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Linda&Jim
Guest
Has anyone cruised on one of these ships? They are smaller than what we have been on and look intrigueing to me. They are able to go some places that larger ships cannot go. Any one with a cruise history with them?
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BSeabob
Guest
not yet..... but we are keeping an eye on them. Two of the former R ships and casual anytime dining. sounds good to me
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BruinSteve
Guest
I haven't been on one as "Azamara"...but I was on a sister ship--the Oceania Nautica, summer before last in the Mediterranean...
I think there are seven of these ships in all currently sailing under American-based cruise lines--Oceania has three, Princess two and Azamara two...They were all originally owned by the old Renaissance Cruise Lines--which went under a few years back...
the ship was nicely laid out and comfortably roomy with 684 passengers at full double occupancy in 30,000 gross tons...
Cabins are all approximately 160 sf...a little smaller than the Celebrity M-Class standard cabins, but nicely laid out.
being a smakller ship, it lacks some of the amenities of the larger ships:
There is no kids program (some may look at this as a plus...but we did have some kids on our cruise and they could have used something to do)
They also do not have a big showroom with stage facilities...So entertainment is noticeably stripped down.
Other amenities--casino, pool area, spa are all, as would be expected, quite small--of course serving about a third of the passengers of the bigger ships...
I'm not sure if Azamara handles it differently, but, with Oceania, we had much shorter hours in the much smaller buffet...
As to where the ships could go, there are some ports, especially in Europe, that lend themselves to the smaller ships--Ours docked in Kotor and Amalfi for example...but a lot of the ports are the same--people still want to visit Athens and Santorini and Istanbul...
With so few passengers and limited entertainment, the ship got very quiet very early each evening...
A nice cruise, but I still prefer the larger M-Class and better entertainment and activity...
I think there are seven of these ships in all currently sailing under American-based cruise lines--Oceania has three, Princess two and Azamara two...They were all originally owned by the old Renaissance Cruise Lines--which went under a few years back...
the ship was nicely laid out and comfortably roomy with 684 passengers at full double occupancy in 30,000 gross tons...
Cabins are all approximately 160 sf...a little smaller than the Celebrity M-Class standard cabins, but nicely laid out.
being a smakller ship, it lacks some of the amenities of the larger ships:
There is no kids program (some may look at this as a plus...but we did have some kids on our cruise and they could have used something to do)
They also do not have a big showroom with stage facilities...So entertainment is noticeably stripped down.
Other amenities--casino, pool area, spa are all, as would be expected, quite small--of course serving about a third of the passengers of the bigger ships...
I'm not sure if Azamara handles it differently, but, with Oceania, we had much shorter hours in the much smaller buffet...
As to where the ships could go, there are some ports, especially in Europe, that lend themselves to the smaller ships--Ours docked in Kotor and Amalfi for example...but a lot of the ports are the same--people still want to visit Athens and Santorini and Istanbul...
With so few passengers and limited entertainment, the ship got very quiet very early each evening...
A nice cruise, but I still prefer the larger M-Class and better entertainment and activity...
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anbodker
Guest
Booked for October 9 on the Journey for 10 days- Barcelona to Venice.
Looking forward to this supposedly upscale line.
Looking forward to this supposedly upscale line.
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BSeabob
Guest
I for one await your findings. Please let us know you liked the ship. Post a review (it's easy) and then lets us know here you did so. That would be great.
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dianeschne
Guest
We were on the Azamara Quest in January 2008. It is a small ship (holds close to 700 passengers). We loved the quietness of the ship. We never had problems getting on or off the ship in ports and some ports do tender. I agree about the entertainment -- not much. When we were at sea, there was a guest oceanographer who gave some excellent lectures. The food was fabulous and it is open seating in the dining room. We were with a group of twelve, so we talked to the Matre'd the first day and he told us if we came the same time every evening that he could put us all together. That worked out very well except for the few nights that the Captain used the table. We always had breakfast and lunch in the buffet dining room by the pool and the meals were exceptional. Example, at breakfast you could get the usual but also things like fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, Belgian waffles. At the pool, they had a jazz band versus a calypso band.
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Spender Nui
Guest
We sailed the Journey to Bermuda last September. Before that we had sailed Renaissance to Europe and Tahiti. Obviously we like the ships. We feel it's more about destination with with these ships. Azamara seems to be following this approach.
They don't have the non stop activities or significant entertainment of larger ships. Food, service and entertainment along with relaxation score high.
When we sailed Azamara we had the most visible captain I'd ever encountered. The officers too were always there, friendly and making conversation. Captain did the same. He was all over the ship and often ate in the Lido. We did have the pleasure of having dinner with him one evening (not at the Lido).
The ships interiors were designed by an Englishmen who had been contracted to make them look like an English Gentlemen's Club.
Try it.
They don't have the non stop activities or significant entertainment of larger ships. Food, service and entertainment along with relaxation score high.
When we sailed Azamara we had the most visible captain I'd ever encountered. The officers too were always there, friendly and making conversation. Captain did the same. He was all over the ship and often ate in the Lido. We did have the pleasure of having dinner with him one evening (not at the Lido).
The ships interiors were designed by an Englishmen who had been contracted to make them look like an English Gentlemen's Club.
Try it.
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BSeabob
Guest
OK I just might 
thanks
thanks
