Azamara is a cruise line based in Miami, Florida , that operates four cruise ships on worldwide itineraries.
34-510: Azamara Cruises was founded in 2007 after two R-class ships from Pullmantur Cruises that would have gone to Celebrity Cruises were transferred to the new company. The first ships of the company were the Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey . They make cruises to exotic locations, competing with similar luxury cruise lines such as Oceania Cruises. In 2009 Azamara underwent a rebranding, being renamed to Azamara Club Cruises. Between 2012 and 2013
68-510: A 51% stake in the cruise line to Spain-based investment firm Springwater Capital, retaining a 49% stake. Pullmantur Cruises was the largest Spain-based cruise line . The company mainly marketed to Spanish passengers, although cruises were also sold by some travel operators outside the Spanish-speaking world . Some of the company's ships operated an "all-inclusive" product, where some extras, such as brand alcoholic beverages, were included in
102-697: A dozen operators in south / Central America such as CVC in Brazil (which was acquired by the Carlyle Group [63.6%] in January 2010 for $ 250 million). The company was operating out of its main offices in Cape Canaveral and Miami, Florida. Premier Cruise Lines was formed in 1983 by two cruise veterans, Bjornar Hermansen and Bruce Nierenberg , under a licensing agreement with the Walt Disney World Resort , and
136-499: A larger cruise ship. In July 2021, however, Pullmantur was completely liquidated. Horizon and Zenith were sent for scrapping in Turkey and India in August and September 2022, respectively. [REDACTED] Media related to Pullmantur Cruises at Wikimedia Commons Premier Cruises Premier Cruises was a cruise line holding company formed in the early 1990s that focused on
170-526: A reorganization". The December 2020 news item stated that the Royal Caribbean had agreed to provide some funds to allow Pullmantur to move ahead with a "viability plan, and to carry out the reorganization process necessary to adapt the company to the new reality with a new fleet". In the meantime, negotiations were underway with the over 300 employees who were no longer working. In early 2021, Peace Boat returned Zenith to Royal Caribbean after chartering
204-636: A tough task for Pullmantur since the company declared bankruptcy in July 2020. They said working together with the bankruptcy administration to introduce a new business plan that involved the return to operation and guaranteed the viability of the company, according the CEO of the company, Richard J. Vogel. Recently, the company has been in the spotlight in the Spanish media saying that Pullmantur left its headquarters in Madrid because of
238-573: The Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey were renovated and in 2018 the company acquired the Adonia from P&O Cruises , renaming it to Azamara Pursuit . The company was founded by Royal Caribbean who wanted to diversify its operations. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the company was sold to a private investment group. The ships were extensively renovated from 2012 to 2013 and 2018, respectively. Azamara currently operates four ships. They belong to
272-614: The Mediterranean from Barcelona in May 2005. The Oceanic became very successful, and in 2002, Pullmantur acquired a second ship, MS Pacific , from Princess Cruises , and chartered the former Renaissance Cruises ship MS R Five from Cruiseinvest. R Five was marketed under the name Blue Dream . Two more ships followed in 2003 when Pullmantur acquired MS Superstar Aries from Star Cruises and renamed her MS Holiday Dream , while R Five ' s sister ship MS R Six
306-610: The 2007 summer season operating for Pullmantur. In 2008, Pullmantur received Empress of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International and renamed her MS Empress . Pacific and Holiday Dream left the Pullmantur fleet in April and May for Quail Cruises and CDF Croisières de France , respectively. Also in May, Pullmantur purchased Pacific Star from P&O Cruises Australia and renamed her MS Ocean Dream . MS Sovereign of
340-527: The CEO of Azamara Cruises. The Azamara ships were built in 1999–2001 for Renaissance Cruises as a part of their R class . Pullmantur Cruises Pullmantur Cruises was a cruise line headquartered in Madrid , Spain . It began operations in the late 1990s as an offshoot of the Madrid -based travel agency Pullmantur. In 2006, Pullmantur Cruises, through its parent company, was purchased by U.S.-based Royal Caribbean Group , but Royal Caribbean later sold
374-645: The SS Oceanic ("Big Red Boat"), which was sold by Pullmantur (a Royal Caribbean company) in April 2009 to Japan-based Peace Boat , and the SS Rembrandt , formerly known as the SS Rotterdam , was purchased by an investor group in the Netherlands, to be restored and kept as an historic landmark in the city of Rotterdam . In 2012 the SS Oceanic was sold for scrap, and the former Starship Majestic , now known as
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#1732876304776408-450: The Seas was also transferred to Pullmantur and renamed MS Sovereign . In April 2008. Lloyd's List reported that Pullmantur was in the process of purchasing Pride of Aloha from Norwegian Cruise Line 's subsidiary NCL America . However, the deal fell through and Pride of Aloha joined Norwegian's fleet. In January 2009, Sky Wonder was renamed Atlantic Star , and in March, Oceanic
