Sycamore Partners, a leading private equity firm, today announced plans for Azamara, the boutique cruise line dedicated to Destination Immersion experiences, to add a sister ship to the current fleet of Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest and Azamara Pursuit. Following a full-ship renovation, the fourth ship is scheduled to sail for its inaugural season in Europe in 2022.
This news follows an announcement earlier this month that Sycamore Partners has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Azamara, presently under the portfolio of Royal Caribbean Group. The deal is expected to close in Q1of this year.
“The addition of this ship is an important milestone and reflects Sycamore Partners’ commitment to supporting Azamara in its next phase of growth,” said Stefan Kaluzny, managing director of Sycamore Partners, in a statement. “Expanding the fleet will allow Azamara to continue to serve loyal customers, as well as those new to the brand, with more unique Destination Immersion programming and itineraries.”
The additional ship, which will be named at a later date, is comparable in size to Pursuit, Journey and Quest, expanding the fleet’s overall capacity by 33 percent. With this ship, guests will have the opportunity to visit unique, smaller ports and have a more intimate experience. Together, the four ships will support its commitment to enrich immersion around the world.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our fleet with a fourth ship, allowing us to visit even more regions of the world and better serve our guests,” said Carol Cabezas, president of Azamara, said in a statement. “We look forward to launching even more unique and immersive itineraries and feel this is just the beginning of an exciting growth phase for Azamara.”
Prior to launch, the fourth ship will undergo an extensive refurbishment to match its sister ships and the brand’s upmarket position, as well as offer unique onboard elements. These updates will be similar to the renovations introduced most recently on Pursuit, bringing guests the experience of a boutique hotel at sea.
For more information on Azamara and future sailings, go to azamara.com. For more insight into Royal Caribbean selling the brand, click here.
