Second Azamara Cruise Quick Impressions

We just returned from the 9/30 Quest cruise which was our second Azamara cruise and since we have read so much great information on these forums, wanted to share some thoughts.

Great cruise. There were 6 of us in our group and we all had a wonderful time.

The things we really LIKE

Longer stays in port. This really makes the sightseeing much more rewarding.

Included drinks without having to show your cruise card or sign a receipt. We have purchased the drink packages on Princess, Norwegian and Celebrity on previous cruises which gives you the same benefit as the included drinks but constantly showing your card and waiting on a receipt is an annoyance and it was relaxing not to deal with that.

Things that we did not like.

The buffet and the dining room both close at 9 PM. The hot tubs close at 8 PM. If you really take advantage of the later departures to enjoy the port, you often return to the ship at 6, 7 or even 8. If you want to take a minute to unwind or enjoy the hot tub before dinner..oops its closed and furthermore no dinner to enjoy either if you don't make it by 9 PM. Another gripe is that there is nowhere to get anything at all to eat except room service after 9. Although room service was prompt and good, if you are out on the ship and just want a cookie or something, no way to get it.

The shower. Really?

Again, we all had a great time.

Absolutely agree with your assessment. We completed our first Azamara cruise in August. It was a Baltic cruise. We had a wonderful time but we're really amazed that there were no late night dining options. Also felt the ship was pretty dead in the evening. Maybe because it was port intensive. Food and service was great. We also enjoyed just ordering a drink with no card or receipt signing. Very nice cruise but jury still out on wether we will do another Azamara cruise because of the before mentioned.

i have done many many cruises and totally agree about the pool, hot tub and food.. being a small ship you still should be able to get cookies or tea sandwiches at the coffee bat. you sue to be able to get cookies at night.. not sure who in Mia took that away. the pool and hot tub i would say 10. .as they might keep the pool bar open longer maybe the pool too.

but please give the line another try./COLOR]

Some of the downsides of sailing on a small ship. But it is nice to have the good room service.

One thing we love about AZ being in port for longer evenings or overnight is being able to eat dinner at some of the local restaurants.

I like to do extensive research on local restaurants before we go and sometimes even make reservations.

One thing we love about AZ being in port for longer evenings or overnight is being able to eat dinner at some of the local restaurants.

I like to do extensive research on local restaurants before we go and sometimes even make reservations.

I do that on overnights or sailing at ten. For 7 or 8 I tend to find a local bar abd have a drink.

Absolutely agree with your assessment. We completed our first Azamara cruise in August. It was a Baltic cruise. We had a wonderful time but we're really amazed that there were no late night dining options. Also felt the ship was pretty dead in the evening. Maybe because it was port intensive. Food and service was great. We also enjoyed just ordering a drink with no card or receipt signing. Very nice cruise but jury still out on wether we will do another Azamara cruise because of the before mentioned.

Interested to read your assessment. We agree! We have taken 4 cruises on Azamara and liked them a lot except for the fact they began eliminating evening entertainment several years ago. That is the reason we no longer cruise with them . The drinks included change was convenient but we were fine prior to that and found the food fine. We miss the intimate feel of the ship and the staff were very nice. But we miss the small bands and duos they used to employ. We got the feeling at some point they were trying to appeal to a younger crowd but they won't be, I don't think, as those passengers are up later and want to continue enjoying the amenities into the evening. If they once again loosen the purse springs and offer some entertainment we would come back, however their pricing has gone up so much we definitely get better value on Celebrity in Aqua class.

I think the issue with having food available late is that whilst there maybe a few people who would like to take advantage of it there just isn't the demand on a small ship like Azamara to keep food venues open late. My observations have been that the busiest time for the MDR is around 7.30-8pm. After 8.30pm that it wanes considerably. Similarly the buffet food lines after 8.30pm are very quiet. If I recall correctly there is usually something offered in Mosaic like sandwiches and cookies until later on to cater for the late night snacks. Going forward there will be tapas available in the Living Room (Looking Glass now), but I don't know what the hours will be for that.

