Azamara is spending $80 million refreshing all four of its ships with new suites, redesigned public spaces, refreshed dining and bar venues, and a new Penthouse Deck. That is exciting, but there is one very important catch: every ship is being updated on a different timeline.
So, the Azamara cruise you book for 2027 or 2028 can determine whether you sail on a newly refreshed ship, what itinerary you get, and potentially what you pay. There is no wrong choice here. You just want to make that choice intentionally.
Having sailed Azamara five times, I think the line has a very clear identity. It is destination-focused, small ship cruising that feels a little like a river cruise on the ocean. The ships carry fewer than 700 guests, stay later in port, offer overnights in fascinating cities, and visit places the bigger ships often skip.
What Is Included on an Azamara Cruise?
Azamara includes more than a standard cruise fare, particularly for travelers who value a mostly bundled experience without moving all the way up to ultra-luxury pricing.
What is included
- Multiple included dining venues
- Classic beverage package with spirits, beer, and wine available throughout the day
- Gratuities
- Self-service laundry
- AzAmazing Evenings, which are special destination events that can take place in memorable settings off the ship
- Late-night and overnight stays in port
The beverage package is a real strength because it is not limited to meals. You can have spirits, beer, or wine during the day without constantly thinking about the tab.
What is not included
There are some important exclusions to budget for. The standard package does not generally cover premium spirits or premium liquor. If the cocktail menu catches your eye, some drinks may cost extra unless you upgrade the package.
- Wi-Fi
- Premium spirits and upgraded beverage selections
- Shore excursions
- Spa services
- Specialty dining
The Wi-Fi piece is the biggest miss. Several premium competitors now include it, and Azamara does not generally include it in a standard fare. Shore excursions are also separate, unlike Viking, which includes one basic excursion in each port.
The $80 Million Azamara Fleet Refresh: What It Means for 2027 and 2028
Azamara has four ships: Azamara Quest, Azamara Onward, Azamara Journey, and Azamara Pursuit. The refresh is happening one ship at a time, so the timing matters.
- Azamara Quest: Scheduled to enter dry dock at the end of October 2027 and emerge about 45 days later in December, ahead of its world cruise.
- Azamara Onward: Scheduled for dry dock in November 2027. Most 2028 sailings should therefore take place after the refresh.
- Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit: Timelines have not yet been announced.
The practical takeaway is simple. If newer hardware and refreshed spaces are important, look carefully at Quest departures after its dry dock and Onward departures in 2028. If your priority is itinerary and price, an unrefreshed ship can still be a terrific value.
Why Azamara Stands Out: Itineraries, Late Nights, and Smaller Ports
Azamara is not really about having the flashiest ship at sea. It is about where you go and how much time you get there.
The line offers 68 summer voyages, more than 150 late nights in port, six grand voyages, and a growing Asia program. On many sailings, the ship may remain in port until 9:00, 10:00, or even 11:00 at night rather than departing in the late afternoon.
That makes a completely different kind of day. You can spend the afternoon exploring, come back for a quick dinner, and still head back into town for an evening walk, a local meal, or a performance. Overnight stays take it even further.
Azamara also builds itineraries around ports that are not always on the usual cruise loop. Think Albania, Menton in France, Turku in Finland, Fredericia in Denmark, Karlskrona in Sweden, and event-based sailings tied to experiences such as the Monaco Grand Prix or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
There are destination intensives for Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Japan, and more. Egypt is also in the mix. For travelers who have already done the usual Mediterranean or Caribbean routes, that variety can be the reason Azamara is worth it.
Back-to-back cruises that actually feel different
One of the best ways to use Azamara is to pair itineraries that genuinely complement each other. Instead of repeating the same ports, you can create a much larger journey.
For example, pair a 14-night Vietnam and Hong Kong voyage with a 14-night Japan intensive. That creates 28 nights and roughly 20 ports, not just a repeat of the same route.
Asia and world cruise opportunities
Azamara is leaning strongly into Asia for 2028, with 33 sailings on Azamara Pursuit and a very port-intensive schedule. Around 87% of the itinerary time is spent in port, along with maiden ports and unusual regional combinations.
For a true bucket-list trip, the 2028 world cruise spans 175 nights, six continents, 40 countries, and 91 ports. It also comes with about $37,000 in inclusions, such as excursion credits, onboard credit, Wi-Fi, and upgraded beverage packages.
That is understandably a lot of time. The better fit for many travelers is one of the nine grand voyage segments, often around 35 nights. These itineraries still add meaningful perks, including Wi-Fi and air credits, while opening the door to experiences such as Victoria Falls, safari extensions, and Machu Picchu.
