Schlagwort: Azamara

Book These Trending Exotic Destinations Now to Get One Free Night 

Pressemitteilung

To celebrate the beginning of autumn, Azamara – the small-ship cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – is excited to announce a special offer giving travellers One Free Night and up to $600 onboard credit on select 2023 and 2024 sailings booked from now until 6th September 2023.  

As many travellers are planning off-season travels for less crowds and cooler temperatures, Azamara is seeing rising demand for exotic destinations this autumn and winter. Guests can take advantage of Azamara’s recent offer to book trending sailings, such as: 

  • 18-Night Western Africa Voyage aboard Azamara Pursuit (view itinerary here) 
    • Azamara encourages guests to discover lesser-travelled destinations on this voyage, departing on 21st November 2023. Travellers can meet friendly locals in Banjul, Gambia on Africa’s Smiling Coast, see Africa’s diverse wildlife and golden sand dunes in Walvis Bay, Namibia, and enjoy the colourful fishing village of Luderitz, Namibia. 
  • 22-Night Amazon Intensive Voyage aboard Azamara Quest (view itinerary here) 
    • Travellers have the unique opportunity to cruise the Amazon with Azamara on this sailing departing on 18th November 2023. Stops in Santarem and Boca Da Valeria will give a glimpse of the secluded riverside lifestyle, while an overnight stay in the Amazon’s largest city, Manaus, offers access to the incredible Amazon Rainforest.  
  • 16-Night Western Australia To Asia aboard Azamara Journey (view itinerary here) 
    • Setting sail from Perth’s endless stunning beaches on 20th February 2024, this voyage will uncover Western Australia’s coast with a stop in Geraldton before an overnight stay in Singapore, home to incredible food, culture, and the world’s busiest port. Guests then have an overnight to immerse themselves in the trendy restaurants, lively nightclubs, bustling markets, and French colonial architecture mixed with modern and Asian influences in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.   
  • 15-Night Chilean Fjords Voyage aboard Azamara Quest (view itinerary here) 
    • South American sailings continue to show popularity amongst Azamara guests over the past year. Departing on 7th January 2024, this sailing allows guests more time in port to uncover the local culture with three Extended Destination Days in Montevideo, Uruguay; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; and Punta Arenas, Chile, in addition to an overnight stay in Ushuaia, Argentina.  

To take advantage of this offer, please visit www.azamara.com/onefreenight.  

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara Returns to Canada and Debuts Double Night Stays with 2025 Itineraries   

Pressemitteilung

Azamara’s 2025 itineraries will bring the cruise line back to Canada for the first time since 2017 and will give guests special two-night stays in select European ports  

Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – has released 73 itineraries for 2025, including two brand-new voyages visiting Canada for the first time since 2017. Along with these itineraries comes the debut of double night stays, giving guests two overnights to explore one destination at their leisure. 

“Azamara is known for offering more time in port with late nights and overnights, and now we are taking that even further with our new double night stays, allowing our guests plenty of time to travel further and dive deeper into each destination,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.  

With Azamara’s new double night stays, guests can spend three days and two nights in Bordeaux, France. Due to their small size, Azamara’s ships can dock in the center of the city, allowing guests to explore the stunning architecture and renowned museums, as well as the world-famous surrounding wine region. Azamara guests can also sail seven hours down the Guadalquivir River to enjoy an extended stay in the heart of Seville, Spain, where they can fully immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions of Andalusia by indulging in tapas, watching authentic flamenco dancers and bullfighters, and admiring historic palaces – all at their own pace. 

“We are thrilled to return to Canada in 2025, and we’re excited for our guests to experience these unique itineraries visiting lesser travelled ports in Quebec and Newfoundland as well as Iceland and Greenland,” said Michael Pawlus, Head of Itinerary Planning at Azamara. “As demand for our Country Intensive sailings remains strong, we’ve also added a range of these specialty voyages across Europe for 2025, so our guests can discover smaller ports and hidden gems within a single country.”  

Marking the cruise line’s return to the country for the first time in more than five years, Azamara’s new sailings will stop in six Canadian ports, including:  

  • Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec (maiden port): Known as the center of the Magdalen Islands, this small fishing town boasts incredibly fresh seafood, stunning coastal trails, and over 300 species of birds. 
  • L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland (maiden port): L’Anse Aux Meadows is the only authenticated Viking site in North America. Guests will be transported back 1,000 years as they explore the recreated Viking Encampment and discover original Norse artifacts.  
  • Harve Saint Pierre, Quebec (maiden port): With panoramic views and never-ending sandy beaches, Saint Pierre sits on the north shore of Quebec’s Saint Lawrence River and is the gateway to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, home to an abundance of wildlife. 

