Overall we really loved Azamara as first timers. It would have been great to share this with friends... but will not keep us from booking again in the future.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Other than a bit of waiting for direction by the Venice crew, it was very smooth. The minute you step on board the pampering begins!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We enjoyed the food in the Windows buffet so much that with the exception of our specialty dining nights we ate dinner there almost every night!
We dined one night in the Patio, which we enjoyed for the grill. And not to worry... they have overhead heaters if the air is cool!
We bought the table tour package for 3 specialty nights, and upon embarkation went straight to the maitre d to schedule our reservations. Prime C was our favorite of the 2 for the menu choices. Aqualina is good.... not great. The service in both were exceptional, and we truly enjoyed the intimate atmosphere.
By far, ordering room service for breakfast was the best on this cruise line compared to Royal Caribbean. The food was delicious, and the menu was really great; it had a huge variety of items to order, and it was always hot and freshly prepared. We only ate once in the main dining room, and that was a breakfast which was good.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The focus of Azamara is not so much of the on board activities, but the destination! There is an on board destination expert who gives talks about the different ports, and so the cruising time is really more of a relaxing, laid back feel. So if you need multiple choices of activities while on board, this is not the line for you. We found it refreshing and didn't miss it at all, especially because it meant that we had a lot more time to spend in port!
Entertainment
5 out of 5
For a small ship, we really enjoyed the intimate feel of the entertainment venues, and the singers and dancers were terrific. Nothing super flashy, but the quality of the entertainers were top notch!
Children's Programs
Not offered on Azamara. We saw one child on the entire ship.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff were unbelievable! Every one of them greet you with "Welcome back! " and were so friendly! They go out of their way to help you, and this was evident of ANY staff member, from stateroom attendant to the Captain himself! It is clear that they feel happy to work on such a special cruise line as Azamara. We felt completely spoiled!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Everything was spotless, and all were well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
It was a typical veranda cabin, had plenty of storage space, and the most comfortable bed ever for a cruise ship! The bathroom was adequate, but I wasn't crazy about the angle of the entrance to it. It was a bit awkward stepping up and in, and stepping down and out. And then there is the dreaded shower curtain. Lol! It was ok, and again lots of storage space.
Ship tip
I wish we would have been informed of the process around the White Night. There is a lot of hype building it up, and the concept is good, but to have close to 700 passengers converging on the decks around the pool area without someone to control seating arrangements made for a bit of a chaotic atmosphere. Our recommendation is if you really want to enjoy the evening AND have a seat at a table to eat, you better get there while the staff are setting up and save a spot. We observed many people doing this, and by the time we actually got to the event (just 10 minutes after the scheduled time of beginning) there was no longer a place for us to sit! It does take a little while to get through the dinner line (a terrific bbq with a huge variety of choices). We observed many tables with empty spots, but each time we we asked we were told that they were taken. Yet, we saw many tables empty and empty plates on them. They really need someone to seat people and keep track of what seats are available. I was pretty frustrated by the process. We ended up going inside to eat in the Living Room away from the celebration. If we sail again on Azamara we will probably skip it and stay in port to dine.
This was a beautiful island and not what you think of as a "typical " Greek island. Very quiet, lots of hills and trees.
We did a private excursion and enjoyed this immensely. I could live there! We definitely want to return.
We stayed 2 days in Rome before flying home. Love love love this city! Even got out of the city to TivolI. There is so much of Italy left to explore! Can't wait to get back there!
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