Guess my expectations were too high

Azamara Journey Cruise Review to Cuba

LanSluder

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 3

Helpful Votes: 57

Overall rating:

3.2 out of 5

6 Night Havana & Cozumel (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 15, 2019

Ship: Azamara Journey

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8004

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

We chose this short, six-night Azamara cruise for several reasons: First, although we prefer longer cruises, we faced some time limitations this trip, including my wife’s work obligations and also meeting family and friends afterward for some spring training baseball games; second, we had heard some very good reports on Azamara from friends who really enjoyed the casual, small-ship atmosphere and we figured this would be a way to try it out without a big financial or time commitment; third, and most importantly, we wanted to visit Cuba, and this cruise included two days and an overnight in Havana. Liked: • Easy embarkation and disembarkation • Friendly, helpful staff •Lots of "traditional" wood paneling and such on this 20-year-old ship • The Havana stop -- Havana is amazing, and we only wish we had had more time there • We get points on Celebrity for Azamara cruises So-so: • Enrichment offerings (basically one speaker whose knowledge of parts of the Caribbean seemed a little dated -- having written many books on the region I probably knew more than he did) • Food •Entertainment • The small-ship atmosphere -- Journey carries fewer than 700 passengers, but we really felt that we had more and better options for places to relax on the Solstice-class Celebrity ships Didn't like: • Cozumel • Bartenders' skill -- some bartenders seemed to have no training in making anything but the very basics. The Celebrity ships we have been on had much better bars and craft cocktails; the ship skimped on some ingredients, for example substituting cheap maraschino cherries for Luxardo cherries. I think Azamara should totally rethink its drink policies – just raise the fare a few bucks and make the included drinks cover more options and better brands. • Small stateroom, tiny bathroom and ridiculously little shower We loved our two days in Havana and wish we could have spent the entire cruise at Cuban ports. Why this itinerary included Cozumel I don't know. We have been to Cozumel many times, both on land trips and on cruises and no longer find it of any interest at all. It is a good dive destination that has been ruined by too many cruise ships and too much commercialization (Cozumel, amazingly, is the 3rd busiest cruise port in the world.) Bottom line: I guess our expectations were too high. We were hoping to really love Azamara, but at this point I doubt we would go on another Azamara cruise. We prefer its big-ship sister line, Celebrity, and hope that Royal Caribbean's purchase of a majority interest in Silversea will result in a true premium line in the cruise family (we have been on Silversea and hope that Royal Caribbean upgrades to new ships).

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Embarkation at the Port of Miami was easy. We drove to Miami because we wanted to have a car for the post-cruise spring training. It is a long drive, and next time we probably will fly (though we hate the MIA airport). We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Blue Lagoon International Airport on a stay and cruise package that included parking and a shuttle. That worked out fine compared with parking at the Port and saved us a little money and a good bit of hassle. It took only a few minutes to get through the formalities of paperwork including the Cuban visa ($75 per person), which Azamara took care of for us. Soon we were sitting in Journey's buffet restaurant, Windows, enjoying a drink.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Dining was certainly adequate on board, but not exceptional. We usually ate in the main dining room, Discoveries, for dinner (everyone has open seating, and only once or twice did we have to wait for a table). Some of our favorite dishes, such as the escargot appetizer, seem to be the same as on sister line Celebrity, but others were mediocre. Service was always excellent, however. We did try Prime-C, the steak house (a $30 per-person upcharge), which was fine but not memorable. The Windows buffet, again, was adequate but with a limited menu compared with other ships we've been on. The Patio on the pool deck, which serves burgers and such, was -- I have to say again -- only adequate. Drinks are included in the cost of Azamara cruises, but the included package mostly has only moderate and low-end brands and house wines. My wife decided to upgrade to the Ultimate package because she enjoys fancy craft cocktails -- unfortunately we would learn that, unlike some other lines most bartenders on Azamara are not up to speed on making complex, or even simple, drinks. One of my wife’s Old-Fashioned looked and tasted like a Red Fanta. I stayed with the included drink package.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Journey has one of the smallest swimming pools I've ever seen on a cruise ship.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

You don't expect great entertainment on a small ship with fewer than 700 passengers. The cruise director and assistant cruise director did their best, putting on a good part of the shows that were available.

Children's Programs

Our kids are grown, and I never saw anyone younger than their late teens on this cruise.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

We found Azamara staff, both officers and guest-contact crew, almost uniformly helpful, friendly and hard working. That was the case although gratuities were included in the fare. (At the end of the cruise we did tip extra for our room steward, who was excellent, and a bartender who had been extra nice to us.)

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Although the Journey is almost a 20-year-old ship (it was built in 2000 as an R-2 class ship for Renaissance Cruises, now defunct, and then sailed under two names for Pullmantur line), it appeared to be in quite good condition. We liked all the mahogany and other woods in some of the public areas and enjoyed going on several open decks as in the "old days" of cruising. Journey has one of the smallest swimming pools I've ever seen on a cruise ship, although there are plenty of deck chairs. The fitness room is pretty well equipped, although smallish and with only one recumbent bike.

Cabin / Stateroom

2 out of 5

Having read and heard a lot of reports, we were prepared for the stateroom to be on the small size, and the bath and shower to be tiny. The bathroom wasn't quite as small as I had feared, but I have to say that on a so-called premium ship that the shower should not be as small as it is. With my rheumatoid arthritis and back problems, it was not a pleasure to take a shower.