The largest ever cruiseship to visit Warrenpoint Port, Azamara Pursuit at 180m in length, was observed by locals lining the quayside as the ship headed up Carlingford Lough this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore

Measuring 30,277 in gross tonnage, the cruiseship built in 2000 and refurbished in 2016, has a capacity of over 700 passengers and 400 crew. The ship is amongst the largest class of cruiseship that can be accommodated in Warrenpoint with the vessel berthing at around 06.00hrs.

Afloat further researched that the Malta-flagged ship had sailed overnight from Belfast Harbour, but the ship had actually remained in port since arrival on Wednesday. This was followed by the cruiseship's departure yesterday evening from the more unusual location of Pollock Dock.

Today's maiden visit to Warrenpoint, aptly has connections in the region, as in 2018, the cruiseship was then the largest ship of its kind to have a refit in Harland & Wolff, Belfast with such work carried out by Newry headquartered outfitting firm, MJM Marine.

The cruiseship operated by US based Azamara Cruise Lines represents the second of three such ships this summer, following World Navigator inaugural visit in late June.

Azamara Pursuit is one of a quartet of R-class cruiseships of the Miami based cruise firm, however the ship as R Eight was also the final of an 8 strong series commissioned for the original operator, Renaissance Cruises that ceased trading in 2001.

An evening departure from Warrenpoint is to take place at approximately 7.30pm this Friday, (5th August) with an arrival tomorrow to Dublin Port from where the ship also made a recent call.

#CruiseLiners - New to Azamara Club Cruises is the Azamara Pursuit which was officially named in Southampton yesterday, 28 August.

The 30,277gt Azamara Pursuit writes the Maritime Executive was previously P&O Cruises' Adonia, and she sailed her final voyage as Adonia in February 2018. She has since undergone a two-and-a-half-month refurbishment at Grand Bahamas Shipyard before sailing to the U.K. Here she received further enhancements at Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Azamara CEO Larry Pimentel says the line's third ship will enable it to visit all seven continents next year, notable South America, and to go to 400 ports annually. The ship is scheduled to visit 61 destinations, including 15 maiden calls for the line. The three ships will undertake a joint cruise together going from Slovenia to Venice in 2020.

The godmothers of the 702-passenger ship are Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Afar Media, and Lucy Huxley, editor in chief of Travel Weekly UK.

#CruiseLiners - The cruise liner Azamara Pursuit is now in Belfast Lough in preparation for its refit at Harland & Wolff, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

All eight decks of the 600m cruise ship will be refurbished over this summer, part of a multi-million-euro contract between Royal Caribbean and Newry-based fitout specialists MJM Group, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The Azamara Pursuit, which formerly sailed for P&O as Adonia, will be christened in Southhampton ahead of its return to sea in August for a two-night celebratory cruise.

It's expected that the bulk of the refit works will be done in over a marathon 30-day period between June and July. The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story HERE.