Azamara Cruises has announced that it will be sailing its first ever roundtrip South African cruise season out of Cape Town during 2020.
The luxury cruise line will homeport its ship Azamara Quest in Cape Town during January and February, 2020, sailing three 10-night roundtrip cruises in a similar mini-cruise season to what Silversea did in January this year.
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The new South Africa itineraries will coincide with two pre-and post-cruise packages from Micato Safaris, with the 10-night South African-intensive voyages combinable with multi-night stays at safari parks around the country.
These include:
Five-Night Kruger to Cape: A Wildlife & Culinary Safari (offered pre-or post-Azamara voyage) Before embarking on a voyage with Azamara, meet the Micato team in Johannesburg for an exploration from Kruger to Cape Town with stops along the way at a notable game reserve and a visit to the Western Cape, known for its world class wines and top-quality restaurants; an experience that will delight the senses.
Five-Night Wild Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls & Botswana Safari (offered pre-or post-Azamara Voyage): Travel through Zimbabwe to Botswana to experience one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls. This expedition also includes a dawn game drive through Botswana’s Chobe Game Reserve and an optional helicopter tour of the falls.
These additional land tours can be experienced as a pre- or post-cruise package.
Azamara promises to “offer an exceptional variety of immersive land programs that take travelers to the heart of Zulu culture, South Africa’s most famous wine region, and beyond” in publicity material released this week.
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The 10-night roundtrip cruises from Cape Town aboard Azamara Quest will visit Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Durban and East London before returning to Cape Town, where the ship spends two nights in port to give international passengers a chance to explore the city.
In November and December, Azamara Cruises are sending Quest’s sister ship Azamara Journey to the Mother City to conduct the same series of roundtrip Cape Town cruises again, but this time two of the voyages will be 10-nights, while the last will be a 15-night cruise around the South African coast.
Azamara Cruises is a boutique luxury line that emulates an upscale country club with world-class service and some of the best food at sea.
The main difference on this cruise will be an overnight stay in Durban as well as Cape Town, and the addition of Walvis Bay, Namibia as one of the cruise destinations. Prices for the 10-night roundtrip Cape Town cruises start at US $3,099 (R39,500), more information can be found on the Azamara website here.
The following shore excursions are being offered for all of Azamara’s roundtrip South African cruises in 2020.
Cruise Global, Stay Local – Kenya: On this overnight excursion, travelers will fly past Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa – and over the Great Rift Valley to Kenya’s renowned game reserve, Masai Mara, where they will spend the night at the Neptune Mara Rianta Luxury Camp, located along the Mara River. The excursion includes two game viewing drives in search of elephant, lions, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes and more.
Cruise Global, Meet Local – South Africa: On a day trip to Shakaland – a living monument of Zulu culture – travelers will be met by a Zulu guide who will act as an interpreter as he leads them through the village. Guests will learn how to make a sword and shield as well as build a traditional Zulu “beehive” grass hut.
Cruise Global, Taste Local – South Africa: Departing from Cape Town, the excursion will take travelers to the Paarl region – one of South Africa’s most famous wine-producing areas – for a formal vino tasting at a wine estate. Following, guests will pay a visit to Haute Cabrière – founded in 1694 and situated on opposite ends of the breathtaking Franschoek – where visitors will get to experience a deep passion for wine as well as a pairing comprised of two farms.
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