Cruise Preview: Astoria 7 Night Cruise

On 21 March 2016, I'll be reunited with Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Azores, albeit under the new name Astoria. In fact I'll be on the first sailing under the new name. I previously sailed on board the ship in August 2015 for a short 2 night repositioning cruise from Liverpool to Bristol, which also included a short visit to Dublin. I enjoyed the 2 nights, but despite my short time on board, I had already began to get bored, therefore I am a little apprehensive about spending 7 nights on the ship, but luckily this itinerary is port intensive and only includes one sea day.

Cruise Itinerary

Date

21 March
22 March
23 March
24 March
25 March
26 March
27 March
​28 March

Ports of Call

Bristol, Avonmouth
At Sea
Belfast
​Stornoway
​Tobermory
Greennock
​Dublin
​Bristol, Avonmouth

Arrive

07:00
13:00
08:00
07:00
09:30
​13:00

Depart

17:00

18:00
20:00
17:00
19:00
17:30

This 'Scottish Isles & Emerald Isle' itinerary will set sail from Bristol Avonmouth visiting various Scottish and Irish ports. On this cruise, I'll be visiting two new places - Stornoway and Greenock - and while I may have been to the other ports before, I am still very much enjoying the chance to return, especially to the picturesque Tobermory.

Launched in 1946, Astoria is officially the oldest cruise ship still in passenger service. At just over 12,000 GT, the ship is more like a private yacht, than a cruise ship.

Jordan Bailey - Cruise Ambassador

20-year-old travel journalist, Jordan, has been reporting on cruise news since 2011. Since taking his first voyage on board Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas in 2009, Jordan has now been on over 35 cruises. He currently studies Journalism at Southampton Solent University.