Azamara

What sailing with Azamara is actually like

Azamara is built around one idea: that the best part of a cruise is what happens when you step ashore. Its four ships — none of them large — are sized deliberately so they can dock in the heart of a city rather than anchor offshore, stay until the evening lights come on, and occasionally overnight entirely. That philosophy shapes everything from the itineraries to the pace of the days at sea.

On board the mood is relaxed but refined — closer to a well-run country house than a floating resort. Fellow guests tend to be curious, well-travelled adults who would rather spend an afternoon in a neighbourhood trattoria than a beach club. The crew-to-guest ratio keeps service genuinely attentive without being formal.

The ships

The fleet runs to four boutique vessels. Azamara Journey carries the broadest programme of sailings, ranging from the Mediterranean to the Far East. Azamara Quest is her near-twin, often found in Asia and the Americas. Azamara Onward joined the fleet more recently and brings the same intimate formula to European and transoceanic routes. Azamara Pursuit is a favourite for British Isles and northern European seasons. Because the ships share a design philosophy, choosing between them usually comes down to itinerary rather than the vessel itself — and our cruise experts can walk you through the differences cabin grade by cabin grade.

Food and drink on board

Dining is one of Azamara’s genuine strengths. The main restaurant, Discoveries, serves port-inspired menus alongside international classics, all included in your fare. Windows Cafe takes the idea further with daily themed dinners and live cooking stations that change with each destination — Greek feta preparations in Greece, fresh pasta in Italy. For a special evening, Prime C is the line’s premium steakhouse, serving cuts cooked to order alongside fresh seafood; Aqualina offers authentic Italian with handmade pasta and signature desserts such as Sorrento lemon-liqueur mousse. Both specialty restaurants carry a supplementary charge.

The Atlas Bar crafts cocktails using artisan techniques — the preparation is part of the show — while The Wine Cellar holds a collection of limited and rare bottles spanning France, California, Argentina and South Africa, with sommeliers on hand to match a bottle to your dinner. The Den doubles as a destination-planning lounge by day and a live piano bar after dark.

Where Azamara sails

The breadth of the programme is striking for a four-ship line. Japan is the single largest region in the current schedule, with departures from Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka and Yokohama. The Mediterranean — both western and eastern — is well represented, sailing from Athens (Piraeus), Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona and Venice. The British Isles programme departs from Portsmouth. Further afield, sailings touch South America (Buenos Aires, Valparaíso, Callao), the Caribbean, Norway, the Transatlantic, and Central America. Closer to home for Australian travellers, Azamara sails around Australia and on to New Zealand, with Sydney as the main Australian home port.

Voyage lengths range from short five-night breaks to grand back-to-back itineraries stretching well beyond a fortnight — the median sailing runs a generous two weeks, giving the line’s longer port stays room to breathe.

Sailings from Australia and the Asia-Pacific

A handful of sailings depart from Sydney — handy for east-coast travellers who prefer a cruise with no long-haul flight at all, or a quick domestic hop for guests travelling from other states. The Sydney to New Zealand routing is a perennial favourite, and Singapore to Australia sailings suit travellers who want to combine a Southeast Asian city stay with an ocean crossing. For those drawn to the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver to Alaska sailings round out the region’s options.

Who Azamara suits

• Destination-focused travellers who want more than a port stop — late-night departures and overnights are built into many itineraries.
• Experienced cruisers moving on from larger ships and looking for a quieter, more personal atmosphere.
• Couples and solo travellers who appreciate genuinely attentive service without a rigid daily programme.
• Anyone drawn to Japan, the Mediterranean or the British Isles — the regions where Azamara’s longer port hours make the biggest difference.

Why book Azamara with CruiseAway

Because most Azamara itineraries begin in Europe or Asia, the cruise is typically the centrepiece of a longer trip. CruiseAway’s DreamAway Packages bundle the flights, the hotel nights on either side, and all transfers into a single booking — so nothing falls through the gaps between arrangements. Our cruise experts know Azamara’s cabin grades, fare inclusions and seasonal pricing in detail, which matters on a line where the right stateroom category can meaningfully change how the voyage feels. And our Best Price Guarantee means you don’t need to shop around once you’ve found the sailing you want.