Azamara’s signature Country Intensive sailings continue to see high demand, making up more than half of the newly released 2025 itineraries. These specialty voyages encourage guests to dive deeper into countries such as Italy, Spain, France, Norway, Ireland, and Scotland by providing more time to discover the local culture and hidden gems. Two of the fleet’s four ships will visit Greece in 2025, a destination Azamara knows best as its ships visit more unique ports throughout the country than any other cruise line. 

Azamara’s 2025 itineraries include a record number of 15 golf cruises in collaboration with longtime partner PerryGolf. Golf lovers will want to book the 2025 British Isles Golf Cruise, which includes weekend attendance to the final two rounds of The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. 

To book one of Azamara’s immersive itineraries for 2025, please visit www.azamara.com/europe-2025.  

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara Doubles Savings for Loyalty Members

Pressemitteilung

Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – is taking the loyalty program’s Quarterly Savings perk to the next level. For a limited time, Azamara Circle members can double their savings with 20% off* on select sailings. This limited time offer can also be combined with select sailings on Azamara’s current brand offer, giving up to $600 onboard credit.

Available on select sailings booked between 1 July 2023, through 14 July 2023, this 20% off promotion allows loyalty guests to discover unique ports including Portland, Australia with its abundant wildlife or the enchanting Old Town of Ceuta, Spain. Azamara spends more time in port with late nights and overnights, allowing guests to relax and immerse themselves in a destination without feeling rushed.

Some of the sailings Azamara loyalty guests can save on include:

  • 20-Night Antarctica Holiday Voyage: This brand-new holiday voyage sails through the incredible Antarctic Sound and brings guests to the Falkland Islands, where they will find pristine white sand beaches, elephant seal colonies, and more than a million penguins.
  • 12-Night Japan Intensive Voyage: Travelers can fully immerse themselves in Japan as they visit iconic cities including Tokyo and Osaka, as well as lesser known rural destinations such as Kochi, a rural city with famed local cuisine and one of Japan’s few surviving original castles, and Ishigaki, an island with miles of stunning beaches.
  • 8-Night Greece Intensive Voyage: This voyage offers late nights in Mykonos, Kavala, Thessaloniki, and Volos, giving guests ample time to wander the cobblestone streets, explore the numerous archaeological sites, and revel in the natural beauty of Greece.

Terms and Conditions: This program offers loyalty members the opportunity to book select future sailings at a 20% savings, subject to availability. Savings are for new bookings only and are available to individual or group reservations. 20% savings apply to the cruise fare only; savings do not apply to taxes, fees & port expenses, air, or any other non-cruise component booked. Limited Time Offer must be booked 1 July  – 14 July, 2023. Offer is combinable with Azamara general marketplace offers, back-to-back savings, onboard booking savings, and single supplement savings. Offer is not combinable with certain restricted fares, incentive groups, contracted groups, or charter bookings. For combinability rules with other programs not mentioned above please go to Azamara.com/terms. Terms may vary by country.

Azamara’s doubled quarterly loyalty savings will be available here starting 1 July.

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara Unveils Three Free Nights Offer for Sailings in Europe

Pressemitteilung

Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and pioneer in Destination Immersion® experiences – is launching a special limited time offer on select eight-night or longer voyages, giving travelers three free nights, a savings of 10 percent on the booking, and earning up to $500 onboard credit. The three free nights alone, valued at $3,300 in a Club Continent Suite, add exceptional value to this remarkable offer. Three Nights Free will provide more value to current and future guests of Azamara, with more time to wander and explore a destination on a traveler’s own terms.  

“We wanted to share our cherished relationships and express our gratitude to our valued guests and trade partners with a special offer that allows them to experience more,” said Carol Cabezas, President at Azamara. “More immersive events, more cultural connections, and more time in port through longer stays and plenty of overnights – these are the exceptional advantages our small ship fleet offers guests to truly appreciate a destination.“ 

Available exclusively on select 2023 European voyages booked between May 23, 2023, through June 2, 2023, this promotion allows guests to discover small ship cruising as Azamara sails to the heart of incredible hidden gem destinations throughout Europe. Travelers sailing with Azamara will also be able to spend more time in port with late nights and overnights, allowing for more flexibility and access to immersive exploration and cultural experiences.  

