He understood the uncomfortable feeling you get in your “gut” when you’re reading two conflicting posts on a message board at the same time. You’re confused and are searching the web to reduce your perceived risk when making a vacation decision.

In addition to my blog posts, my mission is to follow the internet’s consumer-oriented cruise line message boards. Usually, I’m monitoring "Cruise Critic’s" very active Azamara forum. It’s a great way to interact with Cruise Critic members, understand guest perspectives, gauge opinions on programs and other initiatives, and also to communicate reasons behind what we are doing. Hopefully, increasing the reader’s confidence of receiving a satisfying vacation experience from us. Also, I serve as the reader’s ombudsman when issues arise. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=466

The bridge

Social media marketing is a necessity in today’s digital world. It’s quite different from when I began in the cruise industry in 1980 when consumer marketing was achieved through Sunday travel section newspaper advertising with the closing message to see "your travel agent." In fact, most cruise lines did not include their telephone numbers in their advertisements. Travel agents were the "gatekeepers" for consumers. That paradigm changed, however, not only for the cruise industry but for all types of business categories, with the new technologies driven by the internet and the consumer’s ability to have direct access to the company/manufacturer.

Moreover, because of the wave of new cruise ships that started in the 1980′s, the market went from a "demand" to a "supply" dynamic. According to a study from International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. the total number of people who took a cruise in 1970 was estimated at 500,000. The number of cruise passengers carried worldwide in 2012 is estimated at 20.3 million (Cruise Market Watch).

Our marketing challenge is to build consumer awareness and motivation to learn more about our brand by driving traffic to our website. Therefore, we use social media to communicate directly with our customers. It allows us to share our photos, videos and ideas with our fans, and have them share their own photos, videos, plans, and questions with us. Social media creates a space for us all to communicate together, and help us with our goal of making Azamara experiences better and better, all the time.

The social media platforms we use most often are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and we also post content on Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube. Collectively, they serve as our "quasi-gatekeepers" to our website where prospective and returning customers can learn more about us before they make their booking.

On Facebook, we love sharing our own photos, and telling our fans where they can see the same views for themselves. Our fans also share their own photos with us, which we love, so we often repost those for everyone to see! This connection encourages our current fans to share our posts with their friends, which expands our total audience and gets new people to consider experiencing one of our voyages.

Kotor

On Twitter, we like to post things as they are happening, as often as possible. We enjoy sharing photos from current voyages, and updates about where in the world our ships are at any given time. We also share photos that our fans have tweeted, and take part in conversations about travel, including the very popular CruiseChat conversations each week.

On Instagram, we share our own photos and the photos our fans have sent to us. People really appreciate seeing photos that have been taken recently, especially things like our AzAmazing Evenings or other special events.

On Pinterest we love to share the great photographs taken by our guests, ship captains, or photographers. We pin helpful travel tips, online stories about Azamara Club Cruises, inspirational travel quotes, and the best photos shared online of the places we visit. Our different boards, like “Italy With Azamara” or “Hello From Captain Johannes” help our fans quickly find the content they’re most interested in.

AzAmazing Evening in Cannes, France

YouTube is where we post all our video content, from specific voyage information, to advertisements. We recently posted three "Cruise Doodles" that quickly communicate what sets Azamara Club Cruises apart from other cruise lines. You can view them here.

On Google+, we share fun photos, links to the website, and content that demonstrates everything that makes Azamara unique. Similar to Facebook, this is where we are able to have conversations and share photos that our fans have sent us.

In fact, Larry Pimentel has opened a Twitter account @LarryPimentel. Here’s a great way to tap into his creative thoughts and ideas as they happen. You’ll gain insight about what’s new and different at Azamara as he moves the company forward to deliver total guest satisfaction.

We’d love for you to follow us on our social media channels, and share your photos, questions, and thoughts with us. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Bill Leiber
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post Social Media – Azamara’s Silver Bullet for Consumer Marketing appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

During the remainder of May, receive a complimentary double-category upgrade from a Club Interior to a Club Veranda Stateroom on select 2014 voyages operating through July 2014.

I’m sure most readers are familiar with our Destination Immersion^® itinerary promise – longer stays, more overnights, and night touring. Plus we will continue to offer a complimentary AzAmazing Evenings^SM event on most 2014 voyages.**

In 2014 you can choose among 72 new voyages, ranging from four to 17 nights and visiting 240 fascinating destinations in 66 countries throughout Europe, the Far East, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Western U.S. Coast. Our new 2014 program will enable you 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 favorite Brazilian getaway.

Further, the time is "right now" if you’re planning your vacation during the first six months of 2014!

We’re celebrating our third anniversary with an opportunity for you to receive a double-category upgrade from an inside stateroom to a Club Veranda stateroom. Plus US and Canadian guests receive a $1,000 ChoiceAir® credit per couple. You must make your booking no later than May 31, 2013 on selected voyages on both vessels sailing through July 2014. Currently, there are 16 eligible voyages on the Azamara Journey^® and 19 eligible voyages on the Azamara Quest^®. (Inventory for this promotion is capacity controlled.) More information about Azamara’s Anniversary offer and applicable sailings can be found here.

