It is interesting to note that neither of Azamara Club Cruises’ two vessels, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, received a christening ceremony. This also means that they don’t have a godmother, which is certainly unusual for 21st-century cruising.
Despite not following through with maritime tradition, both vessels have proven immensely popular with cruise passengers. The line places a heavy emphasis on destination immersion, with more overnight stays than any other line – enabling passengers to gain authentic daytime and evening experiences in each port of call.
It is this ideology along with enriching onboard experiences that have led to cruise agents receiving a surge of interest. So much so, in fact, that Azamara Club Cruises has decided to hold its first ever christening ceremony for their new ship – and it will be held in the UK. The decision was made after the new ship, which will be named Azamara Pursuit, received double the demand for bookings from the UK market.
Upon leaving P&O Cruises, where Azamara’s new ship currently sails under the name of Adonia, the vessel will travel to dry dock in Barcelona for an extensive revamp. On the 3rd August 2018, she will leave the dry dock and head towards Southampton, where she will depart on an Icelandic sailing. She is due to return to Southampton on 28th August 2018, where she will receive an official christening ceremony.
The success of the new addition to the Azamara fleet is likely to have been a result heavy marketing campaigns and the fact that Adonia had a large following. At 30,277 gross tonnes, she is currently the smallest vessel of the P&O Cruises fleet and offers a more intimate feel. While increasingly larger sister have been introduced over the years, Adonia has continued to offer a more traditional style of cruising.
Azamara Chief Operating Officer, Carol Cabezas, said “This ship has a very strong British heritage and it has a fantastic following here. Plus we have seen a tremendous amount of demand from the UK audience – the general sourcing has doubled on Pursuit against the normal UK contribution.”
“We’ve never had a christening in our brand’s history and we want to do that in Southampton.”
Information of who will be Azamara Pursuit’s and the line’s first godmother has yet to be confirmed, but Cabezas stated that it will be a woman who embodies the line’s love of destinations and travelling.
Owned by the Royal Caribbean holding company, Azamara Club Cruises offers a style of cruising that heavily emphasises the destinations visited. Although this means that less time is ultimately spent on board the ship, guests can still enjoy a luxurious onboard experience. Included in each cruise fare is a range of drinks including spirits, beers and wines; gratuities; bottled water, coffees and teas; and shuttle services to and from the port where available.
While new and increasingly larger ships continue to appeal to a younger audience, the smaller and more traditional vessels hold significant value with more experienced cruisers. With this in mind, there really has never been a better time be a part of the cruise industry and GoCruise can offer this unique opportunity. By owning a franchise, you will be able to earn competitive rates of commission on every booking you secure. You will also receive all the necessary resources and training from our head office in Ipswich to ensure your business is a success.
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