Our first Azamara cruise since Covid...a review

[mare s.]

We are Discoverer level members and have enjoyed many cruises with Azamara, our favorite cruise line.   We had the best of cruises right before Covid, in the Fall of 2019 when we were on board Quest for the Alaska to Japan cruise.  It was the final cruise for Captain Carl on Quest before he left for Onward.  After Covid we took very short, local cruises on a couple of other cruise lines; one awful and one quite good.   So we were anxious to get back on Azamara and once again travel overseas. 

 

Yes, there are noticeable changes on Azamara, but the overall experience was wonderful.   The biggest changes we found were in the main dining room.  We ate there just a couple of times because we had a suite and so dined in Aqualina and Prime twice each.   We also sampled Windows and the Patio and tried out Room Service too.  Plus, we signed up for Chef's Table Italian.   Food quality is so subjective that I hesitate to criticize, but we were a bit disappointed a couple of times in both the selections and the service in Discoveries.  The food was not bad; it just seemed to lack a "wow" factor that we'd experienced in the past.  Perhaps we were hyperaware, but it seemed that, as the cruise went on, lots of foods were recycled into different dishes.  I know that happens a lot and it avoids waste, but it seemed more obvious to us this time around.  Service, while friendly, seemed a little chaotic.  In the past there was always a pasta of the day and we loved getting this to share with our tablemates.   Not this time.  The Chef's table was wonderful but we missed having an officer join us (as had been the occasion on our prior cruises.)   Food and service in Aqualina and Prime were outstanding.   In fact, even better than we remembered from past cruises.

 

Another thing missing was a mid-cruise questionnaire.   In fact, we've been home nearly two weeks and we've received nothing from Azamara asking our comments on the cruise.   The cost of excursions was ridiculous, and so we relied on private operators and DIY.   We did take one Azamara excursion because we had OBC from Azamara to be used just for shore excursions and we didn't want it to be wasted.   Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate although the guide, a local lady from the Isle of Harris, was terrific.

 

The weather wasn't cooperative for the Azamazing evening and White Night, either.    It was just too darn cold to be outside, although the pool deck buffet was as good as any we've experienced.  Maybe it was the cold, or maybe we're getting old, but we didn't stay for dancing at White Night.  The Azamazing Evening was on board and had to be moved, at the last minute, to the Cabaret instead of the pool deck.   The Scottish dancers and singers and bagpipers were good but not great.   However, Azamara brought on board the Red Hot Chili Pipers earlier in the cruise and they were terrific!   Had everyone singing along and dancing in their seats!  I guess, by comparison, the Azamazing Evening troupe fell a bit flat. 

 

Our stateroom and "butler" Roy were outstanding.   Roy is the best as was our stateroom attendant Angga.  We loved the tea service at 2:30 and the extra goodies Roy brought  a bit later. 

 

Now, I must describe the disembarkation process in Dublin.   It really left a sour taste after what had been a very enjoyable cruise.  I don't think Azamara is to blame (although it was their choice to employ Intercruises) but none of the officers or staff were to be seen on disembarkation day and so there was no assistance from Azamara.   We had to go through passport control in Cabaret with Irish officials...a perfunctory look at and stamp on our passports.   Then we were guided to the gangway to leave the ship.   We were off the ship by 7:30 and went to collect our luggage, only to find that just a few bags had been brought down.   (Mind you, we docked at least an hour prior)  We waited until 9:30 to get our bags!   There was one poor soul operating a forklift with a cage which had to be maneuvered to line up with the baggage hold and then opened and then loaded by a couple of people at the baggage hold entrance) then the forklift had to back up and maneuver to the dock and then one man unloaded!   There were several other employees whose main job, it seemed, was to stand around or maybe move a bag or two into the tent.  This process was unbearably slow.   The buses arranged by Azamara to take folks to the airport were very late leaving.   We had arranged a private cab service because Azamara transfers were so expensive, but we ended up having to pay extra for the cab to hang around.   Thank heavens the taxi driver was kind and understanding (and also a fast driver!)   He got us to the airport with 10 minutes to spare to check in our bags and get to our flight.  (As an aside, the British Airways counter at Dublin airport is hard to find and there are only 3 agents...that process too was slow and frustrating) I won't even mention the horrid experience at Heathrow, where we had to make a connecting flight, as that is another topic altogether.   Suffice it to say we will never fly through Heathrow again unless completely forced to make those arrangements. 

 

We still love Azamara....we have another cruise booked for 2025.  But we also have a cruise booked for next year on another cruise line (the one we tried post Covid and enjoyed) 

 

[Grandma Cruising]

The mid-cruise questionnaire is still available, but instead of being a paper questionnaire delivered to every cabin, there’s a notice in the Insider daily newsletter, along with a Q code you can use to access the questionnaire online. You can also as for a paper copy at guest relations.

