Question 1

Is there a presentation I can watch?

Accepted Answer

Check out this walk-through of the itinerary Zoom Recording 
Passcode: L9bv3FF%

Question 2

What will the vibe of the trip feel like?

Accepted Answer

Here is the vibe Steph is looking to create:

“Nerding out on how food is made, where it comes from, whose making it, and how it weaves into cultural experiences.”

“There will be fun spontaneous discussions, books, movies & music to dial up your anticipation, a group chat and more insider experiences.”

Question 3

What experiences will we have on land?

Accepted Answer

The rest of the cruise ship is going to be very jealous.  All of our tours are private.  Just for us.  And personally designed by Steph March who is tapping into her foodie network to create memorable experiences.  Details will be released with your final itineraries as we get closer to the travel date.  But some hints of what to expect include:

It’s time to go on a journey that’s delicious by design. Let’s scoot around Italy and eat and drink our way around the Amalfi coast and Croatia. We’ll check out lemon groves and see how limoncello is made, visit fish markets, immerse ourselves in Italian coffee culture, tour vineyards, sip regional brandies, and compare prosciutto to pršut at many meals along the way.  All the while, we’ll never have to repack! The Azamara ship will be our floating hotel that carries us along the dulcet waters of the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Adriatic Seas of the Mediterranean.

Question 4

How many people are traveling with Steph?

Accepted Answer

The magic of this trip is traveling with a small group of like-minded, curious and fun people.  The maximum group size will be 16 staterooms (up to 32 people).  Steph's goal is to keep it small and spontaneous like a group of friends at a cocktail party.

Question 5

How much will we be on land vs. sailing on the cruise ship?

Accepted Answer

Think of this less as a cruise and more of a way to see a lot of amazing places in one week.  By taking a boutique cruise ship we have more time exploring and less time packing & unpacking, wasting time in airports and train stations.

Since much of the sailing is at night, we will have full days on land.  Often arriving at 8 or 9 in the morning.  And not having to leave until the evening.  A couple of the departure times are 10 p.m. which allows for some spontaneous dinners or happy hours in town.  One exception is a day at sea to travel from Italy to Montenegro and Croatia.  Think of it as a perfect spa day or grab a book and find a nice nook to relax.  We will also have fun activities planned onboard.

Question 6

How big is the cruise ship?

Accepted Answer

We carefully selected the ship to feel more like a boutique hotel on water with only 360 rooms.  It will never feel crowded.  If you have an image of a large cruise ship holding thousands of passengers you can rest assured that is not what you will find on this trip.

Question 7

What are my room options?

Accepted Answer

All Staterooms and Suites can be configured with one or two beds.

OCEAN VIEW STATEROOM:  $4,995 per person (double occupancy)

VERANDA STATEROOM $5,395 per person (double occupancy)

SUITE OPTION 1: $5,795 per person (double occupancy)

SUITE OPION 2:  $5,995 per person (double occupancy)

Question 8

What are the options for solo travelers?

Accepted Answer

If you would like to reserve your own room as a solo traveler, the additional cost for a single supplement is:
Ocean view - An additional $2,936
Veranda - An additional $3,172
Please note, pricing and availability are subject to change.

If you don't want to invest more, we may have other solo travelers interested in sharing a room to qualify for the double occupancy rate.  We will be happy to make introductions to see if it's the right fit.  However, this will solely be your responsibility to make a roommate decision.   Please note, the ship will sell out so changing rooms onboard is not likely.

Given the high level of interest from solo travelers Steph is working on future trips designed for solo travel.

Question 9

How can I protect my investment?  Do I need insurance?

Accepted Answer

The only way to protect your travel investment is to purchase travel insurance.  Trip-cancellation protection is strongly recommended to cover all non-refundable trip expenses.   Please contact us to get a quote.  Ballpark prices include:

If Participant declines insurance coverage, they will personally assume full responsibility for any financial loss associated with the travel arrangements, and Participant could lose their travel investment and/or have to pay more money to correct the situation.

For example, Participant will suffer a loss if:

Their flight has been cancelled and the cruise, hotel and tours are nonrefundable; 
Participant needs to cancel the trip due to illness with them or close family member; 
A natural disaster occurs while traveling and Participant is stranded; 
The cruise line, airline, or tour operator files for bankruptcy; 
A terrorist incident occurs at the destination Participant planned on visiting; 
Participant has a medical emergency in a foreign country and needs medical attention or evacuation; 
Bags are lost and medication is in them, and Participant needs to have an emergency prescription filled; or 
Participant’s passport and wallet are stolen, and they need emergency cash and a replacement passport.

Question 10

What are the covid protocols?

Accepted Answer

Much like hotels and resorts there are no Covid requirements such as proof of vaccination or masking requirements on this trip.

Question 11

Why is the pricing cheaper on the Azamara website?

Accepted Answer

The pricing on the Azamara website will appear lower because it is a cruise only fare.  We are offering a package that includes:  Private group experiences.  Culinary excursions personally designed by Stephanie March, meals with Stephanie March, spontaneous meet ups, accommodations, most meals, and gratuities. Please note the rate does not include international air, incidental costs (i.e. alcohol, some meals, pre/post travel).

Question 12

What are the cancelation terms?

Accepted Answer

We will make all reasonable efforts to try and negotiate future travel credits and/or refunds with suppliers in the event you need to cancel your trip.  Please know we make no promise or guarantee favorable terms can be achieved.   THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT IS BY PURCHASING TRAVEL INSURANCE!!!

Cancelation terms:

Refund Timeline
$500 cancelation fee per person if canceled 121 days prior to sailing
75% refund if canceled 120-91 days prior to sailing
50% refund if canceled 90-61 days prior to sailing
25% refund if canceled 60-31 days prior to sailing
No refund if canceled 30-0 days prior to sailing

Other non-refundable Pique expenses
Trips paid by credit card - the 3.5% processing fee charged by banks.
Bank wire fees

NOTE:  Non-refundable expenses are in addition to the cancelation timeline percentages.  Supplier terms may be more stringent and supersede the terms above (a copy is available upon request).

Frequently asked questions