AZAMARA BRINGS HER CHARMS TO AUSTRALIA

Photographs: Simon Bullard.

Azamara Club Cruises, the boutique and destination focussed cruise line, made its Australian debut in December 2015 when the 686 guest “Azamara Quest” arrived in Darwin.

With smaller ships that are able to go to places other larger cruise ships can’t, Azamara differentiates itself by making destinations the star of the show, offering longer stays, more overnight calls and night touring, giving travellers the opportunity to truly experience a destination, taking in the sights, sounds and flavours of local cultures in every port.

Azamara’s “Insider Access” takes guests behind the scenes at heritage estates, family farms, local shops and art galleries. Guests enjoy conversations and stories with their hosts, gaining valuable insights and appreciation of local culture. Their “Nights & Cool Places” are exclusive after dinner experiences in small, intimate groups, ranging from a harbour yacht experience to a private gallery tour with a famous local artist. Azamara’s “Cruise Global, Eat Local” programme features carefully curated dining experiences around the globe and Azamara does the sleuthing to bring guests to places the locals frequent, from a traditional family trattoria to a dim sum feast.

Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises said
”Azamara is all about Destination Immersion and we spend more time in ports at night and stay overnight to ensure our guests can spend enough time in the destination to come away with an authentic experience. Our AzAmazing Evenings, Nights and Cool Places, Insider Access and Cruise Global, Eat Local are just a few of the programmes we provide guests to make the most of their time in port”.

Sandra Tiltman on board Azamara Quest. Photo: John Pond

While destinations are the highlight, both “Azamara Quest” and “Azamara Journey” offer guests personal service, fine cuisine, boutique wines from around the world and inclusions such as gratuities, self-service laundry, beverages, English Butler service for suite guests and shuttle transportation to city centres in ports, where available.

Azamara Club Cruises has unveiled new design plans for its suites and staterooms as part of their “Reimagine Azamara” programme, to be carried out during the upgrade of “Azamara Quest” & “Azamara Journey” while in dry dock early next year. Several of the world’s leading design consultants will help transform the suites and staterooms into modern oases at sea. The result will be an overall ambiance that is comfortable, timeless and elegant.

The Spa Suites will be brand new additions to both ships. Built adjacent to the Sanctum Spa these suites will feature an elegant look with muted colours. The bathroom shower and tub will have a view of the water and Spa Suite guests will have exclusive access to unique spa amenities included in the price of these suites.

In all other staterooms, guests will see new blackout curtains, bed linens, furniture, carpeting, lighting and a complete bathroom modernisation. These updates will give guests a better experience onboard Azamara and will add to an exciting and enriching travel experience.

“Azamara Quest” enters dry dock in April 2016 in Singapore after her Australian season while “Azamara Journey” entered dry dock in the Bahamas in early 2016 and was completely refreshed for her maiden Australian season in February 2017.

Sandra Tiltman

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AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES TO VISIT AUSTRALIA

Great news for those who love small luxury ship cruising is that Azamara Club Cruises, a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, a global cruise holiday company that also owns Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, is coming to Australia for the first time in December 2015.

The boutique cruise brand, which is renowned for its elegant cruising style and destination focus, will debut in Australia and New Zealand when Azamara Quest arrives in Darwin on 28 December 2015.

Prior to arriving in Australia, Azamara Club Cruises will revitalise their two 686 passenger ships with an extensive makeover. Azamara Quest will be upgraded in September 2015 and Azamara Journey will complete her dry dock in January 2016, before she then commences her season down under in 2017. More good news is that Azamara Quest will return in 2018.

One of the main features that sets Azamara Club Cruises apart is their focus on destination immersion, where they offer longer stays in ports, more overnights and night touring.

Each Azamara Club voyage features Azamara Club’s exclusive, bespoke AzAmazing Evening events that are specially created, complimentary night tours offering passengers the chance to experience a destination’s authentic culture and character.

In Darwin, guests will be treated to an evening at Crocosaurus Cove where they will meet the world’s largest captive reptile collection, including nearly 200 saltwater crocodiles. The highlight of the night is the Cage of Death, where a handful of the ship’s officers drop into a protected tank with some of the largest giant crocodiles in captivity. The unique event continues with a ceremonial demonstration by representatives of the Larrakia people. As the ceremony winds down, guests can hold some of the smaller reptiles that make their home at this incredible adventure center.

In Cairns, guests will be offered a journey into Australia’s Aboriginal dreamtime for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, including authentic music, chanting and dance that culminates in a traditional fire making ceremony by the local Tjapukai people. Guests will be immersed in the spectacle of a corroboree depicting the thrill of the hunt and the ancient totems of the rainforest people.

In Newcastle, guests will enjoy an evening of entertainment by local Australian artist, Olivia Chindamo, at Fort Scratchley. This historic and majestic site, which guards the Hunter River Estuary, is undoubtedly Newcastle’s most spectacular vantage point.

Other exciting features are Azamara Club’s Insider Access, taking guests behind the scenes at heritage estates, family farms, local shops and art galleries. Guests enjoy conversations and shared stories with their hosts, gaining valuable insights and appreciation of local culture. Nights and Cool Places offer exclusive after dinner experiences in small, intimate groups, ranging from a harbour yacht experience to a private gallery tour with a famous local artist. The Cruise Global, Eat Local programme features carefully curated dining experiences around the globe, where guests are taken to places the locals frequent, from a traditional family trattoria to a dim sum feast.

