2
IN MARSEILLE, WEATHERED HISTORY IS INTERLACED
WITH SLEEK ARCHITECTURE. FROM MY BALCONY,
I PICK OUT THE GLEAMING CMA CGM TOWER BY
ZAHA HADID. ON THE DOCK, THE MUSEUM OF EUROPEAN
AND MEDITERRANEAN CIVILISATIONS EMBODIES THE
NEW MARSEILLE. THE PETIT TRAIN TOURISTIQUE TAKES
ME HIGH UP TO THE NOTRE-DAME DE LA GARDE (ABOVE
LEFT), OVERLOOKING VIEUX-PORT AND THE SEA.160 / AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
CRUISE
CONTROL
Gently cruising the Riviera, stopping
off to explore the port cities and
beyond, istheway to experience the
Mediterranean, writesJudith Elen.
CRUISING
1
Barcelona
Our starting point is the Spanish port of Barcelona, its streets
studded with Antoni Gaudí’s contorted buildings. Embarkation
beginsat11amandwesailat10pm,sohavehourstoexplorethecity.
Sliding open the door in my Veranda Stateroom, I step onto the
balconytoenjoythepanoramicview,thenstopbytheWindowsCafe
forfreshsushiwithacoolglassofwinebeforeheadingintotown.
Once ashore, I simply walk along the port and into Barcelona.Azamara Questis highly comfortable, with
space for socialising and seclusion. There
areprovisionsforleisure(pool,library,spa)
and entertainment (casino, live shows).
Excellent food is available in the all-
inclusive restaurants, cafes and poolside
grill,aswellasspecialtyrestaurantsPrime
C and Aqualina, which offer delicious
gourmet cuisine for a $25pp surcharge.TRAVEL THE RIVIERA
Cruising operates within broad extremes.
Big liners ply the oceans, skimming
coastlines, with a few fl eeting hours in
port; river cruisers moor beside towns
and villages, never losing sight of land.
Azamara Club Cruises rests comfortably
between the two. Gently drift ing around
the coastal waterways of France and Italy
in the mid-sized Azamara Quest allows us
about as much time on land as on board.
Two ships in the line, Azamara Quest and
Journey, carry about 700 passengers each,
dual-occupancy, on four main decks.
Public spaces on three levels, plus sun
deck, include most facilities you would
fi nd on a bigger ship. But port access is
Azamara’s primary mission. They call it
“destination immersion”. With overnight
stays, late sailings (8 or 10pm) and night
touring, the ship becomes a bridge and
the coast a portal onto the land. And my
Spain-to-the-Riviera itinerary has some
truly magic portals. For itineraries,
including around Australia, go to
azamaraclubcruises.com. Photography from Getty Images (except
Azamara Quest) and Brett Stevens/bauersyndication.com.au (Champagne).Judith travelled as a guest of Azamara Club Cruises.ALL ABOARD
H&G TRAVEL