Azamara Cruises

Azamara (azamara.com, formerly "Azamara Club Cruises") is a premium cruise travel brand owned by Sycamore Partners. The company currently operates four ships: Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit, and Azamara Onward. Until 2021, Azamara was a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL).

Defined by luxury and elegance, Azamara cruises are meticulously planned and managed from embarkation to disembarkation—onboard and ashore. Approximately 93% of all staterooms across the fleet are outside-facing, with 70% offering private step-out balconies. Onboard service is exceptional, with a butler in every stateroom and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1 to 2. Guests enjoy a level of personalized attention rarely found on larger ships.

Azamara delivers an all-inclusive, luxury-club-style experience. Fares include complimentary beverages (spirits, wines, international beers, bottled water, specialty teas and coffees, soft drinks), AzAmazing Evenings (shore excursions focused on local cuisine and cultural entertainment), onboard gratuities, as well as concierge and butler services for suite guests. AzAmazing Evenings are exclusive shoreside events offering immersive cultural experiences.

Company history and changes

All Azamara ships are R-Class vessels, built between 1998 and 2001, and originally owned by Renaissance Cruises (founded in 1989, defunct in 2001). Azamara was founded in 2007 as "Azamara Cruises", rebranded in 2009 to "Azamara Club Cruises", and again in June 2019 to simply "Azamara". The company also introduced a new logo during the 2019 rebranding.

On January 19, 2021, Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) announced the sale of the Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners for USD 201 million (~EUR 165.8M / ~GBP 147.6M) in an all-cash carve-out transaction. The acquisition included all three ships at the time, along with intellectual property and brand goodwill. The transaction closed on March 19, 2021. RCG was advised by Perella Weinberg Partners (financial), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (legal), and Sycamore was represented by Kirkland & Ellis (legal).

Azamara’s current CEO and President is Dondra Ritzenthaler (succeeding Carol Cabezas in 2024), and Orlando Ashford serves as Executive Chairman. The executive team also includes Alain Ferzli (CFO), Nico Corbijn (Head of Marine Operations), Laura Krejci (CIO and CAO), Michelle Lardizabal (CSO), Patrice Willoughby (VP of International Business Development), Rafael Pagliuso (General Counsel), Meg Lee (Marketing & Communications), Paulette Haedo (Information Technology & Program Management), and Minas Miliaras (Chief Maritime Officer).

In 2022, Azamara relocated its Global Corporate Headquarters to Miami, Florida.

Sycamore Partners, founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York City, is a major private equity firm managing over USD 15 billion in assets. The firm specializes in retail, consumer, and debt investments, including leveraged and distressed buyouts and complex corporate carveouts. Notable investments include Belk Inc (acquired 2015), Talbots (2012), Nine West Holdings (2013), and Staples Inc (2017).

On January 25, 2021, Sycamore Partners purchased the R-Class ship Pacific Princess (renamed Azamara Onward), a sister ship to the existing Azamara fleet (Journey, Quest, and Pursuit). The new name was officially announced on March 19.

In late November 2021, Azamara signed a multi-year partnership with VIKAND Medical Solutions, a Fort Lauderdale-based provider of medical services to the maritime industry. Under the agreement, VIKAND manages all onboard medical operations, including staffing, equipment, and programs for outbreak prevention, emergency support, and consultation.

Larry Pimentel served as Azamara’s President and CEO from 2009 to 2021. He previously held leadership roles at SeaDream Yacht Club, Seabourn, and Cunard Line. Each Azamara ship accommodates up to 694 passengers. The majority of guests (45%) come from North America, with ~20% from the UK and Ireland, and ~10% from Australia and New Zealand.

Azamara has earned multiple awards for its service, value, and overall travel experience. Among them, the company received three 2015 UK Cruisers' Choice Awards, including "Best Entertainment" for Azamara Journey, and "Best Fitness" and "Best Public Rooms" for Azamara Quest. In 2014, Travel+Leisure included Azamara Club Cruises in its “World’s Best Awards” in the large-ship category. Designed for immersive, destination-focused itineraries, Azamara offers an intimate onboard atmosphere and access to less-visited ports that appeal to seasoned travelers.

