Azamara Club Cruises knows that travelers not only want to visit destinations, but also want to immerse themselves in the wealth of cultures and nightlife found there. Among those are individuals who revel in a destination’s unique culinary offerings and seek out vacations that can whet their appetite.
Azamara, as a result, has hand-crafted a variety of diverse and enticing voyages that will take gourmands on a trip of a lifetime. From Bordeaux vineyards at their peak to savory Basque tapas, these options include delectable opportunities for wine, cheese and seafood lovers alike. Up-market travelers also can further elevate their epicurean voyage with the cruise line’s authentic, exclusive and bespoke AzAmazing Evenings, which vary from voyage to voyage and feature events such as a tapas and flamenco show at Spain’s famous cava producer Cordoniu Cellars.
“Azamara Club Cruises offers handcrafted voyages to some of the world’s incredible places and takes them there at peak times so they may immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and tastes of a region,” said Edie Bornstein, senior vice president of Marketing and Sales, Azamara Club Cruises. “Azamara’s unique value proposition of longer stays and more overnights in port offers guests opportunities for night touring tofurther cultivate their culinary appreciation through these gastronomic voyages.”
For example, during Azamara Quest’s August 16 Route of the Wine Traders voyage, guests will delight in a collection of ports along Europe’s Atlantic coast – from Southhampton, UK to Seville, Spain. Starting at St. Peter Port, guests can explore this charming Channel Island replete with World War II history and known for incredible dairy produced from the famous Guernsey cows. Guests can take in the sites of the French-inspired isle and then enjoy a pint of Randall Beer and a bit of cheese at a seaside pub for an unforgettable experience.
The voyage continues with two full days in Bordeaux, France, where Azamara Quest docks in the city’s center and becomes a floating boutique hotel in a prime location. From here, wine connoisseurs may travel to the world-renowned vineyards in the Bordeaux countryside, such as St. Emilion, Margaux, Haut-Medoc and Pauillac, when they are at their most picturesque and grapes are ripe for the picking. Before departing France, guests will call at St. Jean-de-Luz, in the unique Basque region with its excellent cider houses.
Another two full days at St. Jean-de-Luz allow for an excursion to the food-lover’s town of Bayonne, France, home to fine chocolates and the cured ham seasoned with regional peppers and named for the town. Guests also can choose an excursion across the border in Spain for a lively evening of superb tapas at the festive town of San Sebastian.
This incredible voyage continues with calls at Bilbao in northern Spain, known for its robust Rioja wines surrounding the Laguardia Village and the Frank Gehry Winery at El Ciego. Also found in the region are Lisbon’s distinct Green Wines and rich Port wines that guests can pair with Portugal’s famous cod fish from its fresh and bountiful seafood tradition. Concluding in Seville, Spain, guests can toast their 12-night voyage with a glass of Jerez Sherry while enjoying an evening Flamenco show. Adventurous guests may even choose to pair their Andalusian wine with local shellfish or the regional dish of battered sea anemones.
Wine aficionados also have a variety of voyages from which to choose, from the wines of Southern Italy and France onboard Azamara Quest’s October 16 Principality to the Vatican voyage, to the wines of Sicily, Catalan and Valencia on Azamara Quest’s November 2 Vatican to the Alcazar voyage. Those on Azamara Quest’s Aug 28 Alcazar & Alhambra to the Vatican voyage also will enjoy an exclusive and complimentary AzAmazing Evenings event at the Cordoniu Cellars. The Cordoniu family has been producing Spain’s famous sparkling cava wine since the 16th Century. On this visit, 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, with a chance to meet and chat with the performers afterwards.
While onboard guests can enjoy the cruise line’s dining offerings which include the newly enhanced Discoveries Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in an elegant and inviting atmosphere, as well as Window’s Café for casual dining. Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey also feature two specialty dining choices: Aqualina, featuring Mediterranean-inspired fine dining, and Prime C wine bar and steakhouse, where guests enjoy a wide selection of the prime cuts of meat cooked to order.
