Azamara Launches $80 Million Fleet Overhaul With New Suites and Dining
Azamara Quest will debut the first phase of the $80 million fleet upgrade in late 2026, introducing new top-deck suites, a redesigned Chef’s Table restaurant, and refreshed public spaces ahead of a fleetwide rollout through 2027.
The new Chef’s Table on Azamara. Photo: Courtesy of Azamara
Azamara Cruises is entering its largest renovation cycle to date, rolling out an $80 million multi-year fleet upgrade that begins with Azamara Quest later this year and expands across all four ships through 2027.
The program, branded Azamara Forward, introduces structural changes, redesigned public spaces, and a new dining concept across the fleet. The most visible change will be onboard Quest, which will undergo a six-week dry dock beginning in October 2026 ahead of its Dec. 18 sailing debut for the new features.
The headline change is the addition of a newly built Penthouse Deck above the existing sun deck. The new level brings 12 suites—two Panorama Suites positioned at the forward corners of the ship and 10 Grandview Suites lining the sides—while preserving the open-air Sun Deck above them. The addition increases Azamara Quest’s top-tier inventory and introduces the line’s largest accommodations to date.
Panorama Suites feature separate living, dining, and sleeping areas, walk-in closets, spa-style bathrooms, and 270-degree views from the bow. Grandview Suites follow with floor-to-ceiling windows, expanded bathrooms, and updated contemporary finishes. Together, they’re part of the push to elevate the line’s premium suite category without changing the small-ship scale.
Dining is the second major pillar of the upgrade. Azamara Quest will debut a dedicated Chef’s Table restaurant in a redesigned space on Deck 10, replacing the existing Drawing Room. The venue will host rotating destination-inspired menus, specialty tastings, and limited-seat culinary programming tied to itineraries.
“What inspired us was the love that our guests have for this room,” Martha Brabham, Azamara’s vice president of hotel design, said in an interview with Travel + Leisure. “This room is enveloped in bespoke pieces of millwork, and we’re going to maintain the heritage that we have but expand it with built-in wine displays.”
Beyond Quest, Azamara Forward extends across the fleet with consistent updates. The Atlas Bar concept, already introduced on Azamara Onward, will roll out to the remaining ships, positioned near Discoveries Restaurant as a central pre- and post-dinner venue. Cabaret Lounges are being refreshed with new furnishings, lighting, and flooring, while Discoveries Restaurant will receive a full interior redesign.
Staterooms and suites across all ships are being updated with new textiles, furnishings, and carpeting. Spa treatment rooms and public restrooms are also included in the refurbishment scope.
“We are entering into a new era for the fleet,” Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises, told Travel + Leisure. “This will never take the place of the passion that our crew has for our guests and how much our guests love our crew. It just makes our experience even more special.”After Azamara Quest, Azamara Onward is scheduled for its own refurbishment in 2027, with timelines for Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit to follow. The Quest relaunch is timed ahead of the line’s 2027 world cruise, positioning the ship as the first look at Azamara’s next chapter on the water.
