Azamara Journey

300px Azamara Journey departing the passenger port of Split on 19 September 2013
History
Name:	2000–2003: R Six 2003–2005: Blue Star 2005–2007: Blue Dream 2007 onwards: Azamara Journey
Owner:	2008–2012: Azamara Journey inc.
Operator:	2007 onwards: 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:	1999
Launched:	2000
Completed:	2000
Acquired:	2000
Maiden voyage:	2000
In service:	2000
Renamed:	2007
Identification:	Callsign 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

Azamara Journey is an R-class cruise ship owned and operated by Azamara Club Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean 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.

History

File:Azamara Journey Hamilton.jpg

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

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 Six R 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., Since 2006, the parent company of Pullmantur, transferred the Blue Dream 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, is used worldwide for cruises. Azamara Cruises was now 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 program "Cruise Ship Adventures with Nigel Marven", during which Nigel showed areas with outstanding wildlife that can be visited in popular cruise destinations.

Amenities

Features include internet, a martini bar, a casino, pool, and shopping. There is a traditional one-story dining room, Discoveries, as well as a Deck 9 buffet restaurant. The ship also features two specialty restaurants, Aqualina and Prime C.

See also

• List of cruise ships

External links

• Official website
• Azamara Journey ship location in Google Maps
• Cruise Critic review
• "Azamara Journey" – review by Douglas Ward in The Daily Telegraph, London
• "Small and sweet" – review in traveller.com.au of a cruise on Azamara Journey