Updated January 20, 2025
Initially built in 2000 for the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises, Azamara Journey is an older but well-maintained ship that has undergone two refurbishments since joining Azamara’s fleet in 2007. In many ways, the vessel’s layout reflects design standards at the time of its construction, with fewer outdoor spaces and ocean views than what has become the norm, as well as smaller staterooms and bathrooms, especially in the lower and standard categories of cabins.
But you will find many of the amenities available on larger cruise ships, such as a spa and fitness center, several entertainment venues, bars and lounges, and specialty dining offerings.
Azamara’s smallish ships—with just 702 passengers aboard—often visit lesser-known ports of call, as they can navigate waterways where larger vessels can’t go. Azamara’s itineraries also include more late-night and overnight stays in port, exclusive shore excursions, memorable onshore performances and cultural events via the line’s AzAmazing Evenings, and the popular White Night party, an onboard bash hosted on the pool deck during every sailing.
Scroll on for a tour of Azamara Journey and an overview of what to expect during a cruise.
Azamara Journey Quick Facts:
Guests: 702 (double occupancy)
Crew: 408
Inaugural voyage: May 6, 2007
Refurbished: January 2016 and September 2024
Staterooms and suites: 352
Decks: 8
Gross tons: 30,277
Length: 592 feet
Beam: 84 feet
Azamara Journey has 353 staterooms, including 46 suites, 201 veranda staterooms, 70 oceanview staterooms, and 26 interior staterooms. The smallest accommodations are Club Oceanview staterooms (143 square feet), followed by Club Interior staterooms (158 square feet).
The most prevalent kind of cabin, Club Veranda staterooms (pictured above) feature 175 square feet of indoor space and a 40-square-foot veranda. Club Continent suites are more generous in size at 266 square feet, with a 60-square-foot veranda. These suites also have a sitting area and a roomier bathroom.
All categories of staterooms and suites come with two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, terry cloth bathrobes and slippers, a sitting area with a flat-screen television, a refrigerator with a mini bar, a writing desk, an in-room safe, and other amenities.
Interior décor and furnishings throughout the ship are elegant and very traditional. Most colors are neutral, with a palette of beige, brown, cream, gray, and burgundy. You’ll also find dark woods in many places, except in some of the suites that have been recently refreshed with lighter wood tones.
The ship’s largest suite, the Club World Owner’s Suite, offers a separate living room and bedroom, 560 square feet of indoor space and 233 square feet on the veranda. Additional perks with the most spacious suite on the ship include a dressing room with a vanity and a marble bathroom with a tub. These luxurious accommodations are located at the aft of the ship on decks 6, 7, and 8.
The two main dining venues are Discoveries Restaurant and Windows Café, the ship’s buffet. Additionally, you can pick up casual fare like coffee, pastries, and tea sandwiches at Mosaic Café, pub grub at The Patio, and ice cream at Swirl & Top.
The food and service are quite good at Discoveries. The dinner menu includes always-available options, such as Caesar salad, grilled chicken breast, and strip steak, along with a nightly international-themed menu of specials. The restaurant puts on an impressive show during the brunch buffet, offered twice during our cruise. The spread ranges from shrimp cocktail and whole smoked salmon to freshly carved meats, made-to-order pasta, omelets, a variety of salads, and numerous desserts.
There are two specialty venues where meals aren’t included in the price of your cruise: Aqualina and Prime C (pictured above). Aqualina serves Italian dishes, such as homemade pastas, grilled Mediterranean sea bass, a garlic and lemon herb-encrusted veal chop, and shrimp risotto alla Milanese. The menu at Prime C showcases steaks, a chateaubriand for two, an herb-coated rack of lamb, duck leg confit, and Chilean sea bass.
It's worth splurging on both specialty venues at least once during your cruise, especially if you’re on an extended voyage. The food and service are excellent in both restaurants, which are intimate in size compared with the main dining room. Don’t forget to have a cocktail before dinner in Prime C’s clubby lounge. (Both venues are complimentary for guests staying in these suite categories: Club World Owner’s, Club Ocean, and Club Continent.)
