Detailed Itinerary

Amsterdam has a personality all its own, including a long time reputation for tolerance. You'll be thinking of tulips and wooden shoes, perhaps Heineken beer, and some of the city's past inhabitants: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Anne Frank, who wrote her famous diary hidden in a canal-side house.  Amsterdam has more canals than Venice connecting a jigsaw puzzle of 90 islands, joined by some 1280 bridges, and it also boasts the oldest stock exchange in the world.

Embark Azamara Journey beginning at 1:00PM. All aboard by 3:30PM.

Welcome Cocktails & Briefing this evening. Meet your fellow participants and PerryGolf staff.

Overnight: At Sea

Today it’s time to relax and reset. Make your reservations early for The Sanctum Spa, a world-class wellness facility offering a full range of health, beauty and restorative treatments. Complimentary fitness and nutrition classes are available along with a fully equipped gym on Deck 9 offering magnificent sea views. There’s room for everyone on the Pool Deck both in and out of the sun. Service to your lounge chair is available from The Pool Bar where the attentive staff is always ready to offer an inclusive cocktail, beer, bottled water, soft drink or fresh towel.  The Patio restaurant serves casual fare during the day then completely transforms itself into a sit-down al fresco dining experience at night with table linens and candles. Elegant specialty dining is available for beef at Prime C and Italian at Aqualina.  Windows Café serves casual buffet dining with every imaginable choice indoors and out at the sensational Sunset Bar.

What a way to spend a day!

Overnight: At Sea

GOLF: Today play Dumbarnie Links the dramatic and exciting new kid on the Scottish golf landscape.  Located 9 miles south of St Andrews, the layout plays over 345 acres, part of the 5,000-acre Balcarres Estate held by Lord Anthony Balniel and his family since the 16th century.  Designed by Clive Clark, a member of the 1973 Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team, the site is highlighted by a mile and a half of sea frontage featuring panoramic views over the Firth of Forth.  Its dual elevations, which are connected by a flowing escarpment, provide a number of elevated tees where holes play directly towards the sea. 

SIGHTSEEING: Edinburgh - the inspiring capital of Scotland - is a historic, cosmopolitan and cultured city. The setting is striking; a city perched on a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags which rise from the generally flat landscape of the Lothians with the sheltered shoreline of the Firth of Forth to the north. Edinburgh Castle dominates the city-center and from its ramparts you can look down on medieval lanes that hold over a thousand years of history, mystery and tradition. You will also see a modern, dynamic capital where international festivals attract the world's leading performers, galleries display cutting-edge art, and bars, restaurants and clubs create a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a distinctly Scottish twist. No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a walk up the Royal Mile, which stretches from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, to Edinburgh Castle. The route is lined with tourist shops and pubs but be sure to explore the narrow alleys called closes that lead off the Royal Mile.

Enjoy Edinburgh on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: In Port – Edinburgh (Leith), Scotland

Enjoy another full day in Scotland’s beautiful capital city!

Overnight: At Sea

GOLF: Cruden Bay offers an internationally famous golfing experience – old fashioned links golf at its best – on one of the finest courses in Scotland. Creating unique challenges with greens and fairways hidden between massive dunes, driveable par fours, blind shots and of course gorgeous view of the North Sea.  Cruden Bay is a regular among the world’s top 100 clubs.

SIGHTSEEING: The harbor city of Aberdeen sits by the North Sea, located between the rivers Dee and Don.  Remote and northerly, Scotland’s third largest city is a surprising gem with distinctive architecture and a cosmopolitan feel.  Aberdeen stands apart from other Scottish cities. You won’t hear Gaelic around these parts, as this bright sunny port more closely resembles a typical English city. Walk the bustling, mile-long Union Street to peruse high-street shops and venture into local independent stores. Explore the spirit of Aberdeen’s maritime history in Footdee - a traditional fishing village full of quirky outbuildings - or one of the many local museums.

