Azamara Quest

300px Azamara Quest as seen in Split, on 29 September 2013
History
Name:	2000–2003: R Seven 2003–2006: Delphin Renaissance 2006–2007: Blue Moon 2007 onwards: Azamara Quest
Owner:	2000–2001: Renaissance Cruises 2001–2006: Cruiseinvest 2006–2007: Pullmantur Cruises 2007 onwards: Azamara Cruises
Operator:	2000–2001: Renaissance Cruises 2003–2006: Delphin Seereisen 2006–2007: Pullmantur Cruises 2007 onwards: Azamara Cruises
Port of registry:	2000–2001: Monrovia, Liberia 2001–2006: Majuro, Marshall Islands 2006 onwards: Valletta, Malta
Ordered:	1997
Builder:	Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire, France
Yard number:	Y31
Laid down:	1999
Launched:	2000
Completed:	2000
Acquired:	28 September 2000
Maiden voyage:	2000
Identification:	Call sign: 9HOM8 IMO number: 9210218 MMSI number: 256216000
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Class & type:	R-class cruise ship
Tonnage:	30,277 GT
Length:	181.00 m (593 ft 10 in)
Beam:	25.46 m (83 ft 6 in)
Draft:	5.95 metres
Depth:	5.95 m (20 ft)
Decks:	11 (9 passenger decks)
Propulsion:	two propeller shafts and two fixed propellers
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity:	686 passengers
Crew:	408

Azamara Quest is an R-class cruise ship that entered service for Azamara Cruises on October 24, 2007. She was built in 2000 for Renaissance Cruises as R Seven. Following the collapse of Renaissance Cruises in 2001 she was laid up for two years, until chartered to the Germany-based Delphin Seereisen as Delphin Renaissance.

In 2006 she was sold to the Spain-based Pullmantur Cruises and renamed Blue Moon. She sailed for Pullmantur until 2007 when she was transferred to Azamara Cruises.

The Azamara Quest carries about 710 passengers (double occupancy) plus 410 crew members (1:2 staff to guest ratio). Her first season will be in the Caribbean. Due to her small size, she will be able to call at some of the lesser-visited ports such as St. Barts and Guadeloupe. She will then offer some Panama Canal sailings.

Sisterships: Azamara Journey, MS Insignia, MS Regatta, Ocean Princess, Pacific Princess, MV Adonia, MS Nautica.

Mechanical specifications

• Main engines: 4 x Wartsila Vasa 12V32 diesel engines installed power each 18596 kW
• Generators: 4 x Cegelec Alstom each 4650 kW
• Propulsion: 2 x GEC Alstom electric motors power each 6750 kW

Amenities

Features include a cyber cafe, a martini bar, a casino, pool, shopping area, gymnasium and several restaurants including Prime C and the Aqualina restaurant. Azamara Quest also offers a 24-hour butler service.

2012 Fire

In March 2012 the ship suffered a fire in one of the engine rooms.

A fire temporarily disabled the Azamara Quest cruise ship, carrying 1,001 people (passengers and crew) in waters south of the Philippines.

Five crew were injured in the fire, which broke out on 30 March 2012 at 8:19pm ship's time (8:19pm EDT), a day after the ship left Manila for Sandakan, Malaysia. It was limited to the engine room and "quickly contained", according to Azamara. None of the passengers were injured.

In Popular Culture

In 2015, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest were the ships used by television presenter and biologist Nigel Marven for his UKTV documentary/travel program "Cruise Ship Adventures with Nigel Marven", during which Nigel showed areas with outstanding wildlife that can be visited in popular cruise destinations.

Gallery

• Delphin Renaissance.jpg

  As Delphin Renaissance in Kiel in Delphin Seereisen colours

• Azamara Quest off Santorini.jpg

  Azamara Quest in her previous livery, as seen off the coast of Santorini in July 2008

• Azamara Quest (ship, 2000) IMO 9210218; in Split, 2011-11-13.jpg

  Azamara Quest departing Split, Nov 13 2011

External links

• Official website
• "Azamara Quest" – review by Jane Archer in The Daily Telegraph, London.