Azamara and Royal Caribbean are two cruise companies that have built a great reputation in the cruise line industry. They have been established for quite some time and are known to help interested travelers travel the world via sea. While Azamara is defined by an ‘exclusive’ category of cruising focusing on in-depth access to regional places and a more immersive experience, Royal Caribbean is known for providing grand and large-scale travel opportunities to interested people, deriving its strength from its grand cruise ships, and a diverse variety of itineraries and events for passengers onboard.
Considering all of this together, it is clear that although both names have established themselves in the market, there is still some confusion that connects the two.
The History of Azamara and Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean cruises was established years ago and being one of the oldest cruise lines in the industry, it has made a name for itself for being the trendsetter for many new cruises. Royal Caribbean was the first cruise ship to make activities like rock climbing, ice skating, and even surfing onboard a cruise ship available. Azamara Cruise operates on a smaller scale and has been in existence only for 17 to 18 years now. The cruise was established to provide a more immersive and personalized experience of regional places.
Azamara and Royal Caribbean both have a major link. It is that the Royal Caribbean Group originally founded Azamara. They have operated under the Royal Caribbean umbrella ever since and successfully created its name and place in the industry. Only in recent years did Royal Caribbean decide to sell the Azamara cruise line, citing that the decision was made to put more focus on its other brands like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea Cruises.
Current Owners of Azamara
The current owners of the Azamara cruise line are Sycamore Partners. Royal Caribbean sold Azamara cruise line to them in 2021, transferring full ownership of the cruise line, and four ships that are part of the Azamara fleet.
Sycamore Partners is an American equity firm that operates mainly in consumer, retail, and distribution investments. Azamara Cruise Line still focuses on operating small-sized ships that provide longer stays at port stops and immersive cultural experiences; the only difference is the ownership. Now, Azamara is operating as an independent cruise line.
Related: Best Cruise Lines for First-Time Cruisers
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article provides you with more clarity about the connection between Azamara and Royal Caribbean and the current scenario. Azamara Cruise Line was first introduced as a smaller ship fleet under Royal Caribbean’s umbrella but is now an independent cruise line under the name of its parent company, Sycamore Partners. Next time you want to book an Azamara or Royal Caribbean cruise for your vacation time, choose CruiseBooking.com for seamless service!
