Azamara Club Cruises is owned by Celebrity Cruises and was introduced to create a service specially designed for travellers who enjoy cruise holidays, but are looking for something a bit more special and somewhat different than a standard cruise. Azamara Club cruises offer off-the-beaten-track destinations, outstanding service and exceptional cuisine. On its launch in 2007, Dan Hanrahan, the president of Azamara Club Cruises, announced that the itineraries for the new line would not only take travellers to some of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean, but also take them to more than 200 ports, many of them new to cruise travellers, encompassing over seventy countries.
Azamara Club Cruises have two cruise ships, Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey. The ships are smaller than most cruise ships to allow for a more intimate and friendly onboard experience and also to allow them to visit some less well-known ports. Both ships have butler service in every stateroom and suite and include fresh-cut flowers, fresh fruit, ‘Elemis’ toiletries, plasma TVs and complimentary slippers and bathrobes.
The ships have two specialty restaurants, Aqualina which offers Mediterranean-style food and Prime C which is a steak and seafood restaurant. Guests staying in the suites receive three nights free dining in the restaurants, whilst those in the staterooms receive two. All meals are prepared by top chefs using the freshest of ingredients. In addition to the specialty restaurants, guests can also dine in the main restaurant or at one of the more casual cafés or the grill by the pool. As well as restaurants, Azamara Club Cruises also has a wine bar with an outstanding cellar. Guests can enjoy champagne and wine tastings, seminars and samples of complementary food. In line with its emphasis on luxury, both ships offer spa treatments that most cruise travellers never get to experience. Guests in the suites can enjoy some of the spa services in their own rooms, but both ships also have an outdoor lounge and a treatment suite offering acupuncture, micro-dermabrasion and laser hair removal, among other treatments.
The emphasis of the cruises is on helping people to discover more about the places and cultures that they visit. Each ship will have an onboard excursion expert who will not only help guests choose the best excursions for them, but also act as a destination guide providing information on the history and culture of each destination port.
Azamara Club Cruise guests can choose from a range of onboard activities and entertainments, from attending an informative lecture; to shopping in boutiques; to adding to their art collection at an onboard art auction. Both ships offer competitions, game shows and fitness programmes. Alternatively guests can while away the time at the onboard casino. The casino offers blackjack, American roulette, three card poker, Caribbean stud poker and includes various slot machines. The showcase theatre features a cast of talented singers, entertainers and dancers. The Azamara Cabaret is held in the elegant showroom where the comfortable seating and cocktail service provide a perfect setting.
For those who wish to do something a bit more cultural then the Azamara’s onboard enrichment programmes will have something to offer. There are lectures on subjects ranging from Oriental culture to Caribbean cuisine and each programme is customised to the individual guest’s requirements. Guests can also improve or acquire new computer skills at one of the many on-board classes.
Find out about all the ships in the Azamara Club Cruises fleet
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