Azamara Cruises will step up sailings to Australia as fleet is revitalised to exude relaxed luxury

• Azamara Cruises will undergo a major makeover across its fleet of four ships, marking a new era for the boutique line.
• For the first time, Penthouse Suites and Grandview Suites will be built on Deck 11.
• Restaurants, bars, lounges and staterooms will all be refreshed and upgraded to elevate life onboard.

Azamara Cruises will step up its sailings in Australia this year and in 2027 sending two ships to spend a longer season Down Under.

For the first time, Azamara will add two shorter 10-night sailings from Sydney to Cairns in 2027 said Victoria Chigwidden, Director of Sales, Australia & New Zealand.

“This is a good news story for Australia,” she told Cruise Passenger.

“Our ships usually offer 14-nights to 16-nights sailings in Australia. With Disney, Cunard and Queen Elizabeth ships pulling out of Australia, there are more opportunities for Azamara to add more sailings here. Two Azamara ships will spend a longer season in Australasia from August to April next year.”

Azamara Quest will be on her world cruise while Azamara Pursuit will also be sailing in the region in 2027.

“Australians love the Azamara brand because of our destination-immersion itineraries and relaxed atmosphere onboard. Many Australians are booking back-to-back cruises and many are repeat business. We have sold out on most of our cruises in Australia this year.” she said.

Australians are the number two top market for the brand after the US.

Ms Chigwidden said that Azamara will undertake a major upgrade of its fleet of four ships by “elevating life onboard”.

“It is a new era for our fleet,” she said.

This is likely to push the brand from upper premium to “relaxed luxury” which resonates well with Australian cruisers.

“This transformation reflects years of listening to our guests and travel partners and an extraordinary amount of creativity and collaboration across our teams,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises.  

The line will add two new penthouse suites and 10 new Grandview suites on Deck 11, previously the sun deck which will now move to Deck 12.

The Penthouse Suites will offer spectacular 270-degree panoramic views of the ocean, separate living, dining and bedroom spaces, an oversized spa-inspired bathroom, butler service, WiFi, ultimate beverage package and specialty and exclusive dining experiences.

The Grandview Suites will offer a contemporary retreat designed for guests who want elevated comfort and privacy. With unobstructed floor-to-ceiling ocean views, complimentary specialty dining and premium beverage package.

There will be more storage space in suites, new furniture and furnishings to give “a little more lift and shine” to the living area.

Prices for a 10-night journey in a Penthouse Suite will be increased to US$20,000pp  ($30,000) and $US$12,000 pp for a Grandview suite.

Restaurants, bars, lounges and staterooms will all be refreshed to give a more contemporary “look and feel.”

Specialty restaurant, Chef’s Table will be expanded to seat 18 guests instead of 10. It will be located on Deck 10 in a private space offering themed menus inspired by the regions Azamara visits. There is also room to extend seating to 34 guests.

The Atlas Bar will be refreshed and introduced across the fleet. Located next to the Discoveries Restaurant, it will become the central gathering point where evenings begin.

The Discoveries Restaurant will undergo a complete redesign with updated furnishings and lighting to elevate the dining experience. The Cabaret Lounge will also have a major makeover with plush carpets and redesigned dance floor. Staterooms will be refreshed to give them a more contemporary feel.

Spa treatment rooms and the public restrooms throughout the ships will be updated and redesigned to reflect the line’s commitment to comfort and warm hospitality.

 Azamara Quest is the first ship to undergo the refurbishment in October this year in time for her World Cruise which kicks off on 18 December. This will be followed by the refurbishment of Azamara Onward in 2027.

The upgrade with new suites, enhanced dining experiences and onboard amenities will set a new standard of small-ship cruising, Azamara said.

 “They have been designed to deepen destination immersion, elevate comfort and create even more meaningful moments at sea. It’s celebrating our heritage while introducing new experiences to take us into the future,” said Ms Ritzenthaler.

This is the major commitment by Azamara’s owners, Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm which bought the line from the Royal Caribbean Group for US$201 million in 2021.

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