Hallmark Late Night and Overnight Stays Offer Up-market Travelers Immersive Adventures at Destinations Larger Ships Cannot Reach
MIAMI, Sept. 25, 2012 – Offering more late-night and overnight stays in port, the award-winning Azamara Club Cruises today announced the 2014 deployment of its twin boutique ships Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.
Up-market travelers can choose among 72 new voyages, ranging from four to 17 nights and visiting 240 fascinating destinations in 66 countries throughout Europe, the Far East, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Western U.S. coast.
The cruise line’s new 2014 program enables guests to experience the nightlife of compelling destinations around the world that larger ships cannot reach, and includes a record-45 maiden port calls, such as the UNESCO World Geopark Langkawi, Malaysia; Maura in the Sultanate of Brunei; and the charming island-village Vila do Abraao, a favorite Brazilian getaway.
“Azamara’s staff and crew stand ready to deliver our authentic and personable service along with immersive experiences to up-market travelers,” said Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “One hundred percent of Azamara’s 2014 voyages feature late night and overnight stays in port to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy the nightlife of some of the world’s most vibrant places. There is no better way for travelers to immerse themselves in a destination than with Azamara.”
Most of Azamara’s voyages are designed so travelers can combine two or more consecutive voyages for an extended travel experience and not repeat a port call. Azamara Journey will sail 12- to 17-night voyages throughout the East and South China seas from January through April 2014, alternating departures from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai and Chennai. On these voyages, guests will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Halong Bay, Borobudur, Parambanan and Sangiran, and revel in the nightlife of worldly cities, such as Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok to name a few, during their overnight stays. The ship then repositions via the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal to arrive for its Europe season in May.
For its part, Azamara Quest will offer a pair of trans-Panama Canal voyages between Miami, Fla., and Costa Rica, plus a new series of Sea of Cortez and Central America voyages, ranging from 10 to 14 nights. A unique eight-night Coastal California Wine Country voyage departs roundtrip from Los Angeles on February 10, 2014, to explore the 31st State’s famous wine region plus a three-day call at San Francisco. Azamara Quest also will sail an 11-night voyage to less-trodden, jewel-islands of the Caribbean, such as St. John’s, St. Barth’s, and Virgin Gorda, before returning to Europe in April.
Both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will again sail European waters throughout summer 2014, offering travelers immersive adventures at some of the region’s most exciting destinations and cultural celebrations. Azamara Quest will sail a 15-night trans-Atlantic voyage from Miami to Nice, France, while Azamara Journey will reposition via the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.
Azamara Journey will sail four- to 14-night voyages, ranging throughout the Mediterranean, North and Baltic seas. On the May 19 sailing, Azamara Journey will rendezvous with Azamara Quest at St. Tropez and Monte Carlo, where, for the first time, guests aboard both ships can join in the excitement of the Monaco Grand Prix. Travelers also can choose among three Baltic voyages of different lengths in July to suit their timing: a seven-, 10-, or 12-night itinerary, which all feature three full days at St. Petersburg, Russia. Gourmands should not miss the 14-night Food and Wine voyage, departing Southampton, U.K., on August 20, which features two-night stays at Nantes (Loire Valley) and Bordeaux, France. Azamara’s ships are ideally sized to sail into more-inland destinations like these so guests need only disembark the ship to shop, dine and join in the nightlife.
Azamara Quest will sail mainly in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean and Black seas, on seven- to 12-night voyages. A unique 11-night Mediterranean Easter sailing, departing April 11, offers guests an overnight at Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome for an opportunity to attend Palm Sunday mass in the Vatican, and at Livorno for Easter Sunday in Florence. Travelers also can choose among a seven-, nine-, and 12-night Black Sea voyage, sailing from Istanbul. The August 20 voyage takes guests on a comprehensive 12-night itinerary throughout the region, including a call at Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 winter Olympic Games.
In late November, Azamara Journey will depart from Spain’s Costa del Sol to the beautiful Brazil via the Canary Islands. Travelers can celebrate Christmas and the New Year as they sail from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. Azamara Quest will retrace the Spice Route to the Far East and ring in the New Year in Hong Kong.
Guests aboard Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest enjoy more inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff; complimentary bottled water, sodas, specialty coffees, and teas, as well as complimentary red and white boutique wines to accompany lunch and dinner; complimentary self-service laundry; English Butler service for suite guests; and shuttle transportation to city centers in ports, where available.
Azamara Club Cruises is a destination-immersive cruise line for upmarket travelers who want to see not only the places and cultures they visit, but to live them. Azamara’s two intimate, 694-guest ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, with a combination of 347 suites and staterooms, offer a European-boutique hotel ambience with extraordinary service, fine cuisine and wines from around the world, and wellness and vitality programs, all while sailing to a host of destinations larger ships cannot reach.
Azamara Club Cruises sails European destinations, including the Baltic and Scandinavia, British Isles, Western Europe, French and Italian Rivieras, Greek Isles, Croatia, Holy Land and Black Sea, as well as Asia, South America and lesser-traveled islands of the West Indies, with more overnight and late-night stays in every region. Travelers also can choose even more immersive experiences with Azamara cruisetours in four of the world’s most exciting destinations, including Buenos Aires, Istanbul, India and China. For more information, travelers can call their travel professional, dial 1-877-999-9553, or visit Azamara Club Cruises at www.AzamaraClubCruises.com.
Travel agent professionals also can access more information and make reservations at www.CruisingPower.com.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSX: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, these six brands operate a combined total of 40 ships with four under construction.
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