Azamara Cruises becomes "Azamara Club Cruises"

From April 2010 Azamara Cruises – the two-ship brand launched in 2007 with the 694-guest Azamara Journey and sister ship Azamara Quest – became “Azamara Club Cruises,” with a newly refined focus, and a series of new innovations designed for upmarket, experienced travelers.

“This isn’t a strategy of going ‘from good to great’,” said Azamara Club Cruises President & CEO Larry Pimentel. “This is about taking an already great product and making it exceptional.”

“Today’s cruisers have incredible new vacation options – like Celebrity’s stunning Solstice Class, and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas,” said Pimentel. “Azamara Club Cruises will distinguish itself by delivering the destination like no other line.”

Azamara Club Cruises will visit 140 ports in 50 countries in 2010, with itineraries featuring more overnight stays to allow guests to immerse themselves in communities and cultures. Among the overnight locations are Istanbul, Turkey; Sorrento, Italy, which offers a host of tour options along the Amalfi Coast and Capri; a full three days and two nights in St.

Petersburg, Russia, on Azamara’s Scandinavia and Russia Itineraries; and multiple overnight stays in Azamara’s Southeast Asia region, including Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong.

“We’re going to slow down the tempo, and allow our guests to not just see the destination, but to live it,” said Pimentel. “Consider destinations like St. Tropez or St. Petersburg, Russia. If you’ve experienced them only by day, you haven’t really experienced them. With Azamara, through more overnight stays and late-night stays, you can.”

The destination focus of Azamara Club Cruises inspired the brand’s new tagline – “You’ll love where we take you” – and will extend to its shore excursions, too, an essential ingredient to allow guests to truly experience a community and its culture.

Azamara has created distinctive two-day packages tailored to the overnight destinations, to make it easy for guests to immerse themselves in each location, whether it’s Dubrovnik, Croatia; Odessa, Ukraine; Livorno (Florence), Italy, Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany, or London, in addition to Sorrento and St. Petersburg.

Azamara also will offer experiences such as a two-night package from Bangkok to Laos; an overnight tour from Hiroshima to Osaka via bullet train; a three-night experience from Mumbai including a visit to the Taj Mahal; overnight tours in Israel between Ashdod and Cairo, and a Grand Egypt tour featuring the best of both Luxor and Cairo.

Among Azamara’s specialty tours include a Ferrari driving tour in Civitavecchia, Italy; a walk down memory lane in Liverpool with the “In the steps of The Beatles” tour; a private demonstration of chocolate flavors in Dubrovnik; a “Theatre A La Carte” evening in London; Croatian liqueur tasting in Zadar; an Imperial Russian Court evening at Tsarskoye Selo in St. Petersburg; an evening gondola serenade in Venice; and high tea at the Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

Praised for its dining experience since its founding, Azamara will continue to place a heavy emphasis on fine cuisine, and will expand its focus on wine to include vintages from boutique wineries around the world. Guests will have the opportunity to taste high quality wines that may be unavailable at home, because the selected vineyards produce a strictly limited quantity each year, distributed primarily locally. The featured wines will be offered complimentary at lunches and dinners on every sailing.

Wellness and vigor will be a core component of the Azamara Club Cruises experience, too, with onboard and land-based experiences designed to help guests feel and look healthier and more youthful. Azamara’s aim in wellness and vigor is to help guests balance their physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual needs through massages, facials and other spa treatments, as well as acupuncture, yoga, Pilates, and enrichment programs.

The newly refined brand also is intensely focused on offering an intangible attribute essential to a successful upmarket product: exceptional service.

“Extraordinary service is paramount with Azamara Club Cruises,” said Pimentel. “We know every travel and hospitality organization proclaims it’s committed to great service, so what will make Azamara stand out? First, our butlers will be trained to be true English butlers, to offer that fine balance of anticipatory, pampering, yet non-intrusive service to guests in every suite.” Guests in staterooms will be served by the line’s host of experienced stateroom attendants.

Azamara Club Cruises also will offer many inclusive amenities, with the following included in the cruise fare beginning with the first voyages in April 2010 on Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest: a specific brand of bottled water offered at no charge throughout the voyage, whether in public venues or in staterooms; specialty coffees and teas; housekeeping and dining gratuities; shuttlebus service to/from port communities, where available; destination-influenced entertainment and enrichment programs; most meals and room service; house wine at lunches and dinners; and self-service laundry. Specialty dining in Azamara’s intimate Prime C steakhouse and the Mediterranean-influenced Aqualina will be complimentary for suite guests for the duration of their cruise.

For amazing Azamara offers click http://www.idealcruising.co.uk/cruise_line/azamara

Back by popular demand...

From 2011 Celebrity Century will living the life of 'fire & ice'. Summering in the spectacular destination of Alaska before heading down under to Australia and New Zealand and along to Indonesia and French Polynesia.

Like the iconic boomerang believed to have originated in Australia, Celebrity Cruises today announced plans to return to the region in 2011-12, with an enticing new series of vacations on Celebrity Century. Inspired by guest demand, the new itineraries will feature 36 ports in six countries

Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan has said “We’re thrilled to return to Australia and New Zealand. It’s a region our guests and trade partners around the world have said they wanted to experience again with Celebrity, pairing our award-winning dining, exceptional service and high style with the beauty, charm and diversity of the area. This move further exemplifies our ‘Designed for you’ platform, and how we fulfill what cruisers desire.”

The lineup will include10 distinct itineraries, with six varied departure ports, including Sydney and Perth (Fremantle), Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Diego, California, and Ensenada, Mexico.