Azamara recently introduced the all-new AzAmazing Celebrations, enriching its culturally immersive events offered onboard and ashore. Guests can step back in time to explore the fascinating history of the Ottoman Empire’s Cimenlik Castle in Canakkale, Turkey, admire the views of the Dardanelles Strait, or enjoy a beautiful sunset during a late-night stay in Greece. 

For more information, please visit www.azamara.com/threefreenights.  

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara® Celebrates 10 Years of AzAmazing Evenings with New Expanded Programming 

Pressemitteilung

This year, Azamara will debut AzAmazing Celebrations, an enhanced, multi-layered experience of its signature AzAmazing Evenings that bring cultural immersion onboard and on land by night and day 

Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – unveils new AzAmazing Celebrations for 2023, the expansion of its signature, culturally immersive AzAmazing Evenings. With AzAmazing Evenings reaching its 10-year anniversary, Azamara is now bringing this unique programming into the daytime and onboard.  

AzAmazing Celebrations will now include the return of Azamara’s signature AzAmazing Evenings, a chance to soak up the destination by night with immersive programming in historic venues that provide access to art, music, and dance; AzAmazing Days, a new shoreside event where guests can uncover the hidden gems each unique port has to offer by day through local musicians, food and wine, and entertainment; and Destination Celebrations, events that bring the traditions and heritage of the destination to life onboard through live cultural performances and local cuisine.  

Foto: Azamara

“Our award-winning Destination Immersion programming is what makes us Azamara, which is why we are constantly seeking new and enhanced ways to deliver authentic travel moments to our guests, while immersing them in the local culture, food, and people of each destination,” says Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “As we continue to grow and expand, we are pleased to share more intimate experiences for our guests through our expanded and expertly curated AzAmazing programming that makes our voyages truly unforgettable.” 

Foto: Azamara

Exclusive to Azamara and offered complimentary on most sailings of seven nights or longer, AzAmazing Celebrations are unique to each location and feature local, authentic talent and performances, which are often hosted in historic venues, including Ephesus in Kusadasi, Turkey, and St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, England. In 2023, travelers will be able to dive even deeper into local life as guests walk, talk, and eat alongside locals, discovering the path less traveled and uncovering what each destination means to its inhabitants through AzAmazing Day events. These enhanced experiences can also be enjoyed onboard through Destination Celebrations, bringing the ship to life with the local people and culture, ensuring the destination immersion experience never stops. This special programming brings each destination to life, both onboard and off, in a way travelers can only experience with Azamara. 

Highlights of Azamara’s New 2023 AzAmazing Celebrations include:  

Nights in Arabia – Aqaba, Jordan 

  • Guests can immerse their senses in the Jordanian heritage and culture under a star-studded evening on the lawns of the luxurious Ayla Golf Resort, as the Professional Hail Group dancers perform the dances of Arabia, accompanied by a trio of musicians in celebration of life. 

Day of Dancing in Mahon – Mahon, Mallorca, Spain 

  • Guests can kick off this AzAmazing Day by enjoying a welcome cocktail while being greeted by lively Menorcan dancers in traditional dresses. After a tour of historic fortress La Mola, guests will enjoy live music and a sampling of local delicacies before ending the visit with a captivating Equestrian show.  

African Inspired Evening at the Station – Durban, South Africa 

  • Travelers can explore the culture of South Africa’s largest ethnic group, the South African Zulu Tribe, during a riveting performance in the Station Auditorium that includes singing, dancing, storytelling and rhythmic movements. Delicious canapés and drinks can be enjoyed while stilt walkers welcome guests to the beat of the African drum. 

Day in Cinque Terre – Portovenere, Italy 

  • Portovenere comes to life on this AzAmazing Day with a buffet featuring local favorites and live musical entertainment that guests will find throughout their exploration of this charming destination. Travelers can wander the picturesque village to discover boutique shops along the main street, the famous Church of San Pietro atop a rocky headland and breathtaking coastal views. 

An Evening at the Adelaide Oval – Adelaide, Australia 

  • The historical Adelaide Oval will host guests for an exclusive, five-star event with welcome drinks and entertainment by students from James Morrison’s Academy of music school, followed by a performance from the celebrated James Morrison and his jazz ensemble band, with the wonderful Adelaide Cathedral as a backdrop. 

