Azamara has named Beth Santos, Founder and CEO of the Wanderful brand, as Godmother of its newest ship, the Azamara Onward. Recognized by Business Insider as a changemaker transforming the hospitality industry, Santos is an experienced traveler who helps a community of over 45,000 women travel the world – aligning perfectly with Azamara’s mission to take guests to hidden gems, inviting them to delve deeper with intensive country itineraries, immersive land programs, and overnight stays.
“As a leader in the travel industry with a commitment to inclusion and a passion for discovering destinations around the world, Beth is an ideal godmother for our newest ship,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “We are inspired by Beth’s ambition to shape the future of travel, and our decision to name her as our Godmother reaffirms Azamara’s commitment to innovative and immersive cruise experiences.”
While living in São Tomé and Príncipe, Santos started Wanderful in 2009 as a travel blog, aiming to capture the experiences of women traveling the world. More than a decade later, Wanderful now connects over 45,000 women travelers through local events in more than 50 cities worldwide, group trips, and its online social network. Both the brand and Santos herself are continuous advocates for equality and inclusion in the travel industry, a mission that Azamara intends to support and elevate through this relationship with Santos. In addition to founding Wanderful, Santos created the Women in Travel Summit in 2014, the leading event for women and gender-diverse travel creators, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals, now held annually on two continents. Santos also launched the Bessie Awards, which celebrate impactful women in the travel industry, and Wanderfest, the first major outdoor travel festival created by and for women.
The first time he traveled on a cruise was at the age of two with his family, so Santos appreciates that cruises have a unique ability to bring people together.
“I am honored to have been chosen as a godmother for Azamara Onward,” said Beth Santos. “I believe that travel is about challenging your preconceived notions, trying new things, and taking the time to immerse yourself in a destination. I love that Azamara is encouraging travelers to do this through its itineraries, intimately sized ships, and overnight stays, creating moments for us to look more deeply into the world around us.”
Santos will christen the Azamara Onward in Monte Carlo on the evening of May 2, the first day of the ship's maiden voyage. A ship christening is an ancient naval tradition dating back thousands of years, and in keeping with maritime custom, Santos will christen the ship with champagne as part of the official naming ceremony. Guests will be part of this historic voyage, followed by an 11-night itinerary with stops in iconic Italian cities such as Florence, Rome, and Amalfi, concluding with an overnight stay in the romantic floating city of Venice.
