The Azamara Quest will get a new penthouse deck later this year, with 12 new premium-priced staterooms, including two above-the-bridge suites with panoramic views.

It’s part of the Azamara Forward refurbishment program that was announced on Thursday that will also include a new Chef’s Table restaurant, upgrades of all existing staterooms and much more, said Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara.

“It’s the introduction of a new era for our fleet,” she told Cruise Industry News.

The 2000-built Quest will enter drydock in Greece in late October and emerge in early December. The new staterooms will be ready for a Dec. 18 holiday cruise ahead of the ship’s 2027 world cruise, which leaves in January from San Francisco.

New Deck 11

The new penthouse deck will become deck 11 when it’s hoisted onto the Quest in drydock.

“Our guests have told us they want to book suites and they are all sold out,” Ritzenthaler, said. “That is part of the reason we are adding a deck and wanted all the accommodations there to be suites.”

The Chef’s Table will take up a space on Deck 10 and be able to host 18 guests nightly, except for once a cruise, where it turns into a dining experience for the ship’s top suite guests.

Other Changes

The Atlas Bar concept will be rolled out fleetwide as part of the Azamara Forward program and see some programming changes.

“Today you can buy specialty drinks but can’t go there and use your beverage package. That will change, so you will be able to get a cocktail on the regular beverage package,” Ritzenthaler, explained.

The Atlas Bar will become a destination bar instead of just a walk-through bar on the way to the ship’s main dining room, the Discoveries Restaurant.

Guests can look forward to a completely refreshed, upbeat and bright look in Discoveries.

The big-budget refurbishment program also includes the ship’s Cabaret Lounge, where refreshed chairs, new lighting, a new stage and new audio-visual equipment will await passengers and help support 10 new production shows.

Staterooms

Staterooms across the ship will be revamped with new furniture, new tables, new balcony furniture and a new look. The company calls the new look a calming, sophisticated sanctuary that feels both modern and timeless.

Public restrooms throughout the ships will also be redone, a couples massage room is set to be added to the spa.

“These changes were inspired by our guests, travel advisors and our employees,” Ritzenthaler said.

The Onward will be the second ship to get the Azamara Forward changes, but the Quest will, at this time, be the only vessel getting the additional deck.

“We know the Onward is the second ship, but we don’t have a shipyard locked down yet,” added Ritzenthaler.

Announcing the refurbishment program in January, she said the company had been working on concepts for the last five months.

“We love our brand positioning, we love being upper premium,”  Ritzenthaler noted. “Our brand positioning is not changing … our future cruise sales are higher than they’ve ever been.”