Why Azamara is Perfect for Travellers Who Want More Than a Cruise
When most people think about cruising, they picture enormous ships packed with waterslides, theatres, go kart tracks and endless onboard entertainment. For many people, that's exactly what they want from a holiday, but not everyone cruises for the ship. One of the biggest things I took away from learning about Azamara is this: The ship can enhance the holiday, but it doesn't mean it should BE the holiday. This is exactly why Azamara stand out.
More time where it matters
One of Azamara's biggest strengths is the amount of time you actually spend in each destination.
Around 60% of your holiday is spent in port, with more late departures and overnight stays than many other cruise lines. Instead of watching the clock and rushing back to the ship, you have the freedom to experience places at a much more relaxed pace.
Imagine watching the famous sunset in Santorini without worrying about missing the last tender. Exploring Dubrovnik's city walls once the afternoon heat has eased. Or, in South Africa, heading out on a daytime safari, returning to the ship for a shower and dinner, then going back out for a completely different experience on a night safari when all the other ships are departing?
Small ships, bigger opportunities
With around 700 guests, Azamara's ships are much smaller than many of the floating resorts you'll see sailing around the world.
That isn't just about having fewer people onboard. It means the ships can visit smaller ports that larger vessels simply can't access and even sail some rivers. This means you’ll often dock much closer to the heart of a destination too, giving you more time exploring and less time travelling to and from the sights.
It's a different way of cruising, where the itinerary takes centre stage.
A ship you'll look forward to coming home to
Focusing on the destinations doesn't mean compromising on the ship itself.
Azamara offers elegant surroundings, attentive service and
excellent dining, all designed to make your time onboard as enjoyable as your
time ashore. They have just announced the multi-million dollar ‘Azamara Forward’
investment programme, which is set to enhance all aspects of their ships, so
just because the focus is on engaging in the local cultures, that doesn’t mean
the ship is basic or an after-thought. After a day exploring, it's a lovely
place to return to.
Experiences you can't recreate onboard
One of my favourite things about Azamara is how it embraces the places it visits.
Take the Chef's Table experience, where guests may have the opportunity to source local ingredients alongside the ship's chef before enjoying a specially curated meal inspired by the destination.
Then there are the AzAmazing Evenings. These exclusive events are designed to immerse guests in the local culture through music, performances and unique experiences ashore. They're carefully chosen moments that help you connect with the destination in a way that feels authentic and memorable and this is what makes Azamara so special.
Is Azamara right for you?
In my opinion, Azamara is perfect for travellers who love discovering places rather than simply ticking them off a list.
It's particularly well suited to experienced travellers, empty nesters and anyone who enjoys learning about local culture, trying regional food and taking their time to explore.
On the other hand, if your perfect holiday revolves around waterslides, children's clubs and non-stop onboard entertainment, there are other cruise lines that are likely to be a better fit.
That's not because one is better than the other. They're simply designed for different types of traveller.
Final thoughts
One of the reasons I enjoy learning about different cruise lines is that no two are the same.
Some holidays are mostly about the ship. Others are mostly about the destinations.
If you're looking for a cruise where you can spend longer in port, discover places after the crowds have gone and come home with stories as well as photographs, Azamara is definitely worth considering.