In previous articles, I’ve mentioned the itinerary expertise of our gifted planner, Claudius Docekal. You’ve probably "met" him if you’ve viewed our individual itinerary videos on our website’s YouTube link on the Azamara Voyages website. He appears with Edie Bornstein, our Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, as they discuss our special itinerary features.

I’m pleased to share with you some of Claudius’s highlights of our 2014 itineraries in his own words. Below are the voyages that our part of our Anniversary promotion:

Azamara Quest Highlights

A series of only six US West Coast, Central America and Panama Canal cruises!

• One voyage each, from Costa Rica to Los Angeles, January 15, 2014 and Los Angeles to Costa Rica, February 18, 2014 – visiting Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador among others such as Cabo San Lucas. Note that the Jan 15 voyage is designated as a "President’s Voyage."
• One round trip Los Angeles voyage, January 29, 2014, including seldom visited ports in the Sea of Cortez such as Guaymas, La Paz, Loreto and Topolobampo with the optional opportunity to visit the famous Copper Canyon via a stunningly beautiful train ride. Also included, popular Cabo San Lucas with a late night stay.
• One round trip Los Angeles voyage, February 10, 2014, exploring the wine regions of California near Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco (3 days/2 nights) and the option to visit magnificent Muir Woods.
• March 16, 2014, one round trip Miami Deep Caribbean voyage visiting islands far & away from the large cruise ship ports. such as St. John’s USVI, Nevis, Virgin Gorda, St. Bart’s, Dominica and Les Saintes.

The above variety of sailing durations and voyage sequence make all of them ideal for back-to-back sailings for those wishing to explore new shores and escape the northern hemisphere winter! Due to the limited number of these voyages, we expect them to be very popular and early reservations are suggested.

Transoceanic Voyage

• Unique South Beach (Miami) to South of France (Nice) Transatlantic crossing, March 27, 2014. (No AzAmazing Evenings offered.)

The Mediterranean – Highlights

• April 11, 2014 – A Mediterranean Easter Holiday featuring new & unique ports such as Taranto, Italy for access to the medieval City of Matera; Siracusa & Trapani Sicily; Malta and two days each in Civitavecchia for Rome on Palm Sunday with an opportunity to attend mass in the Vatican and Livorno, for Florence on Easter Sunday.

Siracusa

• June 2, 2014 – Unique Rome to Istanbul 10-night voyage including some of the most interesting cultural highlights in the Mediterranean from Pompeii to Noto, a chance to hike the grand Samaria Gorge on Crete, Greece; Santorini & Patmos; Greece; Ephesus and Bergama in Turkey and a overnight in Istanbul.
• July 5, 2014 – Cruising Croatia’s Inside Passage – Rather than sailing on the outside of Croatia’s beautiful archipelago, the vessel will sail through the heart of this stunningly beautiful region from Zadar to Split on these two voyages. Both will combine the classic beauty of Venice with an overnight stay plus Southern Europe’s most spectacular Fjord at Kotor, Montenegro and lovely Dubrovnik and Hvar, Croatia.

Kotor

Azamara Journey Highlights

• January 6, 21 & February 3, 2014: Thailand and Vietnam – We have added the lovely island of Ko Samui, Thailand to an already very popular itinerary that includes overnights in Ho Chi Minh City & Halong Bay plus Danang, Vietnam; 3 days & 2 nights in Bangkok, Thailand; commence and conclude your voyage in Singapore & Hong Kong pending on the direction chosen.

Danang

• February 17, 2014: Among the many highlights on this voyage are a visit to the port of Tokyo for an overnight and the chance to visit the world’s largest and busiest Fish market in Tokyo. Additional ports in Japan include the seldom visited southern islands of Ishigaki with its tropical climate and beaches, Okinawa; Osaka for an overnight and a day cruising the famous Inland Sea. Rounding off this exciting voyage are calls in Xiamen and Shanghai China and Taiwan.
• March 3, 2014: Commence with an overnight in Shanghai, China; cruise to South Korea; visit two ports in Taiwan including a stop at Hualien for an opportunity to visits the beautiful Taroko Gorge. In Japan, spend a day leisurely cruising the famous Inland Sea and stop for a overnight in Hiroshima followed by calls in Takamatsu, Kobe and Kagoshima, Japan with the voyage concluding in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong (Photo taken by Captain Johannes)

• March 17, 2014: Explore seldom visited ports in Southeast Asia while sailing from Hong Kong to Singapore on this 17-night voyage; overnight in Manila, Philippines; visit a Orangutan Sanctuary on the island of Borneo, Malaysia; followed by four exciting stop in Indonesia; Palopo for the opportunity to visit spectacular Torajaland; search for the famous Dragons on the island of Komodo; spend an overnight on fabled Bali and on Java you have the opportunity to visit three different UNESCO World Heritage sites – Borobudur, Parambanan and Sangiran.