[aliaschief]

Thanks for sharing your cruise experience. Maybe I’m missing something but what ship were you on?

[2ndsailing]

Our stateroom and "butler" Roy were outstanding.   Roy is the best as was our stateroom attendant Angga.  We loved the tea service at 2:30 and the extra goodies Roy brought  a bit later. 

 

We were on the Onward for the World Cruise and had Roy and Angga.  They truly are the best!

 

[mare s.]

2 hours ago, aliaschief said:

Thanks for sharing your cruise experience. Maybe I’m missing something but what ship were you on?

Onward

[mare s.]

2 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said:

The mid-cruise questionnaire is still available, but instead of being a paper questionnaire delivered to every cabin, there’s a notice in the Insider daily newsletter, along with a Q code you can use to access the questionnaire online. You can also as for a paper copy at guest relations.

hmm...it must have been well hidden. 

[mare s.]

I realize I made a mistake in my review.   The Red Hot Chili Pipers were the attraction at the Azamazing Evening in Edinburgh.    The Scottish pipers and singer came later in the cruise on White Night.   They were supposed to have been the attraction at the pool party but the weather forced them inside.    I stand by my review of both groups, however.  

[Grandma Cruising]

1 hour ago, mare s. said:

hmm...it must have been well hidden. 

It wasn’t obvious, I only found out it was there because I went to ask at Guest Relations to ask about it.

[aliaschief]

1 hour ago, mare s. said:

Onward

I was thinking that as Roy was our butler for a few legs on World Voyage. He is great.

We loved our recent 155 days on Onward.

[mole.man]

The QR code is easy to miss:

 

[takemewithyou]

Re disembarkation in Dublin:  I remember the same type of problems last year when passengers disembarked from Pursuit.  It seems nothing has changed……unfortunately.

I wanted to add…it seems to be problem with the port, not with Azamara.

Edited July 9 by takemewithyou

[mare s.]

15 minutes ago, takemewithyou said:

Re disembarkation in Dublin:  I remember the same type of problems last year when passengers disembarked from Pursuit.  It seems nothing has changed……unfortunately.

I wanted to add…it seems to be problem with the port, not with Azamara.

yes, definitely with the port, but it didn't seem as if Azamara was doing anything to expedite matters or even be available to hear passengers' complaints.

[takemewithyou]

49 minutes ago, mare s. said:

yes, definitely with the port, but it didn't seem as if Azamara was doing anything to expedite matters or even be available to hear passengers' complaints.

Yes, I think they must have known from previous years and previous cruises that it would not be good so they were hiding!   I think they heard plenty of complaints last year.  I remember reading last year that the line for taxis stretched on and lasted for hours. 
I am glad you were able to make your flight! 

[mare s.]

On 7/9/2024 at 5:06 PM, takemewithyou said:

Yes, I think they must have known from previous years and previous cruises that it would not be good so they were hiding!   I think they heard plenty of complaints last year.  I remember reading last year that the line for taxis stretched on and lasted for hours. 
I am glad you were able to make your flight! 

I am so glad we had pre booked the taxi.   When we left the port, the taxi line was huge and I saw only one taxi waiting to pick up passengers.  Dublin port was a disaster.

[takemewithyou]

2 hours ago, mare s. said:

I am so glad we had pre booked the taxi.   When we left the port, the taxi line was huge and I saw only one taxi waiting to pick up passengers.  Dublin port was a disaster.

So my cruise last summer began in Dublin and ended in Southampton.  But embarkation went pretty well in Dublin.  It seems the disembarkations are disasters.  
Of course there is no terminal to wait in.  there was a tent.  We were quickly boarded and all paperwork was accepted in the show lounge.  We also did our safety (muster)drill there before we were released to go to our cabins.  

[onespots]

 

We have just return from a 12 night Azamara Quest France Intensive Voyage.

Azamara for us has excellent bartenders,servers, waiters in the main dining room,crew for security, housekeeping, & overall officiers with a good crew. Despite all of this which help make this trip enjoyable, many other areas need attention.

 

First Discoveries Restaurant. Lacking in choices, no memorable meal, & quality of dishes severed were average. Certainly nowhere close to the quality of food available prior to Covid.

Many times we filled up at the patio, so we could enjoy light dinner of mainly appertizers &

dessert.

 

Shows in the Caberet Lounge. Shows no better than what you see at a high school performance. Entertainers from other venues were better, & finally the most positive statement is to thank the Azamara Band. Thier music was great & much more entertaining than the performances. Also the lectures on board were interesting, but not well attended.

