Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

It's here! The Cruise Holidays & Tour America Red Cow Annual Holiday Sale Day.

Tour America & Cruise Holidays, Ireland's leading tour operator to the USA and Cruise Holidays, are this week launching our Annual Sale Day at The Red Cow Moran Hotel to take place on Sunday 7th October.

 

This is the 12th year Tour America & Cruise Holidays have run this holiday show, and we have organised for suppliers from all over the USA to join us on the day. From cruise companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line with a host of special offers and top tips for our cruise clients. Some of the key tourist boards from the USA will also be there including Florida Beaches, Las Vegas, Massachusetts, California, Deep South and much more.

There will be at least 30 exhibitors, with lots of gifts for you and your family; there will be a children's area, and all the Tour America experts there to bring you all the exclusive offers of the day. In addition, we will have key guest speakers to keep you up to date with all that is travel, and to provide you with additional information on all the destinations available to book in the USA wih tips, advice and special offers on the day.

And if you're a technology savvy person, you'll be able to connect with us on the day through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Foresquare. We'll be taking pictures and videos so you can tag yourself, we'll be tweeting event information (Q times, deals on the day etc.) and much more. And we'll have a competition on the day to give one lucky person a €100 One4All gift voucher just for checking in on their mobile phone either through Facebook or Foresquare. If you have been before, you will know how busy it is, so arrive early. If you have not been before, now is your chance to take advantage of the best holiday prices for the USA and cruising. Doors open at 10am (admission is free) and the fun continues till 6pm.

Azamara to host Titanic cruise

The Azamara cruise ship is scheduled to depart from New York City in April next year and is set to travel to the Titanic's original destination in Halifax, England.

This new commemorative cruise has courted some controversy though, given that the original Titanic sank after clashing with an iceberg back in 1912.

Over 1,500 lives were lost in the sinking of the ship which has since garnered something of legendary status, particularly after the release of James Cameron's Titanic in 1997.

As part of the commemorative cruise, passengers will be invited to participate in a special expedition to the original wreck site and take part in a memorial service.

The macabre nature of the trip does not end there, with guests invited to visit three Halifax-based cemeteries to pay their respects to the dead.

Vacationers and fans of the doomed ship will be in good company though with a range of celebrity guests onboard.

These include Titanic artist Ken Marschall, Ben Mr Ocean Liner Miller and Captain Bill Wright, who is the current commander of the Allure of the Seas, the World's Largest Cruise Ship.

All three will be giving onboard talks with Mr. Wright hopefully ensuring a safe trip for one and all.

Azamara launches 'Extended Voyages'

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Azamara Club Cruises has launched ‘Extended Voyages’ which allows guests to join two, three, four or more consecutive cruises into one experience. By combining select consecutive cruises onboard Azamara Quest or Azamara Journey guests can embark on a holiday of a lifetime, ranging from 11 to 78-nights without repeated ports of call. 
 
“Azamara Club Cruises is inviting travellers with the desire to travel further and for longer,” said Edie Bornstein, vice president of Sales and Marketing, Azamara Club Cruises. “Guests can choose among 114 possible Azamara Club Cruises Extended Voyages combinations that repeat no more than one port and delve deeper, explore more and discover a region’s hidden gems.”
 
Guests wanting a longer adventure can book Azamara Journey’s 77-night cruise from Stockholm (Sweden) to Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy). Departing 27 June 2012, the sailing features 25 overnight stays, four being two consecutive nights, where guests can experience the nightlife of Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (Holland), Paris (France) and Seville (Spain). This Extended Voyage features the Norwegian Fjords itinerary, which highlights the North Seas Jazz Festival, one of the world’s premiere musical festivals. 

 
For those keen on exploring the Far East, Azamara Journey’s Piraeus (Athens, Greece) to Hong Kong (China) cruise departs on 26 October 2012. This 72-night cruise, combines six cruises – Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal; Luxor, Petra, Sinai & Eilat; Luxor Petra & Sinai; The Spice Coast & Ceylon; Burma & Andaman Sea Islands; Vietnam & Thailand, Christmas and New Year – for an in depth exploration of the region, plus an opportunity to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong through a Land Discoveries excursion.
 
Azamara Quest departs Singapore on 29 February 2012, on a 78-night cruise, sailing from Singapore to Piraeus (Athens, Greece). This combines six cruises – Trade Routes to the Orient; Japan & Taiwan; Manila, Sabah, Borneo, Komodo & Bali; Spice Route; Petra, Sinai & Luxor; Holy Land, Egypt & Suez Canal.
 
During Extended Voyages guests have more time to enjoy Azamara Club Cruises’ service and inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff; complimentary bottled water, soft drinks, speciality coffee, and teas, as well as complimentary red and white boutique wines to accompany lunch and dinner; complimentary self-service laundry; English Butler service for suite guests; and shuttle bus to city centres in ports, where available.

 

Second Titanic Cruise for 100th anniversary

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

It’s just been announced that another cruise vessel is to be used to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the doomed 1912 transatlantic voyage of the Titanic.

Azamara Journey will cruise from Boston on April 9, 2012, to where the Titanic now rests on the ocean floor, spending three days at the site..

Bill Willard, president of Willtiger Corp - the company which has organised the charter - said, "We’ll be at the exact site at the exact time 100 years after the RMS Titanic met its demise to remember those lost and the ship. Throughout, we will offer guests a deeper understanding of what Titanic’s passengers experienced through a great schedule of enrichment programs and memorials."

The nine-day roundtrip itinerary will feature three memorial services; a wreath-laying ceremony; and presentations by maritime researchers and historians, as well as executives from international Titanic societies and survivors' relatives. Menus will also feature dishes served aboard Titanic.

