Missing the old Celebrity, thinking about Azamara

[rollie]

Our first Celebrity cruise was on the Galaxy back in 2001 (still one of our favorite cruises).  We really miss the old Celebrity, and thinking we might find it on Azamara.  Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

Rollie

[chemmo]

What has been missing/wrong with your last couple of Celebrity cruises? If you can express what you are missing/feel is lacking perhaps fellow CC posters with recent Azamara or other cruise line experience can suggest what may be a ‘good fit’ for you. 

 

There are a couple of Celebrity changes we are less than happy with including the lack of a real fine dining experience on M class and the ever increasing suite prices! We do need to admit, however, that since our first X cruise the suite experience is far improved...

[Toftwood]

Ships might be very nice and service very good on Azamara but we go on a ship to cruise and want ports of call interspersed with sea days. For me personally, most of Azamara’s itineraries are rather too port intensive.

[ECCruise]

See post below. 

Edited August 28, 2019 by ECCruise

[ECCruise]

Just now, ECCruise said:

There are a number of factors here, already touched on by previous posters.

If you sail in suites, the experience is considerably better than it was on =X= in the past, at a cost, honestly that is 5 times or more over what it was 15 years ago.  If you don't, the experience on Azamara is heads and shoulders above Celebrity, IMHO.  Smaller, more intimate ships.  Much more interaction with crew and staff.  Food better in almost all instances including much more locally sourced food.  

And we love the better itineraries on Azamara.  For us, that is a special ingredient that is a huge plus.  Could care less about the 'wow-ness" of the ship (absolutely no Edge class in our future). 

Will still sail both, very price dependent.  

 

[TeeRick]

There will be people on Azamara boards saying they miss the old Azamara.  

[peter pan]

JUST got off of the Azamara  Journey  and waiting for our flight out of Heathrow.  It was our first experience on Azamara.  We are still evaluating and comparing the two lines, but our general thoughts are “What a difference”.  Some things are due to the ship’s size.  The embarkation was a breeze.  The debark......unbelievable!  Our overall feeling was a relaxed atmosphere, NO loud music or announcements and not all the shoving or pushing for a place in line or elsewhere.  The food was much better and the crew and officers were helpful and cheerful, as we have found the Celebrity crew to be.  We were not always getting out the Sea Pass Card.  I only used it to get into my cabin.  

The shows are not big production shows, but we enjoyed them.  Actually, we enjoyed them more than the “new” Celibrity shows that they have produced themselves. We could always get a drink.  Servers were always there.  As we commented to another couple “this is how cruising used to be”.  

The pricing is not much more than Celebrity if you keep checking prices.  For us the relief, as we left the ship, was surprising.  We walked off when ready, no mad dash.  Luggage was right there.  Exit. There were cabs lined up, waiting.  No rush.  There was no “bad taste” trying to get off the ship, get luggage, clear customs get a cab......please.......  It was a wonderful way to end a cruise.

[nycruiser80]

I sailed the old Celebrity back in 90, 91, 98 and 01 and I just returned to Celebrity this summer on the Summit. I know what you mean, while Celebrity is still a nice cruise line and I loved the new decor on the Summit, for me it was a shell of what it once was.

 

This summer, I also had the opportunity to sail the Azamara Pursuit. This was my first time on Azamara and In my experience, it was the best cruise I have ever been on. Azamara was definitely a step-up from Celebrity. The ship was just the right size for my needs. Never had to wait for elevators and there weren't any lines anywhere. Most things are included and no one kept bothering you to buy drink packages and take photos. It was a more refined experience and in some ways, it did remind me of the old Celebrity. 

 

On my last Celebrity sailing ,a few weeks ago,  some things that I did not enjoy was the hard selling of beverage packages in which the staff did not take a no thanks for an answer, the photo staff were very aggressive, There were very few or no  bar servers by the pool or open deck areas, meal portions were slim, food was average, DJ was playing in the lobby most nights (I am 38 and I really liked the music they were playing but it made the atmosphere less elegant in my opinion....back in 01 they had a harp playing in the lobby of the Infinity), staterooms lacked advertised amenities. This in no way made me not enjoy my Celebrity cruise. I had a very nice time on Celebrity but in comparing it to the old Celebrity it didn't seem like the same cruise line. Nevertheless, I would sail them again. I especially like the new decor.

 

I guess in reality, it wouldn't be fair to compare Celebrity and Azamara as they are in a different class. Azamara is a step above Celebrity and a step below Seabourn or Silversea. I met a couple on my Azamara cruise that didn't like it as they almost always sail Seabourn which is more upscale and inclusive than Azamara. It really comes down to a matter of preference. For me, I have been very luck to have cruised extensively and I was looking for something different and more cruise oriented. Some may not like Azamara. The ships tend to be quiet at night and there is no casino on one of their ships and this will soon be true for all of their fleet.

 

Things change, years ago Celebrity used to be a private company under the Chandris group and after Royal purchased things had to change as Celebrity was not doing well financially.

