Azamara Cruises

From: European Cruise Guide

ABOVE: The Azamara Journey at the Karakoy cruise terminal in Istanbul. INSET BELOW: The Azamara Quest at sea.

Azamara Cruises is a relatively new cruise line, having begun launched as a boutique subsidiary of Celebrity Cruises in 2007.

The line has two 694-passenger ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, which belonged to the Renaissance Cruises "R" Class before that cruise line went bankrupt in 2001. (See our Oceania Regatta review for pictures and descriptions of another former "R" Class vessel.)

In 2012, Azamara is offering 7- to 13-night cruises in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and Northern and Western Europe, plus several transatlantic voyages. If you're the sort of person who likes to spend evenings ashore, Azamara may be a good fit: The line claims to have "more late-night and overnight stays" in ports than any other cruise operator.

Cruise line's Web site:

Azamara Cruises

Inset photo copyright © Azamara Cruises.

Most recent cruise reviews:

• Costa Magica (Costa Cruises)

• MSC Poesia (MSC Cruises)

• Rotterdam (Holland America Line)

• Renaissance (European Waterways) 

Follow @durant_imboden