Komodo Island

• May 2, 2014: A 10-night journey from classic Athens to the Holy Lands of Israel for three days, plus such other significant historic sites as Rhodes and Patmos; Greece; Ephesus, Turkey and Paphos, Cyprus
• June 3, 2014: An 11-night voyage commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the WWII D-day landings with a visit to Cherbourg and the Landing Beaches on the actual anniversary day of landing June 6, 2014. Additional ports on this one-of-a-kind voyage are Guernsey, Channel Islands; two days in Honfleur France for Paris, Giverny, Bayeux and Deauville; Boulogne-sur-Mer, France for access to the Opal Coast, Dunkirk, Bruges and Ypres; Dover, England; an overnight in Amsterdam, Netherlands as well as in Hamburg, Germany…a historic voyage to remember. Plus this voyage is designated as a "President’s Voyage."
• June 14, 2014: A 14-night voyage sailing only to the famous North Cape, Norway to experience the Midnight Sun.
• July 17, 2014: Three unique voyages to the Baltic, all of them with three full days in St. Petersburg, Russia and select the duration of your choice from seven, ten and twelve nights during the best time of the year when the days are long and the towns of Northern Europe bustle with life and energy.
• July 27, 2014: A 12-night voyage that explores the northern fringes of Europe with three days in Iceland, famous Geiranger Fjord, Norway; The fairy tale islands of Shetland, Scotland and the Faroe Islands in Denmark and charming Kristiansand, Norway.

A year from now you may wish you had started today to plan now for your 2014 vacation!

Bill Leiber
Chief Blogging Officer***
Azamara Club Cruises

(* Karen Lamb, author)
(** Program in development)
(*** CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post Plan Ahead For Azamara’s 2014 Voyages! appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

Azamara specializes in Destination Immersion… meaning longer stays, more overnights and night touring in ports of call. No other cruise line spends as much time in port, which offers the opportunity to be more creative and unusual in development of our shore excursions, or "Land Discoveries^®," as we call them.

Have you explored the many Land Discoveries available on our voyages? Visit our website to download a brochure of Land Discoveries coupled with the voyage dates in which you are interested. Remember, booking online at least four days prior departure offers a 25% savings on most programs.

Guided by local experts, these small-group onshore excursions are a great way to experience local life and culture in every port, and meet local people, too. There’s something for everyone: adventurous hikes and bike rides, shopping and dining, historic sites and neighborhoods, vineyard tours, and even a complimentary Destination Immersion event – an AzAmazing Evening^SM custom designed for guests on virtually every voyage. We want to take you far beyond the ordinary!

Why book your Land Discoveries with Azamara? Here are a few benefits to consider:

1. Experience
With over 50 years of global tour experience, we know each port’s highlights and ensure you the widest variety and selection possible.

2. Convenience
Our dedicated, one-stop team can answer any questions and take care of all your planning needs, including any itinerary changes or tour cancellations. If there are unforeseen changes in itinerary or port arrival time we take care of the details so you can enjoy your vacation. Best of all, if your group tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you!

3. Priority Departure
Guests on our tours always depart the ship first to ensure they make the most of their time ashore. All tours leave from the shipboard lounge or pier side with shipboard staff on hand to ensure all guests make it to their tour.

4. Peace-of- Mind
Our tours are operated and led with local, reputable and insured tour operators. Your tour guide will be on the pier waiting for you, and an escort from the ship often accompanies the tour. There are no hidden fees, and in the event that a tour is cancelled during the cruise, guests receive a refund to their onboard account. There is no waiting or chasing down an independent company for refunds. Our Health Team rigorously inspects all restaurants to be visited on the tour, checking the quality and safeness of drinking water and even the temperature of the food.

5. Flexibility
We understand your plans may change and we’re happy to accommodate your changes. If a cancellation is made prior to tour departure, you won’t incur a cancellation fee. However, tours involving flights, special events, private arrangements, overland or hotel stays can result in a cost to us and may be subject to a cancellation fee.

6. Night Touring
“Night touring” is part of our tagline, so you know it’s something that makes Azamara voyages truly unique experiences. Because we stay in ports longer, and often overnight, we can offer land discoveries that happen in the evenings, which can sometimes be the best time to truly experience everything a destination has to offer.

If you are one of those who prefer to go your own way, our onboard Concierge Service is ready to customize a shore experience for you. They do a great job. This option is ideal if you perhaps meet others with whom you would like to join on a custom-tour.

You’ll enjoy clear advantages when booking your Land Discoveries through Azamara. We’ve got in-depth knowledge of every port’s highlights and are often able to offer special excursions that you won’t find anywhere else.

Bill Leiber
___________________
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post Why is it Smart to Book Azamara Club Cruises’ Land Discoveries? appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

We’d love to see some of your favorite photos from your Azamara cruise, so please share them with us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

1. Do a Little Research – Before you go on vacation, take a little time to get to know the features and settings of your camera, whether it’s just the camera on your iPhone or a professional camera with tons of features. Also, learning the history of an area can help to highlight photo ops that you may have otherwise passed by.