Passengers can also take an optional visit to the Titanic cemeteries, the Maritime Museum and other memorial sites in Nova Scotia.

 

Azamara Visits Dublin

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Azamara Club Cruises is bringing a touch of class to our capital next summer with two luxury voyages visiting Dublin Port.

On the 17th August 2011 the bespoke 694-guest Azamara Journey will sail on a 12-night Iceland and Norwegian Fjords cruise.  Departing from Copenhagen (Denmark), the ship will feature an overnight in Reykjavik, and include calls at Bergen and Geiranger (Norway), Lerwick/Shetland (Scotland), Akureyri (Iceland), and Torshavn (Faroe Islands) before arriving in Dublin on 29th August, 2011.

Azamara Journey will also offer a 10-night voyage departing Dublin Port on 29th August, 2011. The ship will feature two days in Bordeaux (France), as well as call at Holyhead (Wales), Cork/Cobh (Ireland), and Bilbao, Gijon and Vigo (Spain), before finishing with another overnight in Lisbon (Portugal) on 8 September, 2011.

Larry Pimentel, President and CEO Azamara Club Cruises, comments:

“We are delighted to bring Azamara Journey into Dublin twice in the 2011 summer season.  Our up-market boutique brand continues to grow in favour with British and Irish travellers who seek distinctive destinations, delivered uniquely. Our itineraries offer more late-night and overnight stays so guests can enjoy a more immersive experience while on an Azamara holiday cruise.”

 

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Whether you’re a culture vulture or a food fanatic Azamara Club Cruises has a land-tour to suit your taste. From pyramids and palaces to tango and bazaars, an itinerary can be combined with an Azamara cruise for a package that offers a more authentic cultural experience for every guest.

Ranging from two-to six-night escorted land adventures, cruisers can enjoy eight of the world’s most exciting destinations, including Rome, Athens, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Istanbul, Jordan and Israel, India, and China.

All cruisetour packages embody Azamara Club Cruises’ philosophy and deliver extraordinary service by every member of the staff and crew, savouring the regions’ cuisine and fine wine and focusing on wellness and vigour, onboard and on land.

All land-tour itineraries are escorted by a Tour Director or a local host, and feature accommodations in five-star hotels located in metropolitan centres. In addition to the included experiences, guests will enjoy plenty of time for personal exploration and shopping, with full breakfast in the hotels, additional selected meals, all transportation and ground transfers included in the land-tour itinerary.

“The introduction of these new offerings will enable up-market travellers to enjoy an even more immersive adventure with Azamara Club Cruises,” said Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “Guests have more opportunities to experience the cultures of exotic destinations by extending their voyage with a land-tour itinerary for an enthralling holiday. Throughout, every staff and crew member will deliver Azamara Club Cruises’ extraordinary signature service to our guests.”

In summer 2011, guests of Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest can choose a two-night Athens or three-night Rome cruisetour package. In addition to the must-see sites in Athens, guests on this cruisetour will learn the traditional Greek dance of Syartaki and learn to make their own set of Greek Komboloi beads, believed for centuries to possess stress-relieving properties. The Rome cruisetour includes a visit to the Pope’s summer residence and Oastia Antica at the mouth of the Tiber River to see some of the most well-preserved Roman ruins and mosaics, as well as enjoy authentic Italian food and wine tastings and escorted tours of the Vatican City’s museums and historic buildings.
     
In the 2011-12 Austral summer, Azamara Journey guests can choose a three-night Buenos Aires & Iguazu Falls land-tour holiday extension to experience all the culture, flavours and colours of this vibrant South American city. The cruise holiday tour also takes guests for an overnight trip to the breathtaking Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil.
   
Guests of Azamara Quest also have a range of cruisetour package choices for a more in-depth experience in the Near East. A two-night Istanbul cruisetour visits all the iconic sites of this ancient city, including a reading of guests’ fortune from Turkish coffee drippings, while they enjoy a panoramic view of the bustling city from atop Pierre Loti. A four-night Jordan and Israel itinerary delves into the cradle of Western civilization and a three-night Cairo itinerary features a visit to the wondrous pyramids of Giza on camelback and the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

And in the Far East, guests can rediscover the inland metropolises of India, including Delhi, Agra for the Taj Mahal, and Jaipur on an amazing five-night itinerary. Additionally, a five- or six-night cruisetour itinerary unveils the cultural heritage of China in Beijing, Xian and Hong Kong.

Azamara experience just got better

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Azamara Club Cruises is reporting its highest ever levels of guest satisfaction over the last 100 days since enhancements to life onboard were made.

The newly trained butlers onboard topped the score charts, achieving the maximum possible ratings from all guests. Since the New Year, all butlers onboard the two 694-guest Azamara Club Cruises ships have undergone traditional English butler school training.

Larry Pimentel, president and CEO, Azamara Club Cruises remarked;

“I have spent decades working in the upmarket cruise sector, and these are the finest guest satisfaction scores I have ever seen. The only area of guest comments where there are any negatives is that they simply wish they had known about Azamara Club Cruises earlier!”

Azamara Club Cruises announced its rebrand in December 2009 and changes implemented from April include bottled water, specialty coffees and teas, all meals and room service, house wines with lunch and dinner, housekeeping and dining gratuities, shuttlebus service to/from port communities and self-service laundry all offered with no additional charge.

Azamara Club Cruises has crusie holiday itineraries covering Asia, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Europe, the Panama Canal and South America/Antarctica.

 

See Europe with Azamara

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

 

See Europe in style next summer with Azamara Club Cruises. Departing Dublin on August 29^th 2011 and taking in France, Spain and Portugal, this ten-night luxury cruise holiday costs just €2111 per person.

 

To see what Azamara has to offer check out this video.