Enjoy Aberdeen on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: At Sea

GOLF: Today play Royal Dornoch. The curving bay of the Dornoch Firth and its magnificent white broad beaches are backed by a narrow strip of softly contoured dune land rising in two distinctive levels, providing just enough room for parallel fairways. The ridges, hillocks, dunes and undulating links land have all the characters of the best of links courses, and most of the difficulties. Old Tom Morris was the architect responsible for extending the original 9 holes layout to 18 holes in 1886. He introduced the plateau greens which are the soul of the course, their uniqueness lies in their size and their inverted saucer shapes.

SIGHTSEEING: Invergordon is the deep-water port for Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands and your gateway to an area of the Highlands known as the “Great Glen.” Travel 20 miles north to the picturesque town of Dornoch to see its sandstone buildings, beautiful domestic gardens and tiny 13th Century cathedral. Ten miles further you’ll find the fairy-tale ancestral home of the Clan Sutherland – Dunrobin Castle – one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scotland, dating back to the 13th century. The stunning formal gardens which run down to the sea are based on those at Versailles and were laid out in the 1850s. Daily displays of the ancient sport of falconry take place in the gardens. Less than an hour south is magnificent Cawdor Castle, the setting for setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The 14th century home of the Thanes of Cawdor is considered one of the most romantic stately homes in the Highlands with its fine collection of rare tapestries, portraits and furniture plus lovely gardens and grounds.

Enjoy Invergordon on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: At Sea

Nearly 600 miles north of London is Shetland, Britain’s most northerly territory found due west of Norway. The only town in this archipelago of more than 100 islands and fewer than 8,000 inhabitants is the port of Lerwick. This might not be where you’d expect to find charming shops, lively pubs and visiting yachts, but you will. There is an old town and a new town both easy to walk. The Shetland Museum & Archives is an award winning attraction in the heart of town on Hay’s Dock. On the outskirts, see what the Iron Age looks like at Clickimin Broch, a stone-built round house found only in Scotland.

Overnight: At Sea

GOLF: Orkney Golf Club is situated on the outskirts of Kirkwall, and is the oldest in the Orkney Islands, having been founded in 1889.  This local community club offers a sporting and fun layout of just under 6,000 yards long, and boasts beautiful panoramic views over the Northern Isles, and the town of Kirkwall.

SIGHTSEEING: The 70 islands of Orkney are low lying, a pleasing, gently rolling panorama of fertile fields, heather cloaked moors, and lakes. The red sandstone walls of the imposing St. Magnus Cathedral dominate Kirkwall, the main town, capital, and hub for roads linking east and west. In summer whales and dolphins sport in coastal waters, and tens of thousands of breeding seabirds congregate on sharp seaside cliffs. The early arrival of mankind on this scene can be investigated at Skara Brae, an amazingly well-preserved Neolithic village that was inhabited and already abandoned more than 5,000 years ago.

Enjoy Kirkwall on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: At Sea

Colorful row houses and red-hulled fishing vessels line the shores of the picturesque port set on the edge of the Outer Hebrides. Deeply rooted in tradition, it’s not uncommon to be greeted in Gaelic here.

Listen to the lilt of locals as you dine on fresh-caught seafood and delectable Stornoway smoked salmon. Adventurous palates may also seek out the local delicacy of Stornoway Black Pudding to pair with a strong pint of ale from the Hebridean Brewing Company. Stroll the streets surrounding the harbor to peruse the largest selection of shops outside of the mainland, including independent bookstores, quaint bakeries, and pubs – even an ironmonger.

The gateway to Lewis and Harris Island, Stornoway is a short journey to a natural wonderland of mountains, craggy rocks, moorlands, meadows, and rugged coastlines. Explore the grounds of historic Lews Castle. Walk the hallowed grounds surrounding the ancient Callanish Stones. Watch as skilled craftsmen produce Harris Tweed, a luxury handwoven wool unique to the Island. Or, hop a ferry to neighbouring Skye to tour its breath-taking coast and sip peaty Talisker scotch. Enjoy an authentic Scottish experience in the epicentre of Gaelic culture.

