First Glimpse Editor's Note: Azamara Quest, intended to be an identical sibling to Azamara Journey, will debut in fall 2007; read our First Glimpse for Azamara Journey to get the early scoop. Azamara Journey, the first ship in the fledgling Azamara Cruises fleet, is a throwback to the smaller and more intimate cruises of yesteryear. Well, sort of. The 30,277-ton, 710-passenger vessel, which launched in May 2007 and will be joined by the identical Azamara Quest in fall 2007, is an intriguing blend of cruising's traditional and contemporary eras. It features the cozier, "everybody knows your name" ambience of smaller ships and more personal passenger service along with upscale dining and a ship design that offers a high percentage of cabins with private balconies. Azamara Journey was originally built in the late 1990's as one of eight Renaissance Cruises' R-class series of vessels (these are now sailing under flags for Oceania and Princess as well). The ship had most recently been operating under the umbrella of Spain-based Pullmantur (the ship to be Quest continues to sail for Pullmantur through summer). When Azamara parent Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. acquired Pullmantur, it decided to transfer the two R-class vessels Pullmantur operated to Celebrity (designating each to operate under that line's Xpedition banner). Earlier this year, however, cruise line executives decided to create a whole new line around Journey and, as well, its Quest sibling. And so Azamara Cruises was born. Azamara, incidentally, is operated by Celebrity's executive team but it is a separate entity. Azamara Journey received a significant overhaul -- to the tune of $35 million dollars -- at a shipyard in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, in spring 2007. It is expected that Azamara Quest will receive a similar refurbishment prior to its launch. Among the major changes? In cabins, soft goods and bedding were replaced and mini-fridges were added. Half of the staterooms on Deck 8 were completely gutted and rebuilt so that more suites could be added. Aqualina, a Mediterranean restaurant, and Prime C, a steakhouse, are two new culinary destinations. The pool deck received teak-like flooring and teak furnishings. The ship's spa and fitness facility got a complete makeover, in addition to almost all-new equipment. Fans of Celebrity will note some trademark features onboard. Among them are the Cova Cafe, the line's popular Milan-inspired coffee bar, complete with harpist; Michael's Club, its piano bar; and an treatment area adjacent to the spa for Acupuncture@Sea. Stay tuned for our "sneak preview" on Azamara Journey. --by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor Photo appears courtesy of Carolyn Spencer Brown
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Azamara Cruises