ONWARD and Upward.. our Azamazing "Italy Intensive" Week - April 22 to April 29, 2023. Full Trip Report With Tons of Pix.

[Sleep7]

Back on the ship for sadly our last lunch on the back deck of the Windows Cafe.😕

 

[Sleep7]

And then back out after lunch to ride the scenic little train! 

Who doesn't love a little train??😍🚋

 

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2023 by Sleep7

[Sleep7]

Took some more scenic pix and then called it a day.😊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[takemewithyou]

34 minutes ago, Sleep7 said:

Back on the ship for sadly our last lunch on the back deck of the Windows Cafe.😕

 

I see the gnocchi with pesto and walnuts on that plate!  Yum! Or just with Gorgonzola? Yum, either way! 👍🏻

Edited May 1, 2023 by takemewithyou

[aliaschief]

What an excellent travel log. Thank you for sharing your cruise experience.

Feeds the excitement for our 2024 World Cruise on the beautiful Onward with it’s great team of crew members.

[Sleep7]

5 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

I see the gnocchi with pesto and walnuts on that plate!  Yum! Or just with Gorgonzola? Yum, either way! 👍🏻

👏Excellent pasta spotting takemewithyou!!  Yes.. it was gnocci with gorgonzola and walnuts from the Windows buffet.  Yum.. my mouth is watering just thinking about it. 😋

I loved the fresh pasta station at lunch.. a great idea.

[Sleep7]

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

What an excellent travel log. Thank you for sharing your cruise experience.

Feeds the excitement for our 2024 World Cruise on the beautiful Onward with it’s great team of crew members.

🙋‍♀️Well thanks so much aliaschief!!  I'm so happy to share every moment as it brings me great pleasure to relieve all the fond travel memories from last week.

That's awesome that you are going on the 2024 World Cruise! A dream come true!!😊

I am going to take a break for tonight and finish up tomorrow.

 

 

[CruiseTimeAgain2]

2 hours ago, Sleep7 said:

🙋‍♀️Well thanks so much aliaschief!!  I'm so happy to share every moment as it brings me great pleasure to relieve all the fond travel memories from last week.

That's awesome that you are going on the 2024 World Cruise! A dream come true!!😊

I am going to take a break for tonight and finish up tomorrow.

 

 

Sleep7,

Thank you so much for all the information and photos of your Onward cruise. Enjoyed reading about your port stops and travels.

Wife and I will be on the Onward December 22, 2023 Holiday cruise and seeing all of your photos of the ship get me even more excited. It just so happens we will be in the cabin rite next to the one you were in.

Thanks Again,

[Grandma Cruising]

Thank you so much for your very interesting posts and photos - it’s got us looking at Mediterranean cruises for next year.

[Sleep7]

8 hours ago, CruiseTimeAgain2 said:

Sleep7,

Thank you so much for all the information and photos of your Onward cruise. Enjoyed reading about your port stops and travels.

Wife and I will be on the Onward December 22, 2023 Holiday cruise and seeing all of your photos of the ship get me even more excited. It just so happens we will be in the cabin rite next to the one you were in.

Thanks Again,

👋Good morning CruiseTimeAgain2!

I'm so glad that you enjoyed reading my review and thanks for the sweet words about it.  That's wonderful that you will be on the Onward for the holidays! How fun.

I loved the cabin location.. close to the Windows Cafe and very quiet. I chose it because I read that being at the back of the ship is smoother if the waves are rough.  Thankfully didn't have to test that out too much.😊

Enjoy every moment of your upcoming cruise.. it will be here before you know it.

[Sleep7]

2 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said:

Thank you so much for your very interesting posts and photos - it’s got us looking at Mediterranean cruises for next year.

👋Good morning Grandma Cruising!

I feel like you are an old pal from the Azamara boards.  So glad you enjoyed my review and I'm touched and honored that it prompted you to think about a Med cruise next year.

Thanks so much for your sweet compliments!!😍

[Sleep7]

👋Good morning everyone!

Up at 3:30 this morning so I am making jet lag progress.. that's good!😊

Here is the menu for the final dinner of the week in Discoveries.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Sleep7

[Sleep7]

Late in the afternoon The Onward set sail from Portoferraio to Civitavecchia.

I'm glad there was no spelling test to board the cruise.. those two ports plus the words Mediterranean and Renaissance are tough ones!🤪 

We bid farewell to Elba..

 

 

We strolled the deck a little and then admired the vivid sunset before dinner at Discoveries.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Found our last paperwork of the cruise waiting for us on the bed as usual.

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Spent the rest of the evening packing up our bags.. a Herculean effort.

NOTE TO SELF.. MAKE DO WITH LESS NEXT TIME.📝

Outside the door at 10pm.. whisked away soon after.

 

 

[Sleep7]

Up at 6am as the sun rose over Civitavecchia.

 

[Sleep7]

Left the cabin at 7:30 for our Azamara bus transfer to FCO.

Waved goodbye to the Onward as we pulled away.

Saw an Azamara sister ship in the distance.. there just happened to be another 7 day "Italy Intensive" cruise last week that ended in Rome as well.  I think it started in Venice.

 

 

[Sleep7]

A quick hour long ride to FCO and we were off the bus with our luggage.

I like the way Azamara has reps to greet you there if you need any assistance.

 

[Sleep7]

Quick check in and then onto finding the customs office for our VAT stamp. 

Plenty of signs.. very easy.

 

 

Usually there is a long line but not this morning.😊

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Since our flight wasn't until 12:50pm and we got to the airport a little past 9am there was plenty of time for lounge hopping in Terminal 3.

First up.. the "Plaza Premium" Lounge which is an American Express lounge too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of choices.. a bit too early to eat though.

[Sleep7]

Next was the ITA lounge which we had entry to because of our status with Delta.  You get one guest too.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

They had breakfast out at first.

 

 

 

 

[Sleep7]

Then at around 11am the kitchen started making brick oven pizza and fresh pasta and it was delicious!!

 

 

[Sleep7]

If you didn't have time to shop on your vacation and missed buying something there is a full on shopping mall in Terminal 3. Just about all of the designer shops are represented there.  They already discount the merchandise 22%.. you don't pay and then reclaim the VAT.  I'm not sure if the prices are the same as in the non airport stores though. 

🙋‍♀️I will research and develop that for next time.🛍️

 

 

[Sleep7]

Delta flight 153 ready to board..

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Sleep7