Azamara Journey Cruise Reviews - Reviews

A really enjoyable cruise with two days in Rome and the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Orix being the highlights. Azamara are very good indeed but for us didn’t add much to that ifffered by celebrity despite the additional cost, and the drinks package is inferior to that offered by celebrity.

First time on Azamara which is much smaller than others we’ve been on. Laid back atmosphere. Easy to meet new friends. Enjoyed the fact that there we never any lines!

This was our four Azamara Cruise having done 170 cruises in 30 years. One of our favorite ships and captain. A very nice experience except for the dining room service.

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).

Azamara excel with excellent customer service providing wonderful experiences and opportunities you only dreamed of. When I thought they couldn’t make it any better they managed to continue to impress! Loved our cruise from beginning to end.

This was a wonderful experience. It was so good we just booked another Azamara cruise.

Atlantic crossings are all about luck in weather timing. We skirted just north of tropical storm/which became hurricane Oscar. That gave warm clear days and flat seas! Our sister ship, a few days behind us, hit the stirred up seas hard. The service and our staff were exceptional. The age of our ship is noticeable, the newer ships are much nicer. The only issue was the intimacy of the shower curtain in the tight shower. Of course we did an online booking. Part of the enjoyment of the crossing is running in to other frequent, serial travelers. We got to know several of them much better coordinating future travel to join them again. One couple we had sailed with two years ago we couldn’t remember. Turned out we didn’t really have anything in common with them, which we discovered over dinner. That was our least fun meal.

This was our fourth Azamara cruise and we are already looking for another one. We cannot fault the ship or crew. Absolutely perfect in every way. From the captain to the cabin boys everyone is efficient and friendly

We've been on Azamara before and we like the smaller ship experience. There are no crowds, it's easy to get around the ship, and the food is excellent. The entertainment is more cabaret style than big productions, but equally entertaining. The Journey was recently refurbished so everything looked new and in good condition. The entry level suite far surpasses any mini suite we've had on other cruise lines.

We went to Hong Kong, Viet Nam, Thailand and Singapore. The life styles there are very different than western countries. We visited a lot of Buddhist temples and shrines. The local food is also good to try, as long as you have someone with you that can help you choose wisely. English is also not commonly spoken in Viet Nam and Thailand so having a guide fluent in English can be helpful. Singapore and Hong Kong are large modern cities where English is spoken everywhere and it is easy to get around on your own.

Embarkation was very easy, food was really superb, live entertainment was wonderful, service from staff was absolutely way above expectation, especially Luis and Reynaldo who took care of our Stateroom! Anton the guitarist was a joy to listen to daily. Christmas celebration was really enjoyable and the New Years Eve party around the pool was very memorable!! The ice sculptures were a great touch and the rest of the guests were simply enjoyable to be with. The Amazing evening on shore in Cartagena, Columbia was a bonus touch for everyone!! The New Years Day Captain's brunch was a culinary delight as was the Caribbean Night Pool Party. I just wished we had spent one day less in Aruba and a day more in Columbia. Going through the Panama Canal was an amazing experience and totally glad we experienced it. 

Told Capt we are now Azamara loyalists after 1 cruise ( amongst our 14 previous on HA, Cunard, RCL, Celebrety)

Overall the service is good, food is good, and drinks are great, but not much onboard activity

We can't wait to join another Azamara journey. The AzAmazing night at the Odeon amphitheater in Ephesus and the White Night event on the ship while docked in Santorini are so special and memorable.

There were plenty of castles and cathedrals to visit, but the everyday activities seemed to be the most interesting. These included a visit to a sheep farm and a famine village. The entire island is absolutely beautiful and very green. Worth the trip just to visit the outdoors.

Great cruise with a few disappointments, several booked excursions were canceled and missed docking at Leith. Crew and staff were excellent, professional and helpful. But Azamara appears to be struggling in their new independence.

Overall I would rate Azamara as above average. Azamara was transitioning to new ownership. Their website was a disaster and unusable. Pre-cruise communications were apologies. I had to call to get cruise documents. Not available on the website. I tried to book excursions a couple of weeks before the cruise only to discover most were not available but suddenly became available a few days before the cruise. Excursions were very expensive through Azamara. On board the crew was well trained and above average. Rooms were comfortable, clean and room steward was very helpful. Daily communications were very good. Negatives would be some of on board entertainment.

Have sailed Azamara multiple times. Once on-board this were fine. The HORRIBLE experiences prepping for the trip (especially excursions) was so bad we are looking at competitors for future travels.

My phone was stolen in Rome, so I have no photos currently that I can retrieve yet….. I’m still hoping I can do this. I just got a new phone.

Don’t get sick! – Abandoned by Azamara We are not people to post reviews, but we feel out of options, and we do not want others to experience what we are going through with Azamara. We are a very healthy couple 59 and 60. The cruise, the ship and staff were great, we were getting all that we hoped for. Halfway into our cruise on the Azamara Journey from Venice to Rome in April 2023, I became sick and was sent to shore with my wife by the ship doctor to get checked-out by the local clinic/hospital. We had to leave our two adult children on board, we were told to bring our luggage. Once ashore, we were totally abandoned even though they gave us assurances that we were to be contacted and escorted by their team to assist us. We spoke no Italian, we had no accommodations, the ambulance took me to a hospital, my wife was left to lift and haul all our luggage. While in hospital, the ambulance driver handed me a phone, an Azamara representative told me that we were not permitted back on the ship and that we had to find our own way to Rome. My wife could not visit at the hospital, she could not find out my condition as we shared a phone between us, she took it upon herself to find a hotel using her credit card concierge service, no taxis were available to take her to the hotel. It was physically and emotionally tragic on my wife, she is one of the most competent and resourceful people I know... and this broke her. We have made multiple attempts, both during our abandonment and the months after to get a response from Azamara. There has been no response at all from Azamara. So much went wrong, we want to be compensated in some way for lack of support, leaving our kids, not being able to return to the ship after getting a clear certificate of health from the local hospital the very same evening, the ship was still in the harbour for the next four hours! We were misguided, no support, huge lack of coordination from ship to shore, large extra costs were incurred on hotels, trains, taxis to make our way to Rome, not to mention losing half our cruise. We are not happy. Fortunately, I recovered by that evening. It is bad enough to get sick on a cruise, but to be abandoned by a world class cruise company is unacceptable.

Had a great time. The crew is awesome. No issues encountered. AA shore excursions were better than the cruise ones offered.