Azamara plans to engage more with UK agents “in the next few months”, following a strong rebound in UK bookings as the cruise sector recovers.

The line has been expanding the team at its “secondary headquarters” in Weybridge and confirmed more expansion plans will be implemented within the UK this year.

“We’ve got the biggest showing of travel partners that we’ve ever had on this cruise,” president Carol Cabezas told Travel Weekly during the pre-inaugural sailing of the line’s new ship Onward from Barcelona to Monte Carlo.

“I cannot thank the UK enough. It’s the market that has stood out the most during this return, really over the past few months. Once the regulations started easing in the UK we saw this turnaround in bookings. The demand has far exceeded what it was in 2019 during the same time period.

Cabezas did not share further details of the expansion plans and said the line was focused on “getting vessels back into service” and having its full fleet back by the end of May, while getting Onward ready to launch.

Onward, which features new experimental cocktail bar Atlas and speciality restaurant Aqualina – with a new Chef’s Table – is due to be christened in a ceremony in Monte Carlo on Monday (May 2).

More: Watch Carol Cabezas in conversation with Travel Weekly’s Harry Kemble