$80 Million Won't Buy You a Cruise Ship—But It'll Transform Four of Them
Azamara Cruises announces its most ambitious renovation ever with Azamara Forward, an $80 million fleet-wide enhancement program featuring new penthouse suites, redesigned dining venues, and upgraded accommodations across all four ships.
Azamara Cruises just announced the most ambitious makeover in its 18-year history, and the numbers are staggering. The small-ship luxury cruise line is investing $80 million in a fleet-wide renovation program called “Azamara Forward,” and when it’s complete, every ship in the four-vessel fleet will feature new suites, redesigned dining venues, and upgraded public spaces that promise to redefine what “destination immersion” looks like at sea.
The announcement came from CEO Dondra Ritzenthaler on January 15, 2026, and according to the official press release, this isn’t just a refresh—it’s a complete reimagining of the Azamara experience. “Azamara Forward reflects years of listening to our guests and travel partners,” Ritzenthaler stated, emphasizing the initiative maintains the brand’s identity while elevating what guests can expect onboard.
First Stop: Azamara Quest Gets a Penthouse Deck
Azamara Quest will be the guinea pig—or rather, the flagship—for these changes, with the ship’s enhanced version setting sail on December 18, 2026. And the centerpiece is something most ships in Azamara’s size category simply don’t have: an entirely new Penthouse Deck.
This isn’t just adding a few suites. The Penthouse Deck will feature 12 new accommodations, including two Panorama Suites and 10 Grandview Suites. The Panorama Suites are the real showstoppers, positioned at the forward corners of the deck to offer 270-degree ocean views. These suites include separate living, dining, and bedroom areas, walk-in wardrobes, spa-style bathrooms, butler service, and premium amenities. If you’ve ever wanted to wake up surrounded by nothing but ocean on three sides, this is your chance.
The 10 Grandview Suites aren’t exactly budget accommodations either. Each features floor-to-ceiling windows, dual-sink bathrooms, walk-in showers, specialty dining access, and premium beverage packages. The addition of these 12 suites gives Azamara Quest a product that can compete directly with newer expedition and luxury ships—without sacrificing the intimate, 690-passenger capacity that defines the Azamara experience.
Dining Gets a Complete Overhaul
If you’ve sailed Azamara before, you know the line’s culinary program is already strong. But Azamara Forward takes it up several notches with changes that will roll out across all four ships.
The biggest addition is a new, permanent Chef’s Table restaurant on Deck 10. Unlike many cruise lines that treat Chef’s Table as a one-off special event, Azamara is making this a standing venue with rotating, regionally inspired menus. Expect French, Italian, and signature concepts, plus programming that includes guest celebrity chefs, winemaker dinners, and destination-focused dining experiences. The idea is to connect the onboard dining program more closely to the destinations Azamara visits—a natural extension of the brand’s “destination immersion” philosophy.
Atlas Bar is also getting a complete redesign and repositioning. The bar will move next to Discoveries Restaurant, becoming the ships’ primary social hub. The new Atlas Bar will feature destination-inspired cocktails alongside a complimentary beverage selection. For a cruise line that prides itself on longer port stays and overnight visits, having a bar that reflects where you just spent the day ashore makes perfect sense.
Discoveries Restaurant, the main dining venue, is being completely reimagined with updated lighting, furnishings, and warm color palettes designed to create a more intimate atmosphere. And The Cabaret Lounge is getting modern furnishings, refreshed carpeting, and a redesigned dance floor—because apparently, Azamara guests still like to cut a rug after dinner.
Every Stateroom, Every Ship
Here’s where the $80 million really shows up: every single stateroom and suite across the entire fleet is being updated. We’re talking refreshed bedding, refined furnishings, plush carpeting, and lighter color palettes. Even the spa treatment rooms in The Sanctum Spa are being redesigned, along with public restrooms throughout the ships.
This is the kind of investment that’s easy to overlook in press releases, but it’s actually the most significant part of the program. Azamara’s ships aren’t new—Quest, Journey, and Onward were all built in the 1990s and 2000s (Pursuit joined in 2018). Keeping these vessels competitive with newer luxury and expedition ships requires constant reinvestment, and a fleet-wide cabin refresh is exactly the kind of unsexy-but-essential upgrade that keeps guests coming back.
The Rollout Schedule
Azamara Quest debuts the full program on December 18, 2026. Azamara Onward will be next in line for renovations in 2027, with specific dates to be announced. Timeline for Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit hasn’t been released yet, but the press release confirms they’ll receive the same treatment.
The staggered rollout makes sense—taking all four ships out of service simultaneously would crater revenue—but it also means savvy cruisers will have a choice between sailing on the newly renovated Quest or waiting for their preferred ship to get the treatment.
What This Means for Small-Ship Luxury
Azamara operates in an interesting middle ground: too upscale for mainstream lines, but more accessible than ultra-luxury brands like Regent or Seabourn. The Azamara Forward program seems designed to push the line further upmarket without completely abandoning the value proposition that makes it attractive to travelers who want destination-focused itineraries without paying $1,000+ per night.
The addition of Panorama Suites with 270-degree views and butler service brings Azamara closer to the ultra-luxury tier, while the fleet-wide cabin refreshes ensure that even standard stateroom guests feel the impact of the investment. The dining upgrades—particularly the permanent Chef’s Table and destination-inspired Atlas Bar—lean into what Azamara already does well: connecting the onboard experience to the places the ships visit.
For travelers who’ve been considering small-ship luxury, the timing is interesting. Azamara Forward positions the line as a serious competitor to newer entrants in the upscale expedition and yacht-style cruise market, many of which have been grabbing headlines with purpose-built vessels. Azamara’s answer is: we’ll take our existing ships and make them better than the new competition.
Whether that strategy works depends on execution. But with $80 million and a CEO who says this reflects “years of listening,” Azamara is clearly betting that existing guests will notice—and new ones will pay attention.
The countdown to December 18, 2026, starts now.