Azamara vs. Oceania, Viking, Holland America, and Explora Journeys
Azamara has great competition. The right choice comes down to what matters most: inclusions, ship quality, passenger count, destinations, and budget.
Azamara vs. Oceania
For a balcony stateroom for two guests with standard inclusions, the average daily cost is very close: roughly $968 per day on Azamara versus $938 per day on Oceania.
Oceania has a slight inclusion advantage because Wi-Fi and specialty restaurants are included. Oceania can also offer a choice between beer and wine with meals or a shore excursion credit, which is helpful if you are not much of a drinker.
Azamara has the edge if you want the classic beverage package throughout the day and a consistently smaller ship. All Azamara ships stay under 700 guests. Oceania has some ships under 700 guests, but also has larger ships in the 1,200 to 1,500 guest range.
Azamara vs. Viking Ocean
Viking Ocean averages roughly $1,300 per day, which is noticeably higher than Azamara and Oceania. In return, Viking includes a great deal and offers one basic shore excursion in every port.
There is no question that Viking’s ships are newer, more modern, and generally more polished from a hardware standpoint. They carry up to about 1,000 guests, still manageable but larger than Azamara. You are paying a premium for the ship experience and the extra inclusions.
Azamara vs. Holland America
Holland America is a good comparison for someone who wants a destination-focused experience but needs a lower price point. The average balcony fare for two is about $491 per day. Add roughly $140 per day for drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, and the more comparable total is around $630 per day.
That is still considerably less than Azamara. The trade-off is ship size. Holland America ships can carry 2,000 to 3,000 guests, so it is a fundamentally different onboard experience.
Azamara vs. Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys sits higher in the luxury category at nearly $1,400 per day. It includes a tremendous amount, enough that it is possible to leave the ship with a zero-dollar onboard bill.
The ships are newer, modern, and more luxurious than Azamara. But again, that comes at a substantially higher price. It is always a trade-off between the newest ship, the inclusion level, the itinerary, and what you are comfortable spending.
How to Save Money on an Azamara Cruise
The biggest rule here is simple: book early if you can. Booking 12 to 24 months ahead almost always gives you better choice in cabins and itineraries, and it is typically the strongest place to find Azamara’s early booking pricing.
- Early booking bonus: Often around 30% off when eligible. Each voyage has its own cutoff, generally about 18 months before departure.
- Onboard credit: Azamara commonly has a live onboard-credit offer, so always check current promotions.
- Book onboard: If you are sailing Azamara and loving it, booking a future cruise while aboard can provide up to 5% savings, sometimes extra onboard credit, and occasionally Wi-Fi.
- Use an advisor: Promotions do not always combine. It helps to have someone compare the offers, run the math, and look for special inventory or extra perks.
Last-minute deals do appear occasionally, but they are not as common as many people think. More importantly, waiting means choosing from the remaining staterooms and itineraries rather than selecting the voyage you truly want.
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13 Azamara Deals and Itineraries for 2027 and 2028
These are starting prices for a balcony stateroom for two guests, including drinks and gratuities. Cruise pricing changes daily, so treat these as a snapshot of the value available at the time of pricing rather than a promise of today’s fare.
1. Riviera Sampler: Rome to Barcelona
Azamara Onward, 10 nights, from about $576 per day. This is a shoulder-season Mediterranean opportunity with classic stops and a much lighter crowd profile than peak summer. It is well below Azamara’s roughly $968 per-day average.
2. Adriatic Slow Burn: Barcelona to Venice
Azamara Onward, from about $659 per day. This itinerary includes Marseille, Nice, Florence and Pisa, Rome, Montenegro, and Dubrovnik. It also pairs naturally with the Rome-to-Barcelona sailing for a longer back-to-back Mediterranean adventure.
3. Summer in January: Melbourne to New Zealand
Azamara Pursuit, 16 nights, from about $753 per day. Trade winter at home for summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This sailing includes two days in Sydney, scenic Milford Sound, and a strong mix of Australia and New Zealand ports.
4. Japan and Korea: Seoul to Tokyo
Azamara Quest, 14 nights. Japan is rarely inexpensive, but this is a compelling option because it sails aboard the freshly renovated Azamara Quest after its refresh. Start in Seoul, finish in Tokyo, and enjoy a destination-intensive itinerary on a more updated ship.
5. Alaska: The Small Ship Comeback
Azamara Pursuit, 11 nights, from about $762 per day. Azamara is returning to Alaska with smaller-ship opportunities and less common ports. If Alaska is on your list but large ships are not your style, this is one worth putting on the shortlist.