Enjoy Stornoway on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: At Sea

Under the craggy emerald peaks of the Scottish Highlands lies a tiny port town with a heart for adventure. Gaelic for “little bay”, Oban is a captivating getaway that fulfils your every dream of Scotland. Dubbed both the Gateway to the Isles and the sea kayaking capital of Scotland; kayaking, boating, and other outdoor endeavours are within easy reach of Oban. Kayak out of the harbour or take one of many ferries to the neighboring isles to spend your day portaging and hiking. River otters, seals, sea lions, porpoise and puffins attract nature lovers to explore the shores of Loch Linnhe and the nearby Scottish Sealife Sanctuary.

The backdrop to both historic and fictional scenes, Oban’s breath-taking landscape has played a key role in some of history’s most famous moments. Explore the magnificent Inveraray Castle, the former home to the Duke of Argyll. Look familiar? This vision in Gothic Revival architecture can also be seen on the popular show Downtown Abbey as the fictional “Duneagle Castle”. Embark on a short train ride along the Highlands aboard the Jacobite Steam Train and be transported into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Speaking of Jacobites, even the natural beauty of the Highlands can’t conceal the echoes of the country’s tumultuous history, as you walk the hallowed grounds of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe.

Enjoy Oban on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: At Sea

GOLF: Today play Prestwick Golf Club one of the world's oldest clubs and whose very testing and traditional links hosted the very first Open in 1860. The winner was Willie Park from Musselburgh with a score of 174 for thirty-six holes, two shots clear of the legendary Old Tom Morris. Prestwick was home to the first eleven Opens and then held it jointly along with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield). Prestwick's twenty fourth and last Open was in 1925 when Jim Barnes from the USA won. Only the Old Course of St Andrews hosted The Open more than Prestwick.

SIGHTSEEING: Glasgow, a reinvented industrial center in western Scotland, has solidified its reputation as a cultural hub. Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of the first names to know; he was a prodigious architect, interior designer and artist, and the city has a wealth of his work. Stop by his Willow Tea Rooms for a cup of tea and a scone. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum whose blue and gold inlaid ceiling, Art Deco hanging lamps and marble floors are sufficient reason to visit, let alone the impressive art collection that includes Salvador Dal's controversial 'Christ of St John of the Cross'. Glasgow has an abundance of excellent seafood dining. The Crabshakk is perfect for daily catches including ruby red langoustines. The oyster bar at Rogano in Exchange Square is where power brokers celebrate deals with a glass of Champagne and a dozen oysters in a space designed to look like a 1930s Art Deco cruise liner. At the Pot Still, an institution that dates from 1857, choose from over 450 malt whiskies like Lagavulin or Arran.

Enjoy Glasgow on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.

Overnight: In Port: Greenock, Scotland

Enjoy another day in Glasgow before our late afternoon departure for Dublin.

Overnight: At Sea

Disembark Azamara Journey at 9:00AM.

Consider remaining onboard for our 10-night, 6-round, 2023 Irish Links Golf Cruise, August 29 – September 8, Dublin – Southampton. 

Dublin offers a wealth of historic sites dating back to a 1000-year-old Viking village, and as one might expect of the Irish, there is a tale to be told about every one. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is said to have been erected on the site where the saint himself converted pagans in 450 AD. The crown jewels were stolen from Dublin Castle in 1907; an unsolved mystery left to the fictional Sherlock Holmes to decipher. Some pubs, great sources of stories, are almost as old – you can sample a Guinness and the latest lore at The Brazen Head, serving up drink and daydreams for 800 years. Then for a contrast, ride to a stunning view of contemporary Dublin atop a brand new observation wheel.