Azamara 2017 itineraries announced

Azamara Quest

It may only be 2014 but luxury cruise line Azamara Club Cruises is already looking forward to 2017 and has unveiled its itineraries for the year. During 2017 they will offer a total of 65 voyages to 203 ports spanning 68 countries. New ports of call for the cruise line include Kaikoura, New Zealand; Mahe, Seychelles; Yucatan, Mexico and George Town, Grand Cayman.

The itineraries planned include a selection of brand new voyages such as from Australia to Asia, Southern California to Miami via the Panama Canal, and the "Pearls along the Indian Ocean" voyage from Mumbai. Popular itineraries from previous years are also included such as the Monaco Grand Prix voyage and the Normandy, Holland, and Germany voyage.

The cruise line will also offer longer overnight stays in selected ports during 2017. One example of this is the aforementioned "Pearls along the Indian Ocean" itinerary where Azamara Journey remains docked in Mahe (Victoria) in the Seychelles for three consecutive days. Azamara Club Cruises will be complimenting longer port stays through a selection of evening tours and excursions with their Insider Access and Nights and Cool Places programmes. Examples include guided walks around illuminated landmarks at night, an after-hours museum visit, or access to live performances. Evening tours and excursions will vary from port to port and will be tailored around local cultures and events.

In winter and spring 2017, Azamara Quest will sail the West Indies, Panama Canal and Central America. Throughout summer and autumn, the ship will sail across the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. Meanwhile, Azamara Journey will sail around Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australia and New Zealand during winter and spring 2017. She will then cruise Northern and Western Europe in the summer and autumn seasons.

(Photo credit to Azamara Club Cruises)

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Azamara offers free upgrade to balcony staterooms

Azamara Club Cruises is offering guests the chance to upgrade to a balcony stateroom for free, on select 2015/16 itineraries. Guests simply book a Club Interior Stateroom between until 24 December using promotional code FREEUP to receive a complimentary Double Upgrade to a Club Balcony Stateroom. In addition, reduced airfare will be offered on select voyages between January and April 2015.

Azamara will be offering the double upgrade offer on a number of voyages departing in 2015 and 2016 on Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey

 Applicable sailings include:

Greek Isles to Venice Voyage: 10 nights, departing 23 August 2015. Prices from £2,670

Islands of the Med Voyage: 11 nights, departing 15 September 2015. Prices from £2,858

Wake of Columbus Voyage: 16 nights, departing 25 November 2015. Prices from £1,857

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AzAmazing Evening marks Henry's heroism and the sacrifices made on D-Day

• D-Day veteran Henry Ochsner with Azamara President Larry Pimentel and Captain Johannes Tysse

The sands of Normandy saw some distinguished action on Friday, the 70^th anniversary of D-Day. The Queen joined Presidents Obama, Hollande and Putin at Omaha Beach where the liberation of Europe began with the landing of Allied troops on June 6 1944. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were among those attending a remembrance ceremony at Juno Beach to mark Canada’s involvement.

There’s an armada of cruise ships in the area, carrying a few surviving veterans along with hundreds of passengers wanting to pay their own tributes.

I am travelling on Azamara Journey, which spent the day in port at Cherbourg, on the tip of Normandy’s Cotentin Peninsula and within a few miles of the heart of the D-Day action.

We have our own veteran sailing with us. Now 91, Henry Ochsner was a member of the Second Battalion of the US 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment when he was dropped into combat 70 years ago.

He was guest of honour at the AzAmazing Evening Liberation Party held in Cherbourg’s restored Gare Maritime last night. The splendid Art Deco building was opened in 1912, just in time to welcome Titanic, en route from Southampton.

Laid waste under German occupation in the Second World War, it is now back in use as a cruise terminal and maritime museum. Azamara took over the splendid first floor passenger halls for the party and laid on an absolute treat.

There was music from a uniformed uniformed big band and the delightful Three Belles (below); locals in authentic period dress added to the atmosphere like a puff of Gitanes, a sip of Pernod, or a whiff of garlic, and there was enough wine, cheese and galettes to sink a battleship.

After a moving welcome speech, the Mayor of Cherbourg had everyone on their feet for a standing ovation when he presented Henry with a commemorative bronze medal.

“We will never forget the men who chose to make the ultimate sacrifice to put an end to the darkest period in our history,” he said. “Your sacrifice allowed us to work for peace.

“We are proud of your presence in Cherbourg on this historic day. Thank you for our freedom,” he added.

After such an emotional evening, it seems churlish to strike a sour note, but I feel I have to. The red, white and blue theme of the evening was carried through with countless displays of American Stars and Stripes and French Tricoleurs. 

A few Canadian Maple Leaf flags looked as if they had been added as an afterthought and the only Union Flags on display were a handful draped around a bicycle on display at the end of a counter top.

The few British passengers who are among those making the 11-day “Memories of World War II” cruise would have been justified in asking why they were not better represented.

