A couple of weeks before we left home, through the internet Rameses Tours organised an overnight from Alexandria to Cairo and put us in touch with another couple on the cruise with a similar request. Together we visited the pyramids, sphynx and Cairo Museum. Sound and light show at Pyramids was excellent. Cost per person at about $270 including hotel was less than half the Shore excursion and we had the benefit of a driver together with a guide who had a Masters in Egyptology. 5* Hotel was not to UK/US standards but more than adequate. We returned the following day to Port Said driving the last few miles alongside the Suez Canal  

Alexandria

The next port was Ashdod and again through the internet with the same couple who accompanied us to Cairo together with another couple from the ship guidedtoursisrael.com booked a tour to Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. No problems over the checkpoint at Bethelhem as our guide had arranged for us to be met by a colleague and taken by taxi to Church of the Nativity. The following day at Haifa the same party of six went to Sea of Galilee, river Jordan, Capernium and Nazareth. These two tours averaged $95 per person against $175 from the ship and again a personal guide.  

Haifa (Tel Aviv)

The old town, easilly acessible on foot was well worth time there and, for those rather more agile, a walk above the town to the old temple ruins gives amazing views to the port  

Rhodes

Mykonos is a lovely island and plenty of alternatives to do there. We chose to go to the island of Delos with the shore excursion. We enquired if we could get the ferry but told at shore excursions that they did not know if it would be running and therefore paid $65 each for the trip. We were taken on the ferry! the cost of which was $15 and entry to the site $5. A guide book for 5 Euros was as good as the allocated guide as the site is easy to walk around and everything explained on boards.    
After that there was Taormina and Sorrento both really nice towns. In Sorrento the local bus from the bus station takes the Amalfi road takes one and a half hours with spetacular views all the way there an hour in Amalfi for lunch and then return to Sorrento for 6 Euros is amazing value.  

Mykonos

We had a Sunset View Balcony at the front of the ship on Deck 7 - has the advantage of no cover over so you can breakfast in the sun with room service. Great to see the crew at work on docking and leaving and first glimpses of a new port memorable. Bathrooms are small but adequate and there is enough cupboard space as on fly cruises 23kg of luggage is all you can take.
There is an excellent self service laundromat on board with American washers and dryers but the ironing boards are a bit small!!

Open Dining is a big plus as is not having to pack a dinner jacket for formal nights    
The staff were excellent and after four days the maitre'd of Discovery dining room knew our name and room number!There is an excellent self service
laundromat on board with American washers and dryers but the ironing
boards are a bit small!!

Azamara Journey Review

Amazing Azamara

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Club Deluxe Veranda Stateroom

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