Journey’s arrival here – the vessel was redeployed to North America this year due to the Red Sea conflict – was the perfect opportunity for the Azamara sales team to showcase the ship and promote brand awareness to Canadian traveladvisors.
It has been a huge success. “I’m so impressed with the interest in Azamara in the Canadian market. It’s blowing my mind,” said Katie Gerhard, Azamara’s Associate VP Sales, Canada and Eastern U.S., during an interview with Travelweek.
Ship tours were held in Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax, attracting upwards of 85 advisors in each location, some of whom, according to Gerhard, “came on trains, planes and automobiles.”
Azamara has not sailed in Canada since 2017, but Gerhard confirmed that Canadian sales numbers are rising, with bookings skewing slightly higher from Eastern Canada due to a larger population in the region. North America – which includes Canadians and Americans – is the largest source of Azamara’s business.
“Canada is going to get a lot of focus in the next two years because we’ll have departures from the East Coast in 2025 and the East and West Coast in 2026,” Gerhard told Travelweek, referring to Montreal and Vancouver serving as turnaround ports in the next two years.
With ships covering both ends of the country, Gerhard promises many more tours and training for advisors to learn about Azamara.
The grand staircase, the focal point of Azamara Journey’s atrium
KEY AZAMARA TAKEAWAYS
. Four near-identical vessels carrying no more than 702 guests
. A relaxed, unhurried, and uncrowded cruise experience
. Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Onward, all refurbished in 2024
. Boutique ships that can slip into small ports that larger ships cannot reach
. What’s included: Variety of dining venues including room service; Cocktails, wine, beer and standard spirits, with premium beverage package upgrade available; Self-service laundry; Crew gratuities; AzAmazing Experience – an exclusive complimentary entertainment or cultural event for all guests on voyages of 10 days or longer
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- The main dining room operates in open-seating format
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- Italian Specialty Restaurant Aqualina (US$40 cover charge, complimentary for suite guests)
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- Club Continental Suite is 326 square feet including veranda
‘DESTINATION IMMERSION’
“Destination Immersion – we coined that phrase and we’re bringing it back on all of our marketing,” said Margarita Peloso, Strategic Business Development Manager (SBDM), during her presentation.
Some 80% of Azamara itineraries are spent in port, with 32% late-night stays and 45% overnight stays.
“Azamara spends up to 10 hours in port or overnight. We really are the leaders in offering a richer, more fulfilling small-ship experience,” Peloso added.
Azamara offers unique itineraries, visiting iconic sites but also many hidden gems. Azamara also offers a robust pre- and post-cruise program that includes partners Micato Safaris and Perry Golf.
Top picks for Canadian clients: Greenland and Iceland from Montreal in summer 2025, and Alaska from Vancouver in 2026.
The Drawing Room is the ship’s library with a unique ceiling
TRAVEL ADVISOR SALES TOOLS
. Register on connect.azamara.com to access marketing materials, images, trade and consumer offers, and the RezA booking engine
. Complete the Azamara World Academy self-paced training program and receive $100 bonus commission for first booking within 30 days of completion, and priority invites to ship tours, seminars at sea, travel advisor rates
. Contact Azamara SBDMs for training and consumer events. Ask to be added to their distribution list to receive updates, promotions and invitations to events: Margarita Peloso, mpeloso@azamara.com, territory: ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL; Colin Price, cprice@azamara.com, territory: MB, SK, AB, B.C.
For more information see Azamara.com
The Azamara sales team – Margarita Peloso, SBDM Canada East, Katie Gerhard, Associate VP of Sales, Canada and Eastern US, and Wendi Spellman, SBDM Mid-Atlantic, Bermuda