While destinations are the highlight, guests on board Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest receive personal service and enjoy fine cuisine plus boutique wines from around the globe. Included in each cruise are beverages, gratuities, self-service laundry, English Butler service for suite guests and shuttle transportation to city centres in ports, where available.

I have had the pleasure of sailing of Azamara Journey and look forward to welcoming her to Australia.

Sandra Tiltman

AZAMARA AZAMAZING EXPERIENCES

“Azamara Journey” and her sister “Azamara Quest”, the two beautiful boutique style ships of Azamara Club Cruises, offer guests a totally different cruising experience than on larger vessels.  Apart from the personalised service, fine cuisine and wines plus specialty coffee and teas, they offer complimentary boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits in the ships’ bars. As well as their itineraries offering longer stays in port, allowing guests to experience the destination in greater depth, rather than the usual quick overview that a half-day shore excursion provides, Azamara includes overnights in ports and the opportunity to experience night touring.

Azamara Club Cruises are always trying to lift the bar when it comes to giving their guests something extra and offering special experiences that will be remembered as being amazing.

Unique to Azamara Club Cruises is their AzAmazing Evenings program in which guests have the opportunity to enjoy a range of exclusive, authentic and cultural evening events. To whet your appetite, the recently launched 2014 AzAmazing Evenings program provides a full description of all these unique experiences. These complimentary evening events are usually held ashore once every voyage and on select voyages, some are specially tailored to coincide with major cultural and world events. Historical evening events have been added to enhance the port experience, such as the “Past to Present: Normandy 70 Years Later” which has guests storming the beaches of France and being treated to a D-Day Liberation Party in Cherbourg, exactly 70 years to the day that the landings took place.

Other AzAmazing Evenings provide guests with night access to some of the world’s best known historical sites allowing them to experience a performance in the ancient Roman Odeon theatre of Ephesus, or dining like the French aristocracy at the Chateau Giscours in Bordeaux, or a private three tenors performance set in a 19^th century opera house in Livorno plus even the opportunity to join in a Burmese festival.

Another exciting AzAmazing Evening is planned when Azamara Journey cruises to South America later in the year. Guests will visit Plataforma 1, one of Rio de Janeiro’s leading samba show houses and while sipping caipirinhas, the Brazilian national cocktail, they will see samba’s 500 year history come to life in a vibrant show.

AzAmazing Evenings allow guests the opportunity to live the culture of a port rather than just seeing it during a brief visit.  Last year I had the pleasure of cruising aboard “Azamara Journey” which was certainly an amazing experience.  Looking forward to another cruise to try one of these new AzAmazing Evenings.

Sandra Tiltman  PHOTOS:  John Pond

AZAMARA QUEST TO VISIT AUSTRALIA

For the first time in Azamara Club Cruises’ four year history, Azamara Quest will visit Australia in 2015.

As part of a 14 night holiday and New Year’s voyage departing Bali on 22 December 2015, Azamara Quest will make maiden port calls at Thursday Island and Darwin, as well as at the Great Barrier Reef destinations of Cooktown and Port Douglas, ending the cruise in Cairns.

Azamara Quest is a mid-sized ship for 694 guests with comfortable uncrowded social spaces.  The bars, restaurants, lounges, casino and cabaret are relaxing havens and the cabins feature modern amenities, furnishings and European linens.  Many of the cabins have their own verandas

Azamara Club Cruises are known for their destination focus and their itineraries feature longer stays and more overnights in port.  This allows guests to enjoy a fuller experience at each destination, including the nightlife experience, not offered by the majority of other cruise lines.  Their ships are smaller and offer a more boutique style of cruising, while their size makes them particularly well suited to calling in at the smaller, off the beaten track ports.

Earlier this year, the cruise line introduced AzAmazing Evenings, a complimentary night tour on each voyage that provides guests with an exclusive and bespoke slice of a destination’s authentic culture and character. They have also expanded their complimentary beverages to include wines, select standard spirits, sodas, international beers, bottled water and barista coffees plus included gratuities. There is also a complimentary self-service laundry, shuttle transportation to city centres in ports where available and English Butler service for suite guests.

Both Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey were recently refurbished.  As well as refreshing all public spaces and staterooms, a caviar & champagne bar was added, as well as a new Chef’s Table venue on both ships.

Perfectly suited for the sophisticated traveller, many of Azamara Club Cruises’ voyages are timed with major events and celebrations, so guests can join in the festivities.

Gavin Smith, Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific of RCL Cruises Limited said “Azamara Club Cruises is a hidden secret amongst savvy Australian cruisers, but even though its ships have never sailed in the region, Australians are now the third biggest nationality of guests onboard. It has long been our dream to bring an Azamara ship to Australian waters and our whole team is very excited to welcome Azamara Quest in 2015.”

The deployment of the Azamara brand to this region completes a hat-trick for the Royal Caribbean family of brands.  Azamara will be joining sister cruise lines Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

Sandra Tiltman