For all those who sailed already.. would you go with this ship again?

[Rahi]

Please help.. I have a deposit down ..but can change my mind up to July 14th.. I really did not read this section til now.. sigh..and am totally not sure if I should go with them or not.... Thank you for any help..

[ragwing]

Please help.. I have a deposit down ..but can change my mind up to July 14th.. I really did not read this section til now.. sigh..and am totally not sure if I should go with them or not.... Thank you for any help..

Hey Rahi:

For us, they got off to a bit of a bumpy start but yes, I would take them again. If for nothing else than the smaller size and the FRIENDLY crew members we had the fortune to meet.

[Wheeler63]

Yes!!

[Estcstgrl]

Yes!!

[kelmac]

Yes!

[roomba]

Yes; we would definitely sail them again.

[miamigirl814]

Yes, we loved it! There are some kinks to be worked out still, but in our opinion, no more than the kinks on any other cruise line.

[fog1]

Nope!

Indifferent guest services, apologetic sales manager, inattentive crew, misinformed reservation reps, pricey drinks, horrible coffee.*

*Indifferent guest services - kept telling us they had no information about some on-board credits which were authorized by the ship line on the 3rd day out. Washed their hands of the situation.

Apologetic sales manager - when asked about a situation, he just kept apologizing for the problem instead of doing something about it. Customers are interested in solutions, not apologies.

Inattentive crew - on way home from Bermuda, seas were very rough with pool water sloshing out over the deck. You'd think some one would close the pool, but no. Not until it was brought to the attention of the crew did they realize the unsafe situation.

Misinformed reservation reps - just look at the other posts regarding conflicting statements about cabin size and so forth.

Pricey drinks - martinis $10 to $12 per pop.

Horrible coffee - expresso seems to be the drink of the day. This is now an American ship, so let's get some drinkable coffee on board.

Finally, the upcoming repositioning for the South American cruises does not interest me.

So, there you have it, Azamara is not for me and quite frankly, neither is Celebrity, based upon our experiences. We will still sail Royal Caribbean, so RCI will still receive revenue from me.

Oh, this is all based on the May 9th sailing, so take it for what it is worth.

[Host Sheila]

Yes, we look forward to sailing with Azamara again. We expect the bumps to be smoothed out by the time we sail again and are excited about the new itineraries. Loved the smaller ship and country club casual for port intensive cruises. I can get my formal 'fix' on Celebrity.

[twin123185]

To me - it would depend on the pricing - what they are asking for now - no way, this cruise was not worth it. However since I was grandfathered in from my Zenith booking and got my sky suite for a great deal - if that kind of deal was around I would.

Larry

[lisiamc]

Yes! In fact we're booked on Quest for November 2008.

Lisa

[Smartcookie]

I think the better question might be, would you pay over $3,000 per week for 2, cruise only, standard balcony for this cruise to Bermuda in hurricane season?

[tnomred]

Our group sailed 5/12 and although there were still quirks to be ironed out we had a good time, enjoyed the ship, found the crew to be interested and helpful, and would love to try Azamara again.

[Rahi]

I think the better question might be, would you pay over $3,000 per week for 2, cruise only, standard balcony for this cruise to Bermuda in hurricane season?
Sure would..I don't think that paying 3,000 for a week is a bad price.. If you break it down it is about 312.00 per night. The way I always think of it is .. where else can I get an ocean view with a deck , all meals included for that price?? Even if there were a hurricane .. I would still show up for cruise.. and make the best of it..

[Rahi]

Sure would..I don't think that paying 3,000 for a week is a bad price.. If you break it down it is about 312.00 per night. The way I always think of it is .. where else can I get an ocean view with a deck , all meals included for that price?? Even if there were a hurricane .. I would still show up for cruise.. and make the best of it..

Umm if only I could do math! .. 428...sorry... Maybe it isn't that great a deal!

[journeyfan]

And if you are paying $5300, as we are, which works out to $757 a night, it's even less of a good deal! Actually, it's a terrible deal!

[twin123185]

And if you are paying $5300, as we are, which works out to $757 a night, it's even less of a good deal! Actually, it's a terrible deal!

That sucks - I paid $1150 each for a Sky Suite - I was lucky to have booked the Zenith ages ago.

