Introducing Destination Immersion Elevated by Azamara
For years, travellers have flocked to small-ship cruise line Azamara Cruises for once-in-a-lifetime experiences offered through their unique AzAmazing Evening and Destination Immersion programme. As they sail into the 2025-2026 season, Azamara are stepping it up once again with the introduction of Destination Immersion Elevated. More than tripling their speciality voyages and offering increased opportunity for cultural engagement and elevated excursions, Destination Immersion Elevated invites curious travellers into the very heart of each port, and with 51% of time in port being late nights or overnights, guests have more time ashore than any other cruise line.
“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 programme, 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.”
Cultural Engagement
It’s good news for AzAmazing Evenings enthusiasts, as there are not one, not two, but a phenomenal 34 new activities planned as part of the programme’s ongoing campaign to boost cultural engagement. If you're not sure what we're talking about, AzAmazing Evenings are completely unique to Azamara guests, fully immersive, complimentary cultural experiences, which transcend standard cruise entertainment. These evenings will include diverse musical performances and regional dance demonstrations and will run in tandem with astonishing onboard performances from over 200 local entertainers, including indigenous Australian vocalists and comedic troupes from Cape Town.
As if that weren’t enough, Destination Immersion Elevated also heralds the exciting launch of Stories Under The Stars. Led by one of over 250 local Destination Speakers, these are intimate fire-side style storytelling events held on the pool deck, which will delve into the local myths and folklore of the region. With spiked hot chocolate and s’more themed desserts, guests can enjoy an inspiring night under the stars, all without leaving the comfort of the ship. For those in need of some R&R, the Sanctum Spa will also be getting a piece of the action with all-new, destination themed treatments, such as the Hellenic Spirit volcanic stone massage, and the Tuscan Odyssey, which features fragrant lavender and citrussy bergamot.
Destination Expansion
As part of the Destination Immersion Elevated programme, Azamara are set to triple their renowned speciality voyages from 6 in 2024 to 22 in 2025, as well as docking at 25 new ports, and introducing 33 country-intensive voyages and 3 Solar Eclipse cruises. If you’re in the market for an experience like no other, look no further than one of the seven new AzAmazing journeys announced for the 2025-2026 season: spend three nights in Mumbai, delving into India’s rich history, or investigate the hidden treasures of Santiago during an extended stay in Uraguay—the world is truly your oyster on an Azamara cruise.
Indeed, with their focus on allowing guests more time ashore than any other cruise line, Azamara are proud to announce 14 new 2-night city stays, including Bangkok, Bridgetown, Malaga, Mumbai, and New York City, amongst others.
Elevated Excursions
The 2025-2026 Destination Immersion Elevated programme includes over 13,500 meticulously planned land experiences (as opposed to 2024’s 10,000). These are available for booking up to 18 months in advance and include unforgettable Curator’s Collection tours led by locals, exclusive to Azamara. As well as seizing the day, Azamara is also keen to ‘own the night’, with 246 evening and overnight tours throughout 2025-2026 providing guests with the opportunity to explore some the world’s most awe-inspiring sites from an entirely different perspective.
Authentic Local Cuisine
Comprising of regional dinners on the pool deck with locally provided entertainment, Destination Events are a highlight of every Azamara cruise. In honour of the Destination Immersion Elevated programme, onboard dining has seen a contemporary refresh, with carefully curated menus created by chefs from Italy, Spain, Portgual, France, and Croatia, among others. In addition, the culinary team will be unveiling 150 new Daily Destination Entrees, as well as 21 new Destination Beers, including Asahi from Japan, Cruzcampo from Spain, and Guinness Draught straight from Ireland.
