Azamara vs Seabourn

I wasn't sure if I should, or would, post this review / comparison, but after my cruise experience on the Azamara Journey, I thought it was well deserved. First of all, I have been on most of the luxury cruise lines, Regent, Crystal, SeaDream and mostly Seabourn. I can honestly say that Azamara rates above Regent and Crystal as similiar cruise lines (size etc) and doesn't compare with SeaDream, as its a totally different animal.

Comparing Azamara to Seabourn is pretty easy, as the service (other than one sole employee) was stellar. The personalized service was spectacular. For example, I was sunning up on deck 11, solo, on a port day and fell asleep. I awoke to a tall glass of ice water beside my lounge! What a feeling of being "taken care of!"

The pool deck experience included offerings of iced melon sticks, evian spray, and cool towels.

The bar service was terrific (again, other than one employee) and the "open bar" promotion was a real hit. Like Seabourn, not having to sign for drinks was a real plus. Most bartenders and waiters knew your drink order as soon as you walked into the bar area! This promotion, including the offerings of complimentary wine with lunch and dinner should eventually be a real "keeper" I hope!

The dining experience was also on par (for the most part). I ate at Aqualina and Prime C mostly, and twice in the main dining room. I would give Aqualina a 100% rating, with Prime C and the main dining room at a 90%. Seabourn, with its alternative restaurant "2" and fine dining- main restaurant would rate a bit better (only serving 200 - 450 passengers, depending on the ship.)

I was in Club Continental suite 8068. This would compare nicely with a typical Seabourn suite, although Seabourn would win with its luxury amenities, such as marble double sinks and jacuzzi tubs. Size and "feel", however, is very comparable. The only negative with the suite was the mattress. It is in desperate need of replacement. This was a very typical comment throughout the ship. I was told that they would be replaced in spring 2012. To wait this long is a huge mistake, in my opinion. Many said that they would not re-book until the mattresses were replaced with new.

The ship itself was in great shape, other than a "dated" pool area, but the pool itself gets higher marks than Seabourn based on size alone. (This is in relation to the original 3 Seabourn ships.) The "hardware" can't compare, as Seabourn is an all-suite cruise line, whereas Azamara offers inside, outside, veranda staterooms, as well as suites.

Based on Service, Food, Ship condition, and amenities, Seabourn would win by a hair. Based on value alone, Azamara wins by a landslide!

I will be writing my official review and experience in a few days, but felt that it was important to make this comparison.

Thank you-

Host Dan

Great to hear of your comparisons - we have only cruised on Azamara of the premium lines so it is useful to hear what valid benchmarks might be

Host Dan, Thank you for posting the comparison. Please provide the link to your full review here so that we can find it. Thanks!

Hi Dan !

Thanks for your comments. I'm happy to hear you had a great time on Journey. I'm hoping to write a review, but it probably wont be for several weeks, as work is extremely busy this time of year. When tax season is over, I'm sailing on Celebrity in 2 1/2 weeks.

We keep wondering if we are too spoiled for Celebrity, after our incredible Azamara sailing :). Welcome Home !

Thanks for the recent compare/contrast! We are sailing on Azamara Quest 8/6 and can't wait...

I've seen some posts about the bedding; some seem to indicate the beds are/have been replaced--some additional bedding will be done on Journey in the next month I understood.

Can anyone confirm the beds on Quest have been or will be replaced by August?

Thanks again!

Bob:)

Bill Lieber has posted that the problem with the bedding seems to be oriented around a mismatch between frames and mattresses. The Quest was launched later than the Journey and apparently didn't have this mismatch issue.

I am not sure about the logistics of the mismatch between frames and mattresses but postings do seem to suggest it is a Journey-only problem and in very limited cases.

Bill Lieber has posted that the problem with the bedding seems to be oriented around a mismatch between frames and mattresses. The Quest was launched later than the Journey and apparently didn't have this mismatch issue.

 

I am not sure about the logistics of the mismatch between frames and mattresses but postings do seem to suggest it is a Journey-only problem and in very limited cases.

Yes, I had read that, so I checked... The mattresses fit perfectly in the frame, yet sagged all over (lumpy). Good thing this is a very fixible item!

Host Dan

We keep wondering if we are too spoiled for Celebrity, after our incredible Azamara sailing :). Welcome Home !

Andy

Don't worry too much. We thought this after our first Azamara cruise but our next cruise on Infinity was just as good - in all respects - and we still cannot separate the two experiences. I am sure that you will have the great time you deserve!

Our second cruise on Quest did not match either of these earlier two cruises and, therefore, I found Dan's comparison of Azamara with the luxury lines extremely interesting. We have been consideing these and have yet to be convinced that they will provide what we are looking for.

Sue

Andy

 

Don't worry too much. We thought this after our first Azamara cruise but our next cruise on Infinity was just as good - in all respects - and we still cannot separate the two experiences. I am sure that you will have the great time you deserve!

