Pacific Princess: How Does It Compare to Azamara Journey/Quest ?

I am looking at the Pacific Princess Oct 6, 2018 European Explorer cruise. While the PP is the smallest Princess ship it is close to, in size, capacity, and design, Azamara's Journey and Quest. I would be interested in any insight on how the compare with respect to food, service, and overall creature comforts. This cruise would be the first on a "small" ship. Will it be a comfortable ride and will there be enough evening activities to hold our interest? I am 72 and DW is in her late 60's. We are not heavy drinkers and do not participate in casino activities. We do enjoy attending some shows and musical entertainment, and, if course, good food.

Sound like a good fit provided it is not too late in season for Mediterranean tourism spots and temperatures we went late one year and some resorts were practically closed.

Personally would prefer Azamara ambiance and staff interaction but if you have not experienced Azamara may not be important to you

Sent from my ME371MG using Forums mobile app

Sound like a good fit provided it is not too late in season for Mediterranean tourism spots and temperatures we went late one year and some resorts were practically closed.

Personally would prefer Azamara ambiance and staff interaction but if you have not experienced Azamara may not be important to you

 

Sent from my ME371MG using Forums mobile app

Proctor....Thanks for the response. I was just looking at an Azamara cruise, similar to the PP and about the same time of the year. While Azamara is really all inclusive, the cost is also higher. With Sip n Sail, the PP doesn't look too bad. Also, I like being able to book flights with Princess and not pay (flexible ticket) until final cruise payment. If we had to cancel for some reason we wouldn't be stuck with an airfare ticket. I'm still wondering about the food. I have celiac and must eat gluten free. Hopefully that wouldn't be a problem.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

And FYI... Pacific Princess is a sister ship to Azamara Journey/Quest. They're basically identical.

They're all former Renaissance ships. IME on another one of the former R-ships, you'll feel more movement from the wind and waves compared to the big ships. Our friend got seasick one day when we had 8'-10' seas. If you've been on Azamara, it should be really similar. The Pacific was just renovated too so that will be nice to experience.

And October is not too late in the season to go to the Med. It's actually still shoulder-season and the popular tourist venues will be much less crowded and it won't be blazing hot. You will most likely get some rain though so just go prepared.

The ships may be identical but I would suspect the food would be much better on Azamara.

I have been on Azamara Journey twice and Tahitian Princess once. Like another poster said before the ship are the same. That being said I believe Azamara Journey has been redone. I found the crew/staff on both to be wonderful. Now as for food, this is subjective, both were good. But on Azamara they use the same spice in all most every thing that I ate in the main dinning room. When we got on board Azamara for our second cruise, after my first bit of dinner, I said to my DH "chef Lisa is on board". The same spice again. I ask the waiter, and he said it was her in the kitchen.

Now this was in the past, I have not been on either ship in about 5 years. So, my info might not be up to date.

... as for food, this is subjective, both were good. But on Azamara they use the same spice in all most every thing that I ate in the main dinning room ... this was in the past ... about 5 years. So, my info might not be up to date.

It was certainly not the case on Azamara Quest last August. The food was terrific and they took advantage of the ship's small size to locally source food several times on our sailing [local berries and fresh salmon in the Norwegian fjords, and cod caught by the ship's crew and served that night]. Also the 2016 "reimagining" of the ships makes them seem new and up to date, not like the old Renaissance 'English Men's Club' decor of old.

Our table mate on a recent Princess cruise had celiac. She had alerted Princess ahead of time and the dining room staff took great care to provide her with meals she could eat. She was quite pleased with their service.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

It was certainly not the case on Azamara Quest last August. The food was terrific and they took advantage of the ship's small size to locally source food several times on our sailing [local berries and fresh salmon in the Norwegian fjords, and cod caught by the ship's crew and served that night]. Also the 2016 "reimagining" of the ships makes them seem new and up to date, not like the old Renaissance 'English Men's Club' decor of old.

Glad to here that Azamara's product has improved. I read that they were redoing their ships. I was on before the redo was done. For me, from my experiences on both lines, I still would choose Princess. Because what I did not like about Azamara had nothing to do with the ship's redo.

Geocruuser.

What did you not like as they are probably very different now.

