Schlagwort: Azamara Onward

Pressemitteilung

Following the success of the cruise line’s 2024 world voyage, Azamara is giving loyalty guests and world-cruisers the first chance to book

Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – is pleased to announce its 2025 World Voyage, departing from San Diego, California and visiting 37 countries before concluding in Southampton, UK. Taking place on the independent cruise line’s latest ship, Azamara Onward, this itinerary will include 15 overnights and 31 late stays in port, giving guests more time to immerse themselves in each unique destination. Due to the high demand for Azamara’s 2024 World Voyage, which is currently sold out with a waitlist, the cruise line is showing its appreciation for trade partners, loyalty guests, and past and current world-cruisers by giving them the exclusive opportunity to book first.

“We are thrilled to have our second world cruise aboard Azamara Onward. With 60% of ports on this sailing being different from those on our 2024 world voyage, this itinerary was carefully curated to give even the most well-traveled guests a new perspective on the world,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “Our 2025 world cruise invites travelers to not only see the world, but also take their time in each destination and make memories that will last long after the journey has ended.”

Destinations that will be highlighted throughout the itinerary include:

Honolulu, Hawaii: Azamara makes its long-awaited return to the beloved Hawaiian Islands with a late stay in Honolulu, where guests can discover stunning beaches, vibrant sea life, and authentic Hawaiian cuisine and culture.
Samoa and Tonga: Guests will experience the less-traveled islands of Samoa and Tonga with famed whale swimming experiences and rich Samoan culture.
Sydney, Australia: An overnight stay offers guests the chance to dive deeper into Sydney’s breathtaking beaches, iconic Opera House and vibrant food, arts and entertainment scene.
Stewart Island, New Zealand: Off the beaten path is New Zealand’s southernmost island, a tranquil and unspoilt destination with less than 500 inhabitants. A majority of the island is Rakiura National Park, home to coastal rainforests, sand dunes, mountain ranges, and native wildlife.

Azamara’s 2025 World Cruise will feature 13 complimentary land events, beginning with a kickoff gala in San Diego. Additional highlights of Azamara’s immersive land experiences offered on the 2025 World Cruise include:

Benoa, Bali: Guests will discover Benoa’s natural beauty and the charm of the island’s deep-rooted culture during a special AzAmazing Evening, where local performers will display traditional forms of dance with intricate footwork and finger movements.
Bangkok, Thailand: A two-night stay offers guests the chance to truly immerse themselves in Bangkok’s local culture through the city’s food, music, dance, art and Buddhist temples. Travelers can opt for shore excursions to the mountainous city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand and the Southeast Asian country of Lao, known for its Buddhist monasteries and French colonial architecture.
Semarang, Indonesia: Semarang is known as the Venice of Java for the many rivers that run through the center of the city. From this port, guests can take a shore excursion to Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple dating back to the 9^th century.

In addition to taking guests to every corner of the world, Azamara’s 2025 World Voyage offers over $25,000 in exclusive amenities, including $4,000 in onboard credit, an additional $3,000 for shore excursions, roundtrip business class air travel, a premium beverage package for two, weekly laundry service, and more.

Azamara’s 2025 World Voyage bookings are currently open to trade partners, loyalty guests, and past world-cruisers only. Bookings will open to the public on November 10, 2022. To learn more, please visit Azamara.com/WorldVoyage.

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara’s Four Ship Fleet Meets for the First Time Ever

10. Oktober 2022

von an Bord - Redaktion

Pressemitteilung

Azamara® – the upmarket cruise line dedicated to Destination Immersion experiences – celebrated a rare occurrence on Saturday, October 8, in Koper, Slovenia, where the cruise line’s four sister ships met for the first time ever.

With Azamara’s latest ship, Azamara Onward, making her maiden call in the small port of Koper alongside her three sisters – Azamara Journey®, Azamara Quest®, and Azamara Pursuit® – this historic event was celebrated by the Municipality of Koper with a ceremony in the beautiful Praetorian Palace, a 15th-century Venetian Gothic palace located in Tito Square. Koper’s local government officials and port authorities came together with the captains of each Azamara ship to exchange plaques commemorating the sisters‘ meeting.

“This has been a special moment that’s been years in the making. At first, we were planning to have our three sister ships meet but just two weeks ago, we were able to confirm our full fleet to be docked at the same time,” said Mike Pawlus, Director of Strategic Itinerary and Destination Planning. “This wouldn’t have happened without the support of the Municipality of Koper, Port of Koper, the Slovenian Tourism Board, and Atlas Express . We are deeply grateful for the warm welcome and thrilled to show our guests the beautiful country of Slovenia.”

