What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The most significant recent involvement of our legal team was working to support the inauguration of Azamara’s newest ship, Azamara Onward, having added a fourth vessel to its fleet in May 2022. Following Azamara’s acquisition by private equity firm Sycamore Partners at the beginning of 2021, our team has provided ongoing legal support to the line in its new position as a newly independent company. Our legal team was involved in standing up the legal processes and procedures for this acquisition and Azamara’s way forward.

Did the pandemic lead to a lasting increase in the interaction your legal team has with the strategic plans of the company?    

Yes, as a result of the pandemic, our legal team has supported Azamara in the line’s efforts to ensure health and safety is the top priority for our guests and crew members. Our team worked hard to ensure the cruise line’s Explore Well at Sea program not only enhanced the onboard experience for guests by providing peace of mind, but also followed all legal guidelines and protocols. We are continuing to work closely with the ship and shoreside teams as our health and safety protocols change in this ever-evolving global situation, to advise from a legal perspective and of course, we are continually advising the Azamara team on strategic. 

The unusual business environment created by the pandemic has been swiftly followed by other shocks. Are you now putting more emphasis on preparing for the unforeseen and, if so, what does this entail?

As an independent cruise company, Azamara is always preparing for potential future occurrences well in advance due to the nature of the industry. What we do different is the conscious collaboration among all internal stakeholders with a great focus on our guests. For example, as a result of the pandemic, Azamara introduced the Cruise with Confidence program in order to help consumers feel comfortable booking in times of uncertainty, which is now in effect for sailings booked by August 31, 2022, and departing before December 31, 2022. This flexibility provides our guests a best price guarantee, as well as a future cruise credit of 100%, if cancelling a voyage up to 48 hours before its departure. This was the result of our company being finely tuned to our customers aspirations, desires and, in such dynamic times, needs.