Azamara Onward

Azamara Onward is a small cruise ship that entered service in 1999 as R Three for Renaissance Cruises. Constructed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, the vessel was designed for the smaller-scale and more destination-focused cruising associated with Renaissance's fleet. Unlike a conventionally owned fleet asset, R Three was initially held by a group of French investors and leased to Renaissance Cruises. This arrangement became significant when Renaissance's fleet was seized by creditors in late 2001 after the company failed. In late 2002, Princess Cruises chartered R Three together with its sister ship R Four. R Three entered Princess service under the name Pacific Princess, a name that connected it with the earlier Pacific Princess associated with the television series The Love Boat. The ship was renamed in Sydney on 8 December 2002. It subsequently operated under a shared deployment arrangement: from November through April, it was used by P&O Cruises Australia, while Princess Cruises generally operated it from May through October. This arrangement continued until 2007, when fleet changes at P&O Cruises Australia altered the deployment pattern. Pacific Princess developed a role within the Princess Cruises fleet as a smaller vessel suitable for unusual destinations and ports that could not accommodate larger cruise ships. Its itineraries included extended world cruises of more than 100 days, Mediterranean voyages, South Pacific and French Polynesia programs, and planned Alaska sailings between Vancouver and Whittier. The ship's size and itinerary profile distinguished it from the large-ship mainstream of the cruise industry, allowing it to serve more remote or port-intensive routes. The vessel also became involved in several notable maritime and regulatory events. In 2006, a European Commission state-aid decision examined the redeployment of R Three and R Four outside French Polynesia. The ships had originally been intended to support tourism in the territory, and the Commission concluded that France had breached applicable treaty requirements when the vessels were redeployed. However, the decision also recognized the exceptional economic effects of the September 11 attacks and determined that the development aid could remain lawfully used in the circumstances. Pacific Princess was damaged in a collision with the breakwater at Nice, France, on 14 October 2016. The collision caused a breach below the waterline, but no passenger or crew injuries were reported. On 25 August 2018, the ship rescued three fishermen from a sunken trawler in the North Sea, approximately 25 miles northeast of Great Yarmouth. The ship's operations were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, several destinations, including Bali, Singapore, Phuket, and Sri Lanka, refused permission for the vessel to dock despite the absence of confirmed cases aboard at the time. Pacific Princess was permitted to dock in Perth, Australia, on 21 March 2020, where most passengers disembarked. Passengers unable to immediately return home remained aboard during the ship's onward movement toward Los Angeles. Four passengers were later allowed to disembark in Honolulu on 13 April, and the final passengers left the vessel after its return to Los Angeles on 20 April. Carnival announced the sale of Pacific Princess on 21 January 2021. The buyer was initially not named publicly, but was later identified as Azamara Cruises. After refurbishment and transition into the Azamara fleet, the ship entered service under its current name, Azamara Onward, in 2022. It is now presented as an Azamara cruise product rather than a Princess Cruises vessel, retaining the compact-ship profile that supports longer stays and access to smaller ports.

Azamara Onward was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, and entered service in 1999 as R Three for Renaissance Cruises. The ship was held by French investors and leased to Renaissance rather than being directly owned by the cruise company. Renaissance Cruises experienced severe financial difficulties, and its entire fleet was seized by creditors in late 2001. In late 2002, Princess Cruises chartered R Three and its sister ship R Four. R Three was renamed Pacific Princess and was formally renamed in Sydney on 8 December 2002. The name recalled the earlier Pacific Princess made famous by The Love Boat television series. Between 2002 and 2007, the vessel was deployed seasonally by both P&O Cruises Australia and Princess Cruises. It generally operated for P&O Cruises Australia from November to April and for Princess Cruises from May to October. The arrangement changed in 2007 after fleet transfers at P&O Cruises Australia. Pacific Princess was used for itineraries that benefited from a smaller vessel. Its deployments included long world cruises, Mediterranean voyages, French Polynesia and other South Pacific routes, and planned Alaska services. The ship's relatively compact size enabled it to visit ports and destinations that were less accessible to larger cruise ships. The vessel's history also included a European Commission state-aid matter. R Three and R Four had originally been associated with plans to support tourism in French Polynesia. A 2006 Commission decision found that France had breached treaty requirements by allowing the ships to be redeployed outside the territory. At the same time, the decision considered the economic disruption caused by the September 11 attacks and concluded that the development aid remained lawfully used in the circumstances. On 14 October 2016, Pacific Princess collided with the breakwater at Nice, France, and was holed below the waterline. There were no reported injuries among the 669 passengers and 382 crew members. On 25 August 2018, the ship rescued three fishermen from a sunken trawler in the North Sea. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted Pacific Princess's 2020 itinerary. Several ports and countries denied docking permission, including destinations in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, although no confirmed cases were reported aboard at the time. The ship docked in Perth on 21 March 2020, allowing most passengers to leave. A smaller number remained on board while the ship continued toward Los Angeles; four passengers disembarked in Honolulu on 13 April, and the last passengers left after the ship returned to Los Angeles on 20 April. Carnival announced the sale of Pacific Princess on 21 January 2021. The purchaser was initially undisclosed and was later identified as Azamara Cruises. After the change of ownership and its transition into the Azamara fleet, the ship became Azamara Onward and entered service under that name in 2022.