I wouldn't go near this ship for that money YET. maybe in the future.
Its still a good time though

LB

[Rahi]

Would you for 3,000? A regular balcony room.. thanks..

[susiesan]

I'm paying $209 a day pp in a balcony cabin on deck 7 for a 14 day Panama canal cruise on Quest next March. And I thought that was a lot. What is it about Bermuda that makes you all spend so much? is it worth it?

Susie

[twin123185]

Would you for 3,000? A regular balcony room.. thanks..

$3000 for 2 for 7 days - I don't to tell anyone what to do but you can save a ton on a different ship like the Norwegian Crown.
I would do this again at this price in a suite

Larry

[Rahi]

$3000 for 2 for 7 days - I don't to tell anyone what to do but you can save a ton on a different ship like the Norwegian Crown.
I would do this again at this price in a suite

Larry
I have to have a balcony ..and I do not like NCL at all.

[yosh12]

$3000 for 2 for 7 days - I don't to tell anyone what to do but you can save a ton on a different ship like the Norwegian Crown.
I would do this again at this price in a suite

Larry


The fact that you are comparing the Journey to the NCL Crown doesn't even make this a valid statement.

That's like saying why would you pay $20 for surf n turf, when you can get a hamburger patty for $1.

[tinkr2]

The fact that you are comparing the Journey to the NCL Crown doesn't even make this a valid statement.

That's like saying why would you pay $20 for surf n turf, when you can get a hamburger patty for $1.

Gosh I hope you are right and that I am paying for the surf n turf, because I have always enjoyed my $1 double cheeseburger at McD's, and my RC cruises.

[yosh12]

Gosh I hope you are right and that I am paying for the surf n turf, because I have always enjoyed my $1 double cheeseburger at McD's, and my RC cruises.

Hey, I like McDs too, don't get me wrong. :D

My point is it is clearly a "different" cruise experience. So if the Crown is what you're comfortable with, you might actually be disappointed in the more upscale atmosphere. And I don't mean that in a snobby kind of way, I mean in the amenities, food, entertainment kind of way.

Or maybe this will make more sense, say you are the type whose idea of a nice hotel on an island is a Holiday Inn. And my idea of a nice hotel is Ritz Carlton. Will the Holiday Inn tourist be comfortable and truly enjoy the RC experience? Probably not. You might feel a bit out of place, or might wonder why there's no beach volleyball going on in the afternoon. Or wonder why a hamburger (if you can find one), costs $30.

Not saying either one is bad, they're just very different. And what pleases one set of folks might not exactly please another. Personally, I would never sail on the Crown, even if it was a free trip, but that's just me and my preferences.

[CKBob]

Enjoyed our cruise on the Journey, however we prefer a slight larger ship such as the Century.

[cruisequeen and big daddy]

Well put, Yosh! Just as the dress code is a problem for many.
It may be difficult to rationalize buying a wardrobe to wear for a few days once a year or maybe once in a lifetime. While others enjoy dressing to fit the occasion and dressing "country club casual" is not socially uncomfortable. That is why once a line establishes a dress code and it is published, why continue to compromise your values. Either enforce it or don't have one at all. Then EVERYONE will know what to expect when they board the ship.
Azamara is only 2 months old and struggling to find an identity, but if they don't become something....they might become nothing!

[ABBoroff]

Yes! We actually enjoyed the coffee (regular, decaf and the espresso in the machine options!), thought the drink prices were comparable to any mid-large sized city prices, staff was very attentive, personable and helpful, and the small size of the ship (and 'casualness') welcome.

[mery]

Can't wait to do it again. We are lucky enough to have it booked in August again. After doing the cruise 6/16, would have kicked myself if I had not booked another. We did book at the Zenith price, so that made it even better. Food was some of the best I've had on cruise ships. Service was great and ship was wonderful. Enjoy...

[twin123185]

The fact that you are comparing the Journey to the NCL Crown doesn't even make this a valid statement.

That's like saying why would you pay $20 for surf n turf, when you can get a hamburger patty for $1.

Oh how you are so wrong - There is some great food on NCL as well as the other mass lines. I had better lobster on Carnival and NCL and comparing the Journey to ANY OTHER SHIP Celebrity has does not do Celebrity justice.
I hope it has gotten better since my cruise a month ago - I LOVED THE TRIP - HAD A GREAT TIME. BUT - I am sorry - the food in the dining room was very ordinary.

