Azamara Onward

The 1999-built (as "Pacific Princess") cruise ship Azamara Onward was one of the two smallest vessels in the Princess Cruises fleet, along with the Ocean Princess (now Oceania Sirena, since 2016). In January 2021, Princess sold the ship to Sycamore Partners (the new owner of Azamara Cruises), and the 22-year-old vessel left the fleet to join her new fleetmates: Azamara Quest (2000-built), Azamara Journey (2000), and Azamara Pursuit (2001).

The vessel (IMO number 9187887) is currently Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310504000) and registered in Hamilton.

History - construction and ownership

The ship's new name, Azamara Onward, was officially announced on March 19, 2021, following the handover from Princess to Azamara on March 15. On January 19, Sycamore Partners announced the acquisition of the Azamara brand from RCG-Royal Caribbean Group. A week later, Sycamore's Azamara fleet expanded with the purchase of Pacific Princess (renamed Azamara Onward). The name "Azamara Onward" was chosen to represent the concept of "moving forward"—both in space and time—and to evoke a sense of positivity, resilience, and future possibilities.

For 2021-2022, Pacific Princess had 33 scheduled itineraries (departures from June 28, 2021, through March 28, 2022), covering the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South Pacific (homeporting in Tahiti, French Polynesia), as well as a Transpacific repositioning from Australia to Asia. The final two scheduled cruises were repositioning voyages from Australia (Sydney NSW and Brisbane QLD) to Asia (Yokohama, Japan).

Under Princess Cruises, the vessel (IMO 9187887) was Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310504000) and registered in Hamilton. The ship's last drydock refurbishment under Princess was in 2017.

History - construction and ownership

Azamara Cruises was a wholly owned subsidiary of RCG-Royal Caribbean Group until 2021. Founded in 2007 as "Azamara Club Cruises," the company was rebranded in 2009 (as Azamara Cruises) and again in 2019 (as Azamara). The Azamara ships were originally built as R-Class vessels for Renaissance Cruises (which operated from 1989 to 2001).

In January 2021, Royal Caribbean Group announced an agreement to sell the Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners for USD 201 million (~EUR 165.8M / ~GBP 147.6M) as a carve-out transaction. The deal included the company, its three ships, and all associated intellectual property rights and goodwill. The all-cash transaction was completed in Q1 2021. Sycamore Partners, the shipowner, is a private equity firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York City, managing over USD 15 billion in assets. Notable Sycamore-owned companies include Belk Inc. (department store chain), Talbots (fashion retailer), Nine West Holdings (designer and wholesaler), and Staples Inc. (office retailer).

The 672-passenger Pacific Princess operated some of the fleet's most exotic routes across Europe, Asia, and South America, including more than ten World Cruises of over 100 nights. Her sister ships, Pacific and Ocean, were acquired by Princess in 2002 from Renaissance Cruises (defunct in 2001) and were the smallest in the fleet. With her dark wood interiors, the ship resembled a traditional manor house or country inn.

While with Princess Cruises, Pacific Princess sailed over 1.6 million nautical miles (~1.84 million miles / ~2.96 million kilometers). Her inaugural Alaska season began in May 2003 with a repositioning voyage from San Francisco to Vancouver BC. In Alaska, she operated 7-day one-way cruises between Vancouver and Whittier AK.

On January 21, 2021, the vessel departed Port Civitavecchia-Rome en route to Sardinia. On January 25, it was announced that the ship had been sold to Sycamore Partners and added to the Azamara fleet.

Decks and Cabins

Azamara Onward has 335 staterooms (in 24 categories), including 62 Suites, 170 Balcony, 80 Oceanview, and 23 Inside cabins. Only five are handicap-/wheelchair-accessible (2 Balcony, 3 Interior). A total of 247 cabins have private step-out balconies, most of which measure 45-60 ft² (4-6 m²). The largest accommodation is the World Owner’s Suite, with 600 ft² (56 m²) of interior space plus a 215 ft² (20 m²) terrace.

