Azamara Cruise Ships
Azamara has four very similar R-class ships, built around the turn of the century for Renaissance Cruises and later extensively refitted for the current company. Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest were delivered in 2007, Azamara Pursuit (ex Adonia) in 2018 and Azamara Onward (ex Pacific Princess) in May 2022. Journey and Pursuit accommodate 702 guests in 351 staterooms, Onward – 684 and Quest will have 726 guests once her 2026 refit completes, adding more suites. All three R-class ships were dry-docked for refurbishment in 2024, but the layout remains the same. Discoveries Restaurant and Windows Café are the two included dining venues, Aqualina and Prime C are specialty restaurants, The Patio by the pool, Mosaic Café for coffee, and The Sanctum Spa, including Thalassotherapy pool.
The Azamara cruise ships are entering a new chapter with Azamara Forward, announced in early 2026 as the most extensive renovation program in the company's history. It launches with Azamara Quest's sailing on December 18, 2026, adding a new Penthouse Deck with twelve suites exclusive to that ship, a dedicated Chef's Table restaurant, an Atlas Bar that will roll out fleetwide, a redesigned Discoveries Restaurant and Cabaret Lounge, and refreshed staterooms throughout. Azamara Onward follows in 2027, with dates for Journey and Pursuit still to be announced. New stage shows produced with RWS Global debuted on Pursuit in April 2026 and are being introduced ship by ship through March 2027.
Azamara Cruise Destinations
The Mediterranean and Northern Europe are the focus of Azamara's summer program with Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and the British Isles all included in 2027. In winter the company's fleet spreads out to the Caribbean and Panama Canal, South America, Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Japan, and southern Africa with another debut in 2026, Alaska where Azamara Pursuit will offer a one-way service between Vancouver and Whittier, with new pre- and post-cruise Cruise tour land packages into Denali and the Canadian Rockies. Being small ships means the itineraries go places large ships can't, including Kotor in Montenegro, Šibenik in Croatia, the river dock in Seville, the Kiel Canal in Germany and Shanghai's Bund.
The wide variety of destinations available on Azamara cruises is a major factor that draws travelers to the brand. On Country-Intensive voyages, the whole cruise stays within a single nation — Croatia, Greece or Japan, for instance — and features multiple late-night calls or overnight stays. Grand Voyages connect two or more regions across a span of several weeks. Sailing aboard Azamara Quest, the 2027 World Cruise covers 188 nights, departing San Francisco on January 5, 2027 and arriving in Copenhagen on July 12, 2027, with stops at 103 destinations across 37 countries, plus 50 late-night stays, 15 overnights and 12 AzAmazing Evenings. Bookings are already open for the 2028 World Cruise, and a preview of the 2029 collection has been released. Event sailings feature experiences such as Rio Carnaval and specially arranged golf cruises.
Azamara Cruise Departure Ports
The entire character of a cruise is defined by the place from which it departs, and Azamara’s small ships offer far more flexibility than most. Many of its cruises are one-way, allowing you to return from your cruise in a different city than the one from which you departed — for instance, Barcelona to Rome, or Rome to Athens, or even Bridgetown to San Juan — so that you spend less time at sea and more taking in the incomparable scenery along the coast. Because the ship tends to pull into the very heart of the city, you’ll find yourself arriving at a destination rather than just a departure point — and one that’s well worth exploring on your way home. With optional pre- and post-cruise hotel stays offered under the name of Azamara Ashore, plus transportation and excursions, you can arrive a day or two early and spend some time sightseeing before returning to the ship.
Before making a commitment, most travelers like to find out where their journey will begin. This is precisely why Azamara's departure ports matter. Within Europe, the primary departure points are Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia), Athens (Piraeus), and Lisbon. Caribbean voyages depart from Miami, San Juan, and Bridgetown; Alaska itineraries leave from Vancouver and Whittier; and Asia-Pacific sailings set off from Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. The World Cruise departing in January 2027 sets sail from San Francisco. Since available ports vary depending on the season and the vessel, be sure to consult the latest list, and for one-way itineraries that require flights, plan to arrive a day early or stay a day later.
Azamara Cruise Pricing
Azamara is positioned in the higher-premium category, which means their prices are higher than average for mainstream cruise lines but offer significantly more benefits. All restaurants and room service, standard spirits, beers, and wines in all meals, soft drinks, and specialty coffee are included in the price, along with gratuities, self-service laundry, port shuttle where available, and AzAmazing Evening ashore, which are available to separate lines. In addition to these base benefits, factors affecting the price are the number of days of the cruise (ranging from seven nights to 188), the area and season of the year, the type of accommodation (interior and ocean view staterooms are the most affordable), and how early the booking is made. Veranda staterooms comprise the majority of the ship’s capacity, while Veranda Plus includes an internet access package, a bag for washing, and a special dinner every seven nights.
Understanding Azamara cruise pricing helps set expectations before you compare sailings. Suite fares add butler service, complimentary specialty dining and access to the Thalassotherapy pool, while the top suites include the Ultimate Beverage Package, unlimited Starlink Wi-Fi and unlimited laundry. Not included at any level are shore excursions, spa treatments, premium drinks packages, most internet and Azamara Ashore land programs, so budget for those separately. Prices on CruiseBooking.com are shown per person based on double occupancy and change frequently with availability, so the rate you see should be confirmed at the booking stage.