 

Shore excursions for the most part were not good. We took 7 tours of which 2 of the guides were very good & the others not even average. They were all over priced & I spoke with many of our fellow passengers on these tours who stated they were disappionted as well. To add insult to injury, shore excusions changed our tour from morning to 2:45pm the same afternoon as we were to enjoy white nights. Shore excursions claimed we would be back in plenty of time for 6:30pm start. Our arrival back at the ship was 7:05pm. By the time we had changed our clothes &  arrived at the pool deck it was 7:30pm. The live music was over & the food was cold. I discussed these issues with shore excursions, who listened politely & offered no resolution or any changes for the future. ( I should have canceled that excursion )

 

We have several other choices for future cruises, however Azamara will not be on that list.

Happy Future Travels to All,  John

[SkystheLimit]

Can any of you that posted provide more insight on the Discoveries dining room issues.  Have the menus changed completely?  

[Grandma Cruising]

Interesting that you filled up at the Patio - presumably you mean at lunch time? Did you ever try the Patio in the evening - we have had dinner there a few times and it’s always been lovely.

[hamrag]

8 hours ago, onespots said:

 

....First Discoveries Restaurant. Lacking in choices, no memorable meal, & quality of dishes severed were average.....

 

....Shows in the Caberet Lounge. Shows no better than what you see at a high school performance. Entertainers from other venues were better, & finally the most positive statement is to thank the Azamara Band. Thier music was great & much more entertaining than the performances....

 

 

 

You have hit on our own experience across our 4 Az cruises. The main negative for us is Discoveries, which you have described accurately. We tolerate this on a typical 7 night cruise by mixing it alternative nights with 3 specialty restaurant visits, and the White Night alongside 3 visits to Discoveries.

 

This works for us, and Az remains on our current portfolio of cruiselines. The key positives are excellent service generally, engaged senior crew and the country club feel which we enjoy particularly after evening meal. Indeed, our next cruise is with Az (two cruises B2B)....we intend to make it work for us, as described, and thoroughly enjoy the cruise.

 

We also intend picking up on GCs recommendation for an evening Patio meal, thanks for that suggestion.

Edited July 12 by hamrag

[Toronto Guy]

Similarly, I have never been impressed with meals in Discoveries.  They do a great job on the their brunch and the food at White Night though.

[uktog]

In warmer places the Patio is a great spot. We also love the back veranda on Windows if we want a simple casual dinner. I agree the MDR is not as it used to be - menu choices focus too much on spices cheap meats with the beautiful salads and pasta of the day no longer offered. 
I am sure though with some of the changes in Head office hotel side we will see adjustments in due course. 

[Toronto Guy]

8 minutes ago, uktog said:

In warmer places the Patio is a great spot. We also love the back veranda on Windows if we want a simple casual dinner. I agree the MDR is not as it used to be - menu choices focus too much on spices cheap meats with the beautiful salads and pasta of the day no longer offered. 
I am sure though with some of the changes in Head office hotel side we will see adjustments in due course. 

I'm not holding my breath.  I think September will be my last Azamara cruise.  Dealing with the shoreside reservations screw-ups, aging ships with the small rooms, poor entertainment and average food is getting tired.  I think it's time for a change.

[mare s.]

On 7/12/2024 at 4:50 AM, uktog said:

In warmer places the Patio is a great spot. We also love the back veranda on Windows if we want a simple casual dinner. I agree the MDR is not as it used to be - menu choices focus too much on spices cheap meats with the beautiful salads and pasta of the day no longer offered. 
I am sure though with some of the changes in Head office hotel side we will see adjustments in due course. 

I so agree with this.   The Patio is an excellent option for a simple, well prepared lunch or dinner.   There were patio heaters during our cruise and it was comfortable.   Much more to my liking than the rather overly fancy but, in the end, ordinary offerings in Discoveries.  

[MamaFej]

Yikes! While we very much enjoyed our two previous Azamara cruises, including most meals, in 2022, we were very disappointed by Discoveries, so we ate elsewhere. Sometimes, after long port days, we would just have tapas in the Living Room, especially if we had eaten lunch ashore. If Discoveries has gotten worse since then, I'm definitely not looking forward to it. 

 

The French Chef's Table meal on Pursuit is one of the best meals I've ever had on a ship, and I look forward to trying CT on Azamara again. 

 

[excitedofharpenden]

19 hours ago, mare s. said:

I so agree with this.   The Patio is an excellent option for a simple, well prepared lunch or dinner.   There were patio heaters during our cruise and it was comfortable.   Much more to my liking than the rather overly fancy but, in the end, ordinary offerings in Discoveries.  

I too really enjoy the Patio. I would add that you really need to aim to be there by 7.30pm. At least from my experience. Service there closes quite early. And if you want to pick up dessert items from Windows you need to be there pretty smartish. I always go to Windows for a starter too. 

 

Phil