Carnaval de Barranquilla – Cartagena, Colombia 

  • As one of the largest carnival celebrations in the world and Colombia’s most significant folkloric event, Carnaval de Barranquilla welcomes Azamara guests to immerse in the excitement and spirit of the celebration in Cartagena’s famed Teatro with performances from the Caribbean’s top performers who exemplify the folklore of Colombia and the spirit of Carnival. 

In addition to the expansion of AzAmazing Celebrations, Azamara will also take the celebrations onboard throughout the four sister ships for the remaining of the year. Including, a pilot event for their Loyalty Members sailing on Azamara Onward where guests will be able to participate in a reimagined Loyalty Happy Hour. During this exciting new event, loyalty guests will be treated to an array of destination-inspired appetizers and wine, creating a memorable experience for all who attend.  

The Loyalty Happy Hour is a unique opportunity for Azamara’s loyal guests to come together, mingle and celebrate their shared love of travel with other travelers and our senior officers. With this new addition, Azamara is proud to continue its tradition of providing unforgettable travel experiences for all its guests.   

Text: PM Azamara

Azamara Unveils 155-Night World Voyage for 2025 With 46 Late Nights and Overnights

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 9th 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

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. 

Foto: Azamara

“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® Announces New UK & EMEA Team Structure, Showcasing Growth Across the Company Globally

Led by the newly appointed Managing Director for the UK, David Duff, the new team structure demonstrates Azamara’s commitment to delivering in-market support to trade partners

Pressemitteilung

Azamara – the upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion® experiences – has today announced a series of enhancements to its UK-based sales team, to bolster market growth and generate greater confidence amongst trade partners in the region.

These changes are a direct result of Azamara’s plans to increase in-market presence and sales function around the world. With global growth a top priority, Azamara has doubled the number of shoreside employees in key markets including the US, the Nordics, Germany, and Australia.

Carol Cabezas, Foto: Azamara

Carol Cabezas, the President of Azamara states, “We recognise the integral role that ‘on the ground’ sales teams have on market performance and the value of their relationships with local trade partners. By introducing new team structures with targeted focuses, such as that in the UK, and with a surge of new hires around the world, we are offering more support to trade partners globally and driving forward our international growth”.

In the UK sales team, David Duff, formerly Azamara’s International Commercial Director, will take on the role of Managing Director, UK. In this new position, David will focus his efforts on developing the UK market, driving growth, and providing visible market leadership. He will manage the UK team across all departments and work closely with the global teams based in Miami, which provide operational, day-to-day support to all international markets.

David Duff, Foto: Azamara

“This is a really exciting moment for Azamara in the UK” said David Duff, Managing Director, UK at Azamara. “The UK proves to be a leading market for us year-on-year, and now with a reinforced sales team, we can expand our reach even further, visit more travel partners and distribute products across more channels”. “We just had our best year on record in the UK, and with demand for cruising still strong, we are confident that these changes will set the foundations for further success in 2023 and beyond”.

Additional appointments include Lee Surman who will step into a new role as Head of Partnerships and Trading, taking over the commercial support to all markets, building new strategic partnerships and handling the day-to-day commercial needs of the international team.

In a new position as Head of Trade Sales, UK, Stuart Pearce will oversee the UK sales strategy, responsible for driving sales and responding to the challenging needs of the market, enabling us to reach more of the smaller independent agencies and consortia members by also adding new resources to his team with a Business Development Manager role for the UK. Nikki Singleton will take on a greater focus on the top strategic accounts nationally. Lori Scannella returns to deliver UK and EMEA support in her role as Sales Support Manager.

For EMEA, Christina Hannon’s role has expanded to Strategic Accounts Manager for the Nordic and DACH countries where Azamara is establishing relationships for the first time. Christina has worked with partners in the Nordics for years and will continue to develop the market, while also focusing on the important regions of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Bruno Jansen will utilise his European experience in a new role as Sales Manager for the EMEA IR network, strengthening relationships with an important group of partners that operate on behalf of Azamara in each country. Christina and Bruno will be supported by a new team member, Daniela Riley. With over twenty years of experience working with the trade and helping build sales in EMEA, Daniela will join the team as Sales Support Executive for EMEA and will be based in Switzerland.

Finally, Richard Stanbridge will assume a new role as Trade and Guests Services Manager, International based in London, to support our trade partners and guests.

For more information about Azamara visit www.azamara.co.uk

Text: PM Azamara

AZAMARA Onward getauft

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

Azamara Onward Officially Joins Azamara Fleet Following Monte Carlo Naming Ceremony

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

Foto: enapress.com
Video: enapress.com