17 Night Explorer’s Asia Voyage – March 2014

17 March – 3 April 2014

Join Wine Diva Deb as she explores exotic Asian ports on the Azamara Journey. The voyage balances relaxing sea days with tropical adventures.

With an overnight stay in Manila, trace General MacArthur’s footsteps or visit colonial Fort Santiago or Malacaiian Palace. In Sandakan, spend time with orange-furred friends at the Orang Utan sanctuary. And on Palopo, don’t miss a visit to Torajaland, an indigenous community living in raised homes surrounded by cliffside tombs guarded by lifelike effigies. Scout for dragons on Komodo Island and explore Bali’s rich traditions of music and art, volcanic landscapes and water temples. An overnight stay on Semarang provides access to three spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Borobudur, Prambanan and Sangiran.

Voyage Details

Port Details

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is neon lights, endless shopping opportunities from street markets to high-end malls, and an unbelievably diverse array of skyscrapers, all designed with the essential input of the feng shui man. On Hong Kong Island they seem to sprout like weeds, built on landfill because of the lack of level real estate. Look down it all from The Peak, with spectacular views over the city, harbor, and mountains beyond. And do save time for a delicious Dim Sum breakfast or lunch, a mouthwatering selection of savory snacks served in bamboo baskets, and washed down with Chinese tea.

Manila, Philippines

Manila was the jewel of the Spanish empire in the Pacific, and a colony of the U.S. after the Spanish-American War. Intramuros, the remnants of the walled settlement the Spanish founded in 1571, is today an evocative mix of ruins and churches, and contains the city’s most interesting museums. The famous Manila Hotel is a legacy of the American era, and was the residence of General MacArthur prior to the WWII. Be sure to take a ride in the unofficial symbol of the city, the jeepney, originally created by enterprising Filipinos out of surplus jeeps the US left behind. Decorated in bright colors with shiny hood ornaments, it is public transportation with attitude.

Palapo (Sulawesi), Indonesia

Palopo is your portal to the scenic highlands and gentle people of Tana Toraja. The Torajas practice an ancient and mysterious religion that is a mix of ancestor worship and animism. The roofs of their stilt houses are boat-shaped, and the homes are beautifully carved and painted with geometric designs. Rituals for the dead are colorful festivals that prepare the way for the soul’s entry into the hereafter. The most intriguing aspect of this unique culture is their haunting tombs – holes carved out high on the rock face and guarded by wooden effigies of the deceased, keeping watch across the surrounding lands.

Komodo, Indonesia

“Here be dragons”, the motto emblazoned on maps of old to designate lands and seas unknown, is in this case correct. The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest living lizard, and can be found only within Komodo National Park, of which this island is a part. A monitor lizard, it can reach a length of ten feet, weigh more than150 pounds, and live for over 50 years. Komodo also has a particularly rich marine life, with some 200 of species of reef building corals, hundreds of varieties of tropical fish, and whales, dolphins, and sea turtles too.

Benoa, Bali, Indonesia

Bali is enchanting – a lush, verdant isle where rice terraces color every available acre with the brilliant green of young shoots, and volcanic peaks said to house the gods tower above. It is a deeply spiritual place, where artful offerings of flowers and incense are ever present, and on any given day at least one of the thousands of temples scattered around the island will be hosting a colorful festival. Culturally rich, each village has its own artistic specialty – music, dance, painting, and sculpture. The beaches are tempting, but if you want the real Bali, head for the hills – the Balinese occupy that middle ground, and demons reside in the sea.

Semarang, Indonesia

This commercial port, busily exporting the island’s most important products (including of course the beans for your next cup of java), is your gateway to two amazing religious sites. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world – a 3D mandala (diagram of the universe), and perhaps a gigantic textbook to guide mortals striving to attain enlightenment. Prambanan is a complex of lofty, sharply sculpted towers honoring the Hindu triumvirate of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Both religions traveled this way with Indian traders in the early centuries AD.

Singapore

Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions meld in this island-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The site of the world’s busiest port, Singapore offers the Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour mall and Sunte, the world’s largest fountain. Play evening golf on lighted fairways; experience the nightlife on Mohamed Sultan Road; or relax at an outdoor spa. Be certain not to miss the savory seafood.

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

Pricing Details* (per person US$)

*Airfare not included in prices listed
 If airfare booking is made with Choice Air® a discount of $2000 (Window or Balcony)/person may be received off the Cruise fare at final booking.

	Balcony Cabin $6620
	Window Cabin $6220
	Inside Cabin $5420
Suites available, please email for pricing

To Reserve your space

Send email to: winedivadeb@yahoo.com or call Wine Diva Deb on 206-617-6160.

Deposit of $1100 is due upon booking.

All reservations based on double occupancy.  Non refundable $25 booking fee will apply to all booking. Travel Insurance highly recommended as well as Personal & Medical Insurance.

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.

^^ North American residents only