Azamara appeals to experienced travelers who seek more than the traditional cruise experience. They often prefer exploring new destinations over the cruising itself, yet appreciate the comfort and convenience of ship travel. Azamara caters to this niche with a product that falls between premium and luxury—delivering concierge-level service and deluxe experiences often found only in suites on other lines.

Since its inception, Azamara has enhanced its inclusivity by adding more amenities to cruise fares. These include complimentary bottled water, premium teas and coffees, house wines (by the glass), spirits and international beers (during bar hours), free self-service laundry, and shuttle buses for town-port-town transfers.

The refurbishment of the former Renaissance Cruises ships resulted in refreshed interiors, with lighter decor and bold accents in fabrics and upholstery. Once-stuffy areas are now modern and inviting, featuring contemporary artwork. Despite their smaller size, Azamara ships maintain many features found on larger vessels, including specialty dining and private balconies. Guests often feel like they’ve checked into an upscale boutique hotel that happens to sail.

In September 2021, Azamara partnered with Starboard Cruise Services to manage retail across the fleet. The agreement also enhanced shoreside retail offerings in late-evening and overnight ports, with locally crafted products and visits to artisan workshops and studios. Retail collections focus on cultural authenticity and are curated for each cruise destination.

In March 2023, Azamara opened a new Contact Center in Wichita, Kansas, to support travel agents, agencies, and customers worldwide.

In November 2023, Azamara introduced the “Work & Wander” package, designed for business professionals.

In October 2024, Azamara launched RezA, a newly revamped booking system tailored for travel agents.

New ship

On September 26, 2017, Azamara announced an agreement with P&O UK (a Carnival Corporation subsidiary) to acquire the cruise ship Adonia. Her final P&O cruise was a 15-day roundtrip from Barbados (booking code D804), sailing from February 23 to March 9, 2018.

The ship was scheduled for delivery in March 2018 and renamed Azamara Pursuit. During her drydock refurbishment, the vessel received updated decor, renamed venues, new cabin categories, and upgraded amenities.

In January 2021, Sycamore Partners acquired another R-Class ship, Pacific Princess, now known as Azamara Onward. She is a sister ship to the rest of the Azamara fleet.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Azamara suspended all cruises scheduled between March 13, 2020, and September 2021. Operations resumed in 2021 with the following sailings: QUEST (August 28 – Greek Islands from Piraeus-Athens), PURSUIT (September 28 – Greek Islands from Piraeus-Athens), JOURNEY (October 13 – Greece from Piraeus-Athens), and ONWARD (May 2, 2022 – Maiden Voyage from Monte Carlo to Venice).

Guests with affected bookings received full refunds (100%), including for pre-purchased packages and services. Rebooking options included 125% future cruise credit (FCC) for sailings departing through September 30, 2022. FCCs had to be redeemed by April 30, 2022. Passengers could opt for a 100% cash refund instead, if requested by May 20, 2021. Azamara also introduced a flexible cancellation policy, allowing penalty-free cancellations up to 48 hours before departure on all canceled itineraries, with FCC issued in return.

With regularly scheduled cruise itineraries in the Caribbean, South America, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, and Europe, Azamara offers a wide range of premium travel experiences marked by all-inclusive, 5-star hotel-style amenities on board. Guests can enjoy in-cabin spa treatments, gourmet dining, and white-glove service. Azamara's shore excursions provide unique insights into each destination's history, culture, traditions, geology, and wildlife. Each voyage includes one AzAmazing Excursion, which is complimentary with the cruise fare.

Azamara guests can also book fly-cruise packages for sailings in the Caribbean (including Panama Canal transits), South America, Asia, Hawaii, and Alaska. Formula 1 fans can look forward to the annual "Monaco F1 Grand Prix Cruise" featured in Azamara’s schedule.

Under its new ownership (Sycamore Partners since 2021), Azamara now operates a fleet of four ultra-luxury ships: Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit, and Azamara Onward (formerly Pacific Princess).

Azamara 2025-2026 Itineraries

Summer 2026 Itineraries

Azamara’s summer 2026 sailings feature 77 new itineraries that visit a variety of iconic destinations and lesser-known ports. The fleet—Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest, and Azamara Onward—focuses on Europe, with extended stays in regions such as the Mediterranean, Greece, Ireland, and the British Isles.

