Upmarket cruise lines are taking full advantage of global happenings by creating sailings that coincide with big-name events.
Azamara Club Cruises, for example, calls itself "a destination-immersive cruise line" for clients who want to do more than observe the places and cultures they visit.
In addition to more overnights in ports and late-night departures in 2012 and 2013, the two-ship line is offering several cruises that were designed around popular celebrations and activities.
Next summer, jazz aficionados are the target market for the Azamara Journey's July 6 Skagen & Hague Jazz voyage, which begins with an overnight in Copenhagen and concludes with an overnight in Amsterdam. It calls in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where guests can attend the North Sea Jazz Festival. On the last day of the festival, the ship sails at 2 a.m. to offer guests ample time to enjoy post-festival celebrations.
In 2013, during the Azamara Quest's Jan. 31, 12-night Carnival voyage, the ship will overnight in both Buenos Aires and Punta Del Este, Uruguay, before arriving in time for two nights in Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase Land Discoveries packages that offer up-close seating to catch all the pageantry.
"These types of cruises are Azamara's bailiwick," said line spokesman Harry Liu. "Many of our voyages are planned to coincide with major cultural events around the world to offer our guests the opportunity to join in these celebrations."
Per-person fares for the Azamara cruises start at $2,999 for the Carnival sailing and $3,249 for the Skagen & Hague Jazz voyage.
Crystal Cruises, with two Brazil sailings during Carnaval in 2012, will provide four opportunities for clients to experience the Carnaval spectacle during overnight calls in Rio.
The line said the Crystal Symphony's Miami-Rio and Rio-Buenos Aires voyages on Feb. 6 and 20, respectively, end or begin on the parade's two best nights, Sunday and Monday, when 30,000 costumed members of the top samba schools entertain the crowds with singing, dancing, drumming and colorful floats.
The 14-day, Feb. 6 voyage begins in Miami and calls in Barbados; Devil's Island, off the coast of French Guiana; and Maceio, Salvador and Rio, Brazil. Fares start at $4,520 per person if booked by Oct. 31.
The 12-day, Feb. 20 cruise visits Rio, Buzios, Ilha Grande, Paraty, Santos/Sao Paulo and Itajai, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; and Buenos Aires. Until Oct. 31, fares start at $5,840 per person. Excursions cost extra.
SeaDream Yacht Club is hoping to entice car racing enthusiasts to book its Sea Dream I, which will offer a precruise excursion to the 70th Grand Prix of Monaco from May 24 to 27. The excursion cost hasn't yet been determined, but fares for the cruise, departing from Nice, France, on May 26, begin at $4,899 per person.
The ship will call at St. Tropez, France; and Portovenere, Viareggio, Portoferraio and Portofino, Italy, before concluding in Monaco on June 2.
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