Sent from my ME371MG using Forums mobile app

As others have said both of the Azamara ships and the Pacific Princess are both former Renaissance ships of the same class. Princess is finally in the final stages (after a dry dock) of a more major update to the ship that it has done in the past. I was on the PP for two weeks at the end of December, 2013 at which point I vowed not to sail it again until I had proof that there had been major changes to carpeting and furniture in the public areas. Princess seems to perform "partial refurbishments" as opposed to a total job. There are a few threads that are "talking" about its upgrades. Check them out to see what has been done.

As far as your October cruise, we did a cruise that started October 21 in the Med and it was great.

Thanks to all of you for your insight, advice and information. I just booked the PP fall cruise for 2018. The next challenge will be making flight reservations, once they are published. We will most likely arrive in London 2 - 3 days early since we have never visited that great city. We toured Rome a few years back when on a Celebrity Med cruise so no urgent need to remain there at the end of the cruise. I'm looking forward to sailing on a smaller ship with fewer passengers. I have always felt that our interaction with our fellow cruisers contributed as much to the cruise experience as many of the port visits. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of the PP post-refresh in the near future.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Geocruuser.

What did you not like as they are probably very different now.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my ME371MG using Forums mobile app

Cabin service was not as good as on Princess. Nothing is perfect on any line. On our first Azamara cruise one night my DH and I got into bed and my feet touched something under the sheets, it was a hanger. Mistakes happen. When we got on board the beds were in the form of twin bed. No big deal, I just ask to have them put together. Next day they were put together. But when the beds were moved together there were lots of dust bunnies, now on either side of the bed, from it not being vacuum. No problem I thought the butler will clean it up the next time he comes into clean.

So, for a couple of nights I stepped into dust bunnies getting in and out of bed. I finally had to ask to have it cleaned up.

In the main dinning room it was open sitting at night.It was just two of us and we were ask to share a table. That was fine with us. But it was a 55 minute wait (no lie) before they sat a other couple with us. They would not let us order until they sat another couple with us. Next night the same thing, but this time I gave them 15 minutes and I told them we are going to order. At last moved us to a smaller table and we ordered.

Now this is the thing that got me the most. On our last Azamara cruise we ran out of toilet paper! Not kidding. We ask the steward for more. Time went by, lots of it. Did not see him again that night. Saw another cabin steward, ask for some, nothing came. Called the desk, nothing came. I then saw a butler and ask him, he got a cabin steward and sent him for it. Well, this steward came back 20 minutes later with a half of a roll of paper. That did me in!

I felt for the price some of this should not have happened. Yes, mistakes happen on every line, but I rather not pay Azamara's price for them.

Yes, we did have a good time on the cruise. Crew and staff were friendly, but I find the same on Princess, especially Regal Princess. We have been on her (Regal ) eight times (and have 3 more booked), and I still find it amazing that some of the staff/crew call us by name! Waiters in the dinning room will spot us and come by to say hello. They are really special people.

It was certainly not the case on Azamara Quest last August. The food was terrific and they took advantage of the ship's small size to locally source food several times on our sailing [local berries and fresh salmon in the Norwegian fjords, and cod caught by the ship's crew and served that night]. Also the 2016 "reimagining" of the ships makes them seem new and up to date, not like the old Renaissance 'English Men's Club' decor of old.

That's good to hear, Jazzbeau. Can't wait for our AZ cruise on the Quest and later, on the Journey. :)

Cabin service was not as good as on Princess. Nothing is perfect on any line. On our first Azamara cruise one night my DH and I got into bed and my feet touched something under the sheets, it was a hanger. Mistakes happen. When we got on board the beds were in the form of twin bed. No big deal, I just ask to have them put together. Next day they were put together. But when the beds were moved together there were lots of dust bunnies, now on either side of the bed, from it not being vacuum. No problem I thought the butler will clean it up the next time he comes into clean.

So, for a couple of nights I stepped into dust bunnies getting in and out of bed. I finally had to ask to have it cleaned up.

In the main dinning room it was open sitting at night.It was just two of us and we were ask to share a table. That was fine with us. But it was a 55 minute wait (no lie) before they sat a other couple with us. They would not let us order until they sat another couple with us. Next night the same thing, but this time I gave them 15 minutes and I told them we are going to order. At last moved us to a smaller table and we ordered.