The Chef’s Table is another optional specialty dining experience. The five-course meal, offered several times throughout the cruise in Prime C’s lounge area, is inspired by different destinations around the world, but you can expect at least one menu to feature specialties of the destination on the itinerary. The exclusive experience, for just 12 people, is typically hosted by a special guest or one of the ship’s senior officers and includes wine pairings. The evenings book up quickly so don’t delay if you’re interested.
Azamara Journey, like its three sister ships in the Azamara fleet, is easy to navigate with only eight passenger decks.
Deck 4
This is where you’ll find the concierge desk and guest relations at the foot of the staircase in the two-story atrium. Also on deck 4: interior and oceanview staterooms as well as the medical facility.
Deck 5
Deck 5 sits at the heart of the ship. Several public areas are located here, including the lounge area, at about midship, home of the lively bar Spirits, a popular spot for a pre-dinner cocktail. The shore excursion desk, retail shops, and Mosaic Café are nearby, at the top of the atrium staircase.
The main entertainment venue, the Cabaret Lounge (pictured above), is forward on deck 5. Shows are a mix of traditional cruise-style entertainment, including ABBA- and Beatles-themed performances, jazz nights, and game shows, including a fun take on Name That Tune.
At the aft (or back) of the ship, Discoveries Lounge is an excellent choice for a glass of wine before you head into the main dining room.
Decks 6, 7, and 8
Most passenger staterooms and suites are located on these decks.
Deck 9
The Sanctum Spa, salon, and fitness center sit at the front of the ship on deck 9. At the back of the ship on this deck are clustered the pool deck (pictured above), the Pool Bar, Windows Café, The Patio, Swirl & Top, and the Sunset Bar.
Flanked by two round hot tubs, the pool is small, but never seemed overly crowded during our recent 10-night sailing through the Panama Canal. Lounge chairs were available at various times throughout the day.
There are ocean views through the windows from the outward-facing lounges, but for better vistas go one deck above to the jogging track. Another great spot for views is the Sunset Bar on deck 9 at the aft of the ship.
Deck 10
The Living Room on deck 10 (forward) hosts activities throughout the day, including lectures, trivia, and more. It’s a beautiful space with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and plenty of cozy seating for relaxing, reading a book, or enjoying a cup of tea or glass of Champagne. Adjacent to the Living Room is a space for playing cards and other table games. In the evening, this area transforms into a venue for live music or a late-night DJ spinning tunes.
One of the ship’s most elegant and beautifully appointed spaces—and a favorite place to hide away for quiet time—is the Drawing Room (pictured above). This peaceful gem sits nearly midship on deck 10 and features a fireplace, dark wood paneling, and a recessed ceiling painted with colorful birds. There are also built-in bookcases, a piano, and several groupings of chairs and sofas.
Aqualina and Prime C, the two specialty restaurants, sit at the aft on deck 10. The jogging track on this deck overlooks the pool area below.
Deck 11
The only public area on deck 11 is the Sun Deck at the front of the ship. You can play shuffleboard up here.
Azamara is known for its destination immersion experiences, such as the line’s signature AzAmazing Evenings. These complimentary cultural events take the ship’s guests ashore for experiential performances in locations around the world. The memorable evenings might include a private concert in a European castle; flamenco dancing in Málaga, Spain; Carnival festivities in Montevideo, Uruguay; or a magical evening under the stars at a local village in Vietnam.
Azamara’s cruise fares cover accommodations; all included meals (specialty dining is extra); select beers, wines, and spirits; gratuities; specialty coffees, teas, bottled water, and soft drinks; self-service laundry; shuttle service in port (when available); and concierge service.
Suite guests receive additional perks such as butler service, 235 minutes of complimentary internet, dining at specialty restaurants, afternoon tea served in-suite, and a $300 onboard credit per person.
Additionally, guests can purchase packages that include shore excursion credits, unlimited Wi-Fi, premium beverages, specialty dining, spa services, and more.
For more information, go to Azamara.com.
Pictured above: White Night party on Azamara Journey