The ship has 11 decks, of which 9 are accessible to passengers and 6 have cabins.

There are four elevators (2 Forward and 2 Aft) connecting all decks.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

For a small ship, Azamara Onward offers a variety of dining options at every meal. Passengers are also encouraged to explore local cuisine during shore excursions. The line planned to introduce a complimentary tapas bar during a drydock scheduled for 2016. Overall, the onboard food is considered high-quality. The buffet features rotating themed menus, and tables are elegantly decorated with softly glowing orbs in the evening. The main dining room offers a signature entrée salad each night.

Below is a complete list of Azamara Onward's restaurants and food bars.

• Discoveries Restaurant (aft Dining Room, complimentary, with waiter service; open seating: Breakfast 8:00–9:30 am, Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm, Dinner 6:00–9:30 pm)
• Pool Grill (casual lunch venue with fast food menu; made-to-order pizza, pasta, burgers, fries, salads; complimentary)
• Windows Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with indoor seating and port/starboard terraces; open 6:30 am–9:30 pm; offers early, buffet, and late breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and casual dinner)
• Aqualina (dinner-only specialty restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine and seafood; complimentary for Club Suite guests; reservations recommended)
• Prime C (dinner-only specialty steakhouse and seafood restaurant; surcharge applies, complimentary for Club Suite guests; adjacent Wine Cellar features a collection of 8,000+ bottles, hosts Wine Corner events, wine tastings, and private dinners)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

As Azamara Onward is destination-focused, the daily activity schedule is more limited than on mainstream cruise ships. Guests can enjoy trivia games and low-key activities like origami and Bridge. The Cabaret Lounge serves as the main show venue, featuring tiered seating but lacking the scale of a traditional theater. Its low ceilings create a more intimate, though somewhat compact, atmosphere, and the entertainment is generally modest in scope.

Below is the complete list of Azamara Onward’s lounges, bars, clubs, and entertainment venues for guests of all ages.

• Le Boutique (duty-free luxury shop for handbags, gifts, and branded jewelry)
• Cabaret Lounge & Bar (main venue for musical shows, cabaret acts, comedy; part of the "AzAmazing Evenings" program; transforms into a nightclub in the evening)
• Casino Luxe (also functions as a sports bar)
• PhotoShop (photo and video services, accessories, and equipment)
• The Onward Shop (general store for convenience items)
• Indulgences (luxury retail boutique)
• Mosaic Cafe (complimentary patisserie and bar; becomes Mosaic@Night nightclub with live music)
• Discoveries Lounge & Bar (Martini Bar)
• Atlas Bar (serves hot and cold small plates and artisanal cocktails)
• Thalassotherapy Pool (saltwater pool with jets; part of the spa complex; surcharge applies)
• Hair Salon (offers hair and barber services, manicures, pedicures, and massages)
• Astral Spa (full-service wellness center using Elemis products)
• Gym (Fitness Room with panoramic views and modern equipment; offers complimentary group classes)
• Acupuncture Room (staffed by NCCAOM-certified acupuncturists)
• eConnections (24-hour internet lounge with computer access)
• Pool Area (includes outdoor pool, 2 whirlpools, poolside bar, loungers, ping-pong tables; served by the Grill station; hosts themed deck parties)
• Sunset Bar (outdoor bar serving the Windows Cafe terrace)
• Looking Glass (panoramic observation lounge with Murano glass sculptures and leather seating; becomes an evening nightclub; serves complimentary afternoon tea with pastries, sandwiches, and champagne)
• The Drawing Room (library)
• Sun Deck (open-air relaxation space with sun loungers)
• Shuffleboard (deck games area)
• Jogging/Power Walking Track

Itineraries

Azamara Onward’s inaugural cruise season (2022) was announced in early June 2021, featuring 22 itineraries across Europe (Mediterranean and Black Sea), three new land tours for the brand, 85 late-night port stays, and 21 overnight stays.

The Maiden Voyage was an 11-night "Christening and Maiden Voyage" itinerary (priced from EUR 3,055 / USD 3,725 per person), departing May 2, 2022, from Monte Carlo, Monaco and ending in Venice, Italy.

