Dynacruiser

I always book my cruise first and then I shop around for flights and buy about 3 to 6 months before my cruise. Some procrastination here, but I also wait and monitor for special offers. I arrive a day or more before the cruise and then I arrange my own transport. I always buy directly from the airline. I buy from US airlines that allow changes because I have seen cruise lines cancel cruises before. I don’t buy refundable flights, those are too expensive, I just buy from airlines that allow me to cancel the flights and use the money for different ones.

I could understand that a person who is used to sparkly and glitzy cruise ships would look down at a Azamara and think "it's rundown". Azamara guests are usually folks who can afford nice things, but are down-to-earth and they prefer feeling welcome and more "at home". Most repeat guests can tell you the names of their 5 or 10 favorite servers, bartenders, cabin attendants or senior crew members. When I read Azamara first-time cruisers describing mismatched furniture, stained carpet, unpainted areas, and "low quality cheap wine glasses", I often wonder if I am sooo blinded by the smiles of the friendly crew members, that I choose to ignore imperfections. You should evaluate what you would enjoy more, and decide if you should give Azamara a chance.

Your pictures and comments are full of bright, positive energy! Thanks for making me smile throughout. No doubt the information you are posting will be a very useful reference for cruisers, particularly for those who are new to Azamara. Keep sharing your smiles!

I am not sure where your question is leading to, but to answer it directly, I have seen one or two groups of maybe 75? more folks? The one that comes to mind was a dental surgery convention group. I had so much fun those folks.

No

@sarasotascott, since this is your first cruise, you may want to google "Azamara daily Insider" and find examples that folks post online. Very helpful to understand daily schedules. Now, some schedules change, but meals and shows and usually around the same time. Example: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2986976-copies-of-past-insider-daily-brochure/ I hope you enjoy your first Azamara cruise! Many of us love them, have cruised with Azamara for years, and have 2, 3 or 5 future cruises booked. However, Azamara may not please everybody, not everything is perfect (is there a "perfect" cruise line?). If you go with reasonable expectations, you may have an unforgettable experience.

Kevin, I'm not a fan of cold soups, unless drinking gazpacho in a summer day in Spain counts. I also hate it when I go to a high-end steak house and they try to upsell a lobster tail with the steak I ordered. You didn't get much support here, so I'll use this opportunity to say that your name, @KevintheIrishDJ is my favorite in Cruisecritic. Every time you post I can almost imagine an Irish gentleman, beat-matching and swapping records in front of a couple of turntables. 🎶 Please don't destroy the mental image I've created by telling me that you are a petroleum engineer from Pascagoula, Mississippi, or something like that.😔

Very useful overview, thanks for taking the time to post. I hope COVID wasn't too bad, and hope that you enjoy the food on your next Azamara cruise. Pease talk to the Food and Bev Manager. It is bad for Azamara when a seasoned traveler and loyal Azamara cruiser like you come back and post poor reports.

Even if somebody confirms that they are serving Piper right now, that doesn't mean that it will be available on your cruise. They still list it on the Ultimate pack, so I would interpret that "their intention is to continue serving it when available". It sounds like you have already experienced the swapping of the wines, this has happened to me several times on different cruises. My suggestion: you should not buy the package just for a single wine, otherwise you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Some of us are shy, Phil. I think life has moved on and now it is OK to speak openly about those traits that others may see as "deficiencies". We even used to have to hide it if we were dyslexic also.

In July, we did a similar Iceland cruise. We had very rainy weather a lot of the time. You need high-quality rain gear and boots and you'll have to endure it if it happens to you. However, from what I read, the weather changes week to week. Others had perfect sunny but cool days, so it will be a gamble. Nevertheless, Iceland is a great place to visit, and if you are a seasoned traveler, you know you sometimes have to endure bad weather. The patio has some heated tables, but not all. They also give you blankets. The patio is usually open for dinner, but I don't know if every day. On your sea day, there may be a big brunch with jazz music, this is indoors. Alternatively, there may be a bbq outdoors. Either the brunch or the bbq are enjoyable, but sometimes they don't have either event and you should not let this deter you from having a great cruise.