1. 2022Begins Azamara service as Azamara Onward

   Following its transfer from Princess Cruises, the ship entered service under the Azamara Onward name.

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2. 2021Sale announced by Carnival

   Carnival announced the sale of Pacific Princess to an initially unnamed buyer later identified as Azamara Cruises.

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3. 2020COVID-19 operational disruption

   Pacific Princess encountered multiple docking refusals during the pandemic and completed its passenger disembarkation process in stages, ending in Los Angeles.

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4. 2018North Sea rescue

   The ship rescued three fishermen after their trawler sank north-east of Great Yarmouth.

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5. 2016Collision at Nice

   Pacific Princess struck the Nice breakwater and sustained a breach below the waterline; no injuries were reported.

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6. 2006European Commission state-aid decision

   A Commission decision addressed the redeployment of R Three and R Four outside French Polynesia and the legal treatment of related development aid.

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7. 2002Renamed Pacific Princess

   Princess Cruises chartered the vessel and renamed it Pacific Princess. The ship was renamed in Sydney on 8 December.

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8. 2001Renaissance fleet seized by creditors

   Renaissance Cruises failed financially, and its entire fleet, including R Three, was seized by creditors.

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9. 1999R Three enters service

   The ship was built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, and entered operation as R Three for Renaissance Cruises.

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A small-ship cruise offering oriented toward destination-rich itineraries, longer voyages, and access to ports that may be unsuitable for larger cruise ships.

• Azamara OnwardCruise ship1999

  Azamara Onward is a small cruise ship built in 1999 for Renaissance Cruises. It later operated as Pacific Princess for Princess Cruises before being acquired by Azamara Cruises and entering service under its current name in 2022. Its operating profile emphasizes destination-focused voyages, extended itineraries, and ports that may be inaccessible to larger ships.

• 2021Sale of Pacific Princess to Azamara CruisesM&A

  Carnival announced the sale of Pacific Princess during the restructuring of its cruise operations in the COVID-19 period.

  What changed. The ship was sold to an initially unnamed buyer later identified as Azamara Cruises.

  Aftermath. The vessel transitioned from Princess Cruises to Azamara and entered service as Azamara Onward in 2022.

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• 2002Transition from Renaissance Cruises to Princess CruisesStrategy

  After the financial collapse of Renaissance Cruises and the seizure of its fleet, Princess Cruises chartered R Three and its sister ship R Four.

  What changed. R Three entered Princess service and was renamed Pacific Princess.

  Aftermath. The vessel continued operating under the Pacific Princess identity for nearly two decades and served both Princess Cruises and, seasonally, P&O Cruises Australia.

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• 2022Pacific Princess renamed Azamara Onward

  Following its sale and transition from Princess Cruises to Azamara Cruises, the ship entered Azamara service as Azamara Onward.

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• 2021Pacific Princess sold to an unnamed buyer

  Carnival announced the sale of Pacific Princess. The buyer was subsequently identified as Azamara Cruises.

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• 2020Pacific Princess faces pandemic-era docking restrictions

  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship was refused permission to dock at multiple destinations despite no confirmed cases being reported aboard at the time. Most passengers disembarked in Perth, Australia, while the remaining passengers left during subsequent stops and after the vessel reached Los Angeles.

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• 2018Pacific Princess rescues three fishermen in the North Sea

  The ship rescued three fishermen after their trawler sank in the North Sea, approximately 25 miles northeast of Great Yarmouth.

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• 2016Pacific Princess collides with the Nice breakwater

  The ship struck the breakwater at Nice, France, sustaining damage below the waterline. No injuries among the passengers and crew were reported.

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1. Azamara Onward