Azamara Journey

Azamara Journey is an R-class cruise ship owned and operated by Azamara Club Cruises. Gross register tonnage is 30,277, with a capacity of 694 passengers (double occupancy), plus 390 crew members. She was built in 2000 for Renaissance Cruises as R Six. After the bankruptcy of Renaissance Cruises, she sailed for Pullmantur Cruises who renamed her Blue Star in 2003 and Blue Dream in 2005.

Azamara Journey in Fremantle, Australia, in 2018
History
Malta
Name	2000–2003: R Six 2003–2005: Blue Star 2005–2007: Blue Dream 2007-present: Azamara Journey
Owner	2008–2012: Azamara Journey inc.[1] 2021–present: Sycamore Partners[2]
Operator	2000-2001: Renaissance Cruises 2001-2003: laid up 2003-2007: Pullmantur Cruises 2007-present: Azamara Cruises
Port of registry	2000–2001: Monrovia, Liberia 2001–2005: Majuro, Marshall Islands 2005–2006: Nassau, Bahamas 2006–2013: Valletta, Malta
Ordered	1997
Builder	Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire
Laid down	20 September 1999
Launched	17 January 2000
Completed	24 June 2000
Acquired	2000
Maiden voyage	2000
In service	2000
Renamed	2007
Identification	Call sign 9HOB8 IMO number: 9200940 MMSI number: 256204000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class & type	R-class cruise ship
Tonnage	30,277 GT
Length	181.00 m (593.83 ft)
Beam	25.46 m (83.5 ft)
Draught	5.8 metres
Depth	5.80 m (19.0 ft)
Decks	11
Propulsion	two propeller shafts and two fixed pitch propellers
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	694 passengers
Crew	407

History

Azamara Journey in her previous livery, as seen at leaving Hamilton, Bermuda in August 2007

Azamara Journey sailing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge after leaving White Bay Cruise Terminal in 2024

Azamara Journey at Cartagena, Spain, docked at the main cruise terminal in September 2024

The ship was built in 2000 by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, the sixth ship of the comprehensive eight ships "R-Class" for Renaissance Cruises shipping company and was named R Six. The ship was sold in early 2001 to the Cruise Company Invest. Due to illiquidity turned Renaissance Cruises end of September 2001 the operation and the R Six was launched mid-2003. She was then chartered to the cruise line Pullmantur Cruises and use of this under the marketing name for Blue Star Cruises (but not yet officially renamed). Since July 2005, the ship was called the Blue Dream.

From 2006, the ship was used by Pullmantur. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the parent company of Pullmantur, transferred the Blue Dream on 15 December 2008 its new subsidiary Azamara Cruises, where it was renamed Azamara Journey; and since then with her sister ship Azamara Quest, the former R Seven, and since 2018 with her sister ship Azamara Pursuit, the former R Eight, is used worldwide for cruises.^[3][4] Azamara Cruises has been renamed Azamara Club Cruises.

In 2015, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest were the ships used by television presenter and biologist Nigel Marven for his UKTV documentary/travel programme "Cruise Ship Adventures with Nigel Marven", during which Nigel showed areas with outstanding wildlife that can be visited in popular cruise destinations.^[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic Journey and two of her sisterships Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Quest berthed in Glasgow's King George V Dock between June 2020 and July/August 2021 with Journey being the last to leave on 9 August 2021.^[6]

See also

• List of cruise ships