442-465: The Seas would be transferred from Royal Caribbean to Pullmantur, joining the fleet in April 2021. There plans were cancelled in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of the crew members onboard Horizon were reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus following the company's suspension of operations. In early-June 2020, Pullmantur's fleet had been moved into "cold lay-up" due to
476-632: The Southern Caribbean from Premier Cruises and later also on board Premier Cruises flagship the SS Rembrandt in the Mediterranean. Premier changed its business plan in 1997 and canceled its contracts with operators, such as Pullmantur, and later collapsed in 2000. Pullmantur then acquired SS Big Red Boat 1 and started its own cruise line, Pullmantur Cruises. Big Red Boat 1 reverted to her original name SS Oceanic , and began cruising around
510-489: The cancellation of their partnership with Premier Cruises. Pullmantur Cruises, through its parent company, was purchased by Royal Caribbean International in 2006. Thomson Holidays also used the opportunity to build and expand their cruise operation post 1997 and is now part of the largest travel group in the world TUI. Premier Cruises filed for bankruptcy in late 2000 and ceased operations. Some former Premier Cruises vessels were still operating until fairly recently, such as
544-420: The company's extended suspension of operations given the pandemic. On 22 June 2020, Pullmantur's owners announced that, due to the significant economic impact caused by the pandemic, they had filed for reorganization of Pullmantur under Spanish insolvency laws. It was also reported Pullmantur had begun dismantling part of the interiors of MS Sovereign and MS Monarch , with claims that "everything of value"
578-584: The company's inception, Mr. Stensby grew Premier Cruises from one to six ships, operating on itineraries in the United States, Bahamas, South America, the Caribbean and Europe. Mr. Stensby resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Premier Cruises in the fall of 1997 after growing the company to annualized revenues in excess of $ 200 million, an operating profit in excess of 20% and more than 3,000 employees, making Premier Cruises, with its 5,500 lower berths,
612-537: The cruise price. Originally, most Pullmantur ships did not operate cruises for the company during the northern hemisphere winter season. Instead, they were either laid up or under charter to other cruise lines, such as the Brazil -based Viagens CVC . On 22 June 2020, due to the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , Pullmantur's owners announced they had filed for reorganization of Pullmantur under Spanish insolvency laws. Pullmantur under Administration review
646-430: The eight R-class ships that were built for Renaissance Cruises between 1997 and 2001. The Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey both entered service in 2000 under the original names R Six and R Seven . In March 2018, Adonia was also taken over from P&O Cruises and renamed Azamara Pursuit . Each of the ships can carry a maximum of 686 passengers. All ships sail under the flag of Malta. Azamara offers cruises with
680-460: The family cruise market as well as on developing cruise operations in new geographic markets. The company's business focus was to acquire older cruise vessels, refurbish these vessels in order to offer "traditional cruise experiences", operate the vessels in geographic areas, such as Europe and south/Central America. which the major operators such as Carnival Cruise Line , Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International were not focusing at
714-493: The headquarters, Vogel said that they were reviewing different options, but there was no decision made to it. The plan certainly required reorganization, as the board of directors had acknowledged in June 2020: "Despite the great progress the company made to achieve a turnaround in 2019 and its huge engagement and best efforts of its dedicated employees, the headwinds caused by the pandemic are too strong for Pullmantur to overcome without
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#1732876304776748-404: The inability to pay rent. Local media also reported that 127 employees out of 311, working in the headquarters had not received salary for the month of August 2020. Addressing this issue Pullmantur CEO, Richard J. Vogel, sent an email Friday 18.09.2020 to the entire staff, assuring them that the salary would be paid in following days. Regarding the non-payment of rent and the company moving out from
782-656: The largest privately-held cruise line in the world at the time. Post–1997 Premier Cruises (under new ownership and management led by Bruce Nierenberg) changed their business strategies and decided to cancel their marketing agreements with international marketing partners such as Thomson Holidays , Pullmantur and others and decided to reposition a number of their ships back to the United States. A number of these marketing partners used this opportunity to establish their own cruise operations, such as Pullmantur in Spain who established their own cruise operations ( Pullmantur Cruises ) after