Hotel Isa in Prati https://www.hotelisa.net/en/ We are staying in Rome for 3 nights in late October, and were able to find a room within our budget (<$400/night, but we are using credit card points) at the Hotel Isa, in Prati. We are looking for a safe hotel in a safe area, but not too far from the main attractions. We travel extensively; we already visited Rome about 20 years ago, we don't mind doing some walking and don't mind public transport. This hotel is ~25 mn walk from Campo de Fiori, for example. We will likely visit a couple of museums (e.g., Vatican), a couple of main attractions in Rome, but mostly will follow a walking tour of the main attractions and scope out places to eat lunch or dinner. Are we going to regret this decision? Should we get a much more expensive room and consider an area like the Centro Historico instaead? Thanks to all who make this an incredibly useful site. I sincerely appreciate all your great posts.

I think B+ is a fair assessment for the MDR, and I usually don't say "Wow" when I eat there (but I sometimes do). On the other hand, other guests LOVE the MDR, and their opinion is just as valid as mine. First time cruisers should keep an open mind and understand that not everything is perfect on board, but it's up to each guest to enjoy the cruise. Or not.

Here's some recent problems I've seen: I was trying to get a friend to sail with Azamara, and she complained to me that the Azamara system was unfriendly and she could not use it. I was traveling and could not help her, and when I came back she had already made up her to go with a different cruise line. I recently had to rebook excursions, and both my TA and I spent hours talking to customer service. It should have been a few clicks online, but they had to send the issue to some kind of "Resolutions Team", which delayed their response and required more interaction without talking to them directly. My TA tells me that they no longer have easy access to Azamara info directly, they need to call now for pricing and booking. That may be just my TA, but Azamara should make it easy for all TAs to have easy access to the booking info.

Please don't be dissuaded from booking. Unfortunately, Azamara still requires some patience, but there is a reward at the end (the cruise experience!). Perhaps you can find a workaround? Identify a TA in the US or Europe who can give you the information you want, either via phone, or online? Perhaps you can call Azamara directly, and ask for booking info that you want (tell them you can't use a computer, whatever)? At a minimum, call Azamara and give them feedback what is stoping you from booking, in case they are listening.

Can you please post photos that show some details? Again, I am starting to doubt myself that I am not as demanding as I thought I was, or perhaps I am not paying enough attention to the details. And yes, @ECCruise, I know you did not agree that there were differences, perhaps the question was in general if anybody knew, andI see that @Zoey123 kindly offered their view.

EEC, where is that reputation that Pursuit is old and needs updating coming from, then? I agree with you. From my last 6 or 7 sailings, 3 have been in the Pursuit, and didn't notice any differences. The artwork near the elevators of some woman dancing who looks like she is falling backwards is noticeably different, but nothing else caught my attention. Another difference for me is that the Pursuit had more crew members i knew, so I enjoyed the Pursuit more. Am I too blind that did not notice any bad furniture or areas that needed painting? Is it that certain category of rooms are in bad shape? Am I not demanding enough? I think that the four ships are fine, the Pursuit is not in bad shape.

Who is bickering? Please.😂 The onboard crew does not deserve this. They work very hard to make us enjoy our vacation, but the pre-cruise experience deters folks from buying.😪 Was the service really bad before the Sycamore purchase? I honestly can't recall, but I remember being able to do things online by myself quite easily, or a quick phone call would take care of any problems and changes. Perhaps I am wrong.