Larry

[CERRY2]

ii have sailed on Celebrity many times and loved it. Would not sail on Journey again. We were on the May 16 sailing to Bermuda and had many problems. Ships not ready to sail. Also not enough to do in evening.CERRY2

[MaryJean56]

Nope. For me the ship was too small. I thought it was a pretty little ship, but the theater is small without graduated seating and it limited the type of entertainment that could be provided, the cafe offers a limited selection at breakfast & lunch because there are only 700 people on board. Sometimes you just want to grab something quick without eating in the dining room and it just wasn't that varied. I also think the larger ships provide a smoother ride. This one was just a bit too small for my taste.

[corona5657]

I would go again. I enjoyed everything the ship had to offer. I like the smaller ships. If I would have to find something to complain about, it would be the weight i gained on this cruise.................:eek:

[sailing sal]

Can't wait to do it again. We are lucky enough to have it booked in August again. After doing the cruise 6/16, would have kicked myself if I had not booked another. We did book at the Zenith price, so that made it even better. Food was some of the best I've had on cruise ships. Service was great and ship was wonderful. Enjoy...

I absolutely agree with you! We loved our experience on Journey(6/23). The food, service, and ship was a perfect fit for us. We loved the personal touches and getting to know the staff so well. We would definitely book this again- so sorry we didn't, like you! It is very sad because after this year the ships may only dock at the Dock Yards and that is so far away from everything!:( Anyone who cancelled their Journey cruise was so misinformed! Enjoy your August trip, again!

[os2wiz]

Hey Rahi:

For us, they got off to a bit of a bumpy start but yes, I would take them again. If for nothing else than the smaller size and the FRIENDLY crew members we had the fortune to meet.


By smaller size I assume you were referring to the smaller cabin sizes on Azamara, a real advantage for the wee people. Well worth the expense!

[newcruiser25]

Yes! We loved the ship and the staff.

[JPH814]

I would go on the Journey again, but maybe not in the Atlantic. I was OK, but a number of others were feeling the affects fo the seas. It would be a wonderful ship for many itnieraries that are in smoother waters. The ship itself is outstanding and the scale is perfect- large enough not to feel crowded but it did not take you 15 minutes to get from one end of the ship to the other. Crew was outstanding. Also, although they did their best to have activities for kids - and I talked to many parents who said their kids were having great times - larger ships have so much more to offer kids in terms of game rooms, teen discos, etc.

[cruisingdelt]

I just returned from the 7/7 sailing and would cruise on the Journey again in a heartbeat. It is a great ship and I had a wonderful week. Was it really a week???

[Host Sheila]

I would definitely book again...but it would depend on price and itinerary as well. We loved the ship and the crew and enjoyed the 'small town' feeling. We are currently booked on Quest for 2008, but will wait to see if prices come down before deciding if we'll keep the booking.

[windynme]

We were also on the 7/7/07 sailing and would absolutely sail again on Journey (if the price was right). Loved the ship, the size and the crew.

[Vickscott]

We were on the 6/23/07 sailing and would book on the Journey again in a heart beat. It was great. The service was great, food was great, drinks were great. Not at all watered down. While we always enjoyed set time dinner seating and the formal nights on the Zenith, it was nice to go to dinner when we wanted. It was also nice to dress casual. We were upgraded to sky suite 8065. The room was a very nice size. The bed was comfortable, bathroom was a nice size. We had a large veranda that we used a lot. Our Butler was very attentive. We had lots of drawer and closet space. I can't think of one thing that we didn't enjoy.

[Shmobo]

I just came back from 7/14 Journey cruise. I will definitely want to go on another Azamara cruise!

The ship size is perfect for destination cruises...it can be docked right where the actions are..and it can fit in some of the smaller ports. The atmospheres are much more intimate and personal.

The food was so good..the ingredients they used are so much better than Celebrity ships. Imagine Freshly squeezed OJ for breakfast, instead of those concentrated ones.

The food in the Discoveries Dining room were great! We never have a bad meal or food that we did not like. Ok! We love all our food....We don't go up to eat at the buffet much because we love to be served...and the lunches and dinners in the dinning room tasted like they are all made to order...even the steamed vegetables were so steamy hot and fresh!