The 2022 deployment also included Adriatic Sea voyages (7-8-night roundtrips from Venice and routes between Venice and Athens), 7-night roundtrips from Piraeus-Athens (Greece and the Greek Isles), 11-night roundtrips from Istanbul (Black Sea), 10-night cruises between Istanbul and Athens, and 8-15-night sailings between homeports including Barcelona, Civitavecchia/Rome, and Piraeus/Athens.

In mid-November 2021, Azamara Onward's first World Cruise (2024) was announced. The 155-night voyage departed from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale (Florida, USA) on January 5, 2024.

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

The vessel (Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard, hull number N31) is powered by four WARTSILA marine diesel engines (model 12V32) with a combined output of 13.5 MW. The registered shipowner is SP CRUISES VESSEL PP LTD, and the current ship manager is V SHIPS LEISURE SAM.

Azamara Onward was originally delivered as R-Three on July 28, 1999, by the French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique at its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, and was deployed in French Polynesia, homeported in Papeete, Tahiti, until 2001.

The R-Three was initially operated by Renaissance Cruises and later acquired by a group of French investors. After Renaissance Cruises went bankrupt in 2001, Princess Cruises purchased both R-Three (later Pacific Princess/Azamara Onward) and R-Four (later Ocean Princess/Oceania Sirena).

Pacific Princess began revenue service in December 2002. Until 2008, she operated in the South Pacific, Australia, and French Polynesia, under charter to P&O Holidays (P&O Cruises Australia). After being replaced in Australia by Pacific Dawn (now Ambassador Ambience), she was redeployed to cruises in Europe/Mediterranean, Central America/Caribbean, and South America.

Pacific Princess was christened by Gabi Hollows, wife of renowned eye surgeon Fred Hollows and founding director of the Fred Hollows Foundation. The naming ceremony took place on December 8, 2002, in Port Sydney (NSW, Australia).

Azamara Onward was christened by Beth Santos—a seasoned traveler, speaker, entrepreneur, marketing consultant, and founder/CEO of "Wanderful," a global lifestyle brand focused on women's travel. Launched in 2009, the Wanderful blog (blog.sheswanderful.com) has around 45,000 subscribers and organizes group travel experiences and events. In 2014, Beth Santos founded WITS (Women in Travel Summit) and launched the annual "Bessie Awards" recognizing influential women in the global travel industry. In 2022, she launched Wanderfest, the first major outdoor travel festival by and for women.

Azamara Onward’s christening ceremony was held dockside on May 2, 2022, in Port Monte Carlo (Monaco), just before her 11-day maiden voyage to Porto Corsini/Ravenna. Attendees included godmother Beth Santos, Azamara President Carol Cabezas, Captain Mikael Palmroos, as well as media representatives, travel agents, company investors, and VIP guests.

The table below shows Azamara Onward's inaugural 2022 cruise (11 days, priced from US$2595 / EUR 2460 per person):

Godspeed!

Azamara Onward Refurbishments Review

On January 11, 2022, Azamara signed a contract with Somec SpA (Somec Gruppo, Italy) for the ship’s drydock refurbishment, scheduled for April 2022 at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam.

The EUR 14 million (USD 15.9 million) project was executed by Somec’s subsidiary TSI (Total Solution Interiors), which specializes in the design, manufacturing, and installation of interiors for cruise ships, superyachts, luxury hotels, and residences worldwide.

The extensive refurbishment included renovations to all staterooms (both passenger and crew), all crew areas, the Pool Deck, wellness complex, outdoor decks, and all indoor public areas. Additional work involved hull cleaning and repainting, steelwork (including the reconstruction of arrangements on Decks 8-9 and cabin balcony structures), reinforcements for the spa pools, and the creation of new suites featuring outdoor Jacuzzis.