Of course the onboard experience is fantastic, us old timers, "Azamara fans", know that. However, It is extremely frustrating that Azamara cannot get their website working for a couple of years now. I take a lot of my time defending Azamara because I want them to be successful and grow and get more ships, but they have to do their part. The real harsh language comes from people, often first-time cruisers, who post on line about the problems they are having with Azamara's onshore office and website. Azamara needs to work very hard to avoid this type of posts: Azamara. Dishonesty, incompetence and indifference or this one: An AzAmazing Voyage to Mediocrity (these two headings are clickable links). Azamara needs to work harder to fix the customer service experience onshore, starting with a fully functioning customer-friendly website.

Oh, my beloved Azamara. Sounds like their booking site on the web is still being run by interns. I thought the nightmare was over when the new CEO took over. This leads to a lot of valid complaints online. Azamara deserves the bad reputation they get.

My views on the food: Kitchen performance and our perception will vary, resulting in differing views The MDR is serving hundreds of people at the same time, can we really expect great food every time? Really? Even if we cruise several times a year, our sample size is small and should not draw conclusions. Ex, years ago, I ordered steak a couple of times in the MDR, and they were rubbery. I made up my mind that "the MDR has terrible steaks" and have never ordered them since. Strangely, I often hear a person next to me in the MDR loving his steak. In the specialty rsts, special requests and dietary restrictions could lead to chefs neglecting other dishes. I like healthier food, cooked with less salt, less oils, and I don't eat spicy food, but other will complain if the food is too bland. A person who has not eaten authentic guacamole in Mexico City will love the one in the Patio, whereas I would complain that it's the worst food I have ever eaten. A couple paid $100 per couple to dine in Specialty rsts will likely have much higher expectations. People in suites will likely be more forgiving. I absolutely can see how we all have different opinions of the restaurants! I like specialty restaurants better but food can be underwhelming in both. I look at the overall experience, not just the food. In the specialty rsts, I enjoy the quiet romantic atmosphere (sometimes disturbed by the Chef's Table noise), the exceptional and unrushed service, more elbow room, better wine glasses, and dishes that have more gourmet feel than the MDR. Yes, even in specialty rsts, food has failed to meet my expectations. I usually eat there when I'm in a suite, so I don't mind, it's "free". I either order another dish, or simply eat the part that I liked. I never leave hungry. The MDR can be the opposite: crowded, sometimes loud, rushed service, a generic feel to the dishes (reminds me of Seasons 52 in the USA), tables closed together while seating next to a not-so-friendly stranger, all can make the meal less special. On the other hand, sometimes the same atmosphere can make meals in the MDR a lot of fun! Bottom line: I would not call the food at Azamara exceptional, "luxury" or Michelin worthy or even "consistently great". However, I feel I am getting wonderful overall value at sea and enjoyable dining experiences overall.

No casinos in any Azamara cruise. Approx prices for Azamara wifi are $20 a day for 1 device at a time, basic package (pure garbage, in my opinion), and for about $10 extra a day, you can upgrade to Starlink, which most people love. You can monitor their website and buy a package when they run a promotion, or wait until you are onboard.

Your description of how the term "luxury" can be misleading is way more better than my writing. I may steal some of your words and use them next time I discuss what "luxury" is. Don't worry about the cabin showers. I have heard that nobody has died from being strangled by the curtain this year, so it seems like deaths by curtain are a thing of the past 😂 Hmm, I think the term "luxury" has been distorted to create a utopic cartoon of the world, like the one we see on television shows about the rich and famous. When I think of "luxury", I build an imaginary world full of French champagne, caviar, free-flowing 2015 Renieri Brunello, and choice of Japanese Wagyu beef or fresh-caught red snapper for every meal. I picture free massages on demand, small-group excursions of 5 people only, and bathroom faucets made out of pure gold. Everything is perfect in this world! Instead, at Azamara, you get free-flowing Michelle sparkling wine (or something less expensive, usually not bad, and you can always add orange juice if needed), sometimes barely drinkable red wine (but gets better after the first glass!! or expert hack: drink a shot of whisky first!), a choice or previously frozen chicken or fish, OBC to use at the spa, excursions usually in large buses, and faucets that you could purchase in any hardware store. And at Azamara, your food may come out less-than-perfect, but you can always send it back and they will try to improve it (suggestion, if you don't like the first version, just ask for something else, don't get the same). I think the premium you pay for in Azamara is to be in the company of great people: guests and crew. @beatnix and @AllisonJames describe Azamara as "home", and indeed, I am paying to go somewhere that feels like a second home. Except that unlike home, I don't have to cook and clean, and DW does not yell at me for drinking every day! The excursion operators that Azamara uses are the same that most other cruise lines use. Their English is as good as any, buses are usually great quality. No hidden message here. I wrote "expensive?" because the prices have indeed gone up since before COVID, but I don't know how they compare to private tours. I am now using less ship excursions so I haven't compared the prices. I use ship excursions when the time in port is limited and I need the security that I will be back on time. Many people online say that the independent tours are cheaper.