We like the Aqualine better than Prime C....the atmosphere in Aqualina is more romantic and the scallops and Sea bass were so good! We dined in there twice! but the Lava Cake in Prime C was divine!

We did enjoy the extra touch they did in our cabin..But the Butler is just another Cabin Steward..and he/she was not even as good as those on RCCL...maybe just our luck!

[susiesan]

I would definitely book again...but it would depend on price and itinerary as well. We loved the ship and the crew and enjoyed the 'small town' feeling. We are currently booked on Quest for 2008, but will wait to see if prices come down before deciding if we'll keep the booking.

Sheila:
We are on Quest 3/01/08. The price dropped $300 for the 2 of us. We are rebooked at the lower price. I'm sure it will drop again. Check on the website frequently. Hopefully yours dropped too.

[Dale Jr]

Sheila:
We are on Quest 3/01/08. The price dropped $300 for the 2 of us. We are rebooked at the lower price. I'm sure it will drop again. Check on the website frequently. Hopefully yours dropped too.

Not a good sign for Azamara if they are having to drop prices to sell their cruises this far out.

Dropping prices will equate to cuts somewhere else to the quality of food or service. They do the same thing with Celebrity and I was hoping they would not carry it over to Azamara.

[RSGS315]

We would definitely cruise with Azamara again. The food was excellent and of high quality, and the service was superb.

Our annual family cruise for 11 will be on a Voyager class ship of Royal Caribbean, as they offer all the bells and whistles our children and grandchildren enjoy.
When my husband and I travel alone we prefer the smaller more intimate ships, as it is easier to meet other people, and the food and service are more to our liking.
Don't expect over the top entertainment, as you won't find that on a small vessel.
Go wioth an open mind and you'll love it.
Ginnie

[VIRGINIAKATHY]

:( I JUST CHECKED OUR FEB 2ND PANAMA PRICE AND IT IS THE SAME........:mad: WISH OURS WOULD GO DOWN:rolleyes: Sheila:
We are on Quest 3/01/08. The price dropped $300 for the 2 of us. We are rebooked at the lower price. I'm sure it will drop again. Check on the website frequently. Hopefully yours dropped too.

[Host Sheila]

Ours is the same as well. I'm thinking that we'll need to be alot closer to sailing date to see a change (if any) but we have already gotten a $500 decrease since we booked. It was so high that it will have to come down more for us to keep the booking.

[slotl]

Horrible coffee - expresso seems to be the drink of the day. This is now an American ship, so let's get some drinkable coffee on board.


I will be on the Oct 20th sailing. We love the smaller Rx ships and the idea of an "upscale" cruise line really appeals to us.

If you complained about the coffee on Azamara......my suggestion is NEVER to go on a Princess ship. They serve swill and call it coffee.

On the Dawn Princess (we have been on other Princess ships as well) it was confirmed by the matre de that they use syrup for their coffee and powder for their decaf. I was reminded that there was a coffee bar ($$$$$) which is the only place on the ship to get "brewed" coffee.:cool:

[RSGS315]

The coffee on the Journey was excellent, strong but not bitter, just the way we like it.
Ginnie

[tinkr2]

I drink coffee every morning. Usually I have a cup while I check my email and peruse the boards. When I am on a cruise I have hot tea. Of the five lines I have sailed ,I find the coffee to be undrinkable. I accept the tradeoff of being able to have a gorgeous view and a great vacation.
However, I am convinced they continue to use syrups and instant machines in order to build extra revenue with the coffee shops. I do break down and buy a few of those 'expensive ' coffees on every cruise. If the shops were closer to the breakfast buffet, I am sure I would buy a lot more.

[susiesan]

Ours is the same as well. I'm thinking that we'll need to be a lot closer to sailing date to see a change (if any) but we have already gotten a $500 decrease since we booked. It was so high that it will have to come down more for us to keep the booking.

Yes, but it's still less per day than Oceania for the same ship and what appears will be the same level of service. If the food isn't quite up to O I'll live. Food is not my number one reason for taking this ship to the Panama canal-ports and the ship itself are. I don't care what name is on the ship.

[SRJ]

Yes!!!!!!!