Azamara Cruises Plans Exhaustive Fleetwide Refurbishments

Starting this year, Azamara Cruises is kicking off an extensive program of fleetwide refurbishments that will see refreshed suite options, reimagined dining and bar venues, and more added to ships across its fleet. Referred to as “Azamara Forward,” the renovation initiative will represent the most extensive renovations and refurbishments in the company’s history.

Azamara Quest will be first up, going into drydock in late October 2026 and emerging in December. The remainder of the fleet will be refurbished over the next several years.

Across the entire fleet, Azamara Forward will see the debut of a newly dedicated Chef’s Table restaurant, a reimagined Discoveries Restaurant, debut of the Atlas Bar across all four ships, a full transformation of The Cabaret Lounge, curated updates to every stateroom and suite, and much more. In general, the refurbishment will lighten the atmosphere onboard with a sophisticated palette of neutral and muted colors. 

Additionally, debuting exclusively on Azamara Quest, the program introduces 12 all-new premier suites exclusive to the ship.

“Azamara Forwardis Azamara Cruises’ vision for thoughtfully elevating the onboard experience while honoring the hallmarks that have long defined the brand,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises. “This transformation reflects years of listening to our guests and travel partners and an extraordinary amount of creativity and collaboration across our teams.”

In a one-on-one with TMR, Ritzenthaler emphasized that the refurbishment project is not instead of a newbuild program.

“We are focused on our four ships that we have in our fleet, making them beautiful, listening to our guests, and when the opportunity presents itself for additional [vessels], we will certainly entertain that. This is what we’re doing right now, focusing on our existing product. In the future, we will always look for the right opportunities as a brand to grow.”

First Up: Azamara Quest

Timed to debut ahead of its 2027 World Cruise, Azamara Quest will be the first ship to undergo the knife. Among the highlights of the ship’s refurbishment will be an entirely new Penthouse Deck on it’s highest level, introducing two all-new Panorama suites and 10 Grandview Suites.

To make room for the new Penthouse Deck, Azamara is actually adding on an entire half deck to the vessel, pushing the current Deck 11 (the sun deck) up one level.

The Panorama Suites, which can accommodate up to four people and measure 656 square feet, will be Quest’s most expansive accommodations, with each located on a forward corner of the Penthouse Deck offering 270-degreee panoramic ocean views, separate living, dining, and bedrooms spaces, a walk-in closet, and an oversized spa-inspired bathroom.

Panorama Suite guests will enjoy Azamara’s highest-tier suite privileges, including personalized butler service, a Wi-Fi and beverage package, exclusive dining experiences, and special onboard touches.

Also debuting on the Penthouse Deck will be the new Grandview Suites, which measure 243 square feet and offer floor-to-ceiling views, spacious bathrooms with dual sinks and walk-in showers. Around the same size as the ship’s current Continent Suites, the bathroom in the Grandview Suites is about 30% bigger.

While the new Penthouse Deck will be exclusive to Azamara Quest when it comes out of drydock, the line has not yet made a decision about the rest of the ships in the fleet, Ritzenthaler told TMR.

“We’re going to evaluate, see how successful it is with travel advisors, as well as our guests and then we’ll make decisions in the future for the other three ships as it relates to the Penthouse Deck.”

Fleetwide Refurbishment – Chef’s Table

On the culinary front, Azamara Forward will see the creation of a newly dedicated Chef’s Table restaurant located on Deck 10. It will take over the space currently occupied by the Drawing Room on Azamara Quest, Pursuit, and Beyond, and by the Atlas Bar on Azamara Onward.

Expanding on the line’s French, Italian, and Signature Chef’s Table concepts, the new venue will introduce a rotating series of themed menus inspired by the regions Azamara visits. Programming will expand to include globally inspired culinary journeys, celebrity and destination-focused guest chefs, Winemaker’s Dinners, and select Market Dining Experiences that take guests from local markets to bespoke onboard menus.

The Chef’s Table dinner will hold 18 guests and be available all nights, except for once per cruise when the restaurant will be used for the line’s invitation-only Acamar dinner reserved for guests in top suites. (The Acamar dinner will have capacity for 34 guests.)

Fleetwide – Atlas Bar and Discoveries Restaurant

Following its popularity onboard Azamara Onward, the Atlas Bar experience will be introduced fleetwide as part of Azamara Forward. Now positioned near the entry of Discoveries Restaurant, Atlas Bar, a globally-inspired cocktail lounge, will be a central gathering point in the evening, or what Ritzenthaler referred to as a “destination bar,” open well into the night.

Ritzenthaler emphasized that in addition to moving the bar’s location, the line is also changing what’s available, so that it’s not only extra-fee specialty cocktails. As each ship returns from drydock with the new Atlas Bar, guests will also be able to order wines, beers, and non-specialty cocktails that are included in the cruise fare.

That decision, Ritzenthaler said, was “100% driven off of consumer feedback.”

In tandem with the debut of Atlas Bar, Discoveries Restaurant will undergo a complete redesign, with refreshed décor, enhanced lighting, and updated furnishings.

Along with these specific enhancements, Azamara Forward also will introduce a series of updates ensuring a refreshed experience across all the ships. In the Cabaret Lounge, this includes an all-new entirely redesigned entry way, new furnishings inside, refreshed carpets, a redesigned dance floor, technical upgrades, and more.

“When you go in there, you’re going to feel this lightened experience but it doesn’t leave who we are. We still have this gorgeous, intimate Cabaret Lounge,” Ritzenthaler said.

The spa will receive upgraded treatment and changing rooms, as well as a new couple’s treatment room.

Across the fleet, all staterooms will be reimagined with contemporary touches, decorative bedding, new furnishings, plus carpets, and more.

Public restrooms throughout the ships will also be renewed.

“I think our ships are absolutely beautiful and we’re staying true to our heritage, but we’re giving it all a refresh,” Ritzenthaler added.

Azamara Forward Timeline

After Azamara Quest returns to service in early December with its fleetwide refurbishments in place it will sail first a weeklong Mediterranean cruise, followed by a transatlantic journey from Lisbon to Miami. Advisors should note that the Penthouse Deck suites will not be available on those sailings. Instead, the Dec. 18 sailing out of Miami will be the first itinerary on which the Penthouse Deck suites are available.

Azamara Onward will be the second ship to receive Azamara Forward renovations in 2027, with timelines for Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit to be announced at a later date.