Farewell to Glasgow haven as first Azamara cruise ship departs

Azamara Quest sailed for Spain, headed to Cadiz for drydock, in preparation for beginning Greece cruises in August.

Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit remain at Glasgow.

'Fantastic support'

Azamara said its ships and crew have enjoyed 'fantastic support from the local people and the authorities, businesses, including taxi companies, hotel owners and grocery stores.'

'We want to extend our thanks to Peel Ports for hosting the Azamara fleet and to the Glaswegian community who have not only welcomed our ships and crew with open arms but have also made an integral contribution in maintaining and preparing our vessels, ensuring that we can get back to doing what we do best this summer — connecting people to people; people with cultures and people with themselves,' Azamara President Carol Cabezas said. 'As the ships prepare to return to the oceans, the generosity of Glasgow will be fondly remembered.'

Greece in the charts

Azamara Quest is scheduled for five back-to-back Greece country-intensive voyages, each seven nights with a total of 18 late-night port stays including Santorini, Rhodes and Heraklion. These sailings will debut a new immersive on-board program, Destination Celebration, an adaptation of AzAmazing Evenings.

The ship has a full vaccination mandate for crew and passengers. 

An honor to host the ships

'We’ve been honored to have had the three Azamara ships docked at KGV over the past year. Their giant presence has been a spectacular addition to the River Clyde scene, drawing sightseers from Glasgow and beyond,' Peel Ports Clyde Port Director Jim McSporran said. 'While we’re sad to see Azamara Quest leave, followed soon by her sister ships, it is an encouraging sign that the gradual removal of COVID restrictions taking place will soon see the cruise industry return to its pre-pandemic scale of operations.'