Technical upgrades comprised restructuring of ballast water and fuel tanks (to expand bunkering capacity), piping works, engine room enhancements, installation of new greywater tanks, overhaul of port and starboard stabilizers and thrusters, and replacement of shaft seals, tail shaft, and propeller seals.

The 2024 drydock (November 7–12) at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz, Spain) focused on routine maintenance and safety/classification works, as well as propulsion machinery overhaul (rudders, propellers, bow thrusters, stabilizers), and hull cleaning and repainting.

Azamara World Cruise 2026

Azamara Onward’s World Voyage 2026 departs from Miami, Florida on January 6 and concludes in Barcelona on June 11, 2026.

The 155-night itinerary visits 36 countries and includes 55 overnight port stays and late-night departures, 60 Extended Destination Days (10+ hours in port), 3 exclusive events, and 10 AzAmazing events.

9 AM5 PM

Mar 20–21 (overnight)Manila, Philippines1 PM4 PMMar 23–24 (overnight)Hong Kong, China9 AM6 PMMar 26–27 (overnight)Halong Bay, Vietnam6 AM1 PMMar 28–29 (overnight)Da Nang/Hue, Vietnam8 AM8 PMMar 30–31 (overnight)Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam10 AM1 PMApr 2–4 (overnight)Klong Toey/Bangkok, Thailand1 PM2 PMApr 5Koh Samui Island, Thailand8 AM2 PMApr 7–8 (overnight)Singapore8 AM5 PMApr 9Port Klang/Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia8 AM8 PMApr 11Sabang, Indonesia8 AM5 PMApr 14Hambantota, Sri Lanka8 AM6 PMApr 15Colombo, Sri Lanka8 AM5 PMApr 16–17 (overnight)Cochin, India2 PM2 PMApr 19–20 (overnight)Mumbai, India5:30 AM6 PMApr 23Muscat, Oman8 AM10 PMApr 25Abu Dhabi, UAE8 AM10 PMApr 26Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE8 AM8 PMApr 27–28 (overnight)Dubai, UAE8 AM6 PMMay 4Jeddah, Saudi Arabia8 PM11 PMMay 6Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt7:30 AM6 PMMay 7Aqaba/Petra, Jordan8 AM6 PMMay 8–9 (overnight)Safaga/Luxor, Egypt7 AM5 PMMay 10–11 (overnight)Suez Canal Transit--May 12–13 (overnight)Ashdod/Jerusalem, Israel7 AM10 PMMay 14Haifa, Israel7 AM8 PMMay 16Bodrum, Turkey8 AM8 PMMay 17Kusadasi/Ephesus, Turkey8 AM10 PMMay 19–20 (overnight)Istanbul, Turkey6 AM10 PMMay 21Canakkale/Kepez, Turkey7:30 AM4 PMMay 22Kavala, Greece8 AM10 PMMay 23Thessaloniki, Greece8 AM10 PMMay 25–26 (overnight)Piraeus/Athens, Greece9 AM8 PMMay 27Santorini, Greece8 AM9 PMMay 28Chania, Crete, Greece8 AM6 PMMay 29Katakolon/Olympia, Greece1 PM8 PMMay 30Corfu, Greece8 AM8 PMJun 1Venice, Italy7 AM10 PMJun 2Koper, Slovenia8 AM10 PMJun 3Zadar, Croatia9 AM6 PMJun 4Dubrovnik, Croatia8 AM10 PMJun 5Kotor, Montenegro9:30 AM10 PMJun 7Sorrento, Italy8 AM6 PMJun 8Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy7:30 AM7 PMJun 9Monte Carlo, Monaco10 AM10 PMJun 11–12 (overnight)Barcelona, Spain6 AMDisembarkation

Azamara's World Voyage 2026 is also available for booking in smaller itinerary segments, including:

• Central America Tapestry (Miami to Callao-Lima) Jan 6–20
• Pacific Mysteries (Callao-Lima to Papeete, Tahiti) Jan 20–Feb 5
• South Pacific Explorer (Papeete to Auckland, NZ) Feb 6–16
• Kiwis and Koalas (Auckland to Sydney, NSW) Feb 16–Mar 2
• Astounding Australia and Asia (Sydney to Hong Kong) Mar 3–23
• Vietnam and Thailand Pathways (Hong Kong to Singapore) Mar 24–Apr 7
• Ancient Trade Routes (Singapore to Dubai) Apr 8–27
• Ancient Reflections (Dubai to Istanbul) Apr 28–May 19
• European Gems and Icons (Istanbul to Venice) May 19–Jun 1
• Adriatic and Med Getaways (Venice to Barcelona) Jun 1–11

Azamara World Cruise 2026 pricing includes US$22,000 worth of amenities, featuring 13 special events, US$3,000 in onboard credit, US$4,000 shore excursion credit, flight credit, pre- and post-cruise land transfers, one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, premium beverage package upgrade, weekly laundry service, and WiFi Internet.

Azamara’s fares (starting from US$39,000 per person) also include all beverages (alcohol included), gratuities, onboard expert-led enrichment events, and unlimited self-service laundry.

Azamara World Cruise 2025

Announced in November 2022, the "2025 World Voyage" runs from January 6 through June 11. The 155-night cruise departs from San Diego (California USA) and concludes in Southampton (England UK). The itinerary spans 37 countries, offering 13 complimentary excursions, 15 overnight stays, and 31 late-night departures.

The voyage was also available in the following 9 segments:

• San Diego to Papeete, Tahiti (Jan 6–24)
• Papeete to Auckland, NZ (Jan 24–Feb 8)
• Auckland to Sydney, NSW, Australia (Feb 8–20)
• Sydney to Singapore (Feb 20–Mar 14)
• Singapore to Klong Toey/Bangkok, Thailand (Mar 14–Apr 3)
• Bangkok to Mumbai, India (Apr 3–20)
• Mumbai to Piraeus/Athens (Apr 20–May 8)
• Athens to Civitavecchia/Rome (May 8–22)
• Rome to Lisbon (May 22–Jun 1)
• Lisbon to Southampton (Jun 1–11)

Prices started from US$40,000 (Interior cabin), inclusive of gratuities, US$4,000 onboard credit, US$3,000 shore excursion credit, weekly laundry service (one bag per person), premium beverage package upgrade for two, and unlimited Wi-Fi (one device).

Azamara World Cruise 2024

Announced in mid-November 2021, Azamara Onward's first World Cruise set sail on January 5, 2024, from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA).

The 155-night itinerary visits ports in 40 countries across six continents and includes 22 overnight port stays and 27 late-night departures.

Signature destinations include Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, the Mediterranean and Black Seas in Europe, China’s Tianjin (for Beijing and the Great Wall 3-night excursion), Egypt’s Port Said (for Cairo and the Giza Pyramids), Mexico’s Cozumel (for Chichen Itza), Jordan’s Port Aqaba (for Petra), India’s Cochin (for New Delhi and the Taj Mahal 3-night excursion), Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, and Italy’s Civitavecchia (for Rome and the Colosseum).

Promo prices for Azamara Onward's World Voyage 2024 started at approximately USD 22,000 per person (based on double occupancy). The fare included US$7000 in onboard credit, business-class flights, a pre-cruise hotel stay in Fort Lauderdale FL, and a premium beverage package for two. Shore excursions and land tours were not included and incurred additional costs.

Azamara Onward Inaugural Itineraries 2022

The ship’s inaugural season (2022) was announced in early June 2021. The schedule featured 22 itineraries across Europe (Mediterranean and Black Sea), including three new land tours for the Azamara brand, 85 late-night stays, and 21 overnight port calls.

The table below shows the Maiden Voyage in 2022—an 11-day itinerary from Monte Carlo to Venice.

Prices started from USD 2730 (EUR 2300 / GBP 1975) per person (double occupancy).

The following table outlines the 8-day "Croatia Intensive Voyage" (US$2240 pp):

Next is the 7-day "Greece Intensive Voyage" itinerary (US$1750 pp):

Next is the 11-day "Black Sea Intensive Voyage" itinerary (US$3250 pp):

Next is the 15-day "Holy Land Cruise" itinerary (US$4250 pp):

Pacific Princess Itineraries

Pacific Princess itineraries focused on more exotic destinations compared to larger fleetmates.

