Azamara Journey

The 2000-built (as "R-Six"/R6) Azamara Journey cruise ship is the first of four identical R-Class ships in the Azamara fleet, alongside Azamara Quest, Azamara Pursuit, and Azamara Onward (formerly Pacific Princess).

The vessel (IMO number 9200940) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 256204000) and registered in Valletta.

History - Construction and Ownership

Azamara Cruises was formerly a fully owned subsidiary of RCG-Royal Caribbean Group. The company was founded in 2007 as "Azamara Club Cruises," rebranded in 2009 to "Azamara Cruises," and again in 2019 to "Azamara." All Azamara ships were originally built as R-Class vessels for Renaissance Cruises (operational from 1989 to 2001).

In January 2021, Royal Caribbean Group announced the sale of the Azamara brand for USD 201 million (~EUR 165.8 M / ~GBP 147.6 M) to Sycamore Partners, a NYC-based private equity firm. The all-cash transaction included all three ships and associated intellectual property. Sycamore Partners, founded in 2011, manages over USD 15 billion in assets. Notable companies in its portfolio include Belk Inc, Talbots, Nine West Holdings, and Staples Inc.

The 694-passenger Azamara Journey previously sailed as R Six (Renaissance) and Blue Dream (Pullmantur).

In 2001, Renaissance Cruises ceased operations. The vessel was launched in 2003 under charter by Pullmantur Cruises as "Blue Star," renamed "Blue Dream" in 2005. In 2008, Royal Caribbean transferred her to the newly launched luxury brand "Azamara Cruises" and renamed her "Azamara Journey."

The boutique-style ship offers multiple dining venues, a serene spa and wellness center, attentive staff, and destination-focused itineraries.

As a Renaissance-class vessel, the ship features an Edwardian-inspired interior, reminiscent of early 20th-century transatlantic liners. Instead of a grand atrium, there is a graceful curving staircase that leads to the main public area, with a two-deck-high glass skylight dome ceiling featuring stained-glass accents.

On January 22, 2016, Azamara Journey entered drydock in the Bahamas. The 5-day refurbishment introduced significant upgrades, including the new "Pervasive Wi-Fi" system for faster Internet access throughout the ship. All staterooms were fitted with interactive TVs featuring live TV, on-demand movies, lecture schedules, weather, navigation updates, and port information. Guests can book shore excursions and order room service directly from their TVs. On Deck 4, a 98-inch touchscreen at the Inspiration Center provides voyage-planning features. In The Drawing Room and The Living Room, interactive tabletops allow guests to send digital postcards, create digital art with the Scribble app, and browse social media.

Decks and Cabins

Azamara Journey staterooms (355 total, in 24 categories) include 44 Suites, 199 Balcony, 88 Oceanview, and 26 Inside cabins. There are 6 ADA-compliant wheelchair-accessible cabins (2 each of Balcony, Oceanview, and Interior). A total of 243 staterooms have private step-out balconies. Most balconies measure 45–60 ft² (4–6 m²). The largest accommodations are the World Owner’s Suites, measuring 600 ft² (56 m²) with a 215 ft² (20 m²) terrace.

The ship has 11 decks, with 9 accessible to passengers and 6 with accommodations. Four elevators (2 Forward, 2 Aft) connect all decks.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Despite being a small ship, Azamara Journey offers diverse dining options. Guests are also encouraged to sample local cuisine ashore. A complimentary tapas bar was added during the 2016 refurbishment. The buffet features rotating themes and is enhanced in the evenings with glowing table orbs. The main dining room offers an entrée salad nightly.

Dining venues on Azamara Journey include:

• Discoveries Restaurant (main dining room, aft; complimentary; waiter service; open seating – Breakfast 8–9:30 am, Lunch 12–1:30 pm, Dinner 6–9:30 pm)
• Pool Grill (lunch-only, fast food-style; complimentary; made-to-order pizza, pasta, burgers, fries, salads)
• Windows Café (buffet restaurant with indoor and terrace seating; complimentary; open 6:30 am–9:30 pm; offers early, buffet and late breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and casual dinner)
• Aqualina (dinner-only specialty restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine and seafood; complimentary for Club Suite guests; reservations recommended)
• Prime C (dinner-only specialty steakhouse and seafood venue; complimentary for Club Suite guests; surcharge for others; includes an adjacent Wine Cellar with 8,000+ bottles, hosts Wine Corner events and private tastings)

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

Azamara Journey emphasizes destination immersion, so daily onboard activities are more limited compared to larger ships. Offerings include trivia sessions, Bridge, and origami. The Cabaret Lounge is a cozy show venue with risers instead of theater-style seating. Its low ceilings restrict the types of performances staged.

Additional amenities include 24-hour Room Service, Internet/Wi-Fi access, and self-service laundromats. The ship is not tailored to families with small children.

