Oceania vs Azamara?

Can anyone tell me the differences in pricing , amenities, add-ons, service, cuisine, etc???

I have sailed Oceania...just wondering about the 'sister' ships and their adoptive parents!:)

I don't think anyone has sailed both lines yet.

Jan is schedule to sail in Sept on AZA

 

Azamara

The differences so far reported are that I could tell

they charge for the specialty dining after your 1 free

They turn the library into a bar in the evenings "Michaels"

afternoon tea is served in Michaels/library

they have a coffee Cafe on deck 5 (old future cruise desk area on O)

Casino is larger

Martinis bar is now part of the GDR bar

I read on the Azamara Board that the charge was $25 per person after the free night to eat in one of the two specialty restaurants. That's the same amount that Celebrity charges for their specialty restaurants.

 

Sheila

isabella52- Read the Azamara Board and see that they are not yet up to Oceania in the opinion of those who have cruised her. They claim to be an exact copy but it seems they still have a way to go.

I can't put my finger on it, but when I think about the idea of Azamara and the R-ships, I get somewhat enthused. But then, I go to their web site and look at the itineraries and descriptions, and they are just somehow "off" a little. Maybe it the length of the cruises, or the fees, or some subtle change in the rules, or the claims that every cabin will have a butler (that doesn't seem very realistic, to me), or the lack of airfare -- I keep thinking they are changing the definitions, somehow. Maybe that's always the way it is when someone is playing copy cat.

 

All I know for sure is that I felt comfortable on my first O cruise, and everything else pales in comparison, now -- either too much or not enough of one thing or another.

I read on the Azamara Board that the charge was $25 per person after the free night to eat in one of the two specialty restaurants. That's the same amount that Celebrity charges for their specialty restaurants.

 

Sheila

 

Specialty restaurants on Celebrity ("Normandie" "Olympic" "SS United States" and Ocean Liners" on the four Millenium-class ships) are $30 per person.

Have sailed with O on the Regatta. It was a wonderful cruise (26-days to Amazon). Am scheduled on the Az Jan 5th 14-day sailing of the Quest. Quest will be in extensive 5-week drydock in October so should seem like a brand-new vessel and all the shake-down stuff should be over by then. Will post a review of the cruise on return along with a comparison of O to Az. PENNY

All I know for sure is that I felt comfortable on my first O cruise, and everything else pales in comparison, now -- either too much or not enough of one thing or another.

Same here. I've sailed on Celebrity's products and also Oceania. Celebrity (we cruised the Med on the Millennium in May) just doesn't get it about customer service and other details, so there's no reason for us to think that Azamara would be any different. Oceania is head and shoulders above Celebrity for us.

 

Donna

From some of the advertisements I have received, it appears that Azamara pricing has also increased a bit lately, and they may be within 10% of what Oceania charges. It is difficult to get cheap voyages these days!

Here is what Claudia (one of Oceania's most avid fans/cruisers) wrote yesterday on the other (LCT) board about Az:

 

Kicking this up a notch.. Ron and I just got back from 7 nights on the Azamara Journey from Bermuda..Celebrity just bought 2 of the R ships..

so this was the "R6"..

and have to say.. Celebrity surprised the heck out of us.. this was a class act all the way.., of course they have the same ship..and but the staff was FAr beyond compare.. amazing.. the food unreal ..

of all the ships I have been on..including my favorite "O"..this took the prize.

we had the greatest time..the best service ..

 

wow was I surprised..

We have "done" both, and altho Azamara isn't bad, I would still choose Oceania over it especially if the rates were close. Azamara may improve (it has a way to go), but it doesn't have quite the feel (can't quite say what that is) of Oceania - in part due to the demographics which may change as they get into their actual schedule.

frk

P.S. Before Oceania, we were loyal Celebrity fans.

I am impressed at the good job they are doing over at Azamara with Journey.

I am in touch with the hotel manager about once a week and things are moving along, since I was on board, new menus, new dishes for the restaurants, new help trained just for Azamara (not Celebrity) and new uniforms..I think in 60 days the ship will be wonderful..will it be O of course not..but worth cruising on for a great experience..absolutely

Jan

*****

One of Celebrity's biggest mistakes in the rollout of Azamara was substituting the Journey for Zenith on the Bermuda runs. Celebrity says it had no choice because of various prior commitments. Maybe so but the demographics for Zenith are very different from what Celebrity hopes to attract to AZ. The Zenith pax were mostly traditional cruisers looking for a leisure cruise with lots of food, assigned seating, lounge acts, steel bands and Vegas-type shows. Az doesn't offer than nor does O. Hence many Journey pax were disappointed that they didn't get the cruise they were expecting nor did many of them have any experience on small, open seating ships. And many of them don't like small ship cruising in any event. A lot will change, for the better, when Azamara begins to attract more pax from the market segment it is targeting and as it begins sailing more off-beat, non-traditional itineraries.

Cruiseguy, I replied to your post on the Azamara site about also not being a passenger after our 8/12 cruise if they change the open seating. The people thus far that have had the most complaints were as you state people who've been on many mass market cruises and all that entails, not willing to budge...as that last review today about managing to eat at the same table & same server being great...but they've missed the chance to greet NEW people & NEW servers, that might just be more freindly, better...or just plain different, which in a nutshell is the problem.They don't like different! I've stated there that I'd be back to "O" in a flash for ALL our future cruises if that open seating is changed.:rolleyes:

Napi's mom..

Open seating will not change and as cruiseguy said many of the the people on Azamara board now did not book Azamara and are missing the whole wonderful experience of open seating..

Jan

*****

I'm probably getting too wrapped up in all this but I would really like to see both Azamara and Oceania succeed. The competition between the two will be good for them as well as the passengers & hopefully will stabilize the prices. More importantly (for me), I like having an alternative to both the regimented, banquet-feeding mass market lines (and I've been there) and the social and dress-conscious luxury lines (been there too). I'm now cruising for the ports and have started looking at the ship as both transportation as well as a nice comfortable hotel to eat and sleep in while visiting unusual and interesting places. Azamara and Oceania fill that niche very well.

I feel the same way..we LOVE Oceania but a little different ambiance and new itineraries are a nice change for us..I do look forward to cruising both lines..

Jan

*****

My question has been answered..So deleted my post..Sorry