Phil

Very occasionally I have a cookie craving late in the evening. If there is nothing offered at Mosaic the lovely wait staff there have always happily gone to get something for me.

But I do agree that it would be nice if the buffet was open a little later in the evening particularly when the weather is warm as it is so wonderful to eat outside

Interested to read your assessment. We agree! We have taken 4 cruises on Azamara and liked them a lot except for the fact they began eliminating evening entertainment several years ago. That is the reason we no longer cruise with them .....We got the feeling at some point they were trying to appeal to a younger crowd but they won't be, I don't think, as those passengers are up later and want to continue enjoying the amenities into the evening..

If you think Azamara ships are quiet at night I wonder if you've tried Oceania?

It was like the Marie Celeste after 10pm!!!

We have yet to take our first Azamara cruise.

Reading that there is no entertainment surprises me- is this correct?

We have yet to take our first Azamara cruise.

Reading that there is no entertainment surprises me- is this correct?

totally incorrect there is entertainment every night !!!!!!!

We have yet to take our first Azamara cruise.

Reading that there is no entertainment surprises me- is this correct?

There are production shows though obviously not on the scale of those offered on the mega ships. There are guest entertainers, the Cruise Directors (both very talented) do a show. There is also a great pianist on both ships, a guitarist and a live band.

There is also a disco which can be very lively or rather quiet depending on the mix of passengers cruising.

Hope this reassures you.

If you think Azamara ships are quiet at night I wonder if you've tried Oceania?

It was like the Marie Celeste after 10pm!!!

Couldn't agree more! Marina is a beautiful ship but the nightlife and entertainment were very poor on our cruise.

Thank goodness we found two lively Texans and the delightful Kat and Matt from Scotland. We closed the piano bar every night ....it seemed like every other person onboard.....including the CD, was in bed by 10pm.

Azamara is positively buzzing at night compared to Oceania. :D

Couldn't agree more! Marina is a beautiful ship but the nightlife and entertainment were very poor on our cruise.

 

Thank goodness we found two lively Texans and the delightful Kat and Matt from Scotland. We closed the piano bar every night ....it seemed like every other person onboard.....including the CD, was in bed by 10pm.

 

Azamara is positively buzzing at night compared to Oceania. :D

It's certainly buzzing when you and I are on the ship. LOL:D:D:D

No it is not correct. There is a show of some sort in the theatre every night, sometimes the ship's entertainers - singers and dancers, or just the dancers, or a comedian, or a singer/musician. I think the person above talking about a lack of entertainment was saying that Az used to have musicians/ duos etc performing in other rooms in the evening. Two years ago they had a guitarist playing in the Discovery bar before dinner, but that wasn't thee last year. They do have a pianist playing in the Casino bar in the evening.

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Forgot to say there is always a disco in the Looking Glass every night later on and it stays open until the last guest goes, I think!

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It's certainly buzzing when you and I are on the ship. LOL:D:D:D

Yes it is! :D

While we dearly love the crew on both ships, we left after the harpist was dismissed, and then the duo was done away with, among other reasons. We certainly realize not everyone dances, but the lack of a versatile duo to play live music was too much (for us).

Bruce

Just back from the Journey. The Bulgarian guitarist, Teodor, in the Looking Glass was a highlight for us but we rapidly left when the disco started afterwards. The cabaret offerings were very poor. The magician was okay but the British comedian was embarrassingly bad. However if you're not in a cabin nearby you can happily avoid this area. Make the most of the long days ashore and you won't need any entertainment.

Having done our first Azamara and cruised on other ships big and small there are always pluses and minuses.

For a ship of it's size the gym is quite good, food ok deserts lacking but that keeps pounds off since there are not a lot of stairs to work things off.. My husband and I found that the music played to dance to was from my parent generation and I am 62.

That being said the best night was the White Night party, all of a sudden they played music everyone could dance to and the dance floor was pack. Other nights maybe two or three.