# Azamara Cruises

> Azamara Cruises is a Miami-based upmarket cruise line built around a scarce vacation luxury: time. Its four boutique ships carry no more than 702 guests, enter smaller ports, and schedule extended days, late departures, and overnights so travelers can experience destinations after the day-trippers leave. Owned by Sycamore Partners since a $201 million acquisition in 2021, Azamara earns from cruise fares and a stack of optional shore, land, dining, wellness, internet, beverage, and suite products while competing with Oceania, Viking, Windstar, and luxury lines on access and itinerary depth rather than ship size.

- **Founded:** 2007
- **Headquarters:** Miami, United States
- **Founders:** Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (Corporate founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 1,400 employees (company-data estimate supplied with the record).
- **Products:** Small-ship cruises, Extended Destination Days, AzAmazing Evenings, Shore excursions and overland experiences, Azamara Ashore
- **Notable:** Built a four-ship fleet of closely related R-class vessels, each carrying up to 702 guests., Established Extended Destination Days of 10 or more hours as a named core product., Completed its separation from Royal Caribbean Group in a $201 million sale to Sycamore Partners in 2021.

## Products & services

- **Small-ship cruises** — Worldwide voyages aboard Azamara Journey, Quest, Pursuit, and Onward, each accommodating up to 702 guests.
- **Extended Destination Days** — Port calls of 10 hours or more, often paired with late-night departures or overnight stays.
- **AzAmazing Evenings** — Private cultural celebrations and performances ashore on eligible voyages.
- **Shore excursions and overland experiences** — Locally guided tours plus multi-day inland journeys that rejoin the ship at a later port.
- **Azamara Ashore** — Hotel stays, city stays, and three-to-six-night pre- and post-cruise journeys; the 2026 relaunch offered 84 core programs.
- **World Cruises and Grand Voyages** — Long-form global itineraries, including bookable segments and combination cruises.
- **Always Azamara inclusions** — Dining and room service, selected alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, gratuities, cultural events, and self-service laundry included in the fare.
- **Experience More packages** — Paid bundles combining shore-excursion credit, Wi-Fi, upgraded beverages, spa credit, laundry, and dining.
- **Azamara Circle** — A tiered loyalty program offering internet, laundry, and other benefits according to status and accommodation.

## Achievements

- Built a four-ship fleet of closely related R-class vessels, each carrying up to 702 guests.
- Established Extended Destination Days of 10 or more hours as a named core product.
- Completed its separation from Royal Caribbean Group in a $201 million sale to Sycamore Partners in 2021.
- Added Azamara Onward as the fourth ship and brought it into service in 2022.
- Was included among Travel + Leisure's reader-ranked midsize-ship ocean cruise lines for 2025.
- Announced Azamara Forward in 2026 as the largest renovation investment in company history.
- CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler received a 2026 CLIA Hall of Fame lifetime achievement award.
- Planned more than 360 late nights and overnights plus 12 maiden ports across its 2028 deployment.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Announced Premier Golf as exclusive golf-travel partner from 2028, covering 23 sailings across five regions.
- **2026-07** — Expanded its long-running OneSpaWorld relationship with fleetwide THESANCTUM spa upgrades beginning on Azamara Pursuit and Quest.
- **2026-06** — Introduced The Next Big Thing Is Small global campaign, supported by brand research on small-port access and time in destination.
- **2026-06** — Added 2027 overland journeys tied to ports in Asia and other regions, with transport, hotels, guides, and meals arranged by Azamara.
- **2026-05** — Published 2028 itineraries with more than 360 late nights and overnights, a first full Asia season, and 12 maiden ports.
- **2026-04** — Relaunched Azamara Ashore with 84 core land programs, including 17 new programs scheduled between 2026 and 2028.
- **2026-03** — Detailed Azamara Forward, beginning with Azamara Quest in December 2026 and continuing aboard Azamara Onward in 2027.

## Links

- Website: https://www.azamara.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/azamara
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Azamara
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AzamaraCruises
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azamaravoyages/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AzamaraVoyages/

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-14