Azamara Ships Compared: Which One’s Best For You?

At first glance, Azamara’s four cruise ships seem almost identical. They’re all small, elegant ships with the same boutique feel that Azamara is known for. But once you look a little closer, the differences start to stand out.

Some ships feel slightly fresher after recent updates. Others have favourite lounges, cabin locations, or little quirks that loyal Azamara cruisers swear by. And while the ships share the same basic design, the experience on board can still feel surprisingly different depending on which one you choose.

Of course, Azamara is all about the destinations too. These smaller ships can visit ports that huge mega-ships simply can’t reach, often staying later into the evening or overnight so you can experience more of each place.

But which Azamara ship is actually the best fit for your cruise style? That’s where things get interesting…

Azamara Cruise Ships

The following table compares the four Azamara ships…

Ship	Built	Joined Fleet	Refurbished	Size (Gross Tons)	Guests	Crew
Azamara Journey	2000	2007	2024	30,277	690	408
Azamara Quest	1999	2007	2024	30,277	704	408
Azamara Pursuit	2001	2018	2024	30,277	702	408
Azamara Onward	2000	2022	2024	30,277	684	408

As you can see, the ships were all built within a couple of years around the millennium and are each identical in terms of gross tonnage (volume).

All of the ships underwent refurbishment in the second half of 2024. If you’d like to see inside, then take a look at this video, which is a quick tour of Azamara Quest…

Azamara Deck Plans

When comparing the deck plans for the four Azamara ships, the layouts are virtually identical. There are some slight differences in cabin configurations and the locations of accessible rooms, but on the whole, the ships are the same.

Ship	Interior	Oceanview	Veranda	Suite	Total
Azamara Journey	26	73	200	46	345
Azamara Quest	26	80	200	46	352
Azamara Pursuit	26	79	200	46	351
Azamara Onward	26	79	109	64	278

One important distinction between the ships can be observed on Deck 8 of Azamara Onward. On the other ships, this deck is half balcony staterooms and half suites. However, on Azamara Onward, almost the whole deck comprises suites. That’s why the guest capacity is slightly lower on Azamara Onward, compared to the other ships in the fleet.

The Azamara cruise ships are all identical in terms of restaurants, pools, spas, and entertainment venues. Any differences will be minor and decorative.

The History of Azamara’s Cruise Ships

Azamara Cruises was founded in 2007, several years after the Azamara ships were built. Founded by the Royal Caribbean Group, Azamara was created to compete with Oceania Cruises, a luxury cruise brand owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

In 2009, Azamara Cruises was rebranded to Azamara Club Cruises, before being renamed to simply Azamara in 2019.

When Azamara was founded in 2007, the first two ships, Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey, were obtained from Royal Caribbean Group’s Pullmantur Cruises brand. Instead of being transferred to Celebrity Cruises as planned, they were instead used to launch the new Azamara brand.

In 2018, Azamara bought Adonia from P&O Cruises and renamed it Azamara Pursuit.

In 2021, Royal Caribbean Group sold the Azamara brand to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The company then bought Pacific Princess from Princess Cruises and renamed it to Azamara Onward.

Here’s a little more on the history of each Azamara ship:

Azamara Quest History

• 2000 – 2003: R Seven for Renaissance Cruises
• 2003 – 2006: Delphin Renaissance for Delphin Seerisen
• 2006 – 2007: Blue Moon for Pullmantur Cruises
• 2007 – Present: Azamara Quest for Azamara

Azamara Journey History

• 2000 – 2003: R Six for Renaissance Cruises
• 2003 – 2005: Blue Star for Pullmantur Cruises
• 2005 – 2007: Blue Dream for Pullmantur Cruises
• 2007 – Present: Azamara Journey for Azamara

Azamara Pursuit History

• 2001 – 2003: R Eight for Renaissance Cruises
• 2003 – 2007: Minerva II for Swan Hellenic
• 2007 – 2011: Royal Princess for Princess Cruises
• 2011 to 2018 – Adonia for P&O Cruises
• 2018 – Present: Azamara Pursuit for Azamara

Azamara Onward History

• 1999 – 2002: R Three for Renaissance Cruises
• 2002 – 2021: Pacific Princess for Princess Cruises
• 2022 – Present: Azamara Onward for Azamara

Other R-Class Ships

There were eight vessels launched in Renaissance Cruises’ R Class in the late 90s to early 00s. So, in theory, if Azamara wanted to add more cruises to the fleet, there are four identical sister ships that the cruise line could seek to purchase.

However, the acquisition of these ships is unlikely because they are all currently owned by Oceania Cruises – Azamara’s main rival.

Oceania Cruises R-class ships that are identical to Azamara ships:

• R One – Currently Insignia for Oceania Cruises
• R Two – Currently Regatta for Oceania Cruises
• R Four – Currently Sirena for Oceania Cruises
• R Five – Currently Nautica for Oceania Cruises

What to Expect from Azamara Ships

Azamara cruises are very much focused on the destinations, with immersive, port-intensive itineraries. The ships are large enough to cross oceans, yet small enough to call at smaller ports and sail into rivers.

On an Azamara cruise, you’ll find a lot included in your cruise fare:

• Drinks – standard spirits, wines, beers, water, soft drinks, tea and coffee
• Gratuities (tips)
• AzAmazing Evening events filled with music and dance
• Shuttle service to and from port communities
• Self-service laundry

Additional amenities for ‘Veranda Plus’ guests:

• Free mini bar
• One night of speciality dining
• 120 minutes of free WiFi or 25% off WiFi package
• One bag of laundry every 7 days
• Priority boarding and debarkation

Additional amenities for suite guests:

• Butler service
• Free mini bar
• Speciality dining every day
• In-suite afternoon tea
• 240 minutes of free WiFi or 50% off WiFi package
• One bag of laundry every 7 days
• Priority boarding and debarkation

Guests staying in Club World Owner’s Suites, Club Ocean Suites and Club Spa Suites also get $300 per person on onboard credit.

Final Word

Choosing between Azamara’s ships is less about finding the “best” one and more about finding the itinerary that suits you best.

Since the ships are all part of the same R-class family, the onboard experience is remarkably similar across the fleet. You’ll get the same boutique atmosphere, destination-focused cruising, attentive service, and relaxed luxury whichever ship you choose.

The biggest differences come down to small details, like suite layouts, guest capacity, refurbishment timing, and where each ship sails.

So rather than focusing too much on the ship itself, it probably makes more sense to choose the destinations that excite you most. After all, Azamara’s real speciality has always been helping guests spend more time experiencing the places they visit.

Related Posts:

• 9 Best Cruise Lines for Singles Over 50 (Affordable & Luxury Options)
• 19 Best Cruise Destinations For Couples
• Azamara Quest: Staterooms, Itineraries & Best Deals
• Royal Caribbean’s Luxury Cruise Brand You Might Not Know About