A single nasal swab at the terminal was all it took. That was the extent of the Covid-related procedures passengers had to endure before boarding the Azamara Quest in Tokyo.
After boarding the ship for the final week in Japan, we headed further south, passing through Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and finally arriving in Singapore.
The ship spent about seven weeks in Japan starting in March, setting sail during the peak cherry blossom season and continuing south with a full complement of passengers.
Azamara is one of several cruise lines that have returned to Japan since the country resumed tourism last fall. Ships sailing here have implemented some Covid-related protocols, such as pre-boarding screenings required by Japan, which has made the return to cruising a smooth one so far.
The lobby area of the quest. Photo courtesy of Ramsey Qubein.
Soaring demand
Japan and the rest of Asia, one of the last places in the world to reopen their borders, are seeing a rapid increase in travel demand. When I sailed in March, there were zero vacant cabins.
Azamara officials say Asian sailings typically book up three to four months in advance, but this year demand for travel to the region has been so strong that cabins are selling out much quicker.
The Japanese Ministry of Tourism reported that international cruise ships visited Japanese ports about 1,900 times in 2019, with an economic impact of about $600 million. This year, about 1,200 port visits are expected.
Full deck at Azamara Quest. Photo courtesy of Ramsey Qubein.
Bucket List Travel
Many of the passengers who sailed Quest said the trip was a bucket-list trip. Some were finally rebooking itineraries that had been canceled during the pandemic, while others wanted to explore lesser-known ports that are only available on small-ship cruise lines like Azamara.
Some guests said they had not considered cruising in Japan until last year, but they felt it was the most convenient way to get around the country, without having to deal with language barriers on their own, and an ideal way to visit multiple destinations on one trip.
Quest had a predominantly American passenger base on this voyage, but there were a few passengers from other nationalities as well, including those from the UK and Australia (the company's two main markets).
The passengers had travelled widely, many of them ardent Azamara loyalists, and were eager to visit ports in Asia that were no longer off-limits.
To my surprise, I recognized several people who had been on Azamara cruises in the past, including some of the company’s top cruisers who had sailed at least 700 nights with the brand. It was clear that the itinerary attracted a diverse group.
The ship's Discoveries restaurant. Photo courtesy of Ramsey Qubein.
A warm welcome
This was my first visit to Japan since the pandemic, and I was surprised to see things mostly back to normal. Restrictions are mostly gone, except for the still-common practice of wearing masks and the presence of disinfecting stations everywhere.
After leaving Tokyo, Quest headed south to Osaka, but also stopped in smaller ports such as Kochi and Kagoshima, two cities in southern Japan. Activities included traditional katsuo grilling over a blazing fire, visiting the active volcano Sakurajima, soaking in hot springs, and taking a bullet train to Kyoto or Kobe.
Most notably, the arrival of the cruise ships at these secondary ports became an event for locals to see the ships and interact with the guests. In Kagoshima, locals made free origami ornaments and decorations at the terminal for passengers to take home, a generous gift that made a great souvenir. And in Kagoshima and Kochi, bands and school groups performed as hundreds of locals waved goodbye, shouting “Thank you for visiting” and “Have a nice trip.” It was a touching and poignant reminder of how cruises can impact local economies and connect people and cultures from around the world.
Azamara has also been busy with improvements onboard, including a new, faster WiFi system than previous versions. There are also impressive new vegetarian and vegan menus at Quest’s two specialty restaurants, the Mediterranean-focused Aqualina and Prime C steakhouse. Azamara’s executive chef is vegan and wanted to expand the menu onboard as more and more people are asking for it. Vegan options are now available every night in Discoveries’ main dining room, and are similar to the other themed flavors on the dinner menu.
The gardens surrounding the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Photo courtesy of Ramsey Quavan.
Extended port stay
Cruise experiences and shore excursions are largely back to normal. There are no restrictions on board for passengers, but crew members will continue to wear masks when inside. Shore excursions are free of pandemic-related restrictions, and travelers can expect to experience the same as they remember.
Everything is back to normal except for the negative COVID test required for boarding. Azamara’s popular products are back. The ship is spending more time in port, sometimes overnight, giving guests the chance to explore further than the usual 8am-5pm port visit.
For example, late-night trains from Osaka offer passengers the opportunity to take the train to visit neighboring cities independently if they wish.
Passengers who stay overnight in Kagoshima stay overnight at a ryokan. They can also visit Ibusuki, the southernmost seaside town in Japan, and indulge in the local tradition of hot sand bathing. People wear yukata robes and are buried up to their necks in the heat and volcanic sand of the beach, watching the waves crash in the distance. This natural experience is said to be good for both the skin and the immune system.
Ibusuki Beach, south of Kagoshima, is a place where visitors enjoy being buried up to their necks in hot sand. Photo courtesy of Michelle Blaugrund
AzAmazing is back and expanding.
Azamara has temporarily suspended AzAmazing evenings, a complimentary activity offered on all Azamara sailings during the pandemic that takes guests to unique and special locations in each destination and hosts events onboard.
They are back in full swing, with Hong Kong being the port of choice for the AzAmazing evenings on the Tokyo-Singapore route. And now, 10 years later, Azamara is doubling down on the concept, expanding the program with more activities on each voyage and even introducing a weekly version of the event.
AzAmazing Days connects guests with local food, musicians and entertainers along the coast for a daytime experience. The event will begin this summer, with the first event taking place in the picturesque Italian town of Portovenere. Guests at Azamara Onward will stroll through the town, enjoying a buffet catered by local chefs and musicians, and enjoying entertainment.
Additionally, Azamara has started adding Destination Celebrations activities that will allow you to experience more local sensibilities, such as cultural performances and local cuisine.