I am starting to think that some folks are disappointed when they cruise with Azamara because some online reviews create very high, unrealistic expectations. These folks tend to be first time Azamara cruisers (although some old timers have also described bad experiences). Passengers sometimes come back and complain loudly that is not the luxurious cruise line they expected. False expectations may be partially our fault. I have read so many reviews online referring to it as "Luxury", and describing it with amplified terms such as amazing! perfection! best food ever! etc. Travelers who don't do proper due diligence develop wrong assumptions. Some reasons why I prefer Azamara over other lines: 1) Small ships, few passengers, therefore few or no waiting lines. 2) Casual but classy atmosphere. No dress up required!! Few people wearing designer labels, even though many (not me) arrive on long-distance, first-class flights. 3) Friendly, unpretentious passengers who have traveled all over the world and want to share their experiences. 4) Good service. Welcoming staff, who are efficient and always smiling, but not always perfect. They make you feel as part of the family, as we see them onboard again and again. Rarely do I have to wait for my wine or water glass to be refilled. Captain and officers very visible. 5) Few or no unruly kids. 6) Passengers in suites don't get a lot of visible special treatment, so there is a sense of social equality. 7) Low-key entertainment, but usually at least a piano bar where you can sip a drink, or a corny show where I am often embarrassed admitting I enjoyed Broadway show tunes. 8. Good food. Lots of options. Just don't expect perfection; of course you may get an overcooked steak. 9) Port intensive. Great itineraries, long hours or overnight at some ports. 10) Almost all inclusive. Tips included. No need to swipe your card every minute. Few upsell opportunities. 11) Those enjoyable events, such as onboard or port-side Azamazing events, White Night (which only has lobster sometimes, not always), pool-side BBQ, sea-day jazz brunch, theme buffets, etc. 12) No casino. Azamara has flaws, it is not perfect. Of course we all have had experiences that contradict the above list. My food has been disappointing sometimes. I have had nonworking bathrooms or AC, even in premium cabins. I can probably make a longer list, but THE THINGS I WISH I COULD CHANGE include: a) Onshore customer service and online system is terrible, although it is slowly improving. There are many reviews online criticizing Azamara for messing up somebody's travel plans. b) Goofy restaurant reservation practices. c) Expensive excursions (?). d) Sometimes undrinkable included wines (but improving, finally). e) Old ships, but they are well kept and keep a classy atmosphere. Many will disagree with my lists above, for sure, but I hope you agree with key message: Azamara is not perfect, but many of us truly enjoy it the way it is. Or maybe I should state it as: Many of us have not found a cruise line that will give us better value than Azamara? I am sorry that not everybody has had an enjoyable experience.

I have enjoyed all four Azamara ships. I don't think that the Journey is in any worse shape than the rest of the fleet. If there is mismatched furniture, it hasn't bothered me. Worn carpets? not worn enough to bother me. Lack of paint? I haven't noticed anything that bothers me. Azamara can disappoint folks who choose it because some folks misrepresent it as being LUXURY. You may want to ask specific questions, or mention what you like of Celebrity, so you can make an informed decision.