Page 17 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – November/December 2015

WITH YOU ON
THE ROAD OF LIFETM
AAA
TM
Let’s Talk Travel
Azamara Club Cruises
‘You’ll Love Where We Take You’
With well over 100 cruises under my belt and having interviewed more captains than I can count, I have never met a captain as personable, enthusiastic and visible with the guests as Captain Carl Smith. Every time he walks the decks he is cheered and stopped for photos and a quick chat...and he loves it. Born and raised on the Isle of Man (a small island in the Irish Sea), Capt. Smith has worked at sea for
23 years and has been with Azamara since 2007.
When he’s not at sea, Capt. Smith is at home on his farm in the Czech Republic with his wife and three young sons.
Q. What are your top three priorities as master of Azamara Quest?
A. #1 Of course it is safety for all passengers and crew, every minute of every day. #2 100% guest and crew satisfaction. In order for our guests to have an excellent onboard cruise experience, my crew must be completely satisfied. #3 Making every itinerary
a memory to cherish. We are on a sea voyage and visiting the most amazing places on Earth. I want all guests to enjoy every moment at sea.
Q. What are your three favorite ports of call and why? A. #1 Kotor, Montenegro – sailing the beautiful fjords before docking next to this ancient walled city in the Mediterranean. #2 Flåm, Norway – I love the stunning fjord scenery and have Viking blood running through my veins. #3 Shanghai & Hong Kong – exotic culture and delicious authentic food.
Q. What sets Azamara Club Cruises apart from the other upscale cruise lines?
A. We have longer port days, so our guests can
take more time on shore to do what they want and discover the region. We also have more overnight stays in the most popular ports, and we offer night touring. Our guests can really immerse themselves
in the destination. I also believe we have the most friendly and caring crew in the industry. Once you
step onboard you are totally taken care of. Our guests can relax and not worry about being charged extra
for spirits, beers, wines, bottled waters, sodas and so much more. Gratuities are also included, and on every sailing we host a special (complimentary) private event for all guests, “Azamara Evenings,” that everyone raves about. We offer a luxury product at an excellent value.
Do you love the comfort and ease of cruising, but want to spend more time exploring world famous and historic ports of call? Perhaps staying overnight in some of the great cities of the world and having the opportunity to have dinner in Naples, Italy or going to the ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia?
Do you want a more inclusive cruise aboard a smaller, more intimate vessel – without spending a fortune?
If you’ve answered yes, you need to ask your AAA cruise expert about Azamara Club Cruises.
Azamara separates itself from other cruise lines by offering longer port stays, more overnights and night touring on every voyage. That means passengers enjoy a more immersed experience by spending extra time (during the day and evening) in the local culture. And since Azamara is a boutique cruise
line with two ships, Journey and Quest, carrying a maximum of 694 passengers each, there are no crowds.
As I write this article, I am sitting on my verandah overlooking Copenhagen, Denmark (we are docked right in front of the Royal Palace) onboard the beautiful Azamara Quest. It is my third time cruising with Azamara, and they did it again – all expectations have been exceeded.
My husband and I are on a 12-night Stockholm, Sweden to Southampton, England sailing with overnights in Stockholm, Sweden and St. Petersburg, Russia (we were docked in front of the Hermitage Museum on the only ship to have walk-on and
walk-off ease in the heart of St. Petersburg), and we were in Amsterdam during the world famous Sail Amsterdam sailing regatta that only happens once every five years.
Every Azamara cruise is packed with complimentary, high-value amenities at a price that keeps guests coming back over and over again. (It’s like Azamara’s repeat guests have a special travel secret and they don’t want the word to get out – like a private travel club.) So what’s included? Complimentary spirits, wine and beer, gratuities, bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, port shuttle service and so much more. Suite guests also enjoy English butlers and even more onboard extras.
All Azamara cruises include a complimentary “AzAmazing Evening” featuring a private event highlighting local culture. Our AzAmazing Evening was held at the Grote Kerk (great church) in Monnickendam (20 minutes outside of Amsterdam in the beautiful Holland countryside), and it was
a fabulous organ concert bringing Rembrandt’s famous “Night Watch” painting to life.
Although our sailing was sold out, our Azamara experience never felt crowded or rushed. We were able to slow down and take in the amazing sights, tastes and sounds offered on and off the ship. Azamara is a fantastic cruise choice for upscale travelers wanting an all-inclusive and memorable cruise experience at a great price – without the crowds.
By Sandy Fenton
Tune into “Let’s Talk Travel with AAA” every Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on WHP-AM580. For more information, go to www.whp580.com and click on the link to “Let’s Talk Travel.”
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
17
Now!