Blue future for Azamara ships

The two Azamara Club Cruises ships are next in line for a makeover. They will emerge from their dry-dock refits with freshly-painted dark blue hulls to go with the improvements and updates inside.
Twelve-year-old Azamara Quest will spend eight days at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, from November 7. Sister ship Azamara Journey, which also entered service in 2000 will get the same treatment in Singapore next January.
Both ships were originally built in France for Renaissance Cruises. Six other vessels of the same design – each carrying fewer than 700 passengers – are sailing in the colours of Oceania, Princess, P&O and Hapag-Lloyd – all still with white hulls.
Azamara’s planned upgrades include the introduction of a caviar and Champagne bar and a Chef’s Table restaurant. Public rooms will be fitted with new carpets, and cabins will receive new mattresses and balcony furniture.
The casino bar is to be enlarged, spa and fitness centre will be equipped with the latest exercise equipment and a new steam sauna, and crew areas will also be enhanced.
►Hapag-Lloyd, currently operating the original R1 as Columbus 2, will return the vessel to Oceania in April 2014. The German company will take delivery of its newest ship, Europa 2, in May and announced this week it plans to attract more English-speaking passengers to its luxury and expedition cruises.