Azamara Launches Contest to Name 12 New Azamara Quest Suites

Azamara Cruises has launched a global naming contest that invites guests and other members of its community to help inspire the names of 12 new suites being added to Azamara Quest during the ship’s upcoming refurbishment.

Community contest aims to name 12 new suites on Azamara Quest

The initiative, called A Suite Story, asks participants to submit a meaningful city from an Azamara itinerary along with a personal story tied to that destination. Azamara said the contest is open to past and current guests, crew members, travel advisors and Azamara employees.

Azamara plans to review submissions and use selected entries as inspiration for the final suite names for the 12 new units on a new Penthouse Deck.

Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises, connected the contest to the company’s destination-focused positioning. “Azamara has always been about the destinations we visit and the connections our guests make along the way,” Ritzenthaler said. She added that the company is inviting its community “to share the places and experiences that stayed with them long after their sailings,” with the goal of inspiring suite names that will resonate with future guests.

Key dates: submissions, reveal, and preview sailing

Azamara set a defined schedule that ties the contest to the refurbishment timeline for Azamara Quest.

• The contest entry window runs from March 23 to April 19.
• Azamara plans to reveal the final suite names and announce the grand prize winner on May 8.
• The grand prize winner is set to sail on a one-night preview cruise on December 17, 2026, positioned as a post-refurbishment sailing.

How the contest fits into the Azamara Forward upgrade program

The suite-naming contest is being rolled out alongside Azamara Forward, the company’s $80 million fleet enhancement initiative covering Azamara’s four-ship fleet. Azamara has said the program includes refreshed staterooms, modernized public spaces, and updated entertainment offerings, with changes to dining and entertainment spaces also planned as part of the work on Azamara Quest.

Azamara Quest is a 730-passenger ship, and the new suites are among the most visible onboard additions tied to the refurbishment.

World Cruise plans and post-voyage deployment

Azamara Quest is scheduled to sail a 188-night World Cruise departing in January 2027. The itinerary is set to span 37 countries and 103 destinations across five continents, starting in San Francisco and arriving in Copenhagen in July.

After the world cruise, the ship is slated to continue sailing in Northern Europe and on Canada/New England itineraries. Azamara has positioned the ship’s upgrades as a way to strengthen its standing in the premium market, where it competes with rivals such as Oceania and Viking.

Broader cruise industry planning for 2027

Azamara’s refurbishment and world cruise plans come as cruise operators across mainstream, premium, and luxury segments outline expanded deployments for 2027 that include new ships, updated itineraries, and special-event sailings.

• Carnival Cruise Line has pointed to 2027 highlights including expanded Mexican Riviera roundtrips, Caribbean itineraries featuring Celebration Key, and European summer cruises.
• Norwegian Cruise Line is slated to fully deploy Norwegian Luna for Caribbean operations and introduce Norwegian Aura to North America.
• Royal Caribbean International has said it will maintain a West Coast and Florida presence with options across Oasis, Freedom, Radiance, and Vision-class ships.
• MSC Cruises plans to broaden its Alaska program aboard MSC Poesia and continue expanded Mediterranean routes in Europe.
• Holland America Line has described eclipse viewing cruises timed to significant celestial events, while luxury operators including Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania Cruises have emphasized longer, culturally immersive itineraries; Silversea and Seabourn continue to balance expedition cruising with luxury, and Explora Journeys and Quark Expeditions have added eclipse cruises to their portfolios.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can enter the A Suite Story contest?

Azamara said the contest is open to guests, crew members, travel advisors, and Azamara employees.

What is Azamara naming through the contest?

Submissions will be used as inspiration for the final names of 12 new suites being introduced on Azamara Quest’s new Penthouse Deck.

What does the grand prize winner receive?

Azamara said one grand prize winner will be selected to sail on a one-night preview cruise aboard Azamara Quest on December 17, 2026, after the ship’s refurbishments.

What is Azamara Forward, and what upgrades are planned for Azamara Quest?

Azamara Forward is an $80 million fleetwide enhancement initiative for Azamara’s four-ship fleet. For Azamara Quest, Azamara has said the work includes updated staterooms, refreshed public areas, and changes to dining and entertainment spaces, alongside the addition of 12 new suites.

When is Azamara Quest’s 2027 World Cruise, and what happens after it?

Azamara Quest is scheduled to depart on a 188-night World Cruise in January 2027, sailing from San Francisco and arriving in Copenhagen in July after visiting 37 countries and 103 destinations across five continents. After the world cruise, the ship is slated to sail in Northern Europe and on Canada/New England itineraries.

Azamara plans to announce the contest winner and the final suite names on May 8, with the refurbishment-linked preview sailing set for December 17, 2026, ahead of Azamara Quest’s January 2027 world cruise departure.