The 180-m long passenger vessel berthed at the Amsterdam yard August 2021 and has been upgraded with refurbished cabins and suites, while spa suites and terrace rooms have been added. Restaurants were also upgraded and a new bar was created.

From mid-March until April 2022, the vessel was in the largest drydock for technical conversions. Azamara Onward’s ballast water and fuel tanks were restructured to accommodate for bunkering larger volumes of marine grade diesel and work included a lot of piping throughout the vessel and the engineroom. The grey water tanks and the tanktop were replaced. Stabilisers both on starboard and port were overhauled and shaft seals were replaced. Thrusters were upgraded to allow for the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants and the tailshaft and propeller seal were replaced.

Azamara head of marine operations Nico Corbijn said, “With an investment of approximately US$55M, it was very important for us to identify a yard that could provide not only the technical expertise and know-how for this large project, but also offer logistical support for the outfitting companies and their teams that would be attending the ship daily.”

Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam project manager Colin Husslage said, “We managed to deliver the ship to its proud new owner on the date agreed, so Azamara can have it in full service during the 2022 season. It was challenging to organise all the operations on time and to avoid the steel work interferring with decorative jobs.”

Azamara Onward is now the fourth vessel to join Miami-based operator Azamara’s fleet and sailed to Monte Carlo for its naming ceremony 2 May. The ship was previously owned and operated by Princess Cruises before it was sold in January 2021.