Now this is the thing that got me the most. On our last Azamara cruise we ran out of toilet paper! Not kidding. We ask the steward for more. Time went by, lots of it. Did not see him again that night. Saw another cabin steward, ask for some, nothing came. Called the desk, nothing came. I then saw a butler and ask him, he got a cabin steward and sent him for it. Well, this steward came back 20 minutes later with a half of a roll of paper. That did me in!

 

I felt for the price some of this should not have happened. Yes, mistakes happen on every line, but I rather not pay Azamara's price for them.

 

Yes, we did have a good time on the cruise. Crew and staff were friendly, but I find the same on Princess, especially Regal Princess. We have been on her (Regal ) eight times (and have 3 more booked), and I still find it amazing that some of the staff/crew call us by name! Waiters in the dinning room will spot us and come by to say hello. They are really special people.

:eek: This scenario does not even remotely resemble the Azamara we have come to love. We are Elite on Princess, so obviously we love the line, but after sailing twice on Azamara we must admit that it is definitely a cut above the mass market lines. We have sailed on the Quest twice and on both cruises the staff and service were impeccable. And on each of our cruises there was at least one major instance where the staff rose above and beyond the call of duty to make sure the guests were well taken care of. We have not sailed on the Pacific Princess so I cannot compare her to the Azamara ships but IMHO the food on Azamara was head and shoulders above the food we have experienced on Princess. Azamara does come with a hefty price tag and for that reason we will continue to sail Princess regularly, but for those very special bucket list cruises we will bite the bullet and pay the price for the Azamara experience.

:eek: This scenario does not even remotely resemble the Azamara we have come to love. We are Elite on Princess, so obviously we love the line, but after sailing twice on Azamara we must admit that it is definitely a cut above the mass market lines. We have sailed on the Quest twice and on both cruises the staff and service were impeccable. And on each of our cruises there was at least one major instance where the staff rose above and beyond the call of duty to make sure the guests were well taken care of. We have not sailed on the Pacific Princess so I cannot compare her to the Azamara ships but IMHO the food on Azamara was head and shoulders above the food we have experienced on Princess. Azamara does come with a hefty price tag and for that reason we will continue to sail Princess regularly, but for those very special bucket list cruises we will bite the bullet and pay the price for the Azamara experience.

Hard to believe, isn't it. But that is what happened. We were on Azamara 2010 & 2011, so I am sure things have changed greatly since we were on board.

Hard to believe, isn't it. But that is what happened. We were on Azamara 2010 & 2011, so I am sure things have changed greatly since we were on board.

Indeed. Azamara brought in Larry Pimentel to right the ship around when you were cruising. They changed the name to Azamara Club Cruises to show that they were going to bring it to a new level of luxury -- which they have done.

It's a sister ship to the Azamara ships, so the size and layout would be the same. I along with many others who don't normally suffer from much seasickness were very seasick on the Pacific for 2 days due to heavy seas and the need for increased speed after a delayed departure. As for activities, DH and I entertained ourselves most days with Scrabble. The entertainment wasn't on par with the big ships but was decent. Would I sail her again? Yes if the itinerary was right, but I highly prefer the big ships.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

cruisequeen4ever makes a valid point about smooth sailing, although in our experience the size of the ship isn't a foolproof indicator of seaworthiness. Still, we would not take an R-ship [on any line] for a trans-ocean voyage. But OP is looking at a coastal itinerary from London to Rome. The Bay of Biscay may be rocky, but it's only one day. And the small size of Pacific Princess may allow docking at the foot of Las Ramblas in Barcelona rather than out in the larger port area. Activities on board would be one of the things that varies among the cruise lines sailing the R-ships: on Azamara we had good entertainment and excellent enrichment, but I don't know what Princess does on Pacific.

cruisequeen4ever makes a valid point about smooth sailing, although in our experience the size of the ship isn't a foolproof indicator of seaworthiness. Still, we would not take an R-ship [on any line] for a trans-ocean voyage. But OP is looking at a coastal itinerary from London to Rome. The Bay of Biscay may be rocky, but it's only one day. And the small size of Pacific Princess may allow docking at the foot of Las Ramblas in Barcelona rather than out in the larger port area. Activities on board would be one of the things that varies among the cruise lines sailing the R-ships: on Azamara we had good entertainment and excellent enrichment, but I don't know what Princess does on Pacific.

You are correct Host Jazzbeau. We did dock at the foot of Las Ramblas on the Quest. And we found the entertainment onboard to be quite good and the enrichment lectures outstanding.