black Sea calling in at Odessa and Istanbul. Clearly Odessa is off limits but I wonder why they dropped the Black Sea. Istanbul sounds fascinating.

I was lucky enough a few years ago to sail on Aurora and we actually sailed into Istanbul - spent a day there and then into the Black Sea to Yalta and Odessa - fabulous journey - such a shame it will probably never be available again. There are so many places to visit in Yalta and Odessa - Churchill’s meeting with Roosevelt and Stalin - we visited the White Palace where the meeting took place and walked up the famous Potemkin Steps in Odessa.

[Ray B]

Does that cruise include a stop at Kusadasi ?

Not on the cruise I'm taking, don't know about Stephen's cruise.

[Stephen]

No, we don’t go there.

Here is our itinerary:

Valletta
At Sea
Kotor
Dubrovnik
Corfu
Taranto
At Sea
Valletta
At Sea
Mykonos
Souda Bay (For Chania)
Piraeus (Tours To Athens)
Santorini
At Sea
Valletta

[CaroleF]

Stephen, is that one of those cruises that can either be 7 or 14 nights? I remember doing one starting and finishing in Valletta. It was the time of the Mediterranean Medicane (a sort of Mediterranean cyclone back in May 2016. I don't know if you've been to Valletta previously but we were amazed at the check in which was in a sort of cave. The weather was so windy that we were almost blown along the dockside and it was obvious we weren't going to leave that night. We did eventually leave the next day but because of this Medicane our whole itinerary had to be changed. I think we actually did it back to front. One thing I do remember, which you wouldn't have to content with I presume, is that half way through our 14 nights when some people left and other passengers arrived we were having dinner and the Captain's broadcast at the Muster Drill was broadcast to the whole ship so we had the pleasure of hearing it a second time!

[Stephen]

Yes it can be either.

We have been to Malta many years ago on a land base holiday but can’t remember if we went to Valletta.

[barney]

Only one cruise currently booked for 2025 (after this Friday) and that’s the Azura repositioning cruise from Malta to the Canary Islands.
Mainly booked that because it was such a good deal.
C deck balcony, 16 nights, £2,700 for both of us.
Can’t book a land holiday for anywhere near that price considering what’s included.
Oh! £340 obc as well.

[Portsmouth]

Only one cruise currently booked for 2025 (after this Friday) and that’s the Azura repositioning cruise from Malta to the Canary Islands.
Mainly booked that because it was such a good deal.
C deck balcony, 16 nights, £2,700 for both of us.
Can’t book a land holiday for anywhere near that price considering what’s included.
Oh! £340 obc as well.

Wow.....well done

[Stephen]

You got a bargain there Barney. Nice one

[Onelife]

Only one cruise currently booked for 2025 (after this Friday) and that’s the Azura repositioning cruise from Malta to the Canary Islands.
Mainly booked that because it was such a good deal.
C deck balcony, 16 nights, £2,700 for both of us.
Can’t book a land holiday for anywhere near that price considering what’s included.
Oh! £340 obc as well.

Hey! Barney, the next time you come across a bargain like that would you mind giving your ole mate Onelife the heads up…. I’ve been trying to persuade my wife to give cruising another go and at that price she might just go for it.

[barney]

It was an on ship offer, you know, when they put a leaflet in with the Horizon.
Similarly, our cruise on Friday was also on cruise.
They offered balcony cabins for £2,700 for two weeks.
We paid a little extra for mid ship C deck but it was still around £3,000 for both including flights transfers etc.
That was with £540 obc so with the shareholders extra, it will easily be all in.

[Stephen]

Typical P&O altering the itinerary and port dates already. I don’t understand why when these ports are booked years in advance. Bl**dy hopeless.

I was looking forewarn to visiting Santorini as well. However, having looked up Katakolon it looks a pretty little port with plenty of port side watering holes and restaurants.