6. The Spice Route: Singapore to Sydney
Azamara Pursuit, 21 nights, from about $788 per day. Start with an overnight in Singapore, explore Indonesia, and continue through Australian ports that the bigger ships often cannot reach. This itinerary was roughly 20% to 25% below normal Azamara pricing when checked.
7. China Intensive: Hong Kong to Seoul
Azamara Pursuit, summer 2028, from about $775 per day. This one is unusual in all the right ways: an overnight in Hong Kong, two nights in Shanghai, an overnight in Beijing, and a finish in Seoul. For anyone looking to spend serious time in China rather than simply touch one port, it is a fascinating route.
8. Pacific Coast and Panama Canal: Chile to Miami
Azamara Journey, from about $607 per day. This itinerary combines the Pacific coast of South America with a Panama Canal transit and two days in Lima, one of the world’s great food cities. Fly down to Chile, then finish conveniently in Miami.
9. Atlantic Odyssey: Cape Town to the Canary Islands
Azamara Onward, 2028, from about $523 per day. Get to Cape Town early, add time at Kruger National Park or another safari experience, then sail through Namibia’s desert coast and St. Helena before ending in Gran Canaria. Because it is partly a repositioning cruise with more sea days, the value is outstanding at nearly half Azamara’s typical pricing.
10. Transpacific: Alaska to Tokyo
Azamara Pursuit, August 2027, from about $477 per day. Sail from Seward with a couple of Alaska stops before crossing the Pacific to Tokyo. There are plenty of sea days, but drinks and gratuities are included, and this is one of the lowest-priced ways to try Azamara.
11. Transatlantic: Miami to Lisbon
Azamara Quest, April 2028, under $500 per day. This is one of the least expensive ways to sail on the newly refreshed Quest. Start in Miami, cross to Lisbon, and arrive with Europe right at your doorstep.
12. Seville Overnights: Rome to Lisbon
Azamara Quest, 10 nights, from about $648 per day. The star here is Seville, where the ship remains for three days with two overnights. Azamara can sail right up into the city, creating that river-cruise-on-the-ocean feeling. Add excellent stops between Rome and Lisbon, plus a refreshed ship, and it is a strong itinerary.
13. Grand Finale: Miami to New Zealand
Azamara Onward, 41 nights, from about $784 per day. This is a big adventure and a world-cruise segment. Sail from Miami to Auckland through Easter Island, the South Pacific, Tahiti, and Bora Bora. There are sea days, but there is also a major advantage: arrive in New Zealand without the jet lag of flying there.
So, Is Azamara Worth It?
Azamara is worth it if you value destinations over ship hardware. The ships are small, the atmosphere is relaxed, the itineraries are exceptional, and the late-night and overnight port stays can make a cruise feel far more immersive.
It is not the best fit for everyone. Viking has newer and more polished ships with more inclusions. Oceania includes Wi-Fi and specialty dining at a similar average price. Holland America is cheaper for travelers comfortable with a larger ship. Explora Journeys provides a more modern luxury experience if the budget is there.
But Azamara occupies a very attractive middle ground: under 700 guests, drinks and gratuities included, fantastic destination depth, and itineraries that can be genuinely hard to find elsewhere. Just pay attention to the refresh schedule, book early for the widest selection, and choose the voyage that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azamara a luxury cruise line?
Azamara is generally considered a premium small-ship cruise line. It offers a more inclusive and intimate experience than mainstream lines, but it does not have the newest or most luxurious ship hardware compared with Viking or Explora Journeys.
Does Azamara include drinks and gratuities?
Yes. Azamara’s standard fare includes a classic beverage package with spirits, beer, and wine available throughout the day, plus gratuities. Premium spirits and some specialty cocktails may cost extra.
Is Wi-Fi included with Azamara?
No. Wi-Fi is not generally included in the standard Azamara fare. It may be included on select longer voyages, grand voyages, or through certain booking promotions.
Which Azamara ships will be refreshed first?
Azamara Quest is scheduled to be refreshed first, entering dry dock at the end of October 2027 and returning in December 2027. Azamara Onward is expected to enter dry dock in November 2027, with 2028 departures expected to sail after its transformation.
Is Azamara better than Oceania?
Neither is automatically better. Azamara is especially strong for very small ships, included drinks throughout the day, late nights, and unusual itineraries. Oceania is similarly priced on average and includes Wi-Fi and specialty dining, while offering some larger ship options.
When should I book an Azamara cruise for the best price?
Booking 12 to 24 months in advance is usually the best strategy for cabin choice and early-booking discounts. Early booking eligibility can end about 18 months before departure, so check the exact deadline for the itinerary you want.
