The destination-focused and Royal Caribbean-owned Azamara has not just suspended operations for an extra month but in fact until Spring 2021.
Azamara on Hold Until Spring 2021
The mid-sized ship cruise line has decided it won’t be resuming operations until it is fully safe to do so. That means Azamara has suspended all operations into next year. A bold move to keep its vessels out of action for so long as other cruise lines are itching to get back at sea.
Those guests impacted by the further cancellations can choose a 125% Future Cruise Credit, Lift and Shift where guests can move their booking or simply a full refund.
Azamara’s Chief Operating Officer, Carol Cabezas, said:
“After very careful consideration, we have made the decision to pause operations until the 2021 Europe season, as we are still confronted with the many global challenges resulting from COVID-19.”
“We plan to return stronger than ever next season, with reimagined guest experiences that will protect the wellbeing of our guests and crew yet remain true to the Azamara spirit of connecting people to cultures.”
So with the focus now on implementing new health protocols, here is the list for when Azamara vessels will begin cruises once again:
- Azamara Quest – The ship will begin the European season on March 20, 2021, with a 12-night Spanish cruise out of Lisbon.
- Azamara Journey – The ship will begin out of Lisbon, Portugal on April 9, 2021 with an 8-night voyage.
- Azamara Pursuit – Will start a new series of Greek cruises on May 9, 2021, out of Athens, Greece.
There has also been a strong demand for Azamara’s 2022/23 voyages which were announced in mid-September. The cruise line experienced three times more bookings compared to the previous year deployments. A sign that cruisers are getting fed up with being stuck at home and just want to go cruising!
Hopefully by that time the industry will be in a much better situation and health measures will be long gone.
Also Read: Royal Caribbean Extends Suspension for Another Month
This news comes as Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have suspended global operations through November 30, 2020. The first cruises for those lines could start in December at the earliest.
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock.com
