14 Night Food & Wine Voyage-August 2014

20 August – 3 September 2014

Join Wine Diva Deb on this voyage and enjoy the delights of the food and wine regions of France and Portugal. You will sail on the Azamara Journey which is a smaller ship, and is filled bow-to-stern with wondrous luxuries and appointments that enhance your voyage of discovery-making it one that you won’t soon forget.

Voyage Details

Azamazing Evening

A Soirée at Le Hall de la Bourse – Bordeaux

Steep yourself in the elegant culture of Bordeaux, one of the world’s premier wine-growing regions. Following dinner onboard, a short walk from the ship brings you to Le Hall de la Bourse, the stately and elegant 18th century stock exchange building constructed during Bordeaux’s Golden age. Like many classical and neoclassical buildings of Bordeaux, Le Hall de la Bourse has been renewed with extensive renovations. Dramatically lit arches, floral arrangements and white linens add to the romance of this French soirée that includes wine-tasting, French ballads, Can-Can dancers, and a selection of canapés and desserts. You’ll have the opportunity to do a little dancing of your own too. Très bein.

Port Details

Southampton, England : 20 August

Muse on voyages past as you sail in or out of Southampton, long a maritime center, its yards turning out warships for king and country from the Hundred Years War in the 14-15th centuries, to two world wars in the 20th. It was the departure point for the Mayflower in 1620, and for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912. The charms of London are not far away, but pray tarry in the south to explore other wonders, including Bath, with its natural hot springs and stunning architecture and the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge, or venture all the way west to Lands End, and the wild moorlands and pirate haunts of Cornwall.

St. Peter Port, Channel Islands : 21 August

Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency off the coast of France, British by virtue of the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and the subsequent merging of the two territories. St. Peter Port overlooks the harbor, with rows of brightly painted houses, and terraced gardens. The island is ideal for rambles along cliffside paths and through the bucolic interior. While traditional fishing, flower growing, and dairy farming are still important, Guernsey’s favorable tax climate has of late brought an influx of offshore banks and insurance companies, with their attendant bistros and boutiques.

Nantes, Loire Valley, France : 22-24 August

The Loire Valley is situated in Central France along the middle stretch of the Loire River. The area is abundant with vineyards, fruit orchards, artichokes and asparagus fields. The central part of the Loire River valley is listed as a World Heritage Site.
With its special combination of rich natural beauty and special cultural heritage it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in France. Whether riding a bike between the picturesque chateaux, walking in the footsteps of Joan of Arc, Leonardo da Vinci and Rabellais or sitting under a tree you are never too far from a vineyard.
The wine region includes Muscadet on the Atlantic coast and the regions of Sancerne and Pouilly-Fume in the north. Loire wines exhibit a characteristic fruitiness with fresh, crisp flavours. The 65 appellations within the valley include many styles of wine including red, white, rose and sparkling. Wine from the Loire Valley are the most popular wines ordered in France. Grape varieties within the valley are many such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Malbec.
Along with enjoying the wine there are also a number of spectacular heritage chateaux in the area, including Château d’Amboise, Château de Chambord, Château de Chinon, Château du Rivau, Château d’Ussé, Château de Villandry and Chenonceau.

Bordeaux, France : 25-27 August

Bordeaux’s fortunes have long been tied to viticulture, beginning with an expansion of the wine trade with England in the 14th century. As a result it is a handsome and cohesive city of uniform classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and many fine mansions financed by the almighty grape. The nearby countryside is alive with wine chateaux sporting impressive appellations such as Pauillac, Sauternes, Margaux, and Saint-Emilion. A visit is an excellent opportunity to learn more about wine production and appreciation, which of course requires a considerable amount of tasting to accomplish.

St. Jean de Luz, France : 28-29 August

One of France’s most picturesque beach retreats, St. Jean de Luz is a prosperous Basque town best known for its architecture and cuisine. A prosperous fishing port, it grew rich in the 16th century from fishing and whaling, supplemented by piracy that was backed by the French king. In fact many of the handsome old houses in town were built on the proceeds. In the magnificent Church of St John the Baptist, with its fabulous baroque altar, the Sun King, Louis XIV King of France, married Marie-Therese of Spain in 1660.

Bilbao, Spain : 30 August

If Bilbao wasn’t always a household name, it was transformed with the opening of Frank Gehry’s groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in 1997. Located in the heart of the Basque Country, Bilbao became an instant media darling and tourist mecca. And that was just the beginning of an exciting phase of development in infrastructure and cultural activity, which combined with the Basque love of food, wine, and laughter, solidified the city’s place in the annals of tourism.

Porto, Portugal : 1 September

At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies the city of Porto, known mostly for its port wine trade. With origins dating back to the 5th century, there is plenty to see in this town that was named European Capital of Culture in 2001. Stroll the Ribeira neighborhood along the river, explore the Cathedral area, or tour the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river. Savoring a taste of tawny port, tripe and seafood while here is highly recommended.

Lisbon, Portugal : 2-3 September

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

On Board Inclusions

• A bottle of wine per person to enjoy in your cabin**
• On board wine tasting party with Wine Diva Deb**
• Four course gourmet wine paired lunch in the Specialty Dining Room with Wine Diva Deb**
• Exclusive onboard amenities
• On AzAmazing Evening^SM event on every voyage
• Select standard spirits, and international selection of beers in addition to boutique red and white wines throughout the voyage
• Gratuities (dining, bar and housekeeping)
• Shuttles to/from port communities, where available
• Bottle of Champagne per stateroom
• Destination-influenced entertainment & enrichment
• 24-hour room service
• Bottled Water, Sodas and specialty Coffee & Teas
• Personal stationery
• Concierge Service
• Self-Service Laundry
• Spa and Wellness Center
• All gourmet meals
• Casino
• Aqua Spa and Fitness center
• Piano and Wine bar, and Live Entertainment

**Included in optional Winemaker package for an additional US$125/person

Purchase Winemaker package

Pricing Details* (per person US$)

*Airfare not included in prices listed

If airfare booking is made from US or Canada with Choice Air® a discount of $500 (Window or Balcony) or $1000 (Suite)/person may be received off the Cruise fare at final booking.

	Balcony Cabin $6095
	Window Cabin $5495
	Inside Cabin $4995
Suites available, please email for pricing

To Reserve your space

Call Wine Diva Deb at 206-617-6160 or send email to: winedivadeb@yahoo.com.

A deposit of $1,100/cabin or $2,220/Suite is required. Final payment is due April 30, 2014.

All reservations based on double occupancy. Azamara Club Cruises reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement on all guests if the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel exceeds US$65 per barrel. Non refundable $25 booking fee will apply to all booking. Travel Insurance highly recommended as well as Personal & Medical Insurance.