Boutique cruise line Azamara is treating its four ships to a serious facelift, with US$80 million earmarked for refurbishments across the fleet. First under the knife is Azamara Quest, which enters a 28-day dry dock in November before sailing to Australia and New Zealand — so local cruisers will be among the first to see the results.
The clever bit is how the extra suites are being added. Rather than squeezing passengers out of shared spaces, Azamara is building a new structure on top of the ship. That matters on a vessel carrying around 700 guests, where the two specialty restaurants and the cabaret theatre are a big part of the appeal. David Siewers, Azamara's International Chief Sales Officer, said protecting those public areas was non-negotiable during the redesign.
The investment reflects how well Azamara is doing down under. International travellers account for roughly 40 per cent of its bookings, and Australians make up a large slice of that. Demand has held firm despite geopolitical turbulence and high fuel costs, with 2028 European itineraries already about 70 per cent booked — Europe remains the top pick for Aussie cruisers. Asia is the fast-rising second choice, Japan in particular, helped by short flight times from Australia and a favourable exchange rate against the yen.
The headline news for 2029 is a 139-night world cruise departing from Sydney and finishing in Copenhagen. It's the first time Azamara has designed one of its three world cruise products specifically for the Australian market, meaning locals no longer need to fly to the Americas to join the full 195-night voyage. If five months at sea sounds like a stretch, the line also sells 14 to 21-night segments — and is introducing flexible combinations, such as a 21-night product that splits into seven and 14-night legs so you can hop off, tour independently, and rejoin later.
Australians are also tacking land holidays onto their sailings more than ever, and Azamara is responding with curated pre- and post-cruise tours — including safari add-ons in Africa that pair with certain itineraries. The line is known for longer port stays and overnight visits, which suits travellers who'd rather explore deeply than tick boxes.
Why it matters: if you like small ships, destination-focused itineraries and the option of sailing from an Australian port rather than long-hauling to a departure city, Azamara is doubling down on exactly that. With refreshed ships arriving from late 2025 and a Sydney world cruise on the table for 2029, there's real reason to book early — this is a line whose Europe season sells out years ahead.
Story via Cruise Passenger.
