dnrsewell

This cruise improved my health, and I'm going to try to sleep as well and drink as much water as I did on the ship. When someone's filling your glass, it's a lot easier to be adequately hydrated. I was very happy with the food (my main reason for choosing Azamara), the lack of crowding and abundant public space that goes with not having a zillion passengers, the pleasant spaces and windows, and the outstanding people of Azamara.

I feel real affection for Azamara Quest because of truly wonderful staffers and such a happy experience, but Norwegian Sky's much less expensive trip was better than my Azamara Quest trip in price and also in drinks--though the staffers' kindness and empathy on Azamara Quest is just unbeatable for a memorable cruise. Food, space, absence of crowding and lines, ship maintenance, and, most of all, Azamara's outstanding service were substantially better on Azamara Quest. And Quest offered some favorites of mine in the free eateries that Sky didn't offer: duck confit, and, every day, English bacon and snails. Both NCL and Azamara provided anchovies for Caesar salad and both had tasty food--very good chefs on both. But Azamara was ahead on foods in the free dining venues and behind on drinks. And I note that NCL Sky had the worst, most inedible steak of my whole life, though most of their food was just fine. Sky's open bar was very, very good while Quest's was not. After taking wine classes for decades in my younger days, I will say that Norwegian Sky's free wines were less thin and acidic--less plonky--than Azamara's. Norwegian Sky's free wines were substantially better in quality and also of number of choices, from sweet wines like moscato to dinner wines like cabernet and malbec. NCL Sky knows how to shop for value in wine. Further, Sky's free mixed drinks were more tasty and diverse. Quest's free mixed drinks were very, very sweet: not to my taste. There were more lines, more waiting on the bigger Sky, but that wasn't a frequent or big discomfort, and both ships had enough empty shared spaces that you could enjoy views in peace and quiet in plenty of public spaces on both ships. I was surprised at the quality an inexpensive cruise could attain in food and drink. Service was another story. I can't comment on clubs and floor shows since I don't do them on land or sea. Where Azamara can't be beat is in the highly professional and also highly simpatico and charming staffers. There were lots and lots of staff per passenger on Azamara. There was no trouble finding helpers on NCL Sky, but top notch professionals in the field comprised a much smaller proportion on Sky. Azamara has either terrific training or terrific recruiting, or maybe they pay better, or maybe all three, but what they don't know about vino may be topped by what they do know about personnel. Being treated so well and taken care of so well may actually be worth the Azamara cost difference except I'd also have to cough up for the premuim wine package. And I note that Sky let us sleep in on the last day. Azamara kicked us out of our cabins at 8 am!