2. Mix it Up – Don’t be afraid to mix up the type of photos you take. Instead of taking photos at eye level, get low or climb high to take shots from different perspectives. Everyone takes photos of Rome’s Colosseum, make yours special by focusing on the light streaming through an archway.

3. Try, Try Again – The beauty of using a digital camera is that you can take hundreds of photos before your memory is full, so if you can’t get the photo to turn out on the first try, keep trying. Don’t delete your photos right away either, keep them until you have time to give your photos a full review on a large screen (See Tip 9).

4. Get Lost – Add some interest to your photos by getting off the beaten path. While touring around a new city, along with visiting the main boulevards, take some time to stroll down the side streets. Side streets are generally quieter and less crowded allowing for more breathing room when taking photos, and can lead to new photo opportunities.

5. Candid Camera – Along with taking the usual shots of your friends and family smiling and posing, take some time to snap candid shots when everyone is going about their day. These candids can add authenticity to vacation photos, and help to better tell the story of your vacation.

6. Stay Still - Nobody wants to end up with shaky or blurry images of their trip, so the easiest way to prevent this from occurring is to keep your camera stable. Be sure to hold the camera as steady as possible with both hands and brace it against or on something if possible.

7. Lighting – Lighting can make or break a photo. Make sure the sun is behind whomever is taking the photo. The lighting is often best around sunrise and sunset, so get out your camera during these periods for picture perfect photographs.

8. Don’t Wait for the Perfect Photo Opportunity – Along with capturing big picture vacation moments, photograph the smaller moments of your daily life while on vacation, when you are relaxing with a coffee or strolling. Don’t be afraid to take a photo of a street sign you find interesting or of a unique store window that you come across.

9. Review Your Work – After your vacation is over, sit down and review your photos. Save the ones you want to keep, but also review the ones you want to delete. When looking over the “bad” photos, try and figure out the reasons why you think it’s a bad shot — was the lighting or focus off? Were there background objects ruining the photo? Learn from your mistakes and you will become a better photographer.

10. Take Better Vacations! – Take a vacation that inspires you to take photographs! Choose an adventure that gets you out of your comfort zone and offers new and exciting experiences worth photographing. The more unique the destination, the more unique your photos will be.

Most importantly, don’t forget to pack your camera and be sure to bring along extra batteries, a charger and any power adaptors that may be needed when visiting a foreign country. Also make sure you have plenty of memory space to store your vacation memories!

Want to start taking better vacations? Start planning your next Azamara voyage today! We’re certain you’ll love the experience, the photos you take, and the memories you make, along the way!

Share your photos from your recent Azamara voyages with us here: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

The post Top 10 Tips to Taking Better Vacation Photos appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

Azamara Club Cruises is celebrating its third anniversary this April with a month-long opportunity to enjoy even greater value when exploring the world’s most intriguing destinations.

Travelers booking in April for a voyage departing August 1, 2013 through July 2014 will enjoy a double-category upgrade to a Club Veranda Stateroom when booking at a Club Interior price. The offer is combined with more inclusive amenities and newly launched complimentary AzAmazing Evenings. It’s an offer too good to resist!

The last day to take advantage of this great offer is April 30, 2013, so start thinking about where you’d like to go! More information about Azamara’s Anniversary offer and applicable sailings can be found here.

Some of you might be wondering why we consider this our third anniversary, since “Azamara Cruises” began in 2007. Let me take you through the evolution of Azamara!

In December 2009, Azamara Cruises was re-launched as Azamara Club Cruises. The term “club” was added to our name to represent our personalized relationships with our guests, the promise of a high standard of service and the feeling Azamara guests have of belonging to an exclusive club. At the helm of the new brand of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was Larry Pimentel as CEO and President.

The new “Azamara Club Cruises” focused on destination immersion and appealing to experienced travelers.

We added the new tagline “You’ll Love Where We Take You” to reinforce our commitment to offering longer stays in ports, more overnight stays with more time to explore, and night touring. “You’ll Love Where We Take You” is also a metaphor of the places we take our guests emotionally. Being welcomed and pampered by our impeccable staff, immersing yourself the destinations you visit, and enjoying exclusive regionally-inspired cuisine and world-class boutique wines all contribute to the feeling of having a unique travel experience.

In April 2010, Azamara Club Cruises became “more inclusive”. Some of these inclusive amenities are:

• Gratuities
• Coffee, tea, bottled water and soft drinks
• Boutique wines at lunch and dinner
• Self-service laundry
• Certified English butler service for suite guests
• Shuttle service to and from ports, where available

This has improved the guest experience and created a club-like atmosphere. You no longer need to worry about tipping and how often your onboard account will be charged. This spring, we added select standard spirits, beers and wines at ship bars during the regular bar hours and included a complimentary AzAmazing Evening special event.

Take advantage of our best offer yet, and your book your voyage by April 30, 2013. Let’s celebrate together!

Happy Sailing!