Azamara Cruise Deals & Offers
Azamara frequently has promotions throughout the year. Early Booking Bonuses offer a discount on new seasons that have just become available, often up to 20 percent off at the time of a program launch. Onboard credit events see a sum of spending money added to each stateroom, and Last Minute Cruise fares are available on select sailings within a finalized payment window. Holiday getaways, suite categories and back-to-back Combination Cruises often receive their own offers, and reduced-deposit windows open a number of times yearly. Members of the Azamara Circle loyalty program enjoy a range of tiered benefits on each sailing and the chance to save on occasional exclusive discounts, so past guests should always check their status when booking.
Checking Azamara cruise deals brings the current offers together in one place. Deals are time-limited and capacity-controlled, and the most sought-after cabins on Country-Intensive voyages and World Cruise segments are usually the first to go. CruiseBooking.com's price alerts and 120-Day Tracker can flag drops on a specific sailing, which is useful for a line whose fares move with demand rather than on a fixed sale cycle. A sensible rule: book early for the itinerary you want, and watch last-minute offers for the price.
Azamara Cruise Policy
Every cruise line sets rules to keep boarding smooth and guests safe, and knowing them beforehand removes most first-day stress. Azamara's cover travel documents, check-in, health declarations, luggage, onboard conduct and smoking. Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the end of the trip, and visas for countries on the itinerary are the guest's responsibility. Online Easy Check-in is completed before sailing, with boarding windows assigned by the line. Smoking is limited to designated outdoor areas. The dress code is resort casual with no formal nights; the one dress-up occasion is White Night, the open-deck party held on most voyages where everyone wears white.
The Azamara cruise line’s policy also includes minimum infant ages, restrictions for guests under 18 years old traveling without a parent, medical and accessibility requirements, and prohibited items. The policy also covers the booking confirmation and payment process, including deposits and final payments to be made. Moreover, it regulates the conditions under which a booking may be amended due to weather or operational reasons. The guests are advised to review the information on the cruise line’s website and CruiseBooking.com’s Know Before You Go page before embarking on a voyage to avoid spending time at the embarkation desk to familiarize themselves with the regulations.
Azamara Cruise Cancellation Policy
Final payment for bookings made on or after 18th December 2024:
- For North America: It is due 150 days prior to sailing.
- For the United Kingdom and Ireland: It is due 120 days prior to sailing.
A cancellation 150 or more days prior to sailing will result in a per person cancellation charge of USD 150. The charges for cancellations made within 150 days increase incrementally as you get closer to your sailing date, reaching 100 percent of the fare 60 days before departure. However, for cancellation made before the above-mentioned dates, the previous cancellation policy will apply. Government taxes and fees are generally non-refundable, and refunds are issued to the original form of payment or distribution channel used to make the booking.
The Azamara cruise cancellation policy applies to cruises, land programs, Alaska Cruise tours and hotel stays, each with its own schedule. Name changes and date transfers can be treated as cancellations, and promotional fares with non-refundable deposits carry out their own terms. Because Azamara books far in advance and many voyages are long, travel insurance that covers cancellation is strongly recommended. CruiseBooking.com's cruise cancellation policies page summarizes the current terms, and our team can process cancellations or changes directly, so guests understand the charges before confirming.
Azamara Cruise Tips & Activities
Azamara rewards the traveler who thinks in terms of its itineraries, rather than an ordinary cruise rhythm. The ports are long, evenings ashore are the norm, and the ship itself is more social and less frenzied than many a cruise ship. With just a little advance planning, knowing when the ship departs, what’s been included and where you’ll need to book early, you’ll be able to separate the good cruise from the great. These pointers will show you how regular Azamara guests do it differently.
- Plan Around the Late Nights: Check port times as soon as you board. When the ship stays until 10pm or overnight, book dinner ashore or an evening tour and see the town lit up. Most lines sail by six, so this is the part of the Azamara experience first-time guests most often leave unused.
- Be Sure not to Miss the AzAmazing Evening: This free event, typically a private concert or performance held at a notable venue, is offered on many voyages. Keep an eye out for the invitation in your stateroom, take note of the departure time and dress recommendation, and arrive at the gangway ahead of time, since the transport departs as a group and won't wait.
- Reserve Specialty Dining Early: Aqualina and Prime C fill quickly on seven-night sailings. Veranda Plus guests have one included dinner per week and suite guests dine free, so book those nights first. The Chef's Table is a ticketed event and worth reserving on embarkation day, particularly once the new venue arrives with Azamara Forward.
- Travel with Less and do Your Laundry: since self-service laundry costs nothing, pack for only half of the trip and wash your clothes at the halfway point. Formal nights aren't part of the schedule; resort casual attire works every evening. White Night is the sole exception, so pack at least one all-white outfit for the deck party.
- Take the Shuttle and the Talks: Where the pier is out of town, Azamara runs complimentary shuttles into the center, so check out the daily program before paying for a taxi. Destination speakers give port talks before each stop, and Stories Under the Stars evenings on the pool deck add local folklore to the sailing.
- Include Land Time on One-Way Itineraries: A large number of Azamara sailings conclude in a city other than the one where they started. Come in one day ahead to guard against flight disruptions and think about adding an Azamara Ashore pre- or post-cruise stay or an Alaska Cruise tour so that the departure port becomes a destination.
