Aboard Azamara Pursuit with Azamara
Cruise Overview
Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shape Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even if it's necessary to enjoy the sensational sunsets from Ia, the fascinating excavations, and the dazzling white towns with a million other travelers.
Called Kállisti (the "Loveliest") when first settled, the island has now reverted to its subsequent name of Thira, after the 9th-century-BC Dorian colonizer Thiras.
The place is better known, however, these days as Santorini, a name derived from its patroness, St.
Irene of Thessaloniki, the Byzantine empress who restored icons to Orthodoxy and died in 802.
You can fly conveniently to Santorini, but to enjoy a true Santorini rite of passage, opt instead for the boat trip here, which provides a spectacular introduction.
After the boat sails between Sikinos and Ios, your deck-side perch approaches two close islands with a passage between them.
The bigger one on the left is Santorini, and the smaller on the right is Thirassia.
Passing between them, you see the village of Ia adorning Santorini's northernmost cliff like a white geometric beehive.
You are in the caldera (volcanic crater), one of the world's truly breathtaking sights: a demilune of cliffs rising 1,100 feet, with the white clusters of the towns of Fira and Ia perched along the top.
The bay, once the high center of the island, is 1,300 feet in some places, so deep that when boats dock in Santorini's shabby little port of Athinios, they do not drop anchor.
The encircling cliffs are the ancient rim of a still-active volcano, and you are sailing east across its flooded caldera.
On your right are the Burnt isles, the White isle, and other volcanic remnants, all lined up as if some outsize display in a geology museum.
Hephaestus's subterranean fires smolder still—the volcano erupted in 198 BC, about 735, and there was an earthquake in 1956.
Indeed, Santorini and its four neighboring islets are the fragmentary remains of a larger landmass that exploded about 1600 BC: the volcano's core blew sky high, and the sea rushed into the abyss to create the great bay, which measures 10 km by 7 km (6 mi by 4½ mi) and is 1,292 feet deep.
The other pieces of the rim, which broke off in later eruptions, are Thirassia, where a few hundred people live, and deserted little Aspronissi ("White isle").
In the center of the bay, black and uninhabited, two cones, the Burnt Isles of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, appeared between 1573 and 1925.
There has been too much speculation about the identification of Santorini with the mythical Atlantis, mentioned in Egyptian papyri and by Plato (who says it's in the Atlantic), but myths are hard to pin down.
This is not true of old arguments about whether tidal waves from Santorini's cataclysmic explosion destroyed Minoan civilization on Crete, 113 km (70 mi) away.
The latest carbon-dating evidence, which points to a few years before 1600 BC for the eruption, clearly indicates that the Minoans outlasted the eruption by a couple of hundred years, but most probably in a weakened state.
In fact, the island still endures hardships: since antiquity, Santorini has depended on rain collected in cisterns for drinking and irrigating—the well water is often brackish—and the serious shortage is alleviated by the importation of water.
However, the volcanic soil also yields riches: small, intense tomatoes with tough skins used for tomato paste (good restaurants here serve them); the famous Santorini fava beans, which have a light, fresh taste; barley; wheat; and white-skin eggplants.
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Azamara Pursuit
Launch Year: 2001 Length: 180 Width: 25 Currency: USD Capacity: 690 Crew Count: 408 Deck Count: 8 Cabin Count: 345
The launch of Azamara Pursuit® in 2018 opened the seas to maiden ports, new itineraries, and the opportunity to provide our guests with even more unforgettable, unique, and immersive experiences than ever before. Like our sister ships, Azamara Pursuit offers some of the most extraordinary adventures on Earth, to places you’ve always dreamed of. Or, perhaps, only just heard about.
New-to-Azamara destinations include Antofagasta (Chile), Lima (Peru), and the Beagle Channel—and those are just some of our South American maiden destinations. Not only do we now take you to 15 unique ports and a whole host of bucket-list locales, but we also stay longer in each one, so you have more time to experience the world’s many wonders in a truly AzAmazing way.
Azamara Pursuit Facilities
Azamara Pursuit Includes
Cabin Details
YOUR OWN SEASIDE RETREAT
Welcome to your vacation home with ocean views, sea breezes, and all the style and amenities of a boutique hotel. Relax in your cruise stateroom with plush cotton robes and slippers, French bath products, fresh flowers, and 24-hour room service. Our goal is to make you comfortable so you can spend more time on important things. Like exploring the world.
EXPERIENCE THE SUITE LIFE
The premier way to travel, discover luxury with each Azamara voyage from our Club World Owner's Suite, Club Ocean Suite, Club Continent Suite or Club Spa Suites. As a suite guest receive a variety of exclusive benefits in addition to modern accommodations and authentic service. We take care of all the details, so you can focus on the adventure ahead.
A boutique hotel at sea, each of our cruise suites offer the comforts of a five-star hotel suite with the added decadence of ocean views, sea breezes, and butler service. Relax with spa-like sea breezes, and butler service. Relax with spa-like amenities including plush cotton robes and slippers, French bath products, fresh flowers, and fine linens. Open the sliding glass doors to your private balcony and curl up with book, dine al fresco dining, or stargaze. Share a drink of your favorite spirit—on the house. And should you need anything, your English-trained butler is never more than a call away, ready to assist with reservations, private parties, dinners for two, and much more.
THE LUXE LIFE: YOUR CRUISE STATEROOM
When you book a cruise stateroom, you'll love the polished style and stellar service in your own private retreat. You'll appreciate the finer touches included, but it takes more than a beautiful room to elevate a voyage from "good" to "great." With Azamara®, you'll discover just how much professional service and a friendly attitude can add to your enjoyment.
