An Introduction to Azamara
Azamara stands as a distinguished, award-winning small ship cruise line dedicated to "Destination Immersion®." By offering longer stays, more overnights, and unique AzAmazing Evenings®, Azamara provides a deeper connection to destinations, allowing guests to experience the heart of local cultures. It's a premium, all-inclusive experience tailored for discerning travellers who seek authentic exploration and sophisticated comfort.
A Brief History
Azamara was founded in 2007 as Azamara Cruises, initially as a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (now Royal Caribbean Group). The brand was created with a clear vision: to focus on destination enrichment, utilizing smaller, more intimate ships that could access less-visited ports and offer longer stays. Its initial fleet consisted of the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, which were former Renaissance Cruises' R-Class vessels, known for their elegant design and comfortable size.
In 2009, the brand was rebranded to Azamara Club Cruises, emphasizing its club-like, inclusive atmosphere. Another rebranding in June 2019 simplified the name back to just "Azamara," reinforcing its core mission of connecting guests to destinations. A significant development occurred in 2021 when Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm, acquired Azamara from Royal Caribbean Group. Under this new ownership, Azamara has continued its focus on Destination Immersion and expanded its fleet with the addition of Azamara Onward in 2022, a sister ship to its existing fleet, further enhancing its global reach and unique offerings.
The Fleet: Boutique Ships for Deeper Discovery
Azamara's fleet comprises four intimate, identically sized R-Class ships, perfectly designed to navigate narrower waterways and dock in the heart of cities, offering a more personalized and immersive experience. Each ship provides a refined ambiance, attentive service, and an array of included amenities.
Azamara Journey | Azamara Quest | Azamara Pursuit | Azamara Onward.
Current Starting Ports and Itineraries (2025-2026)
Azamara boasts a truly global reach, with its smaller ships enabling access to a wider array of ports and offering extensive itineraries focused on longer stays and overnight calls. This allows for deep cultural exploration and participation in unique local events, including their signature AzAmazing Evenings®. Example itineraries for 2025-2026 include:
Mediterranean: Voyages from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Piraeus (Athens), Valletta, or Venice (Trieste/Marghera), exploring hidden gems, ancient sites, and vibrant coastal towns across Western and Eastern Mediterranean, including Greek Isles, Croatia, and Turkey.
Northern Europe: Cruises from Copenhagen, Southampton, Dublin, or Leith (Edinburgh), discovering Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, Iceland, and the Baltic Sea.
Asia: Extensive itineraries from Singapore, Kobe, or Yokohama (Tokyo), immersing guests in the cultures of Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and India.
Africa & Indian Ocean: Comprehensive voyages from Cape Town, Port Louis (Mauritius), or Las Palmas, exploring wildlife, diverse cultures, and stunning coastlines.
Australia & New Zealand: From Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland, offering in-depth explorations of the Antipodean wonders.
South America: Voyages from Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, or Santiago (San Antonio), exploring Patagonia, the Amazon, and vibrant South American cities.
Transatlantic & Repositioning: Grand voyages connecting continents, allowing for extended sea days and unique crossings.
Canada & New England: Scenic voyages in the autumn from Montreal, Boston, or New York.
Here's a comprehensive list of Azamara's major starting ports:
All port links are affiliated with Trip.com The Essential Cruise Shop will be paid a commission on any completed bookings at no additional cost to you.
North America (USA & Canada):
Boston, MA, USA | Montreal, QC, Canada | New York, NY, USA | Portsmouth, NH, USA | San Francisco, CA, USA.
Europe (UK & Continental Europe):
Amsterdam, Netherlands | Barcelona, Spain | Bordeaux, France | Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy | Copenhagen, Denmark | Dover (London), England, UK | Dublin, Ireland | Heraklion (Crete), Greece | Istanbul, Turkey | Kiel, Germany | Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain | Leith (Edinburgh), Scotland, UK | Lisbon, Portugal | Marseille, France | Monte-Carlo, Monaco | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Piraeus (Athens), Greece | Reykjavik, Iceland | Southampton, England, UK | Trieste, Italy (for Venice) | Villefranche-sur-Mer, France (for Nice) | Zadar, Croatia.
Asia & Middle East:
Dubai, UAE | Hong Kong, China | Kobe, Japan | Singapore | Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan.
Australia & New Zealand:
Auckland, New Zealand | Melbourne, Australia | Sydney, Australia.
Africa & Indian Ocean:
Cape Town, South Africa | Port Louis, Mauritius.
South America:
Buenos Aires, Argentina | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Santiago (San Antonio), Chile | Ushuaia, Argentina.
Official Websites
Azamara maintains a global online presence with localized websites.
USA: Azamara Cruises | Award-Winning Small Ship Cruise Line
UK: Azamara Cruises | Award-Winning Small Ship Cruise Line
A Word of Caution: Cruise Scams
When planning your immersive Azamara journey, it is absolutely essential to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated cruise scams that unfortunately target travellers. Be aware of these common red flags:
"Free Cruise" or "Exclusive VIP Offer" Notifications: Be highly suspicious of any unsolicited calls, emails, text messages, or mailings claiming you've won a complimentary Azamara cruise or are invited to an "exclusive" event. These invariably come with hidden fees, demands for immediate payment for "port taxes," "service charges," or are simply phishing attempts to collect your personal data or pressure you into buying something else entirely.
Fake Websites and Phishing Attempts: Scammers create highly convincing fake websites that mimic Azamara's official site or reputable travel agencies. They also send deceptive phishing emails that appear legitimate. Their goal is to trick you into entering your login credentials, credit card details, or other sensitive personal information. Always manually type the official website address (e.g., azamara.com or azamara.com/en-gb) into your browser's address bar or use trusted bookmarks. Double-check the URL very carefully before entering any data.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Be wary of callers or online offers demanding an immediate decision due to a "last-minute" or "expiring" deal. This tactic is used to prevent you from doing proper research or verifying the offer's legitimacy.
Unusual Payment Requests: Never agree to pay for a cruise via untraceable methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency if requested by an individual or an unverified entity. Legitimate cruise lines and their authorized partners use secure, traceable payment methods (e.g., credit cards).
To ensure your enriching Azamara voyage begins safely and securely, always book directly through the official Azamara website for your region or through a well-established, reputable travel advisor who is familiar with Azamara's unique offerings. If an offer feels suspicious, or if you receive any communication that raises red flags, contact Azamara directly using the official phone numbers and contact information found on their verified website, not from the suspicious offer itself. Immerse yourself in discovery with complete peace of mind.
Additional Resources
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