Luxury Lite,” New Niche is Working for Azamara Club Cruises
Let’s face it, Azamara Club Cruises ships (all two of them) only hold a total of 640 passengers each. Two other cruise lines, Oceania and Princess have six nearly identical sisterships. And, frankly, even in their verandah staterooms, the bathrooms are compact and the rooms are a little on the smallish side.
But, Azamara has stolen a big march on their competition by becoming more inclusive and adding elements of its more expensive luxury competitors. Since last April they offer complimentary wine at lunch and dinner, free soft drinks, coffee and tea drinks and bottled water. Not stopping there, they also offer paid gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff, and in-port free shuttles. Suite level guests also receive concierge service and no-fees for the two alternative restaurants on the ship.
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Even with this impressive list of value-added extras, that’s not what separates Azamara from its competitors. What makes them different is they have seriously revisited how to provide great guest services from a happy and congenial crew. The Captain, will often sit in the Cova Café and have an espresso with whatever passengers who might wish to “chat him up.” And, the officers of the ship will take over graciously serving at one of two wonderful on-deck barbecues held during each cruise. When guests return from a long day of shore excursions, the security personnel will go to extra lengths to welcome them “home,” with the wish they had a great day ashore spoken aloud.
The result is that the passengers seem to be having a much more enjoyable time. Jan Milligan, from Cruise Holidays of Woodinville recently returned from an Azamara Club Cruise and said that they “had become her newest favorite cruise line, over the 100 or so cruises she’s taken in the past 20 years.”
While Royal Caribbean debuts its second mega-ship with the Allure of the Seas, and Celebrity shines with the arrival of the beautiful Eclipse, the baby sister in this cruise company, Azamara Club Cruises is hitting its stride in becoming the first, and still only “Luxury Lite” cruise line. Perhaps the most romantic spot at sea today is dinner at one of the umbrella tables located in the stern outdoors with pseudo candles, guitar player and all—congrats Azamara.
Tags: azamara club cruises, azamara cruises, caribbean luxury, luxury cruise, luxury versus contempary ships, travel rewards