Entertainment venues aboard Azamara Journey include:

• Le Boutique (duty-free luxury goods and jewelry)
• Cabaret Lounge & Bar (main venue for musical shows, comedy, and AzAmazing Evenings enrichment events; also serves as nightclub)
• Casino Luxe (also functions as a sports bar)
• PhotoShop (photo/video services and equipment)
• The Journey Shop (convenience goods)
• Indulgences (luxury retail shop)
• Mosaic Café (complimentary patisserie/bar; becomes Mosaic@Night with live music)
• Discoveries Lounge & Bar (Martini bar)
• Thalassotherapy Pool (saltwater spa pool with jets; surcharge applies)
• Beauty Salon (hair and barber services, manicures, pedicures, massages)
• Astral Spa (wellness treatments using Elemis products)
• Fitness Center (modern gym with ocean views and group classes)
• Acupuncture Room (NCCAOM-certified professionals)
• eConnections (24-hour Internet lounge)
• Pool area (swimming pool, 2 whirlpools, bar, loungers, tennis tables; venue for poolside parties)
• Sunset Bar (serves the Windows Café terrace)
• Looking Glass (observation lounge and nightclub with Murano glass sculptures, leather seating, and afternoon tea)
• The Drawing Room (library)
• Sun Deck (open-air lounging)
• Shuffleboard and jogging/power-walking track

Itineraries

Azamara Journey’s itinerary program includes Caribbean cruises departing from Miami, Asian voyages (from Singapore and Chinese ports), and European itineraries (Mediterranean and Black Sea). Repositioning cruises are offered seasonally via the Suez Canal and Transatlantic crossings.

As an R-Class (Renaissance) vessel, Azamara Journey has sisterships also in the Oceania fleet—Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, and Sirena.

Azamara Journey was originally ordered and operated as "R Six" by Renaissance Cruises between 2000–2003. After the company's bankruptcy, the ship joined Pullmantur's fleet, sailing as "Blue Star" (2003–2005) and later as "Blue Dream" (2005–2007).

The vessel (built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, hull number 123760) is powered by four WARTSILA marine diesel engines (model 12V32) with a total output of 18.6 MW. Propulsion is provided by two propeller shafts and two fixed-pitch propellers (FPPs). The registered shipowner is SP CRUISES VESSEL AJ LTD, and the current ship manager is V SHIPS LEISURE SAM.

In 2015, both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest were featured in the UK travel documentary “Cruise Ship Adventures with Nigel Marven.”

On February 8, 2017, Azamara Journey made her maiden call to Australia, docking in Darwin NT. The 18-day voyage (February 1–19) sailed from Singapore to Sydney AU with calls to Benoa (Bali) and Komodo Island in Indonesia, and to Thursday Island, Port Douglas, Cairns, Townsville, and Hamilton Island in Queensland, Australia.

Azamara Journey Refurbishment Review

The ship's most recent drydock was conducted September 9–13, 2024, at Elefsis Shipyards (Elefsina, Greece). This refit included major technical upgrades such as enhanced propulsion systems, upgraded thrusters and stabilizers, and refreshed interior spaces with new carpeting and furnishings.

The previous refurbishment took place January 22–27, 2016, in Freeport, Bahamas, resulting in the following updates:

• Installation of large touchscreen displays in public areas for sending digital postcards, accessing world atlas maps, and viewing Azamara Cruises itineraries and port details
• Deck 4’s Inspiration Center added a 98-inch interactive touchscreen with cruise and excursion information
• Deck 10’s Drawing Room (Library) and The Living Room received interactive tabletops with internet and social media access, and the Scribble app
• Two new Club Spa Suites were added on Deck 9 (portside) replacing the former eConnections computer room
• The Patio (outdoor BBQ restaurant) and Swirl & Top (frozen yogurt bar) were introduced on Deck 9
• Deck 10’s Looking Glass Lounge was replaced with The Living Room (forward observation lounge, bar, and disco)
• Upgrades to public venues including the Looking Glass, Patio Grill, and Sunset Bar
• Refurbishments to the restaurants Prime C, Aqualina, and Windows Café (buffet), and redesign/expansion of The Sanctum Spa (formerly Astral Spa)

All staterooms were updated with new carpeting, wall coverings, fabrics, furniture, shelving, curtains, bedding (pillows and duvets), upgraded lighting, and interactive smart HDTVs. Coffee tables were enlarged, bathrooms were redesigned for better space usage, and high-quality wood accents were added throughout. Suites received new modern furnishings, dining tables, drapes, media consoles, and sound systems.

Plans to replace the Sunset Bar (Deck 9 aft) with an Asian specialty restaurant named Kibo were later canceled. Instead, the venue was upgraded and retained. Similarly, the proposed outdoor seating area for Windows Café was dropped.

Wi-Fi coverage was expanded shipwide via the “Pervasive Wi-Fi” system. The updated in-cabin Interactive TV system offers on-demand movies, live TV, event schedules, weather reports, and itinerary/port information. Guests can also book shore excursions and order room service through the TV interface.

The 2016 refurbishment project had a total cost of USD 25 million.

In August 2021, the ship was drydocked at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz, Spain) for general maintenance, technical upgrades, and full repainting of the hull and superstructure.