Newbie returns from first Azamara Quest Cruise... got any questions??

[mikechass]

Hey there everyone

Sadly we left our 12 day Sea of Cortez cruise yesterday.

Now back home to blowing snow, and a minus 34 degree day!

I will try to answer any questions I can.

I have to admit, we loved the service and the food.

The entertainment was so-so and the ship itself has seen better days.

But over all it was a LOVELY time and we would do this line again if we were in need of some quiet calmness.

We have done 12 cruises on several different lines.

Celebrity, RCCL, NCL, Princess, Carnival and now Azamara.

My hubby and I are 39 and 37.

We were by far the youngest on the ship.

The average age was definitely much older then we are used to while cruising, but everyone was very lovely. Except for a group of snappy folks I met in the looking glass on sail away day who weren't thrilled to be sharing their fancy space with a "snot nosed teen ager" like myself....

It takes all kinds is something I tell my kids, I was glad I remembered that before I lost my temper with them! haha

 

The ship was small but cozy.

The staff were amazing

The food was top notch.

The Captain was outstanding and was a huge presence all over the ship itself.

He seemed to turn up every day!

The cruise director wasn't my favourite.

The entertainment wasn't great either, there were two dancers who were outstanding but the rest of them weren't that good.

Their "featured singers" were frustratingly arrogant.

The different shows were alright, but we have seen better on pretty much every line we have travelled.

The beds are TINY but comfy

Loved that the photographers kept their distance.

Really enjoyed the atmosphere without the formal nights.

They had Clamato for those Canadians wondering but they ran out with 5 days left on the cruise.

Never a problem getting a chair in the sun, or around the pool

Best loungers I have ever had on a ship.

Towels are lovely, buffets were excellent, service by the officers was a little demeaning if you ask me, but others seemed to love having them serve us food.

I'm a diabetic, the food and sugar free offerings were excellent.

Hmmm that's about all I can think about right now.

 

If you had anything else you wanted to know I will try my best to answer it!

 

Thanks

Chass

[Lovecats50]

Hi There,

Did you just recently cruise on the Quest? I read where they upgraded the ship some $10 million but it sounds like you thought it was just so-so?

[mikechass]

I just got off the ship yesterday.

If they did spend that kind of money, it wasn't in the "appearance" of the ship.

I don't go around being picky, but we noticed lots of issues.

The elevator mirrors were very scratched, the buttons were hard to push and you had to do it a few times to get it to light up, a lot of the display panels inside weren't working, the whole balcony we had was rusted and very sticky, they did varnish while we were off the ship one day in port but it was still sticky for days, the stairs were lifting on the edges, so you could see the hardward, the lifts and the ramps they used were very uneven. We had to help several people with wheelchairs get over them because even the person pushing them didn't have the strength to get them over the large bumps, carpet was very worn in spots. Like I said, it didn't effect the cruise, but I did notice the age of the ship for sure!

Maybe some of the upgrades were for the internet connection, the casino which was very pretty, and elsewhere?

It wasn't the nicest ship I have been on. That's for sure.

The service more then made up for the lack of "appearance" in my books.

[mare s.]

Sorry we didn't have a chance to meet...we ducked out of the Meet and Mingle early to go to dinner. I have to agree with everything you said...although I didn't think being served by the officers was demeaning...they were having fun and so were we. And they make a great crepe suzette...Phillip kept pouring on the liquor!

Yes, the age demographic on this cruise was much older...by far older than on our other Azamara cruises. I think it was because it wasn't a very port intensive cruise and because it was an American port departure.

The ship is starting to look its age and we noticed the wear in the carpets...even in the areas that had been recarpeted in 2010.

Couldn't agree with you more about the singers and dancers. The lead singers were pretty bad, IMO. Didn't speak with them outside the shows...but the secondary female singer was very sweet...she ran the origami classes.

Food was terrific, as always. I had the "healthy choice" in Discoveries almost every night...the chef definitely has a way with fish...perfectly cooked and beautifully presented.

Hope to see you on another Azamara cruise.

mare

[Granny DI]

Hi There,

Did you just recently cruise on the Quest? I read where they upgraded the ship some $10 million but it sounds like you thought it was just so-so?

 

We sailed the Azamara Quest twice in 2013. The upgrades were supposed to have occurred during the dry dock in Nov 2012. Someone pulled the funds at the last minute so the dry dock was shortened. From what I can tell only the outside of the ship was painted. Fabulous things were to be done in the dry dock and they weren't. Perhaps long time cruises who cruised prior to the dry dock and then after can tell what changes occurred.

[autumn lass]

In 2012/13 both ships had new carpets in public places, chairs were recovered, new loungers by pool, new mattresses, new balcony furniture. Not a full refurb as originally promised. Oh and the ships were repainted blue on the hull, it looks black. They do need more attention. But the wonderful on board experience is the same.