Azamara Journey

Standard tours of Corfu run at a pace suited to those staying on the island, but if you’re passing through on a cruise ship, time is of the essence.

A private driver-guide shows you Corfu your way, typically the UNESCO-listed Old Town, the Paleokastritsa coastline and hilltop villages, on a half or full day.

Taste Corfu's Venetian-influenced food on a three-hour walk through the Old Town, with local snacks, sweets and drinks along with the history behind them.

Skip the lines at ancient Ephesus and walk its marble streets to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre with a guide, timed around your ship's schedule.

Relax the traditional Turkish way with a steam, body scrub, foam wash and massage at a local hamam in Kusadasi, an easy 90-minute break close to the port.

Spend the day on the water along the coast of Dilek National Park, with swim stops in quiet bays and lunch served on board.

The classic Tuscany port day: Renaissance Florence with its Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, plus the Leaning Tower in Pisa, with a local tasting along the way.

A private day on the Italian Riviera visiting the colorful cliffside fishing villages of the Cinque Terre, with time to wander, eat and take in the sea views.

Trade the crowds of Florence for Tuscany's medieval hill towns: Siena's shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the stone towers of San Gimignano, with rolling vineyard views in between.

Take the wheel of a soft-top 4x4 and follow the coastal Route des Crêtes to the fishing village of Cassis and the limestone cliffs of the Calanques, stopping wherever the views call for it.

Paddle with a guide along the white limestone cliffs of the Calanques, slipping into hidden coves and stopping to swim in clear Mediterranean water.

See Marseille's Old Port and Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, then head inland to stroll the fountains, markets and café-lined boulevards of Aix-en-Provence before returning to the ship.