CUSTOMER BLOG

June 2025 Mediterranean Cruise on P&O’s Azura

Kotor, Dubrovnik, Corfu Town and Matera (from Taranto).

A Smooth Journey

We set off early in the morning from Bristol Airport...by we I mean two 60+ sister -in laws!  The check in was a breeze, with our suitcase taken from us at check in. They weren't seen again until they were waiting for us outside our cabin, several hours after we arrived in Malta. There were no queues when checking in and the TUI flight was well organized.  After a 20 minute transfer to the Azura, we had a light lunch on board the ship after meeting
at our muster point and then set off to explore Valetta. The temperature was a balmy 29 degrees, so be prepared with a change of clothes, sunglasses, sun cream and sunhat in your cabin luggage.

Half A Day In Malta

We took the glass lift from the harbour (have a euro ready for the experience). There were queues but they moved quickly.  We explored the alleyways, quaint shops, beautiful architecture and sensational scenery for a few hours. We stopped off for perfect ice cream, soft drinks and cold beer.
To avoid queues in the lift going back down to the ship, we easily walked down the 300 steps.  As we sailed away in the evening, we had a lovely view of fireworks on land and the lights of Malta.

Sea Day

Our next day was at sea, but there was a wealth of activities to enjoy suiting all tastes. I particularly enjoyed line dancing and the dance exercise class.

Kotor, Montenegro

Our first port of call was stunning Montenegro. The cruise through The Bay of Kotor was spectacular and the highlight of our trip. We were the first independent travellers on the tender at 8AM and headed straight from Kotor to the base of the 1350 steps to St Johns Fortress, as we wanted to climb it before it got too hot. We recommend getting a map from the clearly signposted tourist information office, so you know where to find the access point.
It takes about an hour to climb up, and is a bit steep in places, but I thoroughly recommend it for the spectacular scenery. Make sure you take plenty of water and sun protection and wear suitable footwear. It cost us 15 euros to walk up, though a fellow visitor said she did it the week before and it was only 8 euros! They only took cash so be prepared. We recommend taking plenty of photos on the way up, as it gives you a chance to catch your breath! The best views are just before the top where the fortress is situated. The half hour walk back down is easy. Afterwards we ambled around the quaint town, stopping off for gelato and refreshments.

Dubrovnik

We stopped at Dubrovnik the next day; a beautiful but expensive city. Again, we were off the ship at 8am, and took the shuttle from the port to just outside the city walls. It really pays to arrive early and miss the heat of the day and tourists. We headed straight to the city walls, an unmissable experience which cost us 40 euros each. Take a water bottle with you and be prepared for little shade. It takes about an hour to walk around but longer if you stop at one of the cafes.

We packed a lot into our Dubrovnik visit as we then walked to the cable car station. It cost us 30 euros each for a return ticket, (it took 5 mins each way and we had no queues) but well worth it for the amazing views of Dubrovnik and Lokrum island, and gorgeous café and panoramic restaurant at the top. Our cold drinks there never tasted so good! You can also walk up and down the hillside to the viewing point and stroll along the neighbouring Imperial Fortress.

On our way back we strolled around the Old Town, browsing in the shops, and then went to sit outside the Old Castle which had beautiful views of the bay.

Corfu Town

The next day, we spent a more relaxing day in Corfu Town. After catching the shuttle bus to the outskirts of the town, we explored the streets and alleyways. The Old Fortress was worth exploring for only 10 euros and we had a refreshing drink in the café on its grounds.  Unfortunately, our half day trip to explore Corfu’s mountain villages was cancelled but we nonetheless enjoyed our brief visit.  Our final destination on the Azora was the port of Taranto situated on the heel of Italy. We didn’t have time to explore this port, as we had booked an excursion to Matera, only an hour’s drive away.  Beautiful and fascinating, Matera dates back to the 9,000 century BC, and  is situated in the Basilicata region. It is thought to be one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the world. 

We wanted to see the Sassi, or cave dwellings, carved into the ancient tufa limestone.  Approximately 70% of the Sassi is underground. Peasants and their animals lived in the caves until the 1950’s when the inhabitants were relocated. In the 1980’s many of the Sassi were renovated into upmarket restaurants, art galleries and hotels with fascinating cave accommodation. You can even swim between some of the caves in hotels.  We explored the cave museum ‘Casa Grotto’ in Matera. It has interesting displays showing how people and their animals lived together in a small cave in the 18 th  century, with poignant photos of its residents.  There are more than a hundred churches in the area, with fabulous frescoes and sculptures in the many churches which are carved into the rock. We explored the church of Santa Lucia alle Malve. It takes its name from the mallow, a medicinal herb which was grown in the area. The church was carved out by nuns in approx. 9 th century AD. The frescoes date from 11 th to 17 th centuries, and Mass still occurs once a year on the 13 th December on the Epistle side, while the other side was a dwelling until 1960.

Matera became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993 and was completely off the tourist track until it became the European Capital of Culture in 2019 and the setting for recent blockbuster films. For James Bond fans, scenes from the car chase in the latest film ‘No Time To Die’ were filmed here, as was Mel Gibson’s ‘Passion of the Christ.’ While we visited, we saw a film being shot for Netflix.  With one more day at sea, we arrived back to Valetta the next morning ready for our flight back to Bristol. We had an exciting, entertaining and unforgettable cruise.