————————
Important Notices
Due to port availability in Santorini on 17 June 2025, it has been necessary to make a few changes to your itinerary. We are pleased to confirm a new port of Katakolon has been added in replacement of Santorini. Katakolon, a charming Greek town, whispers promises of both adventure and relaxation. All pre-brooked shore experiences in Santorini will automatically be cancelled and refunded to you and a shore experience programme for Katakalon will be available via My P&O Cruises shortly. In addition to this, we have had to make a change to the port dates on your itinerary. Azura will now call at Piraeus on 15 June and Souda Bay on 16 June. All pre-booked shore experiences for Piraeus and Souda
Bay will be transferred to the new dates. We are sorry that it has been necessary to make this change, however we look forward to welcoming you on board Azura for a memorable cruise.

[Ray B]

I can imagine your distress at missing Santorini Stephen. As you have a batch of compo forms, let them know of how very much you were hoping to visit the port and are now beside yourself in grief.

[Onelife]

Whilst one can accept some ports of call get cancelled, I think the disappointment wouldn’t be as bad if they didn’t try and flower up the rearranged destination with the sales pitch of “a charming Greek town, whispers promise of both adventure and relaxation” which basically means there’s not a lot there.

You could make the most of it by taking a Hammer and Javelin on you visit to the Olympic Games.

Make your country proud and bring us back a medal

[Portsmouth]

“a charming Greek town, whispers promise of both adventure and relaxation” which basically means there’s not a lot there.

I was on a cruise stopping at Katakolon about 20 years ago
Anyway I decided not to do the tour to Olympia .....just get off the ship and have a look around.
It's really not that big.....a kind of 2 street village....plenty of places to eat and the usual shops to look into
I could have booked a local tour as its less than an hour to the Olympia site and cheaper than booking on the ship but didn't

Whilst it was pleasant to wander about for about 2/3 hours and stop off for a drink a bite to eat...there wasn't really that much to see unless you like shopping or making your way to the local beach......so yes Onelife I agree with you
There is also a train that goes to Olympia but when I looked into it, the only time it was leaving had gone. Maybe the timetable has been improved by now or maybe its better in summer.

However, I think now things might be better....I hear there's a big red hop on hop off bus that stops at Pyrgos nearest city and also there is a fun road train that calls at a winery ( you can taste wine for a fee ) and the local beach.

For me Santorini was a much better port to call in despite the queues for the lift but they have decided to cap the number of cruise ships stopping there from this year.

[Onelife]

“a charming Greek town, whispers promise of both adventure and relaxation” which basically means there’s not a lot there.

I was on a cruise stopping at Katakolon about 20 years ago
Anyway I decided not to do the tour to Olympia .....just get off the ship and have a look around.
It's really not that big.....a kind of 2 street village....plenty of places to eat and the usual shops to look into
I could have booked a local tour as its less than an hour to the Olympia site and cheaper than booking on the ship but didn't

Whilst it was pleasant to wander about for about 2/3 hours and stop off for a drink a bite to eat...there wasn't really that much to see unless you like shopping or making your way to the local beach......so yes Onelife I agree with you
There is also a train that goes to Olympia but when I looked into it, the only time it was leaving had gone. Maybe the timetable has been improved by now or maybe its better in summer.

However, I think now things might be better....I hear there's a big red hop on hop off bus that stops at Pyrgos nearest city and also there is a fun road train that calls at a winery ( you can taste wine for a fee ) and the local beach.

For me Santorini was a much better port to call in despite the queues for the lift but they have decided to cap the number of cruise ships stopping there from this year.

Just what Stephen wanted to hear

[Portsmouth]

Just what Stephen wanted to hear

Actually,It might be Ok for Stephen over there.....I can kind of see him sitting outside a bar or cafe in the sun with a glass of Greek red wine
(maybe the one that has the Agiorgitiko grape) with a portion of Spanakopita ( Greek-style spinach and feta filo pie )

Don't forget it was a long time ago when I was there and I've seen reviews since where others really enjoy their visit to Katakolon

[Onelife]

Every new destination is seen through a fresh pair of eyes and knowing Stephen he won’t care what Agiorgitiko grapes it’s made from…he’ll keep knocking it back until he forgets he’s been there.

[Stephen]

In those temps I’ll stick to a cold beer and whatever the delicacy is food wise, a bowl of chunky chips.

[Onelife]

I know you’re not one for posting reviews but I hope you can stretch to telling us what you think to lovely Katakolon.

Btw… if its going to be that hot don’t forget your Bandana….it will go well with your beer and chunky chips