Azamara And The Tabernacle Choir Partner On Two Cruises, Offering Profits To Those In Need

If you’ve been hesitating about cruising, here’s an unusual chance to not only enjoy yourself on a voyage, but be a part of something special.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square — the renowned 360-member volunteer chorus — and Azamara, the leading premium cruise line in Destination Immersion® experiences, have joined together to invite compassionate worldwide travelers to help victims of conflict, famine, disease, and other crises.

In the face of global humanitarian crises like the conflict in Ukraine and drought in Africa, this charitable collaboration will donate 100% of the purchase price (excluding fees) from two Baltic cruises to CARE, the International Rescue Committee, and the American Red Cross, to alleviate suffering around the world.

”Cruise this summer and make a world of difference. Feel doubly good — take a cruise and make it worthwhile,” said Michael Leavitt, President of The Tabernacle Choir, volunteers who have given voice to the hopes, joys, trials, and triumphs of people around the world for over a century. “Our sincere thanks to Azamara for working with us to create this charitable cruise opportunity.”

The choir was forced to cancel its Nordic tour after years of planning, due to scheduling challenges from the pandemic. So they turned their misfortune into this charitable opportunity, partnering with Azamara.

The two fundraising cruises will be visiting ports in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Germany aboard Azamara Pursuit – the ship that the choir had originally reserved for travel during its tour. The seven and five-night voyages will be starting June 17 and June 24, 2022.

“This is an innovation formed by necessity,” said Leavitt, “an alternative way to achieve our original mission to bring peace and comfort where we perform. We figured the ship is going to sail. Why don’t we fill it with people who’d like to have 100 percent of the net proceeds of their passenger fare go to help those in need?”

“The Ukranian situation is clearly in our thinking,” said Leavitt. “But there are many people suffering devastation of war, hunger or disease, and many reasons that people have needs.”

“Our choir tours are always about bringing a sense of peace and spiritual uplift. And there is now an alternative way to do this: cruisers who are hoping to take a break this summer but would like to do it in a way that helps people.”

“I give so much credit to Mike and the entire Tabernacle Choir organization,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “Our team is energized to participate in something that is benefiting so many. Azamara strives to help people gain better understanding of the world and others around them, and this couldn’t be a better example of doing that.”

Guests can choose to book both cruises for a total of twelve nights aboard Azamara Pursuit, without repeating any ports throughout the Nordic voyage

The first segment, starting June 17, during the summer solstice, has stops in Finland, Poland, Germany, and Denmark. Travelers interested in diving deeper into the destination of Norway can enjoy a five-night sailing departing from Copenhagen, Denmark on June 24, 2022, and stopping in Norwegian cities including Bergen, Stavanger, and Arendal, ending in the capital, Oslo. To book, visit www.azamara.com/charitycruises (starting on April 20 at 11:30 am EST) or call 855-AZAMARA (292-6272).

“As we broke this up into two different sailings, we’ll be able to double the number of people who can participate,” Cabezas added.

And the timing is right: June 20 happens to be World Refugee Day.