Small ships, serious ambitions
For a cruise line that has long staked its reputation on spending more time in port than at sea, Azamara Cruises is doubling down—and then some. The brand’s newly announced 2028 season is shaping up to be its most destination-forward yet, while a relaunched portfolio of pre- and post-cruise land programs means the immersive experience now extends well beyond the gangway.
The 2028 season: Asia arrives, Europe deepens
The headline news for 2028 is Azamara’s first-ever full season in Asia—33 sailings aboard Azamara Pursuit, with nine combination cruises threading through Japan, South Korea, and China. Select itineraries are timed to coincide with more than ten regional festivals, offering travelers access to cultural moments that most cruise lines don’t even attempt.
Back in Europe, 85 sailings—including 48 country-intensive itineraries and ten Grand Voyages—continue Azamara’s reputation for going deeper into Greece, Italy, and Croatia than the megaship crowd can follow.
Twelve maiden ports round out the season, including Caen in France, Sokcho in South Korea, and Delphi’s port of Itea in Greece. Scenic river transits add another dimension: guests can watch Seville materialize along the Guadalquivir, or approach Shanghai via the Yangtze.
Ashore before and after: the Azamara Ashore relaunch
Complementing the new itineraries is the relaunch of Azamara Ashore, an expanded collection of 84 land programs spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas—17 of them new for 2026 through 2028, with 37 exclusive to the brand. The programs range from simple hotel stays with handled logistics to extended AzAmazing Journeys of three to six nights. Highlights include a Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park safari with Micato Safaris, a Machu Picchu journey culminating aboard the Hiram Bingham train, and a Cappadocia program featuring cave-style accommodations and small-group access to Hagia Sophia.
A new partnership with luggage shipping service Ship&Play—offering door-to-door bag delivery timed to embarkation or disembarkation—adds a practical layer of ease to what is already a seamlessly managed experience.
Why it matters
With 87% of its 2028 deployment spent in port and more than 360 late nights and overnights accounting for 53% of total port days, Azamara’s model remains stubbornly, admirably focused on the destination rather than the ship. For travelers who measure a voyage by what they discovered ashore—not the number of sea days—that’s a compelling proposition.
About the Author: Jason Kerr
