We love cruising on smaller ships. It doesn't compare to the 'herding' feel on the larger ones. This was our second Azamara trip & noticed some changes I don't love. They're phasing out the casino for more rooms. Right now there aren't any dealers, just computer dealers, which is not fun at all. And you rarely see the ship photographers anymore. I personally enjoy them taking pictures for purchase. Apparently most don't since they're so few & scarce.
I personally felt the overall experience on the Quest was better.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Boarding a smaller ship is a quick & painless experience. However, Azamara no longer offers photos to be taken when boarding the ship. I enjoy getting these. Also, we were in the first boarding group & couldn't get seats to one of the three Chef's Table. This was frustrating as they won't let you sign up prior to boarding. We later learned that a travel agent was aloud to get four seats for all three nights. Really?! Later during the cruise they did add a forth night which we were able to attend.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Prime C & the Dining Room all have excellent food, as does the main cafeteria. Aqualina is not as great as all the other options & it's extra. I wish when you sign up for the Chef's Table you could go to Prime C twice. This Chef's Table was not as good as one we experienced on the Quest ship.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The activities were on par with other Azamara ships. However, we spent four days at sea in a row plus two others, I had hoped there would have been more. But just becasue we had so much down time.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The entertainment has dramatically improved in the past three years. The singers & dancers are great as was the local entertainment brought on board.
Children's Programs
Didn't bring any children
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
The staff is always courteous, helpful & very upbeat. My only complaint is the head dining gentleman that was not very polite when we were trying to get seats for the Chef's Table. He was rude & condescending.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Azamara cruises are immaculate. They are constantly cleaning all areas of the ship. I do know that some of the cabins adjacent to us were having problems getting their air to cool sufficiently until the end of the trip.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Cabin is clean and has sufficient space. I wish the showers were larger but I know it's a cruise ship & space is a premium.
Ship tip
If you're interested in purchasing the Chef's Table food package, choose an early boarding time so you'll be able to get a reservation.
Absolutely beautiful place! It's pristine & everyone is incredibly friendly. The water is the
beautiful blue of the Caribbean. We did the Rum tasting cruise at sunset which was a lot of fun & would highly recommend.
We were only here for a half day which wasn't long enough. We did the island Jeep tour through the ship, which we loved. The Azores are a beautiful place to see. Go to Peter's Cafe for the gin & tonics. They're delicious whether or not you're a fan.
Again, we were only here a half day. More would have been nicer. Did the pineapple, wine, island tour. This was on a big bus which I'm not a fan of. Really enjoyed the local wine & cheeses.
The architecture & culture are fascinating & beautiful. I love the feel of European cities. We did the cooking excursion which was a lot of fun. I enjoyed making some local food & drinking the local wine too. I recommend staying an extra day or two to see everything.
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