 

Our second cruise on Quest did not match either of these earlier two cruises and, therefore, I found Dan's comparison of Azamara with the luxury lines extremely interesting. We have been consideing these and have yet to be convinced that they will provide what we are looking for.

 

Sue

Hi Sue !

Thank you. I'm fairly sure our Celebrity sailing wont reach to the levels of what we experienced on Azamara. With that said, we've sailed on Celebrity dozens of times, and truly enjoy Celebrity Constellation. I'm sure we will have a great time.

I'm sailing with My Parents, and an Aunt & Uncle. We always enjoy each other's company. For me, being with Family is what makes the Cruise special.

my mattress seemed fine but my cabin was so cold that twice help arrived but the cabin never did warm up.. eneded up with the cough that lasted weeks. other than hat counting the days until my Baltic cruise.

Andy

 

Don't worry too much. We thought this after our first Azamara cruise but our next cruise on Infinity was just as good - in all respects - and we still cannot separate the two experiences. I am sure that you will have the great time you deserve!

 

Our second cruise on Quest did not match either of these earlier two cruises

 

Sue

Project Gal, interesting comments. We just heard from someone that we met on Azamara last year. They loved the trip and ship last year, and just returned from the March 17 Quest sailing. They did not enjoy the experience as much as 2010, and said while a lot of people think Azamara is the best, they find Celebrity just as good, including the food. In fact, they said they were bored on the 4 sea days as there was nothing to do on the ship. The Spa was booked for the entire week and the shops were closed for renovations. The trip they were on was heavily discounted and they will not be back at the new prices.

We also heard from someone else on this same cruise and there were port problems. Azamara did not deliver on its promise to take guests to close ports where the mass market lines may not be able to dock. And only one port had a free shuttle. Azamara did not advise people that if the ship is not anchored at the new cruise dock near the Bund in Shanghai, the other port is about 45-minutes away and transfer cost was about $75.00 US by taxi. The port in Tianjin which was advertised as the "gateway to Beijing" was about 2.5 hours by car to Beijing in good traffic, and I believe Azamara was docked there for two days. So, unless someone stayed at a hotel in Bejing, that would be at least 10 hours of travel time over the two days. The port for Seoul was 1.5 hours away.

I have never travelled with Seabourn, so cannot comment on its merits versus Azamara. However, my wife and i have now sailed four times on Azamara Quest, including the March 17 sailing referred to by Jade, and the preceding March 5 voyage. I will probably write a review of these cruises when time permits, but in the meantime I think it only fair to remind readers that Seoul and Beijing are not located on the coast, and anyone who had bothered to do their homework would have known in advance that a lot of travelling would have been required to reach these cities from Tianjin and Incheon. OK the location of the new port used in Shanghai probably disappointed a number of passengers. I guess that we all have different interests and expectations, but for those who wished to use the gymnasium, have a quiet read, attend talks by the two guest lecturers, engage in some of the trivia activities, make the odd donation or two in the casino, or simply chat to old and new friends, there seemed to us that there was sufficient to occupy ones time on sea days.

Nevernever

Just remembered that Azamara organised free shuttle buses from the port in Shanghai to the Bund during most of the first day that we were in port, and thus minimised the need to take expensive taxi rides unless you wished to see other parts of the city.

Nevernever

Excellent "Executive Summary" of your upcoming review, Dan. First person accounts are always much more valuable (and credible) than hearing what "someone we met" had to say. As for comparing Azamara & Celebrity, as some posters have, they really two different cruising experiences and one is not necessarily better than the other. An additional factor is that some passengers are "big ship people" who enjoy the variety and buzz of the large liners while others enjoy the simplicity and individualized service of the smaller ships. Whatever floats your boat...

Just remembered that Azamara organised free shuttle buses from the port in Shanghai to the Bund during most of the first day that we were in port, and thus minimised the need to take expensive taxi rides unless you wished to see other parts of the city.

 

Nevernever

NeverNever, but you were a btb passenger. I'm guessing that would have been embarkation day for the majority of passengers, and if so, their experience would have been different than yours.

DH and I have just returned from a 12 night cruise on Journey, and it was our best cruise yet. But, the mattress in our suite was rock hard, so, being aware of mattress issues through Cruise Critic (thanks!), I requested a foam overlay, and it was there within the hour. Much better! BTW, our mattress did not fit the frame, and there was about a 2 inch difference.

It have would be nice to make a comparison between Seabourn and Azamara which my husband I were booked on Azamara Quest for back to back cruises starting in June, (we have previously cruised with Seabourn, which we enjoyed immensely) but unfortunately I don't think this will ever happen. Five months before we were to leave Azamara cancelled the first leg of our cruise due to chartering the whole ship for this period. All our air fares and accommodation had been booked and paid for. To say we were not happy is an understatement, so we cancelled the second leg as it was not worth travelling so far (from Australia) for only 7 days. We are reluctant to book again with Azamara as this could happen again.