 

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[alwaysonaship]

We loved the Zenith and cruised on her several times. Loved the size, the food was excellent with some prepared at the table in the MDR. There were no speciality restaurants. The ships are too big now, and not a good fit for us. We moved on. 

[hiccups]

We've sailed twice on Azamara with a third cruise booked for October.  We sailed for the first time on X in June, with another cruise booked in November.  Each line has their advantages.  We book with Azamara because of their partnership with PerryGolf.

Certainly the smaller size ships of Azamara (690 passengers) are a positive for embarking and debarking.  They can also dock in spots where larger ships can't, and so often are closer to town.  At a lot of ports, someone comes onboard and sets up a table with maps, tour pamphlets, etc., which I found very helpful.  Fewer passengers means fewer lines, but there can still be a wait in the dining room or at a bar.

The cabins on Azamara are TINY (we've sailed in a balcony and an OV on Azamara).  Balcony cabins are a little larger than OV, but because Azamara's price point is higher, we usually look at OV cabins.  On our first Azamara cruise we were in a forward OV cabin on Deck 4, and it was a terrible location.  Lots of motion and lots of noise (ship noise like the anchor dropping, and we were below the theater and we could hear the entire performance).  That was the first time I ever got seasick (so did my husband, and so did many other passengers--the Irish Sea was rough).  We would never book that cabin location again.

We thought the food on Azamara was good, but not as good as Oceania.  A little better than X in the MDR, but the grill on X is better.  X has a lot more variety in their buffet, and the baked goods on X are much, much better.  Azamara will often try to feature dishes from whatever country the ship is in, and sometimes will bring onboard local foods.

Entertainment is better on X, which is to be expected with a larger ship.  Azamara has a deck party called White Nights that is a big cookout buffet staffed by officers, but we haven't really enjoyed it because we haven't found the food to be to our liking, and it can be difficult to find a seat.  Azamara also hosts an "Azamazing Evening" that is an included excursion for all passengers.  It's often something very unique that can be the highlight of the cruise.  In Dublin, we saw a private performance of Riverdance, for example.

The clientele on Azamara is older in general and there are hardly any children.  I can't even recall if I saw any kids on our last sailing.  Passengers are friendly and often very well-traveled.  With a small ship you run into the same people quite often so it's easy to make acquaintances.

A lot of people that frequently sail on Azamara say the service is much better and more personalized than on mainstream lines, but for us personally, we've never experienced it.  The service and interaction with guests is perfectly fine, but we didn't experience anything better than we've had on other ships.  But with fewer passengers, it's probably easier to receive service and have the staff get to know you.

We enjoy the Azamara product and like that basic alcohol and gratuities are included, but I have per-day price point for the line that I won't exceed for them because beyond that, I don't think it's worth it.  We paid a lot for our first cruise with them (a very popular British Open itinerary), and I came away disappointed because I didn't think the experience was worth the price.  Our next cruises were priced in the range we felt appropriate, which left me with a better overall feeling about our cruises.  Our X cruises have been great deals, so I have no complaints about that.

We will happily sail with both lines, but for Europe, are likely to stick with Azamara, and X for the Caribbean.

Edited August 28, 2019 by hiccups

[jelayne]

We tried Azamara recently and it was okay.  We would book again for a itinerary we couldn’t get on X.

 

The things we liked: easy to get around the ship, no wait for elevators, the Patio, a table on the balcony large enough to have breakfast, knowledgeable crew,  service except MDR was excellent.

 

The things we didn’t like:  MDR always had a wait to be seated (20 mins on average, longest waits 45 mins) MDR  was crowded, noisy,  food  was so-so,  ship was dead both pre dinner and after 9:30, entertainment so-so, included wines were not appealing, tiny bathrooms, multiple itinerary changes. 

 

For us the value for the price wasn’t there.  

[ECCruise]

7 minutes ago, jelayne said:

 

The things we didn’t like:  MDR always had a wait to be seated (20 mins on average, longest waits 45 mins) MDR  was crowded, noisy,  food  was so-so,  ship was dead both pre dinner and after 9:30, entertainment so-so, included wines were not appealing, tiny bathrooms, multiple itinerary changes. 

 

For us the value for the price wasn’t there.  

I've seen you posted that before on here and wondering what itinerary?  We've had over 100 nights on Azamara and honestly, believe the longest wait we've ever had was 10 minutes or so.  Always 2 tops.  Always 7:00-7:30. 

[jelayne]

46 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

I've seen you posted that before on here and wondering what itinerary?  We've had over 100 nights on Azamara and honestly, believe the longest wait we've ever had was 10 minutes or so.  Always 2 tops.  Always 7:00-7:30. 

Cuba in December

[ECCruise]

8 minutes ago, jelayne said:

Cuba in December

I guess it truly does vary.  The only people who we have seen wait an inordinate amount of time are those that request specific tables or areas.

[bigbenboys]

While we have only cruised with Azamara once. We are looking to book the Black Sea with Azamara. We only book Azamara because of the Itinerary. For us the ships are to small, food ok, staff were to friendly. White nights was real nice. I was not fond of the Edge.

