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By Emma, Editor of Into The Blue
There’s something rather lovely about reaching the end of a holiday and realising you’ve fallen into a routine you have absolutely no desire to leave behind. For me, it was leisurely dinners overlooking the Aegean, an early evening cocktail at the Sky Bar and the familiar faces of people we’d only met a few days earlier.
That’s how I felt after spending seven nights onboard Emerald Azzurra, sailing from Athens to Istanbul with a friend. We’d quickly become accustomed to the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, where the crew seemed to know what we wanted before we did and there was always somewhere beautiful to sit and watch the world go by.
Having experienced everything from the yacht’s excellent restaurants to swimming directly from the Marina Deck, I came away with a newfound appreciation for this particular style of luxury cruising. And, as it turns out, there were a few things I wasn’t quite prepared for.
I have a confession. I still think about the truffle risotto I had onboard Emerald Azzurra.
It was one of several excellent meals in La Cucina, the yacht’s main restaurant, where we often chose to sit outside. I’m not sure there’s a better accompaniment to dinner than watching the Aegean coastline drift past, especially when the sun is beginning to set and nobody seems particularly interested in checking the time.
The food was consistently good, but what made dining memorable was the atmosphere. The waiters quickly worked out our preferences, particularly when it came to wine, and weren’t afraid to offer an opinion.
One evening, I was enjoying a glass of white wine, or at least I thought I was, until our waiter appeared and decided otherwise. Apparently, my face had given me away. She promptly removed the glass and returned with something he was confident I’d prefer. Annoyingly, she was absolutely right.
We also joined a family-style dinner at the Aqua Cafe, where guests gathered for a locally inspired meal. It was a lovely evening, particularly because we’d already started recognising people around the yacht. Conversations that began over dinner often continued in the bar afterwards.
Another highlight was the BBQ out on deck, where the head chef was busy preparing freshly cooked food on the open grill. With clear blue skies overhead and everyone enjoying lunch in the sunshine, it was one of those occasions when I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. A BBQ surrounded by the Greek islands is pretty hard to beat, especially when someone else is doing the cooking (and washing up!)
I’m always curious about what happens behind the scenes on a cruise ship, so when the opportunity arose to tour Emerald Azzurra’s galley with the head chef, I was straight there. Oh, and there was no extra charge for the tour.
Considering the size of the yacht, I couldn’t quite understand how the team managed to produce so much excellent food from such a compact space. The answer, it turns out, is a remarkably well-organised operation.
The galley works much like a restaurant on land, with orders coming through a ticketing system and dishes cooked fresh. Watching everything come together gave me a new appreciation for what appeared on our plates each evening.
We also attended a cookery demonstration with the head chef, although I suspect my enthusiasm had something to do with the glass of Champagne we were handed beforehand.
I’ve experienced some wonderful service at sea, but Emerald Azzurra’s crew seemed to have an extraordinary ability to remember the smallest details. One evening, we’d enjoyed a particularly good cocktail, and the following night the Bar Manager spotted us elsewhere onboard and appeared with exactly the same drinks. We hadn’t ordered them, or even mentioned wanting another. He’d simply remembered.
There was something lovely about how informal the service felt, too. We knew many of the crew by name within a few days, and they seemed genuinely happy to stop for a conversation. Even the Captain was a familiar face, regularly wandering around the yacht and chatting to guests rather than only appearing for announcements or formal occasions.
I particularly enjoyed Emerald Azzurra’s open bridge policy, which meant we could pop in and see what was happening behind the scenes. We took advantage of it while sailing through the Dardanelles Strait, and I’m so glad we did. Watching the crew navigate this fascinating stretch of water was an experience in itself, but being able to ask questions about the journey made it even more interesting. I could have happily stayed much longer.
That same relaxed approach extended to the practicalities of life onboard. Rather than standing around on the gangway waiting for a tender, we could sit in the Amici Bar and Lounge with a drink until the next boat was ready. It’s a small detail, but one I certainly appreciated, particularly when the alternative was another few minutes enjoying a glass of Champagne.
Entertainment onboard Emerald Azzurra is fairly low-key, which I think suits the whole experience perfectly. On evenings when we stayed late in port, local singers and entertainers were brought onboard to perform, giving us a little taste of the destination before they headed back ashore and we set sail.
There was plenty to get involved in throughout the week, too, from quizzes and karaoke to cocktail-making classes and port talks. It was all very relaxed, and you could join in as much or as little as you liked. Personally, I thought Emerald Cruises got the balance just right. After a day exploring ashore and a leisurely dinner, I was more than happy to enjoy a drink, listen to some music and see where the evening took us.
If you’d asked me on the first day where I’d spend most of my time, I probably wouldn’t have been able to choose. By the end of the week, however, I had a few firm favourites.
The Sky Bar was particularly difficult to leave. There’s comfortable seating, a hot tub and views that make it very easy to lose track of time. I loved heading up there after a day ashore, ordering a drink and watching the scenery change as we sailed towards our next destination.
What struck me was how rarely anywhere felt crowded. With around 100 guests onboard, you’d expect the popular spots to fill up quickly, yet we always seemed to find somewhere comfortable to settle down.
Then there was the Marina Deck. When conditions allow, the back of the yacht opens up so you can swim directly into the sea. I know that sounds fairly straightforward, but there’s something rather wonderful about jumping into the Mediterranean from the yacht you’ve been travelling on.
And I loved how close we sometimes sailed to the coastline. Approaching Santorini was particularly memorable, with the island seemingly close enough to reach out and touch. I spent a ridiculous amount of time simply looking out at the scenery, which isn’t something I expected to count among my favourite activities.
Without hesitation, although I’d probably need to start saving for an extended stay.
What I enjoyed most was how little effort the whole experience required. We could spend the day exploring, come back for a swim or a drink, enjoy an excellent dinner and see where the evening took us. Sometimes that meant chatting to people we’d met earlier in the week; other times, it meant finding somewhere quiet and enjoying the view.
I also liked that there was no pressure to make the most of every minute. On a holiday like this, sitting with a coffee and watching the coastline is a perfectly good way to spend an afternoon.
If you’re considering an Emerald Azzurra cruise, I’d particularly recommend her to anyone who loves good food, enjoys meeting people and appreciates a more relaxed style of luxury cruising. There’s plenty to do, but the experience is as much about enjoying where you are as deciding what to do next.
As for me, I’m still thinking about that risotto, and wondering whether the Bar Manager would remember my cocktail order if I went back. I suspect he probably would.
If my Emerald Azzurra review has tempted you to try luxury yacht cruising, our Cruise Experts can help you explore the itineraries, choose your preferred suite and find the right Emerald Yacht Cruises holiday for you.
Get in touch with Bolsover Cruise Club to start planning your own experience onboard Emerald Azzurra.
