As I shared last week, one decision we made in our strategy session is to talk about cruises a little more through this channel of the blog. The first Thursday of every month will now be dedicated to cruises.
So for now, it's over to Kanise (photo below) who sailed just last month with Azamara, a cruise line you may not have even been aware of before.
Part of J5Travel's expertise comes from continuously learning about the products we sell. Kanise will share her trip on a 7-night Mediterranean cruise on Azamara Voyages. Hopefully you will gain a little more insight into the brand and what they offer. And if you feel like booking please fill out the form here and we will be in contact.
Cruise bookings represent almost 25% of our total sales, and so it's only appropriate that they are featured once a month, so be prepared for our cruise news and thoughts on a more regular basis.
Top 5 - Azamara Takeaways from Kanise Kelley
1. The Ship - Azamara Journey (above and below)
While there are newer and bigger ships out there, Azamara Journey is still a force to be reckoned with. The Journey has a feel of simple elegance and is touted as a boutique hotel at sea. With just 694 guests it's large enough so you don't feel crowded, but small enough to provide an intimate atmosphere where you can meet many of the other guests and develop friendships. As on most ships, my favorite area is the space with 180 degrees of views. On Azamara it is called the Living Room and it is quite comfy and peaceful during the day. Here is where you can relax, read a book, participate in trivia and have afternoon canapes and cocktails. At night it is where live music and dancing takes place. There are five bars onboard, each with a different vibe that you can choose to match your mood. There is also a library, a card room, two shops, a coffee shop, a den, a spa, fitness center and pool. One feature they have that I really appreciated is the guest laundry room. If you hate going home with dirty clothes or prefer to pack light, then you'll love it. It is free and the detergent is included. Just make sure to get your clothes before 9pm because they do lock the door :).
2. The Food (above and below)
I'll eat just about anything, but I'm very picky about the food I declare as "worthwhile" to eat. Azamara didn't disappoint with their food selections. They have five dining venues available. Usually on ships, the buffet is somewhere I don't frequent as much for the obvious reasons, but on Azamara it was really good. Windows Cafe is the buffet area and every day there is a different theme for the food. They had Greek night, Spanish night, Indian night, Seafood night and French night. They will usually mirror the cuisine of the port you're visiting or will visit during the voyage. I'm no bouillabaisse expert, but the made-to-order option they had was absolutely delicious. Windows Cafe is open for every meal and you can eat either inside or outside on the sunset deck (which I highly recommend during sunsets). The Discovery Restaurant is the main dining room. No reservations are required and you have plenty of options. I preferred to eat breakfast here for the fresh eggs benedict and avocado toast. And it was never crowded. There is also a pool side grill that becomes available at lunch time. This area has cooked per order, American fare such as hamburgers, kabobs and nachos. It is perfect for a sea day when you want to lounge by the pool with a daiquiri and a burger.
The two specialty restaurants, Aqualina and Prime C are a seafood house and steakhouse, respectively. I didn't get to eat there since they were fully booked, but I heard great things.
Pro Tip: Book your reservations early via your profile or as soon as you get onboard.
3.The Entertainment (above)
There are a variety of amazing performances to keep you entertained while onboard Azamara Journey. During the day, my favorite activity is trivia. They have it twice a day and it covers a range of topics. At night is when the fun begins. They have various piano and band performances where you can choose to turn up or wind down. Every night in the theater/lounge they have a musical cabaret. For such a small space, the artists and dancers do an excellent job of making it feel like a huge production. There's always a theme and they have shows that feature music from the 20s - 90s so everyone can get involved. However, my favorite would have to be karaoke night. You forget you're on a ship and are transported to your favorite dive bar. Guests of all ages join in and afterwards the party goes on as late as one in the morning.
4. The Ports (above and below)
Obviously, the main reason anyone goes on a cruise is for the destinations. One way Azamara really stands out from other cruise lines is their time in port. They are known as the cruise line that is all about immersion and to achieve that they stay in port much later than normal. Most nights the ship is in port until 10pm so you have plenty of time to explore and even choose to have a nice dinner in town. Also, due to the small size of their ships, they can dock much closer to the city, in smaller ports, while the much larger ships have to dock further away, Azamara can dock right in the harbor. This is huge for travelers who love to explore on their own without organized excursions, you can walk right off the ship and into the city. My particular itinerary sailed a Western Mediterranean route from Rome to Barcelona with amazing stops in St. Tropez, Marseille, Livorno, Monte Carlo and Mahon. I can easily recommend this itinerary and indeed any itinerary that visits these ports. There is absolutely stunning architecture, history and culture at all these cities and plenty to see. Sailing into Monte Carlo and Mahon was awe inspiring and truly impressive. Even my Mother who has questioned my living abroad for years said she wants to move to The Med.
5. The Azamara Exclusives (above and below)
Two events that Azamara is known for are the White Night Party and AzAmazing Celebrations.
The white night party is an affair to remember. Everyone dresses in all white and you attend a big party on board. The amount of food they have is truly jaw dropping. They even bring out grills for specialties like jerk chicken and barbecued bratwurst. To top it all off they have a live band that plays everyone's favorites and there is tons of dancing.
Pro tips: Pack a white outfit, skip lunch and get there early for the best seats.
AzAmazing Celebrations are unique and in-depth performances that are meant to connect you to the heart of the culture. These private events are captivating, enriching and unforgettable. On my cruise the event was a night at the opera in Livorno. I'm not an opera person, but I will say it was fascinating to watch the story unfold even though I couldn't understand the language. The performances depend on your location, but they are all designed to immerse you in tradition and are performed by locals. What makes them even better is they are included at no extra cost on 7+ night voyages. To see all the marvelous AzAmazing offerings they have please click the button below.
Ready to start planning your next trip on Azamara? Let us. know by clicking the button below so we can provide the J5Travel difference to create a seamless, luxury travel experience tailored just for you!
I love travel and I love travel planning just as much and I am proud to be building a team as passionate about exploring the world as myself. It took me a very long time to align my career with my undeniable passion for exploring, but now I and the team are here for you. Your personal travel tailors - award reservation and luxury custom itinerary experts. We provide a bespoke service, imagining and creating itineraries for independent minded families and groups.
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