Azamara Cruises has selected Azamara Quest as the first vessel to undergo upgrades under the company’s Azamara Forward programme, a fleetwide refurbishment initiative covering the line’s four ships. The programme represents the largest renovation investment in Azamara’s history and includes refreshed staterooms, public areas, dining venues and bars, together with new accommodation concepts.
The refurbishment of Azamara Quest will include extensive updates to existing onboard spaces, with furnishings, carpets, curtains, bedding and other interior elements being renewed. All staterooms and suites will receive enhancements, while technical improvements will also be introduced to areas such as sound systems and cabin acoustics. Azamara has said the scope and timing of the work will vary between vessels across the wider programme.
A major addition exclusive to Azamara Quest will be a newly constructed Penthouse Deck on Deck 11. The deck will contain 12 new suites, comprising two Panorama Suites and 10 Grandview Suites. The Panorama Suites will feature 270-degree views, separate living, dining and bedroom areas, while the Grandview Suites will offer expanded accommodation and upgraded finishes. The new deck will not be added to the other ships in the fleet under the current programme.
The ship will also receive a permanent Chef’s Table venue, a reimagined Discoveries Restaurant and an expanded Atlas Bar concept. Other public areas, lounges, spa spaces and furnishings are also included in the refurbishment programme.
Azamara Quest is scheduled to enter dry dock at the Onex Elefsis shipyard in Piraeus, Greece, on October 31st, 2026. The dry-dock period is expected to last 26 days, with the ship returning to service on November 26th. The newly constructed Penthouse Deck will debut with the December 18th, 2026 departure from Miami.
The timing will place Azamara Quest among the first Azamara vessels to enter the company’s expanded refurbishment programme before its 2027 itineraries in Australia. The line has been developing its presence in the Australian market through longer voyages and small-ship itineraries, with Azamara Quest scheduled to operate regional cruises following its refurbishment.
Azamara Forward reflects a broader cruise-industry approach in which established vessels are being extensively refurbished and technically upgraded to extend their operational life and reposition their onboard product, rather than relying solely on newbuild programmes.