Bill Leiber
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post Azamara Club Cruises Celebrates Third Anniversary appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

Traveling with Azamara Club Cruises means a memorable, one-of-a-kind vacation. With longer stays, more overnights and night touring, Azamara guests don’t simply see places, they experience them – or as we like to call it, Destination Immersion. Now we’ve added a new secret ingredient to make your vacations even richer and more unique: AzAmazing Evenings.

Culture encompasses cuisine, music, art, dance, traditions and more. AzAmazing Evenings will deliver a range of cultural experiences in the most beautiful destinations in the world. Every voyage, beginning with each ship’s Europe season, will feature a complimentary AzAmazing Evening. Here’s a taste of what’s to come:

For Wine Lovers:

Codorniu Cava and Flamenco in Barcelona
Guests on Azamara Quest’s April 10, Monte-Carlo to Andalucia voyage will enjoy a complimentary AzAmazing Evenings event at the Cordoniu Cellars. The Cordoniu family has been producing Spain’s famous sparkling Cava wine since the 16th Century. Guests will learn how Cava is made, sample the varieties paired with regional specialties, and be treated to a stunning flamenco performance across six stages.

For Sports Fans:

Sete Joutes in Sete, France
The Azamara Quest’s April 3, Springtime Along the Cote D’Azur voyage will take you to the charming port of Sete, France. At this AzAmazing Evenings event, you’ll watch the ancient and exciting sport of water jousting, found only in this region of the world. Guests will share ringside seats on the Royal Canal with Azamara Club Cruises CEO Larry Pimentel and his wife, Sandi and will enjoy French wines, shellfish, tapenade and savory canapés.

For Gourmands:

Basque Country Cuisine at Azurmendi in Bilbao, Spain

Foodies will love the AzAmazing Evening planned for the Azamara Quest’s June 3, Basque Country to the Channel Islands voyage. Guests will experience an evening of Basque cuisine at Azurmendi, a three-star Michelin restaurant. Chef Eneko Atxa will prepare traditional Basque foods with a modern twist. You can tour the gardens and wine cellar, see appetizers prepared at food stalls in the grand dining room and listen to ancient txalaparta music.

For Festive Culture-Seekers:

Cyprus Tastes, Sounds and Colors in Limassol, Cyprus
Guests on Azamara Journey’s October 26, Greek Isles & Cyprus, Suez Canal to Oman & Dubai voyage will enjoy an immersive evening at Limassol, Cyprus. Guests will be transported to nearby Omodus Village to explore the traditional mountain village of narrow cobblestone lanes and flowering trees. In a private section of the village’s central square, guests will enjoy dance performances, local wines and mezes.

For Theatre Lovers:

Exclusive Ballet at Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg

An evening at the ballet awaits guests on Azamara Quest’s June 22, Baltic Rendezvous & Kiel Fireworks voyage. This AzAmazing Evenings experience is held at the famous Mikkhailovsky Theater, where guests will be treated to a red carpet entrance and champagne before sitting down to an exclusive gala performance.

For History Lovers:

Neapolitan Party at the Agrumeto Gardens in Sorrento
The AzAmazing Evenings event during the Azamara Journey’s August 4, Vatican to the Acropolis voyage will recreate a 19th century Piedigrotta — a Neopolitan festival from medieval times. Guests will wander through a beautiful garden, enjoy performances from musicians and dancers dressed in 19th Century costumes, sample delicacies at market stalls and taste famous Neopolitan wood-oven baked pizza!

For Music Lovers:

Concert and Panoramas of Villa Rufolo in Amalfi

Guests on Azamara Quest’s September 7, Footsteps of Napolean & Amalfi Coast will enjoy an evening at the village of Ravello, Italy. Perched on a cliff, the village is home to Villa Rufolo and the beautiful garden that inspired Richard Wagner’s second movement of Parsifal. During the evening they will be treated to stunning views of the sea as well as a classical concert followed by delicious Italian sweets and sparkling wines.

For Jetsetters:

Sunset Hippie Beach Party in Ibiza
A beachside party awaits guests on Azamara Journey’s July 11, Azamara Summer Favorites voyage, in lively Ibiza, Spain. Guests will dance the night way to a 60s-inspired retro party at the famous Nassau Beach Club, host to international jetsetters and Hollywood celebrities.

AzAmazing Evenings are complimentary and held once a voyage and should be reserved prior to departure date. Find more information on AzAmazing Evenings here.

Bill Leiber

Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post Secret ingredient in Destination Immersion is the AzAmazing Evening! appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

I’m delighted to share with you the results of the 2013 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards.

• Both ships tied for the #1 “Best Overall” position in the U.S./Canada markets!
• In the U.K. the Azamara Journey scored the #1 “Best Overall” position and the Azamara Quest the #2 position!

Also we’re tops in “Value” with the Azamara Journey scoring the #1 position in both the U.S./Canada and U.K. markets, and the Azamara Quest the #2 position on both sides of the Atlantic.

