With only three weeks to go until boutique cruise brand Azamara Club Cruises debuts in Australia, the brand has today released details of its 2018 deployment, including confirming it will return to Australia for a third and fourth season. The destination focused cruise line uniquely features voyages with longer stays and more overnights at ports to provide guests the opportunity to truly experience the destination at some of the most compelling locations of Europe, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Australia, New Zealand as well as Central America.

“Offering later stays and more overnights in port, Azamara Club Cruises delivers destination immersion like no other cruise line, and we are thrilled to add 31 new and unique destinations for the brand in 2018 including 10 new ports in Australia,” said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Azamara Club Cruises Australia.

Azamara Journey will arrive in Australia in January 2018 for the brand's third local season. The ship will reposition from Asia via the West Coast and bottom end of Australia to Sydney, with her first cruise including maiden calls at Exmouth, Fremantle (Perth), Bunbury, Albany, Esperance, Kangaroo Island and Adelaide. Azamara Journey will then offer three local sailings: a 14-night Tasmania & New Zealand sailing from Sydney to Auckland departing 8 February 2018; a 13-night Australia & New Zealand voyage from Auckland to Sydney departing 22 February 2018; and an 18-night Australia to Asia sailing from Sydney to Singapore departing 7 March 2018, which also includes a maiden call at the Whitsunday Islands.

Azamara Quest will also return to Australia in December 2018 for her second season sailing in the region. Azamara Quest will sail from Singapore to Fremantle on a 16-night voyage via the Java Sea and West Australia, which includes maiden calls at Broome and Geraldton. The ship will then offer a 15-night Christmas & New Year's cruise to Melbourne that includes an overnight docked in beautiful Sydney Harbour for their famous New Year's Eve celebrations.

“We are also excited to be offering more event sailings in the 2018 season including sailings for the World Cup in Russia, the famous Redentore Festival (Festa del Redentore) in Venice, a special World War II Remembrance Voyage to Normandy as well as a number of new golf cruises in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. For the first time we will also offer an epic 102 day World Journey from Sydney to London without a repeating port onboard Azamara Journey, which we expect to be extremely popular for our Australian guests,” continued Adam.

The 2018 World Journey voyage begins in Sydney on March 7 and ends in London, England on June 17. Travellers will have the opportunity to embark on an extended voyage of a lifetime sailing to 61 ports in 29 countries over 102 days as well as experience two major international events, 18 late night stays and 14 overnights, as well as 8 AzAmazing Evenings events. 

Azamara spends more time in destinations with late port departures and overnight stays allowing for deeper exploration.  Some of The World Journey highlights include Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Yangon, Dubai, Muscat, Barcelona, Lisbon and Amsterdam.

It also wouldn't be a world journey without making a couple of high profile appearances. This voyage includes the opportunity to attend both Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix:

• Cannes Film Festival: After taking in the sites of Rome and Florence, guests will head to Cannes, France. Film enthusiasts will be able to stroll along Le Promenade de la Croisette (the place to see and been seen in Cannes) or choose to sit back and people watch with a glass of rosé at a chic waterfront café.
• Monaco Grand Prix: Speed seekers will enjoy thrills at every turn while in port for Grand Prix. The race brings luxury yachts, buzzing helicopters and of course the rich and famous to enjoy the race.

Guests who partake in the entire 102-day journey will experience Azamara's world-class service before they even step onboard. Round trip airfare will be included for all full-cruise guests – business class for suite guests and standard air for all other staterooms, as well as a one night pre-sailing hotel stay in Sydney. The World Journey kickoff in Sydney will commence with a special celebration, hosted by President and CEO Larry Pimentel, to welcome aboard those embarking on the incredible voyage. The 102-day trip package also includes internet, $1,000 per person shipboard credits, a free bag of laundry every seven days and excess luggage reimbursement up to $500 per person. Full itinerary pricing starts at AU$39,599 per person for a Club Interior stateroom and ranges up to AU$103,049 per person for a Club World Owner's suite.

2018 Season Details

Azamara Journey will start 2018 with a series of voyages in Asia, Australia and New Zealand with cruise lengths ranging from seven- to 18-night in length. In April she will position to Europe for the northern summer, sailing via the Indian Ocean with calls to Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India. From May through to mid-October, Azamara Journey will offer Northern European and Mediterranean itineraries ranging from seven- to 15-nights. From November Azamara Journey will offer Caribbean cruises departing Miami including a luxurious 15-night Christmas & New Year voyage at the end of December.

Azamara Quest will start 2018 offering a range of seven- to 17-night open jaw and round trip sailings exploring the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Sea of Cortez and the Caribbean.  In April, Azamara Quest will position to Europe and sail a range of seven- to 10-night voyages in the Mediterranean until early October. In October, Azamara Quest heads to Dubai and then crosses the Indian Ocean to Asia before ending the year in Australia highlighted by the special New Year's Eve in spectacular Sydney Harbour.

About Azamara Club Cruises

With smaller ships that are able to go to places other cruise ships can't, Azamara Club differentiates itself - and gains loyal fans - by making destinations the star of the show. It does this by offering longer stays, more overnight calls and night touring, which gives travellers the opportunity to truly experience a destination - taking in the sights, sounds and flavours of local cultures in every port. Azamara Club's Insider Accesstakes guests behind the scenes at heritage estates, family farms, local shops and art galleries. Guests enjoy quiet conversations, shared stories and laughter with their hosts, gaining valuable insights and appreciation of local culture.

Nights and Cool Places are exclusive after-dinner experiences in small, intimate groups, ranging from a harbour yacht experience to a private gallery tour with a famous local artist.  This year, Azamara Club also launched its highly-anticipated Cruise Global, Eat Localprogram, featuring carefully curated dining experiences around the globe. Azamara does the sleuthing to lead guests to places the locals frequent, from a traditional family trattoria to a dim sum feast.

While destinations are the highlight, what's onboard also keeps guests coming back for more. Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest guests receive exceptional and personal service and enjoy fine cuisine and boutique wines from around the world. More is also included in each cruise – such as beverages, gratuities, self-service laundry, English Butler service for suite guests and shuttle transportation to city centres in ports, where available. 

Azamara Club also recently announced itsnewExclusive Nights in Private Placesprogram, offering an evening of luxurious private pampering, dining and sleeping under the stars on the private Thalassotherapy deck. This reservation-only experience for two includes private butler service, champagne and canapés, a beautiful buffet and seafood and meats cooked over a sizzling hot stone grill. A plush outdoor bed can be opened to the stars or enclosed with a roof panel and curtains.

Azamara Club Cruises' 2018 sailings will are on sale now. To make a booking or for further information visit www.azamaraclubcruises.com, phone 1800 754 500 or contact your local travel agent. Travel professionals can call 1300 754 500 or visit cruisingpower.com.

About Azamara Club Cruises

Azamara Club Cruises is a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSX: RCL), a global cruise vacation company that also owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture. Together, the six brands operate a combined total of 41 ships with four under construction. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 460 destinations on all seven continents.

RC RCL Cruises Ltd Australia commenced operation in December 2008 as the Australian arm of global cruise holiday company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The company offers three cruise brands in Australia and New Zealand: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.  In the 2015/2016 cruise season Royal Caribbean International will increase the local fleet to four ships: Legend of the Seas home porting in Brisbane; along with Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas home porting in Sydney. Celebrity Solstice will also sail her fourth local season out of Sydney, while Azamara Club Cruises will deploy its first ship ever to Australia with Azamara Quest in the 2015/16 season. December 2016 will see the arrival of Australia's largest, newest and most technologically advanced ship - Quantum Class Ovation of the Seas.