Host Dan: I thought your review was right on the money. We had a wonderful cruise

with you and would definitely cruise with Azamara again. The mattresses need to be

replaced. I hope they do go with the drinks and amenities included for our next cruise,

whenever that may be.

Thanks for the comparison. Good to know it is so close to Seabourn but not as expensive. Very excited to get on Azamara Club. Way to go Azamara!

Project Gal, interesting comments. We just heard from someone that we met on Azamara last year. They loved the trip and ship last year, and just returned from the March 17 Quest sailing. They did not enjoy the experience as much as 2010, and said while a lot of people think Azamara is the best, they find Celebrity just as good, including the food. In fact, they said they were bored on the 4 sea days as there was nothing to do on the ship. The Spa was booked for the entire week and the shops were closed for renovations. The trip they were on was heavily discounted and they will not be back at the new prices.

 

We also heard from someone else on this same cruise and there were port problems. Azamara did not deliver on its promise to take guests to close ports where the mass market lines may not be able to dock. And only one port had a free shuttle. Azamara did not advise people that if the ship is not anchored at the new cruise dock near the Bund in Shanghai, the other port is about 45-minutes away and transfer cost was about $75.00 US by taxi. The port in Tianjin which was advertised as the "gateway to Beijing" was about 2.5 hours by car to Beijing in good traffic, and I believe Azamara was docked there for two days. So, unless someone stayed at a hotel in Bejing, that would be at least 10 hours of travel time over the two days. The port for Seoul was 1.5 hours away.

I actually heard from a friend on facebook how much better Azamara was then Celebrity. Better then a few other lines as well. I would like to do Celebrity. I like the idea of the lawn club.

I actually heard from a friend on facebook how much better Azamara was then Celebrity. Better then a few other lines as well. I would like to do Celebrity. I like the idea of the lawn club.

Celebrity is mass market. We prefer Azamara and the smaller ships. But, we would never pay Azamara prices for the Caribbean.

We took four cruises last year and two were on Celebrity and the product had greatly improved from our experience in 2008. One cruise was on their oldest ship, Century, which we had been on before and really like, and the other on Eclipse. Eclipse was "Wow". We would travel in the Caribbean on a Solstice class ship again. If you are interested in the lawn you might consider the current Solstice class ships. The two new ships scheduled for this year and next sound like they are changing the venues around the lawn (understandably) to try to generate more income.

I too was a Celebrity sailor and the last time was on the Eclipse in December. I booked an Aquaclass cabin and HATED it - so small compared to the Celebrity M class ships and Blu was only OK. I then sailed Azamara Quest in February having previously been on Journey. To me there is no comparison, AZ wins every time. I love the size of the ships, the very personal attention and the crew are amazing from the captain downwards. Yes, the cabins are also small but at least I was pre-warned (unlike the Eclipse). Nothing is perfect and life is a compromise. I have booked another AZ cruise (with DH) but have given Celebrity a wide berth for an upcoming family cruise and have booked HAL.

I too was a Celebrity sailor and the last time was on the Eclipse in December. I booked an Aquaclass cabin and HATED it - so small compared to the Celebrity M class ships and Blu was only OK. I then sailed Azamara Quest in February having previously been on Journey. To me there is no comparison, AZ wins every time. I love the size of the ships, the very personal attention and the crew are amazing from the captain downwards. Yes, the cabins are also small but at least I was pre-warned (unlike the Eclipse). Nothing is perfect and life is a compromise. I have booked another AZ cruise (with DH) but have given Celebrity a wide berth for an upcoming family cruise and have booked HAL.

We liked AQ on Eclipse and BLU (Tuscan Grille was worst specially restaurant we have ever been in on any cruise ship ever and we would not go back if it was free as the food was not edible), BUT the AQ Veranda's are about the same size as Azamara Veranda's. If AZ ever renovated those showers on Solstice class should be the standard for a small bathroom.

Hi Jade13, yes the bathrooms were excellent for such a small space, the shower in particular. These would be fine on AZ and much preferable to the existing curtain.

I have really enjoyed both Host Dan's and Host Andy's reviews and comments about the cruises they took on Azamara.

DH and I enjoyed our Azamara Journey cruise immensely in February. We were on the ship for 12 days. We did NOT find that the waiters helped us with our food trays OR remembered our drinks, except for the one lonely waiter in Looking Glass.

I just don't want people to expect Superb service, I am pretty sure that they know who you are, and as Cruise Critic hosts, you get better treatment. I know that the Captain and others on board read CC (they commented on that while we had CC get-togethers), and they will want to impress you.

Sorry if I sound jaded, but my experience, however good, does not mirror either Dan's or Andy's.