Newly Refurbished Azamara Journey Visits Kobe

Azamara Club Cruises’ ship Azamara Journey, which recently underwent a refurbishment, arrived in Kobe for the first time on Thursday.

The overnight in Kobe is part of her 14-night Victoria Habour to Beijing itinerary from Hong Kong, featuring an overnight in Shanghai and stopovers at Xiamen, Kagoshima, Seoul and Tianjin.

Mr Isao Iio, Azamara Club Cruises’ Representative in Japan said, “We are pleased to feature Kobe as Japan’s newest port for Azamara Journey’s North Asian cruises from Hong Kong. What’s more, with the overnight stay in Kobe, our cruisers will have more time to explore its unique attractions both day and night. From Kobe, our guests can tour the beautiful cities of Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and the famous Mount Rokko nearby.”

Kobe is one of Japan’s most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. This habour city is famous for its delicious Kobe beef, and the overnight stopover will not only let Azamara Journey’s guests visit the city, but also explore Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Mount Rokko nearby on Azamara Club Cruises’ shore excursions.

Azamara Journey’s renovated look features a refresh of all public spaces and staterooms and a new “Azamara Blue” exterior hull. On the culinary front, passengers can now enjoy a new caviar and champagne bar within Aqualina, one of the ships’ two specialty dining venues, as well as a new Chef’s Table concept featuring three wine degustation menus – Italian, French and Californian.

The 11-deck, 694-guest ship Azamara Journey offers concierge-style amenities, including fresh-cut flowers, Elemis toiletries, plasma TVs, plush European bedding, world class spa treatments with the finest therapists and aestheticians.

For meals, guests will have a choice of one of two specialty restaurants: Mediterranean-influenced Aqualina and a stylish steak and seafood restaurant Prime C, the main dining room, or the casual dining venue.

Guests aboard can enjoy a suite of inclusive amenities such as complimentary red and white boutique wines to accompany lunch and dinner, English Butler service for suite guests, and the recently-launched AzAmazing Evening – an immersive complimentary destination event ashore featured on every voyage.

Azamara specializes in what it calls Destination Immersion, meaning longer stays, more overnights and night touring in ports of call. This allows Azamara guests a richer stay in the destinations, to enjoy things like live music, theater and restaurants, and clubs that light up after dark.

Azamara Journey is in Asia till April and offers 8 to 17-night itineraries around Asia from Hong Kong, Tianjin and Singapore.

All her Asian voyages feature overnight stays in ports such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Hanoi, World Heritage Site Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh, Shanghai and Kobe.

The ship will return for the second consecutive Asia season in 2013/2014.