Azamara Cruises Unveils Destination Immersion® Elevated: A Bold New Era of Culturally Rich Travel

Monday, Apr 07, 2025 0

New Shore Programs and Onboard Enhancements Will Redefine the Way Travelers Experience the World Giving them a Deeper Journey and a Greater Story

Azamara Cruises, the small-ship cruise line renowned for Destination Immersion® and Extended Destination Days, is taking immersive travel to the next level with Destination Immersion® Elevated. Launching this dynamic initiative brings each port to life like never before, with new programming surrounding destination expansion, authentic local cuisine, cultural engagement, and elevated excursions. Azamara Cruises’ new initiative will more than triple their specialty voyages from 6 to 22, including introduction of 3 Solar Eclipse cruises in 2026. In addition, Azamara will offer 33 Country-Intensive voyages and 25 new ports in 2025-2026, providing guests more time ashore than any other cruise line—with 51% of time in port being late nights or overnights. This extended time allows for deeper exploration, meaningful connections, and a more immersive travel experience.

“Azamara Cruises is the pioneer cruise line in destination immersion®, and we take great pride in being the industry leader and continuing to push the envelope in immersive travel,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises. “Destination Immersion® Elevated has been designed to deepen our guests’ connection to the places we visit. With an enhanced culinary program, increased onboard programming, extended shore excursions, and more, we’re once again delivering richer, more meaningful experiences. We can’t wait for our guests to see what’s in store.”

Highlights of the New Onboard Programming:

Destination Events – Our Destination Events program will reflect the places we visit. On voyages of nine nights or longer, the pool deck transforms into a vibrant, alfresco dining experience featuring an elaborate buffet of regional dishes. Guests will enjoy local entertainment, from traditional music to cultural performances, for a fully immersive evening.

Daily Destination Entrées – Azamara Cruises is enhancing its Authentic Local Cuisine Program with more than 150 new locally inspired dishes across its main dining venues. For all 2025 European voyages, expert chefs from Croatia, France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have curated every menu, offering a rotating selection of multicourse meals that celebrate the culinary heritage of each destination, from Portuguese seafood stews to Japanese wagyu tataki.

Stories Under the Stars – a fire-side style event held on the pool deck and led by one of over 250 Destination Speakers. These sessions will bring to life local folklore and myths of the regions we visit, complete with s’more-themed desserts and spiked hot chocolate for a truly magical experience under the stars.
New Beverage Offerings – In addition to a curated selection of regional wines, Azamara Cruises will offer 21 Destination Beers as part of the premium beverage package, allowing guests to enjoy libations from destinations such as Australia and the Caribbean.

David Duff, UK and EMEA Managing Director says: “We are excited to share the news of Destination Immersion® Elevated, which builds on our commitment to offering our guests elevated travel experiences. The extended programming spans across land and sea, and we are proud to be able to showcase how sailing with Azamara Cruises is unique, as well as reinforcing why we are the leading cruise line in destination immersion®.”

Exploring More Ashore

Beyond the ship, Azamara now offers an expanded range of shore experiences, with over 13,500 Elevated Excursions available for the 2025-2026 season. Azamara continues its commitment to ‘own the night,’ introducing a new collection of 246 evening and overnight tours throughout the 2025-2026 season. Guests can now secure these immersive experiences up to 18 months in advance, allowing for more flexibility and in-depth exploration. From exclusive cultural encounters to extended overnight stays, these excursions provide a deeper connection to the people and traditions that define each destination.

Azamara Cruises is also introducing the brand-new Curator’s Collection – a series of exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, curated by the same team that brought AzAmazing Evenings. These intimate excursions are led by locals and offer unparalleled access to the heart of each destination.

Destination Immersion® Elevated offers more complimentary, exclusive, one-of-a-kind cultural engagements than ever before, including 34 new AzAmazing Evenings, the most in Azamara’s history. These intimate, authentic experiences, led by Destination Speakers native to the region, provide access to moments guests will never encounter on their own travels.

With these enriched offerings both onboard and ashore, Azamara Cruises continues to set the standard for destination-driven cruising, allowing guests to explore the world with depth, authenticity, and unforgettable experiences.