My husband, Guy, and I are on a delightful Greek Island and Turkey Cruise with Azamara Club Cruises, bringing back fond memories for him. Guy had explored many of these islands, like Santorini and Mykonos, during his student days. We started our journey with an early morning flight from Heathrow to Athens, followed by a smooth transfer to Piraeus, where we boarded the Azamara Journey and settled into our luxurious stateroom for the next seven days.

Our first stop was Santorini, a stunning group of islands formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. The main island, Thira (or Fira), lacks a port large enough for cruise ships, so we tendered to shore and took a cable car up the cliff (€5 per person one way). The alternatives, a donkey ride or a steep walk, were less appealing, especially in the hot sun.

We didn’t stay long in Fira and soon found the bustling bus station. After some confusion, we boarded the bus to Oia (€1.80 per person one way every 30 minutes). The drive was scenic, with views of white holiday villas and dusty cacti clinging to the pumice stone. The walking trail between Fira and Oia would have been tempting in cooler weather, but in the July heat, it was best avoided.

Oia is the picturesque town most people associate with Santorini, with its white houses and blue domes. The main pedestrian street, though slippery, is lined with shops ranging from tacky to trendy, perfect for buying jewelry and gifts. It’s also the ideal spot to watch the sunset and capture postcard-worthy photos. However, the heat was intense, over 35 degrees, so we took frequent breaks in shady cafes for drinks and rest.

We skipped the archaeological site at Akrotiri due to the heat and instead enjoyed a cooling swim at the Lioyerma pool and cafe in Oia. Later, we took a bus back to Santorini and a taxi to Pyrgos for dinner at Kallisti Taverna. Arriving early, we explored the Kastel, an old church with a fortified gateway and stunning views.

Dinner at Kallisti Taverna was part of Azamara’s “Cruise Global Eat Local” experience, featuring delicious Greek specialties like Greek salad in a grilled cheese basket, garlic aubergine salad, fava bean puree, and stuffed baby tomatoes. The main course was roasted lamb chops, followed by baklava for dessert, all accompanied by excellent Santorini wine. We returned to the ship just in time for its 10 pm departure from Santorini.

Azamara Club Cruises, a small luxury cruise line with two ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, offers an intimate experience with a focus on destination immersion. The smaller ship size allows access to ports larger ships can’t reach, and the itineraries are unique each year. Azamara is part of the Royal Caribbean Cruise group.

We flew from London Heathrow to Athens and back from Istanbul with British Airways. For convenience, we used the Meet and Greet Parking Service booked through Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), which offers various travel extras across UK airports.