“We are very excited to welcome all four of Azamara’s ships and their guests to Koper, the largest port in Slovenia. This port has been primarily a cargo port, but over the past few decades, we have been pleased to welcome more and more cruise ships to our beautiful country.” said Mitja Dujc, Head of the Cruise Terminal for the Port of Koper.

“Azamara has been one of our most important cruise partners, and we look forward to welcoming them back next year and the years to come,” said the Mayor of Koper, Aleš Bržan.

Azamara’s four ships will be meeting once again in Koper in the fall of 2023. To book an Azamara voyage, please visit azamara.com.

Text: PM Azamara

AZAMARA Onward getauft

6. Mai 2022

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Impressionen der Taufe in Monte-Carlo am 02. Mai und vom Schiff.

Pressemitteilung von AZAMARA zur Schiffstaufe (Englisch): Azamara Onward Officially Joins Azamara Fleet Following Monte Carlo Naming Ceremony

Video: enapress.com

Video: enapress.com

Azamazing Evening in Livorno mit „La Traviata“-Aufführung. Video: enapress.com

Azamara Onward Officially Joins Azamara Fleet Following Monte Carlo Naming Ceremony

3. Mai 2022

von an Bord - Redaktion

Pressemitteilung (Englisch)

Azamara, an upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences, has officially added Azamara Onward to its now four-ship fleet today following a festive naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. The christening ceremony was led by the President of Azamara, Carol Cabezas, and Azamara Onward Godmother, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful.

Azamara Onward-Patin Beth Santos (Mitte) zusammen mit dem Kapitän und Carol Cabezas (Azamara-Präsidentin), Foto: via Azamara

“We are thrilled to introduce Azamara Onward and share this special moment with our loyal guests,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “This is an exciting new chapter for our company, and we are so thankful for our hardworking team both onboard and offshore, for making this possible. Together, we look forward to bringing Azamara Onward and our love of travel further than ever before, to connect even more guests with the many people and cultures of the world.”

Video: enapress.com

Prior to the ceremony, Azamara Onward ventured from Barcelona to Monte Carlo on an exciting five-day pre-inaugural voyage, stopping in Marseille, France and Porto Venere, Italy along the way. Upon arrival to the port of Marseille, guests had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the destination through a ‘Marseille City Sights’ shore excursion, discovering the immutable charms and rich history of Marseille, one of France’s most colorful ports.

Upon arrival to Porto Venere, guests were welcomed to a special elevated version of Azamara’s signature AzAmazing Event where they were greeted shoreside by an immersive cultural celebration complete with live Italian opera entertainment alongside delicious local cuisine and a leisurely stroll discovering unique medieval corners along the carrugio, or main street of the romantic town. Guests then set off to explore the Cinque Terre through three specially curated shore excursions, ‘Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre’, ‘Hike through Cinque Terre’ and ‘Best of Cinque Terre,’ exploring the region’s colorful villages, enjoying extraordinary local wines and savory delicacies and venturing up to the famous Chiesa di San Pietro for picture-perfect panoramic views. The voyage concluded in Monte Carlo with a signature White Night Party celebration, an onboard evening soirée where cruisers enjoy a celebratory feast with the Azamara team and crew before dancing late into the night.

On the embarkation day of Azamara Onward’s maiden voyage, the ship’s traditional christening ceremony was held shipside at the Port of Monte Carlo, attended by Azamara’s loyal partners, with a warm welcome toast by Cruise Director Eric De Gray, musical performance by Chœur d’enfants, and blessings by Rabbi Howard Apothaker and Father John McCrone. Azamara President, Carol Cabezas and Godmother, Beth Santos, each delivered meaningful words to attendees followed by the Godmother’s ceremonial bottle breaking tradition to close out the christening of Azamara Onward and to bring good fortune to the vessel in its future voyages.

“I am so honored to have been selected as Godmother of Azamara’s newest ship, Onward,” says Beth Santos, CEO of Wanderful. “This is such a symbolic moment not just for Azamara, but for the entire travel industry. Following two years of pause, we look forward to pressing onward with new mindsets, new adventures, and new opportunities to learn how we can be better travelers.”

Following the naming ceremony and traditional christening, the vessel will set sail for an eleven-night maiden voyage throughout the Mediterranean, departing from Monte Carlo and concluding with an overnight stay in Ravenna, Italy.

