Luxury Travel Advisor - September 2007 - (Page 60) CRUISES MICHAEL’S CLUB is a sophisticated spot for relaxation. AFLOATWI AZAMARA TH Our cruise expert shares two days aboard his Azamara Journey. BY DAVID EISEN Day 1: Bayonne to Bermuda If there is one thing flattering to say about Bayonne, NJ, it’s that it has one of the most easily negotiable points of embarkation we’ve ever passed through. If you’re like us, airport crowds incense you, and having to deal with long lines before stepping aboard your cruise administers the same effect. Well, our journey to Bermuda on Celebrity Cruises’ new “deluxe” brand, Azamara Cruises (ww.azamara cruises.com), got off on the right foot, as we never broke stride on the way through the terminal, to the check-in desk, to the shuttle bus and, finally, onto the ship itself: thumbs up for Azamara. Now the easy part: enjoying the cruise. First, some quick backstory: Azamara currently exists as a two-ship fleet, Journey and Quest, the latter beginning service in October. Note: A slight hiccup caused a one-day sailing delay of Journey, which set out on its first voyage on May 6 after a “too ambitious” dry-dock period, as Dan Hanrahan, the line’s president, put it. The Azamara brand was launched to fill an identifiable niche between premium and luxury and Azamara promises to visit less-traveled ports for its clientele, who are more likely to be seasoned travelers looking to visit untapped ports of call. Once on board, we made our way up to our stateroom on Deck 6 (Journey has 11 decks altogether and is easy to navigate). The ship is quite striking because of its detail. It’s unlike bigger mass-market ships, whose interiors, while over the top and striking, have the potential of leaving a bland, generic taste in your mouth. Not Azamara Journey, which, prior to joining the Royal Caribbean International family, was part of the now-defunct Renaissance Cruise Line. A quick dry-dock later and presto, change-o: the lift-off of Azamara Journey. As a result, hallways and corridors now exude a bedand-breakfast feeling, from the bronze inlaid railings to the Oriental carpeting. Stateroom 60 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | September 2007 http://www.azamaracruises.com http://www.azamaracruises.com
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