Azamara Club Cruises’ new vessel, Azamara Pursuit, has been officially christened in Southampton.

The 702-guest vessel, the third in the Azamara fleet, previously sailed with P&O Cruises as the Adonia, before undergoing an extensive refurbishment.

It features five restaurants, seven bars and lounges, and 62 onboard culinary experts.

Azamara’s president and chief executive, Larry Pimentel, said: “Pursuit is a labour of love. Our guests appreciate the gift of travel, they are cultural connoisseurs and they have an explorer state of mind.

“We represent a world of wonder, and discovering something new is at our core.”

Pimentel also paid tribute to the crew, adding: “They inspire me each day, each week and each month.”

Co-godmothers, Lucy Huxley and Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio, both eminent figures in the travel media, were joined by Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, agents and representatives of the press for the ceremony.

Fain said: “Along with this ship, we get to celebrate the amazing men and women of Azamara. [We] now embark on a new chapter of growth, hope and discovery.

“We’ve come a long way since Azamara was simply an idea a decade ago. We acquired two small ships, which we thought was just the hardware we needed to start a new cruise line.

“Destination Immersion was the foundation of Azamara and its success. A few years ago, the concept was novel, but today it is employed across the industry.

“Azamara has continued to build on that concept and refine its execution.”