Text: PM Azamara

Impressionen von der Taufe und AZAMARA ONWARD

Video: enapress.com

Azamara® Names Founder and CEO of Wanderful, Beth Santos, Godmother of Azamara Onward

9. März 2022

von an Bord - Redaktion

A changemaker in the travel industry who leads a community of over 45,000 women travelers, Santos reinforces the cruise line’s dedication to Destination Immersion

Pressemitteilung

Azamara, the upmarket cruise line, leader in Destination Immersion® experiences, announces Beth Santos, Founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful, as Godmother of its newest ship, Azamara Onward. Recognized by Business Insider as a changemaker transforming the hospitality industry, Santos is a seasoned traveler who helps an inclusive community of over 45,000 women travel the world – aligning with Azamara’s mission to bring guests to hidden gem destinations, inviting them to dive deeper with country intensive itineraries, immersive land programs, and overnight stays.

AZAMARA ONWARD-Taufpatin Beth Santos (links) und Azamara-Präsidenting Carol Cabezas (rechts).
Foto: Azamara

“As a leader in the travel industry with a commitment to inclusion and passion for discovering destinations around the world, Beth is an ideal Godmother for our newest ship,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “We are inspired by Beth’s ambition to shape the future of travel, and our decision to name her as our Godmother reaffirms Azamara’s commitment to innovative and immersive cruising experiences. We look forward to the many ways in which Beth can deepen our connection with women and destinations around the globe as we continue to grow as an independent cruise line.”

While living abroad in São Tomé and Príncipe, Santos began Wanderful in 2009 as a travel blog, aiming to capture the diverse and shared experiences of women traveling the world. More than a decade later, Wanderful now connects over 45,000 women travelers through local events in more than 50 cities worldwide, group trips, and its online social network. Both the brand and Santos herself continually advocate for equity and inclusion in the travel industry, a mission that Azamara aims to support and uplift through this relationship with Santos. In addition to founding Wanderful, Santos created the Women in Travel Summit in 2014, the premier event for women and gender diverse travel creators, entrepreneurs, and industry which is now hosted annually on two continents. Santos also started the Bessie Awards, which honor women of impact in the travel industry, and Wanderfest, the first major outdoor travel festival by and for women.

Having first cruised at the age of two with her family, Santos appreciates that cruising has a unique ability to bring people together. As a Portuguese American, Santos is especially excited about Azamara’s 16-Night Portuguese Pursuit Voyage, which begins in Lisbon and ends in one of Santos’ favorite cities in the world, Rio De Janeiro, allowing travelers to explore many destinations that have been influenced by the Portuguese people and culture.

“I am honored to be chosen as the Godmother of Azamara Onward,” said Beth Santos. “I believe travel is about challenging your preconceptions, trying new things, and taking the time to immerse yourself in a destination. I love that Azamara is encouraging travelers to do this through thoughtfully curated itineraries, intimate-size ships, and overnight stays, creating moments for us to look deeper into the world around us.”

Santos will christen Azamara Onward in Monte Carlo on the evening of May 2, the first day of the ship’s maiden voyage. Ship christening is a longstanding naval tradition dating back thousands of years, and in keeping with maritime tradition, Santos will christen the ship with champagne as a part of the official naming ceremony. Guests will be a part of this historic sailing followed by an 11-night itinerary stopping in iconic Italian cities such as Florence, Rome, Amalfi, and concluding with an overnight stay in the romantic floating city of Venice.

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara® Announces New Five-Month World Voyage, Visiting More Than Seven Wonders of the World Aboard the Cruise Line’s Newest Ship, Azamara OnwardSM

17. November 2021

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The once-in-a-lifetime sailing will bring guests to over 40 countries on six continents

Pressemitteilung

Azamara – the cruise line dedicated to Destination Immersion® experiences – is excited to announce the launch of its new World Voyage aboard the company’s newest ship, Azamara Onward. Starting on January 5, 2024, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the comprehensive sailing offers immersive and intimate experiences to the World’s Wonders. The 155-night journey will reach over 40 countries in six continents with 22 overnight stays and 27 late nights in port, giving travelers ample time to fully explore the rich culture and history of each destination.

“We are thrilled to finally unveil our World Voyage. With opportunities to visit the Seven Wonders of the World and other iconic sites such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos, and the Black Sea, we are allowing our guests to check off all their bucket list destinations in one sailing and to connect with more countries and cultures than ever before,” says Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “Not only are we taking our guests further, but we are also encouraging them to travel deeper with our unique overnight land experiences, designed to bring travelers to the heart of the destination and giving them enough time to appreciate its culture.”