This exciting new chapter will start 2nd October 2011, with two consecutive 15-night Hawaii sailings from San Diego, followed by a 10-night Hawaii cruise from Ensenada to Honolulu. An 18-night “Pacific Jewels” voyage departs Honolulu November 11, followed by five 12- and 13-night New Zealand cruises between Sydney and Auckland, including a festive holiday sailing departing Sydney December 24. These offer a more destination-rich experience for cruisers, with only three days at sea, versus five on most competing lines’ itineraries.
If you are looking for that holiday of a life-time the 36-night circumnavigational voyage – a first for Celebrity – could be the answer! Sail around the southern portion of Australia, featuring an overnight stay in Sydney and transits through three sounds – Milford, Doubtful and Dusky – in New Zealand’s World Heritage-designated Fiordland National Park. The second half takes you around Australia’s northern coast, and features a visit to the idyllic island of Bali, Indonesia – marking yet another first for Celebrity.

Among the ports Celebrity will visit for the first time are Geraldton, Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane, Adelaide, Albany, Bunbury and Perth, Australia, in addition to Burnie, Tasmania, and Bali.

The 1,814-guest Celebrity Century is ideal for offering guests spectacular views of the scenic region, having been refitted in 2006 to add 314 new verandas, along with the elegant Murano restaurant and the truly “cool
Martini ice bar.

Celebrity Cruises is designed for discerning cruisers, with modern, sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring onboard programs, and world-class cuisine. The ultimate in premium cruising, Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, Canada/New England, Europe, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Canada, Europe and South America.

Sailings will go on sale 29th July 2010 and will feature fantastic on board spend so watch this space! 

If you have any questions on Celebrity Cruises or on the Australia sailings, just ask or go online to http://www.idealcruising.co.uk/

If you are in to your cruises then chances are you've heard about the brand new Norwegian Epic, launched at the end of June and I was one of the lucky agents that was on board for a 2 night sailing around the Solent. Norwegian Cruise Line is probably one of the lesser known names in the UK so I took the opportunity to get an interview with Nick Wilkinson, Head of UK Sales for the cruise line. Here is what he had to say...

Norwegian Cruise Line is still relatively unknown in the UK, can you explain the essence of Norwegian Cruise Line?
Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the contemporary Caribbean cruise more than 40 years ago and has a history of exciting, industry-first innovations, from the first private island to the first Kid’s Clubs at sea. Today, our contemporary fleet of 11 big, modern ships offers a luxurious resort-style experience with world-class dining, headline entertainment and a huge range of accommodation.

Who would Norwegian Cruise Line appeal to?
Norwegian Cruise Line appeals right across the board from long-time cruisers to new-to-cruise guests attracted by the resort-style ambiance. Our ships are perfect for family cruising with flexible, adaptable accommodation, exciting Kid’s and Teen’s Clubs and activities and round-the-clock dining choices. High end guests are attracted by our private ship-within-a-ship complex of luxurious Suites and Villas with its own pool, sundeck, butlers, concierge service and more.

What is Freestyle Cruising?
Freestyle Cruising is all about freedom and flexibility. The freedom for guests to plan their days on their schedule, enjoy an unparalleled degree of independence and be as active or as lazy as they choose. We offer the most exciting and varied dining experience at sea with as many as 21 deliciously different global dining choices, the freedom to dine somewhere new morning, noon and evening and at least one restaurant open 24 hours a day. Evenings can be casual dress or formal, just as the guest chooses.

Who are Norwegian Cruise Line main competitors and what makes Norwegian Cruise Line unique?
Our main competitors are Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises. What makes us unique is Freestyle Cruising. Every ship in the fleet was purpose built for this very different, creative product that gives guests an unprecedented degree of independence and choice. They can relax and enjoy their holiday, their way.

Why do you think Norwegian Cruise Line offers value for money?
We have a strong commitment to offering great value with a whole range of outstanding dining choices included in the cruise fare. Others, including gourmet experiences, such as Japanese Teppanyaki, Steakhouses and Fine French food are available at a small supplement – much less than one would pay at a land-based resort. Traditional cruising ‘treats’ like 24-hour complimentary room service are available on board all our ships.

Can you tell us about Norwegian Cruise Line itineraries and best destinations?
We cruise in Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, New England in the Fall, Hawaii, the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic. We have a strong commitment to Europe for our UK guests with cruises to the Baltic Capitals and throughout the Mediterranean, including new Egypt and Holy Land cruises in winter 2011/12. In summer 2011 we are bringing the incredible new Norwegian Epic to Europe for the ultimate Western Mediterranean cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line has just launched the brand new Norwegian Epic. What makes this ship different from the others?
Norwegian Epic, launched in June, is the most eagerly awaited ship of the year. Weighing in at over 150,000 tonnes, she has a wealth of exciting innovations, including more than 20 dining choices, the first genuine Ice bar at sea, six bowling lanes, climbing and abseiling walls, a multi-slide Aqua Park. Accommodation includes a private Courtyard pool complex with deluxe accommodation, exclusive bar and restaurant; Spa Suites and Staterooms; and Studios with keycard access lounge – designed and priced especially for solo travellers.

What is your favourite element of Norwegian Cruise Line?
For me, it’s the on-board resort atmosphere – elegantly relaxed and casual with no deadlines or timetables. It just makes it so easy to unwind and chill into holiday mood the minute you step aboard.

In one sentence, why should people cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line?
Every guest is different and has their own idea of the perfect holiday and that’s why Norwegian Cruise Line offers endless choices, unparalleled freedom and the flexibility to make it just that - perfect.

Any questions or feedback?
For more inforamtion click here - For more information click http://www.idealcruising.co.uk/cruise_line/ncl