The newly refurbished Azamara Journey will be heading to Australia in just six months. The line has spent US$25 million on the upgrade to cabins, the dining rooms as well as public areas like the breathtaking rooftop pool.

While the Azamara Quest has been in Australia, this is the first time her sister ship will be sailing Down Under.

President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises Larry Pimental has been in Australia and New Zealand several times over the last year, a clear sign that the brand is making a commitment to providing cruises for Aussies.

“Australia is one of our top three source markets worldwide and there are more and more Aussie cruisers sailing on Azamara ships. And what we are finding with Australian cruisers is that they enjoy back-to-back cruises,” Mr Pimental told Cruise Passenger.

“While the Mediterranean, particularly Italy, is still the most popular cruise destination for Australians on Azamara, we are finding that they are also cruising to Asia. That region is particularly popular. So we are seeing more cruisers book a voyage in Europe then book another cruise in Asia.”

Mr Pimental said because of the size of Azamara ships, guests are able to visit ports and destinations which are only accessible by smaller vessels.

“Because our ships are a lot smaller than others, we can sail right up to ports like Bangkok. While other ships have to dock hours away from the main cities, Azamara ships are able to sail directly to the destinations,” Mr Pimental continued.

“This allows for a more immersive experience for our guests – they can really see, smell and taste the culture of the destinations they are visiting. And this is also highlighted in our Azamaring evening.”

Azamara Journey’s features resigned staterooms including new Spa Suites. Adjacent to the refreshed Sanctum Spa, the suites also include exclusive spa amenities. Each bathroom of these coveted suites is like a mini spa; showers have glass walls offering spectacular views while the outdoor soaking tub overlooks the ocean.

The line has added new a new space called The Patio, an al fresco poolside dining area and The Living Room, a casual bar, dining and entertainment room.

Azamara Journey will first arrive to Darwin on 8 February 2017 as part of her Asia repositioning, and stay sailing in the region until early March, offering two Australia & New Zealand sailings and a return Asia repositioning voyage.