Highlights for 2026 include three unique solar eclipse cruises in August, offering guests the rare opportunity to witness this celestial event at sea. The season also introduces five maiden ports to Azamara’s European schedule—accessible only to smaller ships—along with new pre- and post-cruise land programs. Continuing its signature approach, Azamara emphasizes late-night and overnight port calls, giving guests ample time to immerse themselves in the culture and ambiance of each destination.

Key Solar Eclipse Cruises:

• August 2, 2026: 11-night Mediterranean cruise to Greece, Turkey, and Italy aboard Azamara Onward
• August 7, 2026: 12-night Ireland Intensive, visiting Belfast, Dublin, and Galway on Azamara Quest
• August 8, 2026: 18-night Iceland and Canada voyage, featuring Reykjavik, St. John, and Quebec City aboard Azamara Journey

Maiden ports include Sarande, Albania, Fredericia, Denmark, Turku, Finland, Menton, France, and Karlskrona, Sweden.

World Cruises (2025, 2026) – Azamara Onward

The Azamara OnwardWorld Voyage 2025 departs from San Diego, CA and visits 37 countries before concluding in Southampton, England (UK). The 155-night journey includes 15 overnight stays, 31 late port departures, 13 complimentary land events, and calls at destinations such as Honolulu (Hawaii), Samoa, Tonga, Sydney (NSW, Australia), Stewart Island (Oban, NZ), Benoa (Bali, Indonesia), Laem Chabang–Bangkok (Thailand), and Semarang (Indonesia).

Azamara Onward's World Voyage 2026 departs from Miami, FL on January 6, 2026. This 155-night itinerary visits 36 countries and features 55 overnight and late-night port stays, 60 Extended Destination Days (10+ hours in port), three exclusive events, and 10 AzAmazing events. Guests can also book segments of the World Voyage, including:

• Central America Tapestry (Miami to Callao–Lima) – Jan 6-20
• Pacific Mysteries (Callao–Lima to Papeete, Tahiti) – Jan 20-Feb 5
• South Pacific Explorer (Papeete to Auckland, NZ) – Feb 6-16
• Kiwis and Koalas (Auckland to Sydney, NSW) – Feb 16-Mar 2
• Astounding Australia and Asia (Sydney to Hong Kong) – Mar 3-23
• Vietnam and Thailand Pathways (Hong Kong to Singapore) – Mar 24-Apr 7
• Ancient Trade Routes (Singapore to Dubai) – Apr 8-27
• Ancient Reflections (Dubai to Istanbul) – Apr 28-May 19
• European Gems and Icons (Istanbul to Venice) – May 19-Jun 1
• Adriatic and Med Getaways (Venice to Barcelona) – Jun 1-11

Overnight stays are scheduled for the following ports: Progreso, Mexico (Jan 8-9); Fuerte Amador/Panama City (Jan 13-14); Callao–Lima, Peru (Jan 20-21); Hanga Roa/Easter Island, Chile (Jan 27-28); Moorea, French Polynesia (Feb 4-5); Papeete, Tahiti (Feb 5-6); Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Feb 7-8); Hobart, Tasmania (Feb 26-27); Sydney, NSW (Mar 3-4); Cairns, QLD (Mar 9-10); Manila, Philippines (Mar 21-22); Hong Kong, China (Mar 23-24); Halong Bay, Vietnam (Mar 26-27); Saigon, Vietnam (Mar 30-31); Klong Toey–Bangkok, Thailand (Apr 2-3); Singapore (Apr 7-8); Cochin, India (Apr 16-17); Mumbai, India (Apr 19-20); Dubai, UAE (Apr 27-28); Safaga, Egypt (May 8-9); Suez Canal Transit (May 10-11); Ashdod–Jerusalem, Israel (May 12-13); Istanbul, Turkey (May 19-20); and Piraeus–Athens, Greece (May 25-26).

Azamara's World Cruise 2026 pricing includes US$22,000 in added amenities, such as 13 exclusive events, US$3,000 onboard credit, US$4,000 OBC for shore excursions, flight credit, pre- and post-cruise land transfers, a pre-cruise hotel stay, premium beverage package upgrade, weekly laundry service, and Wi-Fi. Azamara fares also include all beverages (including alcohol), gratuities, onboard expert-led programs, and unlimited self-service laundry.