ANDREA McVEIGH’s first experience of an Azamara cruise was a positive one....

MOST cruise lines promote their friendly staff and customer-friendly itineraries, but few compare to Azamara Club Cruises. I was lucky enough to enjoy the Azamara experience this Autumn on its President’s Cruise aboard the Azamara Journey, featuring President and CEO, Larry Pimentel, as its special host.

The 10-night Western Europe itinerary featured hosted parties with Larry and his gorgeous wife Sandi, as well as informal chats and other events, such as a special excursion dinner and wine tasting.

Sadly, I was only on the ship for two nights on the Ireland/Wales leg of the trip, so missed the rest of the itinerary which included picturesque Bordeaux as well as the Spanish ports of Bilbao, Gijon and Vigo and Lisbon, Portugal. But, even in just two nights I was able to soak up the unique atmosphere and attractions of the Azamara experience.

The cruise departed from Dublin, which made a welcome change for this veteran cruiser, who is more used to schlepping over to London or further afield to join cruise ships.

Taking the train from Belfast to Dublin meant that my husband and I were able to bring as much luggage as we liked and not have to worry about airline suitcase fees or hand-luggage toiletries.

It’s clear as soon as your board the Journey - one of two ships in the fleet, the other being the Quest - that this upmarket boutique brand offers something very different and special.

This is cruising for the discerning passenger, with longer stays and more overnights, so you can really experience all that’s on offer from each port of call. The emphasis is on the experiences on offer, with a focus on the sights, sounds and culture of each destination.

To read the rest of Andrea McVeigh's feature on her Azamara cruise and see all the pictures, pick up a copy of Northern Ireland Travel News...

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