ABOARD THE AZAMARA PURSUIT — There are few surprises to this ship for any agent or passenger who has been on one of the seven other R-ships originally built between 1998 and 2001 for the defunct Renaissance Cruises line.
The Azamara Pursuit has the same brass railings in the stairwells, the same vaulted ceiling in what was designed to be the library, the same dark wood paneling and classical decorative touches that were original to the R-class.
And now that it has joined two of its sister ships in the Azamara Club Cruises fleet (it most recently sailed as the Adonia, and Azamara acquired it from P&O Cruises), its carpets, upholstery and cabin furnishings have been harmonized with the Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey, reflecting the updates they each received two years ago.
Still, there are a few changes that were made. Perhaps most notable is the absence of a casino. Azamara president and CEO Larry Pimentel said its removal could be controversial for some, but after consideration it was decided the space could be better used.
"A casino on a small ship that's in port all the time, you can't often open," Pimentel said. Eliminating the casino reduced the crew count by 12, and the need for less crew quarters contributed to an increase in the number of cabins, from 342 to 351.
Also contributing space to new accommodations was a repurposing of the guest-relations area on Deck 4. The Shore Excursion and Cruise Again desks were moved up to Deck 5 where the casino once stood.
The Den, as the area that once held the casino is now known, also houses a bar called Spirits, the photo gallery and what remains of the library on the Pursuit. Putting all of these functions in one place seems to work well, although it leaves the Guest Relations desk as a rather lonely outpost isolated on Deck 4.
The other major change to the Pursuit in its metamorphosis from the Adonia is the addition of new suites. "There are a lot more suites," Pimentel said. "That category is what sells first."
For starters, two 414-square-foot Spa Suites were added on Deck 9 adjacent to the spa. The pair, first introduced on the Quest and Journey in their 2016 drydocks, feature a whirlpool-style tub in the bath, which is located on the edge of the ship next to the 40-square-foot balcony. A window extends from the tub edge to the ceiling, delivering an amazing view.
The neutral, gray-beige color scheme adds to a feeling of spaciousness. Azamara said average pricing for the Spa Suites is $889 a night.
Azamara also completely redid the accommodations on Deck 8, adding 16 Continental Suites.
"The Continental Suites didn't exist with the previous ship owner," Pimentel said. "So we literally took X-number of cabins and turned them into these suites."
The suites feature 266 square feet of space, compared with 175 square feet for a Club Veranda, the most prevalent cabin size on the Pursuit. The Continental Suites also have a 60-square-foot balcony, 50% larger than on Veranda accommodations.
Travel advisers onboard likened the Continental Suites to junior suites when compared with the larger aft suites already built into the Pursuit.
There is a truism that the ship is the destination on some lines. By design, it is the opposite at Azamara. At every turn, Pimentel emphasizes that "Destination Immersion" is the essence of the brand.
"The whole point is connecting this brand to the local culture" in port, he said. "It's something that has allowed us to differentiate ourselves from the competition."
That competition includes Oceania Cruises, which operates four of the same R-ships that Azamara has, and Viking Ocean, which is building a dozen new ships similar in size to the Azamara Pursuit.
While allowing that Azamara has strong competitors, Pimentel said, "The good news is there's enough business for all of us."