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.😊

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.

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.

Up at 6am as the sun rose over Civitavecchia.

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.

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

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.

👋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.

👋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!!😍

👋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.

🙋‍♀️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.

👏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.

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

And then back out after lunch to ride the scenic little train! Who doesn't love a little train??😍🚋

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

I just googled it and there are actually 12 forts on the island of Elba. We hiked up this one.. as it was very close to the ship. The wind was strong and the view was lovely!

🙋‍♀️Well I have to admit that I thought Portoferraio on Elba was going to be a total bore but it actually turned out to be a perfect port for the day. After getting up super early the past 2 mornings for our excursions to Florence and Lucca, I was looking forward to a day where I didn't have to set my alarm. Portoferraio ended up being a lovely surprise with tons of gorgeous photo ops. This town literally had Napoleon's name (and face) written all over it!

🤗 Of course I have to start today out by saying.. ABLE WAS I ERE I SAW ELBA And there is Elba and we saw it!

🤔Hmmm.. I think it was about $79 per person which was fine. And yes.. you are right.. it was just essentially a ride to Lucca and back but the guide did give us an orientation of the city and some suggestions too. It made it very easy and that's what I was looking for.😃

Oh.. must comment on an interesting addition to the merchandise being sold at the on board shops. It might be just the thing if you have a ton of OBC and don't know what to do with it. This is the first cruise I have ever seen this on. They were selling "pre-loved" luxury handbags. I actually think it's a great fit. The prices were steep but certainly less than buying new. We didn't have any extra though as we booked this cruise at the last minute and missed the generous OBC specials.

FRIDAY - APRIL 28. 🤔 Oh geez.. how did we get here?? Seems like we just unpacked and now it's almost time to pack up and go home.😵

I always love when the crew comes out and we can show them our appreciation for all their hard work to make our vacation perfect! Loved the food, the festive atmosphere and the company of course. The music.. way too loud for me. Now I know for sure my youth has been left far behind!😳

Tony at the helm of the Crepes Suzette.

Back on the ship and the White Night was upon us!!

Across from the harbor we spotted a rather shocking statue of men in chains. This was the explanation of it.🤷‍♀️ I don't want to open a big can of worms here but it was a disturbing sight to see and I felt I needed to comment.