Our first day in San Francisco!
The fog over the beautiful city of San Francisco certainly didn’t stop guests from gathering on the top deck to take in the amazing views as we sailed past Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge.
As we sailed in, classic songs about San Francisco played loudly, really adding something special to the experience. We even saw two guests waltzing together on deck! And then they kissed under the Golden Gate Bridge — so romantic!
Now that we're docked, we're here for three whole days! Talk about an opportunity for Destination Immersion® experiences. It's easy for guests to get out and explore the city on their own, or book some of the fantastic Azamara Shore Excursions we have planned.
We hosted our third #CruiseChat of the week with Cruise Global, Connect Local shore excursions Manager Monica, and a very special guest — Azamara’s President and CEO @LarryPimentel!
She shared her experiences planning Cruise Global, Connect Local shore excursions, and what makes Azamara’s shore excursions truly special and immersive:
. @PortholeCruise Overnight? It's in our DNA. Taj Mahal in India, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Holy Lands... #CruiseChat #AzAmazing
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 13, 2014
. @philatravelgirl Usually what I love, the guests love as well - because I always pick the best tours! ;) #AzAmazing #CruiseChat
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 13, 2014
.@jkheaton We're about to introduce a new shore excursions - insider tours! Food, culture, even more destination immersion. #CruiseChat
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 13, 2014
I love night tours because you can really feel the city at night, it comes alive. #AzAmazing #CruiseChat
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 13, 2014
Since the AzAmazing Evening was tonight, most guests opted for the “Hop On, Hop Off” tour of the city today, which allows lots of flexibility and makes it easy to get around and see the sights.
On our way to the Inglenook Winery in Napa Valley, the site of this voyage’s AzAmazing Evening, we sat with Boban, the ship's sommelier, to get some wine tips. Here are some of the best tweets from that:
Say hello to Boban, our sommelier! #azamazing #cruisechat pic.twitter.com/6OyFXAXkfy
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 14, 2014
Boban is from Macedonia and has been a sommelier for nine years. He's been with Azamara for four and a half years. #azamazing #Cruisechat
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 14, 2014
If you're drinking Californian red wine, it can actually go with any kind of food. It's very balanced wine. #azamazing #cruisechat
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 14, 2014
Boban has been all over the world with @AzamaraVoyages. His favorite destination so far isn't known for wine - Antarctica! #cruisechat
— Azamara Quest (@AzamaraQuest) February 14, 2014
Boban loves the Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. It's full bodied, complex #wine, very rich and complex… http://t.co/2sDhyn6gR4
— Azamara Club Cruises (@AzamaraVoyages) February 14, 2014
Captain Jose AzAmazing Evening guests as they arrive at the Inglenook Winery
The Inglenook Winery’s estate was beautiful, and large enough to easily accommodate hundreds of guests without ever feeling crowded. In every room, there was different wine, food and music.
One room had an Italian theme, with chefs making fresh mozzarella right in front of us, and delicious beef and butternut squash ravioli dishes. There were pulled pork sandwiches, pizza, and dumplings as well as artisanal cheeses and lots of sweets. The outdoor areas were lit beautifully, and heat lamps kept guests warm.
Everywhere we went, there was more food, wine, and music!
It was truly a great opportunity for guests to meet Captain Jose, as well as some of the other Azamara crew members.
And then, with the AzAmazing evening over, we returned back to San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge.
See more photos on our Instagram page!
Once again, keep following the Azamara Quest on Twitter, and stay tuned for Day Three!
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