Highlights of immersive experiences of the World’s Wonders:

Great Wall of China (three-night land excursion): Travelers will become fully immersed in Beijing with a visit to the Great Wall of China, a guided tour through the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and a rickshaw ride through the hutongs, or narrow alleys dating back to the 16^th century.
Great Pyramids of Giza (shore excursion): Guests are driven to Egypt’s largest city, Cairo. It’s here at the Giza Plateau where the Great Pyramids are found, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. An Egyptologist will guide guests through this mortuary complex to the mysterious Sphinx. In addition, travelers will explore other sites such as the Museum of Antiquities and cruise down the Nile river.
Chichén Itzá (shore excursion): Guests will fly over Caribbean waters and the Mayan Riviera’s tropical jungle to Chichén Itzá, where a tour guide will lead guests through the ruins and immerse travelers in the ancient Mayan way of life.
Petra (shore excursion): Guests will walk through the Siq, the narrow, winding gorge that leads to the mysterious desert city of Petra, Jordan. Known as the “Rose Red City” for the color of stone from which it was carved, Petra is home to ancient royal tombs, Colonnaded Street, and the Temple of Qasr al-Bint.
Taj Mahal (three-night land excursion): Travelers will fly to New Delhi for sunrise and sunset visits to the Taj Mahal. Guests will also explore Agra Fort, the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, and I’timād-ud-Daulah tomb, the Taj Mahal’s precursor.
Christ the Redeemer (six-night land excursion): Travelers will enjoy a full exploration of Rio de Janeiro, including a visit to Corcovado to view the towering Christ the Redeemer statue, a cable car ride to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, and a trip to Iguazú Falls to see both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides of the one of the world’s largest waterfalls.
Colosseum (shore excursion): Guests will travel back in time to the world of gladiatorial glory inside the Colosseum. A local guide will lead the small group through the 2000-year-old amphitheater that once seated up to 55,000 spectators.

Other immersive overnight experiences available on the World Voyage include a stay on a Great Barrier Reef island, complete with glass bottom boat excursions and snorkeling to see the unique wildlife up close; a journey through the cobblestoned streets of Transylvania, Romania to learn about the life of Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula; and an exploration of the centuries-old rock-cut churches and whimsical “fairy chimneys” of Cappadocia, Turkey with accommodation in a cave hotel.

Azamara’s World Voyage comes with over $22,000 in exclusive amenities, including the company’s signature AzAmazing Evenings – designed to connect guests to the local culture of the destination – $7,000 in onboard credit, business class air travel, a pre-voyage hotel stay and gala, access to exclusive World Voyage events, a premium beverage package for two, and more. Shore excursions and overnight land excursions will be available at an additional price.

To book, please visit azamara.com/worldvoyage or call 888-858-5388. Bookings are currently open to Azamara Circle Loyalty members only and will be open to all on December 7, 2021.

Text: PM AZAMARA

Azamara nutzt Winterzeit für Schönheitskur

10. September 2021

von an Bord - Redaktion

Der clevere Reeder kauft dann, wenn Schiffe günstig sind. Keinesfalls dann, wenn er sie braucht. Als die Carnival Corporation im Winter ihre Flotte verkleinern musste und die Ausgaben für den Unterhalt der Schiffe senken wollte, war die Chance für viele Wettbewerber da, sich schnell und günstig Tonnage für die Zeit nach der Pandemie zu beschaffen.

Azamara, der US-Anbieter von Premium-Reisen, hat die Chance ergriffen und sich die Pacific Princess gesichert. Das 1999 bei Chantiers de l’Atlantique in St. Nazaire gebaute 670-Betten-Schiff passt optimal in die Flotte von Azamara. Eingetragen wurde es am 15. März für die SP Cruise Vessel Fleet, einer US-Firma mit Sitz in Miami und auf den Bermudas.

Das Unternehmen ist seit März auch Eigentümerin der drei Schwestern Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest und Azamara Pursuit. Mit dieser Struktur rüstet sich das Unternehmen jetzt auf die Rückkehr zum Normalbetrieb 2022.

Der Wechsel der Pacific Princess von Carnival Corporation an Azamara folgte kurz nach dem Verkauf der Reederei aus der Royal Caribbean-Gruppe. Seit März gehört Azamara zum Private-Equity Investment-Unternehmen Sycamore Partners, die die Reederei als strategisches Investment betrachtet.