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Onboard Credit Or Stateroom Upgrade With Azamara

It's not unusual at this time of year for cruise lines to be offering all manner of incentives to book with them, featuring some extremely tempting lures, like onboard credit, free shore excursions, hotel stays pre- or post-cruise, or even full stateroom upgrades for early bookers.

 

Well, this month, boutique line Azamara Club Cruises are offering the choice between $1,000 onboard credit and a free stateroom upgrade when booking a grand French Riviera voyage on their Azamara Journey in September. 

 

Guests will be able to immerse themselves in an array of European destinations, with late and overnight stays at each port to enjoy the likes of the nightlife of Saint Tropez and beaches of Calvi, on a seven-night Provence and Rivieras fly/cruise from £2,151 per person (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This price includes flights from London Heathrow, transfers and the week's cruise departing from Barcelona and calling at Marseilles overnight, Sanary Sur Mer (late stay), Saint-Tropez (late stay), Calvi (late stay) and Portofino (late stay) before arriving in Monte Carlo for an overnight stay before the flight home. The cruise also includes selected standard spirits, wines and international beers; complimentary bottled water; soft drinks; speciality teas and coffees; meals and room service; housekeeping and dining gratuities; a bespoke AzAmazing Evenings event; and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

Price is based on September 13 departure and this offers runs until March 31.

More info: 0844 493 4016 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk.
 

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Azamara's 2014 Overnight Bonanza

Offering more late-night and overnight stays in port, Azamara Club Cruises has announced the 2014 deployment of its twin boutique ships Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.

The cruise line’s new 2014 programme 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 favourite Brazilian getaway.

Guests can choose among 72 new voyages, ranging from four to 17 nights and visiting 240 destinations in 66 countries throughout Europe, the Far East, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Western U.S. coast.

 

Most of Azamara's voyages are designed so travellers can combine two or more consecutive voyages for an extended travel experience and not repeat a port call. Some of the 2014 highlights include:

 

• Azamara Journey will sail 12 to 17-night voyages throughout the East and South China seas from January to April, alternating departures from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai and Chennai. On these sailings, guests will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Halong Bay, Borobudur, Parambanan and Sangiran, and enjoy the nightlife of Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok to name a few, during their overnight stays. The ship then repositions via the Indian Ocean and Suez Canal to arrive for its European season in May.
• Azamara Quest will offer a pair of trans-Panama Canal voyages between Miami and Costa Rica, plus a new series of Sea of Cortez and Central America sailings, ranging from 10 to 14-nights. Quest will also sail an 11-night voyage to less-trodden islands of the Caribbean, such as St. John’s, St. Barth’s and Virgin Gorda, before returning to Europe in April.
• In late November, Azamara Journey will depart from Spain’s Costa del Sol to beautiful Brazil via the Canary Islands. Guests can celebrate Christmas and the New Year as they sail from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, Azamara Quest will retrace the Spice Route to the Far East and ring in the New Year in Hong Kong.

Prices start from £1,073 for a four-night Monaco Grand Prix sailing on May 22 on Azamara Quest (based on two people sharing an inside stateroom), cruise only.

 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Azamara's 'Extended Voyages'

Azamara Club Cruises has launched 'Extended Voyages' which allow guests to join two, three, four or more consecutive cruises into one experience. By combining select consecutive cruises onboard Azamara Quest or Azamara Journey guests can embark on a holiday of a lifetime, ranging from 11 to 78-nights without repeated ports of call.

In addition, guests booking consecutive cruises will receive £200 per cruise, per stateroom for cruises of eight days or less and £300 per cruise, per stateroom for voyages of nine days or more for greater value. Savings double on sailings between October 1 and December 31 this year, if booked by July 31.

Guests wanting a longer adventure can book Journey's 77-night cruise from Stockholm to Civitavecchia (for Rome). Departing June 27, 2012, the sailing features 25 overnight stays, four being two consecutive nights, where guests can experience the nightlife of Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and Seville. This Extended Voyage features the Norwegian Fjords itinerary, which highlights the North Seas Jazz Festival, one of the world's premiere musical festivals.

For those keen on exploring the Far East, Journey's Piraeus (Athens) to Hong Kong cruise departs on October 26, 2012. This 72-night cruise, combines six cruises - Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal; Luxor, Petra, Sinai & Eilat; Luxor, Petra & Sinai; The Spice Coast & Ceylon; Burma & Andaman Sea Islands; Vietnam & Thailand, Christmas and New Year - for an in-depth exploration of the region, plus an opportunity to spend Christmas and New Year in Hong Kong through a Land Discoveries excursion.

Quest departs Singapore on February 29, 2012, on a 78-night cruise, sailing from Singapore to Piraeus. This combines six cruises - Trade Routes to the Orient; Japan & Taiwan; Manila, Sabah, Borneo, Komodo & Bali; Spice Route; Petra, Sinai & Luxor; Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal.

For more info, look up http://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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