Around the World Cruises (departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) started each year in January.

In early July 2019, Princess announced that the ship would be homeported in Australia for the 2020-2021 season. The new program coincided with the 45th anniversary of the company's first roundtrip from Australia (May 8, 1971), commemorated by SS Pacific Princess (IMO 7018563, built in 1970, scrapped in 2014), famously known as "The Love Boat."

The Australia-based program featured a 90-day roundtrip from Sydney, NSW around South America (January 3, 2021), a 13-day roundtrip to New Zealand (December 21, 2020), and a 21-day voyage to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (April 3, 2021). The liner was scheduled for 15 maiden port calls, including Kaikoura, New Plymouth, Oban (Stewart Island), Wewak, Madang, Gizo Island. A 24-day repositioning cruise from Sydney to Tokyo, Japan (April 24, 2021) included ports in PNG and the Philippines.

In the Australia-New Zealand region, Pacific Princess was planned to join Sapphire, Sea (now Dream Charming), Sun (now Pacific World), Majestic, and Regal. General bookings for Pacific Princess Australian cruises opened on July 12, 2019.

The canceled Spring 2021 program included a 15-day "Panama Canal Connoisseur" voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, transiting the Panama Canal's old locks.

Pacific Princess Ship Review

Unlike Princess’ larger ships, Pacific Princess had fixed dining with early and late seating at 6:00 and 8:15 pm. However, the vessel featured the line's popular specialty restaurants. At Sabatini’s (Italian), passengers selected their main course, while multiple appetizers, salads, and pasta dishes were served. Sterling Steakhouse focused on premium steaks and offered an international wine list. Due to the ship’s smaller size, the specialty restaurants alternated their opening nights.

Below is the list of Pacific Princess restaurants and food venues:

• Club Restaurant (aft Dining Room; open seating for Breakfast and Lunch, Afternoon Tea 3:30–4:30 pm, fixed Dinner seatings at 6:00 and 8:15 pm; hosts "Chef’s Table")
• Deck BBQ (poolside, complimentary fast food bar)
• Pizzeria (open for Lunch and Dinner, complimentary)
• Panorama Buffet (casual, self-service for all meals; open seating for "Anytime Dining" 6:00–11:00 pm)
• Sterling Steakhouse (specialty dinner-only restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Sabatini’s (Italian specialty restaurant; open for Dinner for all passengers and for Suite guest Breakfast; reservations recommended)

Evening entertainment centered around the Cabaret Lounge, featuring a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The venue hosted variety shows, live music, and first-run movies. Piano music was offered in the Casino Bar. The adjacent casino had slot machines and table games. Daytime enrichment included destination lectures and classes in technology and photography, as part of the ScholarShip@Sea program.

Below is the list of Pacific Princess entertainment venues:

• Cabaret Lounge (main show lounge)
• Pacific Casino
• Club Bar (piano bar adjacent to Club Dining Room)
• Pacific Lounge & Nightclub (serves British Pub Lunch)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery, Photo Gallery & Shop, Pacific Boutiques
• Princess Pacific Lotus Spa & Gym (treatment rooms, steam rooms, salon, fitness center, thalasso pool, sauna)
• Card Room, Library (board games, sudoku)
• Internet Café (24-hour access)
• Swimming pool with Pool Bar and Lido Bar; 3 Jacuzzis
• Jogging Track, Sun Deck, Golf Driving Net, Shuffleboard

Pacific Princess Refurbishment 2017 Review

The ship’s two-week drydock refurbishment (May 30–June 8) took place in Freeport, Bahamas at Grand Bahama Shipyard.

Upgrades included a redesigned Atrium with new woodwork, an enhanced grand staircase, updated ornamentation, and a stained glass ceiling.

Sterling Steakhouse (on deck 10) wa