The 686-passenger Azamara Quest was built in 2000 for the former Renaissance Cruises, but was transformed for Azamara in 2007 when the boutique cruise line was a division of Royal Caribbean. Now independently owned (since its sale to Sycamore Partners in March 2021), Azamara operates Azamara Quest and three other identical R-class ships. Both a 2012 face-lift and a 2019 refresh have left this ship looking better than ever. Picture elegant fittings and sophisticated neutral color schemes that enhance the clubby charm of the original Edwardian-style decor.
The adult-oriented Quest is a fraction of the size of most modern cruise ships, which means it can go where many of them cannot. While there are no amusement park-style bells and whistles — don't even think about rock climbing walls and waterslides — this is a well-designed ship that encourages quiet relaxation.