Für Azamara mitsamt Verwaltung, Buchungen und Schiffen hatte Royal Caribbean 201 Millionen Dollar bekommen. Etwa ein Drittel des Marktwertes von 2019.

Mit Orlando Ashford holte Azamara dann auch noch einen namhaften Manager aus der ersten Führungsriege der Carnival Corporation. Ashford hatte zuletzt die neue Flottenstruktur bei der Holland America Line mitgestaltet.

Mit dem Erwerb der Pacific Princess verfügt Azamara jetzt über vier baugleiche Schiffe des 1999 und 2000 in St. Nazaire gebauten „R-Typs“ von Renaissance Cruises. Die vier anderen Schiffe der Klasse sind inzwischen bei Oceania Cruises.

Nach der Übernahme durch Azamara wurde die Pacific Princess im März in P Prince umgetauft. Nach der Ausrüstung wurde das Schiff von der neuen Besatzung nach Amsterdam überführt, wo es am 9. August bei der Damen Werft eintraf.

Dort wurde das Schiff zunächst im Ausrüstungshafen an einen Liegeplatz verholt, wo es bis zum Herbst bleiben soll. Aktuell sind die Docks noch belegt. Einer der Kunden ist Phoenix Seereisen mit der Amadea. Die Werft ist aber auch im Offshore-Bereich tätig und hat volle Auftragsbücher für Spezialschiffe.

Die P Prince soll bis zum April zur Azamara Onward werden. Wie aus der Werft zu hören war, laufen die Abstimmungen für den Zeitplan noch. Die meisten Arbeiten erfolgen an der Pier. Da die große Klasse (Schiffs-TÜV) erst 2019 für das Schiff erfolgte, kann die Dockung etwas kürzer ausfallen. Sie wird sich in erster Linie auf die Farbarbeiten beschränken.

Die Reederei will mit dem Neuzugang Azamara Onward am 2. Mai in Monaco starten. Danach soll das Schiff im Mittelmeer für Azamara fahren. FB

Azamara Onward heißt das vierte Schiff von Azamara

19. März 2021

von an Bord - Redaktion

Dazu wurde heute folgende Meldung von der Cruiseline veröffentlicht:

Azamara gab heute den Namen und die Schiffsübergabe ihres neuen Schiffes, Azamara Onward, bekannt. Die Schiffsübergabe, die am 15. März 2021 stattfand, fällt mit dem Übergang von Azamara zu einer unabhängigen Marke und Kreuzfahrtgesellschaft zusammen.

„Der heutige Tag markiert einen neuen Anfang für Azamara, da wir unsere Kapazität erhöhen und unsere Reise als unabhängiges Kreuzfahrtunternehmen beginnen. Unser wunderschönes neues Schiff kann kleinere Häfen ansteuern und ermöglicht es uns, unsere Gäste zu noch mehr Destinationen zu bringen“, sagte Carol Cabezas, Präsidentin von Azamara.

„Bei der Auswahl eines einzigartigen Namens haben wir erkannt, dass unser viertes Schiff den Beginn eines neuen Abenteuers markiert und wir haben einen Namen gewählt, der die glänzende Zukunft feiert, die vor der Marke, unseren Gästen und der gesamten Branche liegt.“

Die Marke hat sich für den Namen Azamara Onward entschieden, der für das Vorwärtskommen im Raum oder in der Zeit steht. Der Name soll Gefühle von Belastbarkeit, Positivität und den unendlichen Möglichkeiten der Zukunft hervorrufen. Als Ganzes spiegelt der Name den Weg der Marke und die Reise zum nächsten Kapitel wider.

„Azamara hat eine glänzende Zukunft und ist in der Lage, als unabhängiges Unternehmen weiter zu wachsen“, fügt Orlando Ashford, Executive Chairman von Azamara, hinzu. „Wir können es kaum erwarten, sowohl unsere treuen Kunden als auch diejenigen, die neu zur Marke kommen, mit unserer erweiterten Flotte willkommen zu heißen, die mehr einzigartige Destination Immersion Programme und Reiserouten bietet.“

Azamara Onward wird sich der bestehenden Flotte der Marke anschließen: Azamara Pursuit®, Azamara Journey®, und Azamara Quest®. Das neu erworbene Schiff, das derzeit in Civitavecchia vor Anker liegt, wird eine umfangreiche Renovierung erhalten, um die Marke Azamara widerzuspiegeln. Die Azamara Onward wird voraussichtlich 2022 zu ihrer ersten Saison in Europa aufbrechen.

Video: Youtube/Azamara