[jelayne]

2 hours ago, ECCruise said:

I guess it truly does vary.  The only people who we have seen wait an inordinate amount of time are those that request specific tables or areas.

 

In 8 nights we had 5 different waiters and were seated all around the dining room.  

[hiccups]

2 hours ago, ECCruise said:

I guess it truly does vary.  The only people who we have seen wait an inordinate amount of time are those that request specific tables or areas.

On our British Open cruise, there were large groups of people waiting every evening.  That's a cruise where it seemed a lot of people traveled in a group and wanted larger tables.  For a two-top, we didn't have to wait as long as they did.

I don't believe the ship was at full capacity for our Iberian Peninsula cruise, and we didn't see a lot of people waiting for tables.  Our upcoming Mediterranean Islands cruise only has one cabin open, so I'll be curious to see how that pans out for the dining room.

[ECCruise]

16 minutes ago, hiccups said:

On our British Open cruise, there were large groups of people waiting every evening.  That's a cruise where it seemed a lot of people traveled in a group and wanted larger tables.  For a two-top, we didn't have to wait as long as they did.

I don't believe the ship was at full capacity for our Iberian Peninsula cruise, and we didn't see a lot of people waiting for tables.  Our upcoming Mediterranean Islands cruise only has one cabin open, so I'll be curious to see how that pans out for the dining room.

Larger groups are an issue on Azamara since Discoveries is weighted towards more 2 tops.  Also, larger groups tend to linger longer talking, making those tables even in shorter supply.  As I said, all of our experience has been with 2 tops, always in the 7-7:30 time frame.  We are creatures of habit.😑

[davekathy]

5 hours ago, TeeRick said:

There will be people on Azamara boards saying they miss the old Azamara.  

The grass is always greener on the other side. Well a according to some. 

[Cruise Junky]

5 hours ago, hiccups said:

.

  On our first Azamara cruise we were in a forward OV cabin on Deck 4, and it was a terrible location.  Lots of motion and lots of noise (ship noise like the anchor dropping, and we were below the theater and we could hear the entire performance).  That was the first time I ever got seasick (so did my husband, and so did many other passengers--the Irish Sea was rough).  We would never book that cabin location again.

 

Do you remember your cabin number or how far forward you were? I've just booked an OV on 4 on Oceania's Sirena.

Tx

[hiccups]

48 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

Do you remember your cabin number or how far forward you were? I've just booked an OV on 4 on Oceania's Sirena.

Tx

We were in cabin 4005.  If we booked deck 4 again, it would only be the cabins up the lobby/guest services.

We'd like to take a transatlantic cruise sometime, but wouldn't do it on a ship of this size, based on our experience.  You feel a lot more movement.

[bigbenboys]

6 hours ago, hiccups said:

The cabins on Azamara are TINY (we've sailed in a balcony and an OV on Azamara).  Balcony cabins are a little larger than OV, but because Azamara's price point is higher, we usually look at OV cabins.  On our first Azamara cruise we were in a forward OV cabin on Deck 4, and it was a terrible location.  Lots of motion and lots of noise (ship noise like the anchor dropping, and we were below the theater and we could hear the entire performance).  That was the first time I ever got seasick (so did my husband, and so did many other passengers--the Irish Sea was rough).  We would never book that cabin location again.
 

We were in V2 7091 and 7093. My mother had a hard time sleeping because of a noise. It was like a humming sound. The further back we went the noise was louder. I thought it was from the engine/smoke stack. I'm not a lite sleeper. I could here it , but I slept fine. We walked the hall and decided we would only book mid ship.

[hiccups]

2 minutes ago, bigbenboys said:

We were in V2 7091 and 7093. My mother had a hard time sleeping because of a noise. It was like a humming sound. The further back we went the noise was louder. I thought it was from the engine/smoke stack. I'm not a lite sleeper. I could here it , but I slept fine. We walked the hall and decided we would only book mid ship.

We've been mid-ship on Deck 7 and liked it, but you have to be careful if you're close to the laundry room--lots of foot traffic and door slamming if you're on the same side.

[tgg]

1 hour ago, Cruise Junky said:

Do you remember your cabin number or how far forward you were? I've just booked an OV on 4 on Oceania's Sirena.

Tx

I'd suggest you look at the deck plans for decks 4 and 5.  If you're forward, you'll be under the show lounge and you'll hear them practicing in the afternoon and you'll hear the whole show at night. (This may not matter to you, especially if you're AT the show.)

 

But you'll definitely hear the anchor being deployed in the morning when you reach a tendering port. It will wake you with a jolt. So choose a cabin toward the middle of the ship. You'll be much happier.

[Cruise Junky]

36 minutes ago, hiccups said:

We were in cabin 4005.  If we booked deck 4 again, it would only be the cabins up the lobby/guest services.

We'd like to take a transatlantic cruise sometime, but wouldn't do it on a ship of this size, based on our experience.  You feel a lot more movement.

Thanks...we're further back in 4041 which I don't think puts us under the show lounge either.  Good to know.   I agree, I don't we'd ever do a TA on something this small. 

Edited August 28, 2019 by Cruise Junky