Again we’re tops in “Service” with the Azamara Quest scoring the #1 position in the U.S./Canada and the Azamara Journey coming in at the #4 position. In the U.K. the Azamara Journey earned the #1 position and the Azamara Quest the #2 position. A complete scorecard for both ships in both market areas follows below. Also, you can find the full list of Cruise Critic winners here.

Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor of Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com), which is the industry’s most prominent outlet for consumer-oriented cruise travel news and information, stated, “These awards are based entirely on reviews submitted by cruisers, so they offer a terrific insight into what consumers think of the ships they have sailed on.”

Methodology: The 2013 rankings are based on Cruise Critic member reviews submitted during 2012. To be included, ships must have a minimum number of posted reviews and ratings in each category to be included in the top 10 list. Awards are given in three ship classes: small (no more than 1,199 passengers), midsized (1,200 – 1,999 passengers) and large (more than 2,000 passengers). The minimum number of reviews varies by ship size class. You can click here to read Cruise Critic’s complete methodology.

These latest awards validate the immense transformation that Azamara Club Cruises has undergone since our April 2010 rebranding. Loyal and seasoned Cruise Critic members in the U.S. and U.K. participated in the voting, and these Cruisers’ Choice Awards are significant recognitions for Azamara in two of our key source markets.

Furthermore, not only did Azamara Club Cruises win the top two Best Overall positions in the Small Ship category on two continents, we have garnered 35 top-5 awards out of a total of 40 possible Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards.

Here are the U.S. and U.K. rankings of the 2013 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards:

U.S.A.

Click here to read more

U.K.

Click here to read more

Of course our heartfelt thanks goes to our outstanding onboard hotel and technical management team and their staffs, along with our exceptional Captains and their crew. Thank you to everyone for all of your AzAmazing work in the ongoing transformation of the Azamara brand.

Our journey to excellence is an evolutionary process and we’re grateful for the positive feedback we’ve received from our guests in the U.S./Canada and U.K. as it will guide us forward in the year ahead.

Sincerely,
Bill Leiber
Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post Azamara Tops Cruise Critic’s 2013 Cruisers’ Choice Awards On Both Sides Of The Atlantic appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

Our primal fascination with pictures seems timeless. Pictures capture the reality of a moment and connect us with other dimensions of the human experience. They stimulate our imagination. If we are open to exploring the unfamiliar then there must be other ways of interpreting the world and immersing ourselves in it.

Early cave paintings validate that humans have wanted always to record who they are, what they do and where and how they live.

Long ago, it was only up to the painters to record humanity’s journey through time and space.

When the camera was invented, we had a new way to share with each other the places we’d seen and the things we’d done, and the ways they had contributed to our minds and spirit.

Now with social media, a new dimension has been achieved that validates the cliché that “a picture really is worth a thousand words.” There’s no faster way to convey those one thousand words than in an image.

“Photos and Comments from Our AzAmazing Guests”

With that in mind, over the past few weeks, Azamara guests have posted many amazing photos and comments about their voyages on our Facebook page. We wanted to share a few of these with you, and encourage you to visit our Facebook page and share your own photos with us here.

Share Your Own Photos

Cori says: “1 Azamara cruise = eager for more. 4 Azamara cruises = Azamara addiction!!!!”

John says: “Azamara Quest Black Sea and Greek Islands was a dream. Was about my 35th cruise and the service was exceedingly good. Maybe the best ever.”

Sharon says: “Looking forward to our Azamara Vietnam cruise next week. How exciting!”

Joyce says: “Took my 4 daughters on a “celebration of life” cruise-fantastic!”

Maureen says: “Absolutely the best cruise line I have ever travelled on!!”

Bruce says: “I have a countdown on my computer until our next cruise.”

Photos

Joyce says: “This is a title page that my daughter Nancy created for us to use for our cruise photo albums.”

Sharon says: “Hong Kong Skyline from the Quest at Harbour City.”

Laurie says: “Azamara Quest – Canary Islands, November 17 – An iPhone 5 picture of the newly refitted ship.”

Andrea says: “The one & only Portofino, Italy.”

Kathy says: “Azamara Quest. Bay of Kotor, Montenegro.”

I think it’s more fun to talk in pictures rather than have to read my suggestions about how you should think and feel about a certain destination. It’s a new shorthand: Picture > Mind-set.

Please share your destination immersion memories on our Facebook page!

Bill Leiber

Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post A Picture Really Is Worth a Thousand Words appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

Hello Azamara Fans,

If the Holy Land is on your “Bucket List” now is the opportunity!

This Spring and Fall we offer two different Mediterranean voyages that include visits to the Israeli ports of Ashdod and Haifa. Each port serves as the gateway to the wonders of Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Haifa when you select from a wide variety of optional Land Discoveries.

Within easy reach from Haifa are Galilee, Nazareth, and the River Jordan.

Voyage #1 – 10 Night Holy Land And Greek Isles, 15-May-2013 – 25-May-2013

On this voyage on the Azamara Journey, many late night departures allow time for exploring the ancient treasures and modern culture of the Greek Isles, Cyprus and the Holy Land. You’ll enjoy a full day in Náfplio, home to the Bronze Age treasures of Mycenae.