816-667: The questions the company asked was if guests are willing to pay 10-15 % higher prices than previously offered if it ensured a safer experience for everyone. After the fate of two Pullmantur ships, the Monarch and the Sovereign, was sealed in Aliaga scrapyard in Turkey, the company might try to resume cruises with the Horizon which was in cold lay-up in Greece Elefsinas Bay. The restart would be
850-513: The ships worldwide. In January 2021, Royal Caribbean announced that it would sell Azamara to Sycamore Partners in the first quarter of 2021. The sale was completed in March 2021. The acquisition of another ship, the Pacific Princess , a sister ship to the other ships in the fleet, was also announced. It was handed over in March 2021 and was officially renamed Azamara Onward on May 2, 2022. In May 2024, Dondra Ritzenthaler officially became
884-578: The time, and to market their cruises largely to European and South American customers through strategic marketing partnerships with some of the major tour and travel groups in the world such as Thomson Holidays in the U.K, TUI in Germany, Fritidsresor in Scandinavia, Alpitour in Italy and Pullmantur in Spain (subsequently acquired by Royal Caribbean International for $ 800 million ) as well as through more than
918-632: Was announces that the Majesty of the Seas would join the Pullmantur-fleet in 2016, but these plans were cancelled in 2015, and Empress was transferred back to Royal Caribbean in early 2016. CDF ceased operations in early 2017, and both ships in the CDF fleet were transferred back to Pullmantur. In July 2019, it was announced Zenith would leave the fleet in early 2020, having been chartered to Peace Boat . Later in 2019, Pullmantur announced Grandeur of
952-695: Was chartered as Blue Star . In 2004, R Five was chartered to Oceania Cruises . In 2005, Pullmantur purchased R Six , and renamed her MS Blue Dream after R Five exited the fleet. A third R -class ship followed in 2006 when Pullmantur bought Delphin Renaissance and renamed her MS Blue Moon . Later that year, Pullmantur's fleet grew to six ships when it purchased Pacific Sky from P&O Cruises Australia and renamed her SS Sky Wonder . In August 2006, Royal Caribbean Group announced it would purchase Pullmantur, making it Royal Caribbean's first wholly owned European brand. The acquisition
986-447: Was expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of the year. Following the acquisition by Royal Caribbean, several transfers were carried out between the Pullmantur fleet and those of other Royal Caribbean brands. In 2007, Blue Dream and Blue Moon were transferred to Azamara Club Cruises , while MS Oceanic II and Celebrity Cruises ' MS Zenith joined the Pullmantur fleet in their place. Oceanic II had only spent
1020-576: Was hoping to restart some operations with MV Horizon , laid up in Eleusis Bay, and two Celebrity Millennium class cruise ships. By December 2020, a reorganization plan had been developed, to restart some cruises, with financial assistance from Royal Caribbean . Since mid July 2021 it was in process of liquidation. Pullmantur began cruise operations in the 1990s by initially selling cruises on board SS SeaWind Crown , founded by Anastasios Kyriakides (subsequently merged with Premier Cruises), in
1054-581: Was originally established as Cruise Holdings Ltd. by shipping entrepreneur, Kristian Stensby in the early 1990s which was the entity that later became known as Premier Cruises after Cruise Holdings acquired Premier Cruise Line (and adopted the "Premier Cruises" name) in 1996. After the acquisition, Premier Cruises consisted of three different operations; i.e. Premier Cruise Line and He acquired Ships from Dolphin Cruise Line , Holland America Line , Thomson Cruises , SeaWind Cruises and Direct Cruises. From
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1088-429: Was removed. A December 2020 news item stated that four companies had been declared bankrupt: Pullmantur S. A., Pullmantur Cruises SL, Pullmantur Holdings SL y Pullmantur Maltesas. Pullmantur Cruises announced a plan to return and restart cruise operations. In a series of questions on Facebook addressed to the customers, Pullmantur had been asking for feedback on what would they like to see when they resume cruises. Among
1122-426: Was sold to Peace Boat . In mid-April 2009, Island Star was transferred from Island Cruises to Pullmantur Cruises. In April 2013, Royal Caribbean transferred Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur. Ocean Dream was chartered to Peace Boat to replace Oceanic and Pacific Dream , which had been renamed Horizon , was transferred to CDF. In 2014, Zenith joined sister ship L'Horizon in the CDF fleet. In 2014 it
1156-683: Was the direct predecessor to the Disney Cruise Line . In 1992, The Walt Disney Company decided to establish their own cruise line and terminated their licensing agreements with the company. Premier then entered into a similar licensing agreement with Warner Bros. featuring the Looney Tunes characters, in order to maintain its family friendly image. The line continued to operate offering land/sea vacation packages including visits to Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks in Florida. The company
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