Azamara Cruises
Who is it for? - Cruisers who value attention to detail, the finer things in life, and want to experience ports and countries with more than just a 5 hour shore excursion.
Where do they go? - Asia, Africa, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand, Caribbean, Cuba, Mediterranean, South America, Canada, North America, South Pacific - almost anywhere you'd want to go!
One-sentence Overview - Cultural immersion, inclusive amenities, and personalized service
Give me the details - Azamara ships are smaller than most mega-ships on the seas today, with a maximum passenger capacity of 702. With fewer passengers to look after, the crew onboard the three Azamara ships - Journey, Quest, and Pursuit - are exceptionally friendly and detail-oriented. It's common to find that after just a day or two onboard your drink order has been memorized, as the crew of these ships strive to provide a boutique hotel experience on the high seas.
Staterooms are spacious and recently refreshed as of 2016, with muted color schemes, fresh cut flowers and a fruit basket provided upon embarkation. Basic inclusions for staterooms are main room dining, select beers, wines and house spirits, gratuities and a concierge service while suite level inclusions range all the way up to priority embarkation and debarkation with a classically-trained English butler service at your command. Spa level suites even include enclosed outdoor soaking tubs, providing unbeatable views of the world as it passes by outside the ship. All levels of stateroom include certain AzAmazing Evenings, nighttime excursions for the whole ship in port cities such as a night at the orchestra in St. Petersburg or a cello concert in old town Dubrovnik.
What's "Cultural Immersion"? - Since Azamara's ships are smaller, they can navigate into smaller ports. Think direct access to London, Venice or Hong Kong without having to transfer via a launch further out in the harbor. Thanks to this direct access, each cruise itinerary has an overarching theme of staying longer to experience more. Many itineraries include overnights in port which allow guests the opportunity for a more in-depth exploration of the city than they would be able to get on a larger ship. Day trip shore excursions run the gamut from learning the ancient art of mosaic-making in Mykonos with a local guide to visiting a functioning Norwegian sheep farm atop a mountain.
On some itineraries, guests have the option of booking overnight excursions like a trek to the ancient city of Petra. Regardless of what level of excursion you choose, you can expect a small group with a focus on exploring and supporting local artisans. Whichever excursion you choose, you can rest assured that as long as it's booked through Azamara the ship will wait for you in the event you aren't back in time - a benefit worth the peace of mind alone.
What's onboard? - The boutique hotel experience extends far beyond comfortable staterooms and outstanding service. There is no shortage of entertainment options on the ship, ranging from cabaret clubs to opera performances, and when possible, local entertainment will be brought onboard to further the Cultural Immersion experience. Weather permitting, each cruise includes at least one White Party where officers and crew alike serve guests at an unforgettable on-deck party.
In addition to the main dining room, there are two specialty dining rooms and a Chef's Table experience available to guests who may want something more intimate. Whenever possible, chefs will head into town during port days to collect local ingredients that then become a station in the main dining room or available dish in the specialty restaurants, providing guests just one more opportunity to feel immersed in a new culture.
Not content with just providing the basics, the ships also have full-service spas, salons and fitness centers. Book a boot camp class or go for a jog while watching the waves churn beneath you. There are even complimentary classes on deck, such as sunset yoga and Pilates, ensuring that the fitness-minded can keep up with their routines while at sea. A unique twist to the spas are the onboard acupuncturists who are board certified in this ancient Chinese healing art, providing unique therapies to guests while on vacation.