In Chania, Crete you’ll get another full day to wander the charming narrow streets and restaurants of this city’s ancient Venetian Harbor.

From Ashdod and Haifa, join optional Land Discoveries^® to Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth.

Then you’re off to explore the world-class mosaics, tavernas and great natural beauty of Paphos on Cyprus, followed by Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos.

Voyage Highlights:

Spend a full day and evening in the Southern Israeli port of Ashdod, gateway to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, with optional Land Discoveries to the Dead Sea & Massada, Jaffa & Tel Aviv, and Mount Moriah.

Spend another full day and evening in the Northern Israeli port of Haifa, from where you can visit Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. Or why not get baptized in the Jordan River?

The AzAmazing Evenings Event will be held in Haifa at a torchlight concert at a 2,000 year-old Roman fortress, featuring lively Klezmer music and sample traditional fare including shwarma, falafel, couscous and bourekas, along with beer, wine and other beverages. Then the evening closes with a symphonic orchestra performance befitting the ancient surroundings!

Then visit ancient Paphos on Cyprus, just as the Apostle Paul did on his journey. Wander the well-preserved crusader Fort of Rhodes only a short walk from your ship. You’ll also get to stroll through the charming Greek town of Nafplion for a taste of unspoiled Greece. And enjoy the shops and restaurants of two of the most famous of all Greek Islands – Santorini & Mykonos.

Click here for voyage details

Voyage #2 – 11 Night Vatican To The Holy Land Voyage, 8-October-2013 – 19-October-2013

On this voyage on the Azamara Journey, the summer crowds have thinned, and it’s now the time to explore world-class destinations including Italy, Malta and the Holy Land.

This voyage also includes full days to revel in the beauty of Sorrento, Taormina, and the Renaissance city of Valletta.

Your two days in Ashdod allow for excursions to the holy sites of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, the lowest body of water on earth. You’ll also have time to tour Tel Aviv and Jaffa, an ancient Biblical seaport with a landmark lighthouse, clock tower, and maze of alleyways leading to the harbor.

Another overnight in Haifa lets you explore the holy sites of Nazareth, Galilee, and the UNESCO World Heritage Old City of Acre.

Voyage Highlights:

Commence your cruise in Civitavecchia (Rome), home to the Vatican. During a full day in Sorrento explore Pompeii, Capri or the Amalfi Coast Villages of Positano or Ravello.

From Catania on the island of Sicily, visit the charming hilltop town of Taormina offering some of the loveliest views, and shops, in the Mediterranean. That evening, the AzAmazing Evenings Event – “Flavors of Sicily” will be held at the Castello di San Marco.

The crusader town of Valletta is the perfect historical jumping off point for your next four days in Israel. With one and one half days in Ashdod, southern Israel, there will be plenty of time to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem. Another overnight stay in Israel in the town of Haifa allows you time to explore Nazareth, The Sea of Galilee, or why not get baptized in the Jordan River?

Click here for voyage details

Both voyages offer a wonderful opportunity to capture the essence of Israel and the Holy Land in a few concentrated days with the reassurance that all our Land Discoveries provide.

I hope that this information is useful in helping you make your decision to add the Israel & Holy Land “once-in-a-lifetime” experience into your memories.

Bill Leiber

Chief Blogging Officer*
Azamara Club Cruises
(*CBO is an authorized and compensated representative of ACC)

The post This Spring Or Fall Visit Israel And The Holy Land In 2013 appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.

Hello Azamara Fans,

In the travel business, one of the most commonly used phrases is “once in-a-lifetime”. Although it seems like hyperbole, every once in a while those words can ring true.

We’re here to share with you three upcoming voyages that truly feature “once-in-a-lifetime” celebrations:

7 Night Semana Santa in Seville, March 27 – April 3, 2013

This special voyage highlights Semana Santa, the world’s most elaborate Holy Week celebration in the wonderful and historic city of Seville. Take in dozens of processions featuring ornate floats, lifelike wooden sculptures and priceless church art, accompanied by religious brotherhoods, brass bands and passionate followers. The most revered processions set out on Holy Thursday to arrive at dawn on Good Friday—and you’ll be there to see it.

With city hotels at a premium during this week, you can enjoy 3 days and 2 nights onboard the Quest. Your stateroom or suite, meals, gratuities, wine and spirits, bottled water, soft drinks and more will be included. You won’t find a more inclusive hotel in all of Seville. Enjoy an exciting six-hour evening river cruise, see the famous Rock of Gibraltar and enjoy an AzAmazing Evenings Event featuring the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Concert in St. Michael’s Cave.

Spend a full day in Valencia, where you don’t want to miss the City of Arts and Sciences. The beautiful complex houses a museum, gardens, a planetarium and more. Valencia is also home to the Silk Exchange, a stunning 15th century indoor marketplace that’s now a World Heritage site. And you’ll spend a full day and overnight in Barcelona onboard, conveniently docked within walking distance to the city and Barcelona’s most bustling street, La Rambla!

