Kenya’s cruise tourism season continues to flourish with the arrival of the Azamara Journey at the Port of Mombasa on Sunday, carrying 690 passengers eager to explore the Indian Ocean coast.
The boutique luxury vessel, operated by Azamara, is known for immersive itineraries and personalised service, bringing guests closer to the destinations they visit.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano welcomed the ship, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome the Azamara Journey and her 690 passengers. This visit marks our third major arrival of the season, following calls by the SH Diana and Crystal Symphony.”
Launched in 2000 and refurbished in 2022, the Azamara Journey stretches 181 meters and carries 690 guests with a crew of 408.
Its boutique size allows passengers to enjoy a more intimate experience than mega-liners, with all areas designed for comfort, elegance, and immersive experiences.
Guests stay in all-suite accommodations, many with private verandas overlooking the Indian Ocean, blending modern luxury with a home-like ambience.
According to Cruise Critic, the Azamara Journey is a polished, small-ship cruise experience with a focus on comfort and destination immersion, but it doesn’t entirely escape its age or limitations.
“Azamara Journey offers a compact, accessible layout, with most social and dining areas concentrated on Decks 5, 9 and 10. Its design minimises long walks, making it easy for passengers to enjoy the ship’s amenities without excessive travel between locations. While this is not a party ship, more boisterous activity is confined mostly to Deck 5 around the Spirits bar in the evenings and Deck 9 all day,” the site writes.
On the site, it is marked as having won 45 awards with a 4-star rating.
Rooms, especially veranda cabins, are functional but compact, with small bathrooms and limited storage, while suites provide worthwhile upgrades with added perks like complimentary internet and laundry.
The ship has a spa and wellness section that offers massages, facials, and yoga sessions to rejuvenate both body and mind, while enrichment activities like live performances, destination-focused lectures, cooking classes, and wine tastings ensure cultural immersion even while at sea.
A journey aboard the Azamara Journey in 2026 typically starts at roughly Sh21,000 to Sh28,000 ($170 to $220) per night for an entry-level interior room, though prices scale significantly based on the length of the trip and the level of luxury you choose.
According to current listings from travel providers like Expedia and SixStarCruises, a standard 7- to 10-night voyage generally ranges from Sh174,000 to Sh619,000 ($1,350 to $4,800) per person, while more immersive “Grand Voyages” or specialty “Intensive” sailings can exceed Sh1.3m ($10,000).
Here, while the main costs are covered, your final bill can still grow based on personal choices.
According to Cruise Critic and iCruise price trackers, speciality dining at the ship’s steakhouse or Italian restaurant typically costs about Sh3,800 to Sh6,500 ($30 to $50) extra per person, and shore excursions are sold separately.
During their Kenyan experience, passengers are set to explore Mombasa’s coastal charms, from the historic Fort Jesus to the white sands of Diani Beach.
At the same time, excursions also include local markets and cultural villages.
The Azamara Journey’s arrival underscores Kenya’s push to boost cruise tourism and comes after the docking of Crystal Symphony, yet another cruise ship.
Measuring 237 meters in length, Cyrstal Symphony accommodates up to 922 passengers and 655 crew members, offering lavish amenities like fine dining venues, a feng shui-inspired spa, and Broadway-style entertainment.
It initially launched and sailed in 1995, but after a recent refurbishment, it embodies timeless luxury with its all-suite accommodations and personalized service
Mombasa’s ultra-modern cruise terminal, which is a Sh 1.3 billion facility that was completed in 2021, efficiently handled the ship’s berthing despite the challenging S-bend channel.
With more than 6,000 passengers arriving at Mombasa so far this season, authorities are optimistic about reaching over 100 annual cruise calls as regional security improves and Somali piracy risks decline.