This cruise was one that was on our "bucket list" and it really covered our wishes. We saw so many sights that we have only dreamed of seeing. We crossed the Arctic Circle and received a Certificate of Accomplishment. The Captain, Johannes Tysse, was very funny and very approachable. He made the trip a wonderful experience.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We got lost going to the dock, we love to "wing it", so we arrived a bit later than we like to and the lineup was quite long, but it moved very quickly, with the crew handing out water so it went well. Check-in was a breeze and we headed through security. That proved to be the bottle neck but the staff was friendly and worked as quickly as safety would allow. We found our cabin right away and got settled in.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We enjoyed the many choices offered in all the meal locations, we did not go to a specialty restaurant, the staff was usually right at your table when you sat down with water and a menu. They were always there with the wine ;-). The meals were wonderful and served. usually, very prompt. The buffet was always busy, yet never seemed hectic, the staff very friendly and always had a water jugs ready to fill up your glass. Meal choices were quite varied and I ate way too much and enjoyed it even more.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Some of the negative comments I heard about Azamara were that there is not enough to do, no big theatre, jungle gyms, or rock climbing. Well, that was just fine with me. We seldom had down time, between the Cabaret, pool, and numerous cafes, bars, etc, we never even found the fitness centre or spa. The pool was a nice size, no lane swimming, but they had a great walking path and a fabulous view forward, either up top, deck 11, or in "The Living Room", deck 10.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The singers/dancers were very good, they very talented and worked extremely hard. They worked hard to get the audience involved and they were very busy. Eric was always "on" and seemed to love every minute. The other performers, for the most part, were very good and entertaining. The band did struggle at times, but over all they were a valuable asset.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Only once did we interact with a staff member who was not at his "prime". But in his defense, each and every time we encountered him he was the epitome of professionalism. The staff in all of the venues always were trying their best to make our trip memorable.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We loved the layout, the common areas were always ready for people to use them.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
One thing to remember before reading this, we knew our cabin would be small, this is not a complaint, just a description. Our cabin was small, but very well laid out. Our view, for an obstructed view cabin, was very good. The beds were nice, the air conditioning worked perfectly and the bathroom, once again small, was very usable. It was always well maintained by either Ryan or Joy, our cabin attendants. Everything worked and we had lots of space for our clothes and other stuff. There was lots of room under the bed to store our suitcases. The fridge, safe and tv, although sparingly used, worked fine. We did not spend much awake time there so the size was of no real interest to us.
Ship tip
Get to the Living Room" early, if you want a good seat. It is very popular and offers a fabulous view of the scenery.
We arrived in the rain and left in the rain, it rains 250 days a year there so what could we expect. We are a do it yourself couple and Bergen is a very walkable city but, unfortunately, it was Sunday and most places were closed. We still were able to visit the sights around Bergen and even in the rain we had a wonderful day. The evening was extremely enjoyable. We were entertained with an Azamazing Evening at the Grieg Hall. Thank you Azamara.
We took the Ship's excursion of a tram ride up to the Vantahalsen Hotel. The view was breathtaking, although soon to be surpassed, but that is a little later on in the trip. The walk around the hotel was limited but so pretty and awe inspiring.
We went on our own at Geiranger and caught a bus to the top of Dalsnibba, once again, a fabulous view. We were looking down the fjord towards Geiranger and we could see the Journey in the fjord 14-15000 metres below, The ride was another thing, it was like roller coaster ride of switchbacks and amazing views.
We went on our own again and got a tour to the Nordkapp. The trip to the cape was great and the actual museum as very informative, but the time there was just too short. We were in Honningsvag for a good time so we heard about a place that put on a little show about living in the far-far north. We went to the Perleporten Kulturhus and were very entertained by 4 young adults who sang, acted and entertained the audience with their story of "life in the Far North". It was a lot of fun and they worked very hard. Please support them, if you go there, get tickets at the Information Office.
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