Take advantage of excellent back-to-back opportunities before and after the Semana Santa cruise:

1. Join in Miami on March 14 for a 13-night Transatlantic to the Canary Islands, then on to Seville.
2. Or, stay onboard in Barcelona on April 3 and sail another 7 nights to the famous French Riviera and conclude your cruise in sparkling Monte-Carlo!

Click here to learn more.

11 Night Celebrating Andalucia Voyage, April 10 – April 21, 2013

This voyage coincides with the Feria de Abril in Seville, Andalucia. This most famous and colorful Feria in all of Spain is one of the highlights of cultural agenda of not only Seville, but the entire country. The fair generally begins two weeks after the Semana Santa, or Easter Holy Week and is scheduled for April 16-21.

When city hotels are at a premium during this event, you’ll enjoy two days and one night onboard the Quest on a fully inclusive basis.

The Feria is essentially a small city of rows of casetas (individual decorated marquee tents which are temporarily built on the fairground for about a week). From around nine at night until six or seven the following morning, you will find crowds partying, dancing “Sevillanas”, drinking Jerez sherry or manzanilla wine, and eating tapas.

During the Feria de Abril the Azamara Quest will be conveniently docked less than a mile from the very center of the historic old town of Seville and within walking distance to the fairgrounds. No other ship can bring you closer to the festivities!

Voyage Highlights:

The cruise commences in glamorous Monte-Carlo and concludes in Seville. Once you arrive into Nice, then why not arrive in style and book a magic helicopter transfer from Nice to Monte-Carlo to embark the Azamara Quest?

You’ll spend two days and an overnight in lively Barcelona, conveniently docked within walking distance to the heart of the city. Take a day trip to beautiful Montserrat, or visit Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the island of Palma de Mallorca with its magnificent Gothic Cathedral and old Arab Quarter. And you’ll enjoy an AzAmazing Evenings Event at the Codorniu Cava winery where you’ll be treated to fabulous flamenco performances, with the chance to meet and talk with performers.

Soak in beautiful Valencia for a full day and evening and visit the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava, and the stunning Silk Exchange, once a 15th century indoor marketplace. With a full day in Motril, you can take a memorable excursion to famous Granada and the mind-boggling Alhambra palaces. Enjoy a river cruise in Seville and experience the famous Feria de Abril.

Take advantage of an excellent back-to-back opportunity by joining the 7-night Springtime Voyage to the Cote d’ Azur on April 3 in Barcelona.

Click here to learn more.

7 Night Seville April Fair Voyage, April 21 – April 28, 2013

This “Highlights of Spain” voyage coincides with the closing of Seville’s Feria de Abril, an annual spring celebration of dancing and socializing in festive pavilions called casetas.

An overnight stay lets you celebrate the festival’s last night, when pavilions called casetas overflow with celebrants dressed in traditional flamenco dresses and fitted suits, and fireworks explode in the orange-scented spring air. The Azamara Quest will be docked so close to the heart of Seville, you can enjoy the closing fireworks right from the ship’s deck.

Voyage Highlights:

The cruise commences in Seville and ends in Barcelona. From Madrid, you can fly to Seville or add another AzAmazing experience to your trip by riding the AVE High Speed train.

You’ll love the evening river cruise from Seville, passing a drawbridge on the way to the Atlantic. Then we’ll visit the famous Rock of Gibraltar and enjoy an AzAmazing Evenings Event featuring the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Concert in St. Michael’s Cave.

Spend a full day in Motril for a memorable excursion to famous Granada and the stunning Alhambra palaces. A full day in Valencia gives you the opportunity to visit the museum, gardens and planetarium at the City of Arts and Sciences. Valencia is also home to the Silk Exchange, a stunning 15th century indoor marketplace that’s now a World Heritage site.

Spend a full day and overnight in Barcelona, where the Azamara Quest will be conveniently docked within walking distance to the city’s famous, bustling street of and La Rambla. This is a great opportunity to take in wine and tapas, a flamenco show, and Barcelona’s famous nightlife. In Barcelona, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church and the gardens of Guell Park will amaze you, and you’ll love the views from peaceful Montserrat.

Take advantage of excellent back-to-back opportunities before and after the Feria de Abril cruise:

1. Join the Azamara Quest in Monte-Carlo April 10 and sail all the way to Seville.
2. Stay onboard in Barcelona on April 28 and sail another 7 nights all the way to glittering Monte-Carlo!

Click here to learn more.

I hope that you’re eager to learn more about these three “once-in-a-lifetime” voyages operating during one of the world’s biggest Holy Week celebrations! Please visit our website to learn more details or contact us for more information before you visit your travel agent. With Azamara, the phrase “once-in-a-lifetime” is more than just hype!

(Note – Information about Semana Santa, and Feria de Abril from Wikipedia)

The post “ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME” – HYPE OR FACT? appeared first on Destination Immersion Blog.