Azamara, worth it?

[nycruiser80]

I say take the plunge and try Azamara. It is more expensive than Celebrity but I felt I got good value out of my Azamara cruise. As many have stated the staterooms are standard industry size and, as you can see, the showers are cozy! I took my first Azamara cruise last month and I just took a Celebrity Cruise this month. Azamara was less hectic, relaxed and I thought more refined. Celebrity did a lot of nickle and diming which is standard on most mass market lines. I have sailed over 40 cruises on all of the major lines and thought Azamara gave the best experience so far. Though remember Azamara is not a true 5 star luxury experience - Crsytal, Regent, Silversea, etc offers that product. Azamara is what they advertise a semi-inclusive boutique cruise experience.

 

 

[BBMacLaird]

1 hour ago, nycruiser80 said:

I have sailed over 40 cruises on all of the major lines and thought Azamara gave the best experience so far.

Thank you nycruiser80! 😍

[excitedofharpenden]

6 hours ago, hubofhockey said:

 

This will do.  Not going to take a long relaxing shower, and I probably will use gym showers on some afternoons.  

 

 

 

I see you’ve copied and pasted a photo that someone else posted recently.  If you can learn anything from this photo it’s that standing with your feet splayed like that is not the best way to use the shower.  Turn 90 degrees with feet together is a much better way!  

 

Incidentally, the poster of that photo seems to have changed tune about Azamara and moved onto other cruiselines.  Also, as far as I’m aware they always stayed in Club World Owner's Suites so that definitely isn’t their feet!  I can only give you my experience having used the shower many times and I don’t go in there for a long relaxing time.  Just to freshen up and get clean and in that regard they are just fine. 

 

If you do go to the gym to take a shower there are two in there.  The larger one has the jets at the side that has been mentioned a few times here.  I actually prefer the smaller one which has the usual shower head and a waterfall head.  The Elemis Revitalise Me product they have in there I really like.  Shampoo, conditioner and bodywash.

 

Phil

[florisdekort]

To answer the question “is it worth it”, in my opinion (just my opinion), it depends on the uniqueness of the itinerary and the price per day.  If you can get roughly the same itinerary for the same price on Silversea or Seabourn, no, then it’s not worth it.  If it’s about 20% cheaper or if the ports or port times are very unique, then yes it’s worth it.

 

Floris 

[hubofhockey]

Got the photos using google.  I've been in smaller showers.  As I wrote, it will do.  If I need a longer relaxing one, I would go to gym, but for morning purposes of starting the day, it's fine.  

[florisdekort]

1 hour ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Incidentally, the poster of that photo seems to have changed tune about Azamara and moved onto other cruiselines.  Also, as far as I’m aware they always stayed in Club World Owner's Suites so that definitely isn’t their feet!  I can only give you my experience having used the shower many times and I don’t go in there for a long relaxing time.  Just to freshen up and get clean and in that regard they are just fine.

 

I assume you’re referring to me. 

 

The photo is from a review on Cruise Critic.

 

I don’t cross dress so no, those are not my feet.

 

During 25 Azamara cruises I’ve sailed in every single cabin category from Inside to Club World Owners, not “always” in Club World Owners as you mistakenly claim. 

 

I sailed Azamara or Celebrity 5x out of my past 10 cruises and Seabourn the other 5x.  I didn’t realise that in order to voice an opinion on here you needed to sail Azamara exclusively or only have positive things to say?

 

Lastly, I’m also not sure what “changing tune” means.  I have lots of positive things to say about Azamara (and will sail them again and again) and also lots of not so positive things. I’m sorry if the latter isn’t appreciated on this forum.

 

Best,

Floris 

[excitedofharpenden]

11 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

Got the photos using google.  I've been in smaller showers.  As I wrote, it will do.  If I need a longer relaxing one, I would go to gym, but for morning purposes of starting the day, it's fine.  

I hope at least that my advice on the gym showers is of help to you.

 

Phil

[Bloodaxe]

I believe in calling a spade a spade and all opinions should be welcome but I think more than enough has been said about the showers over the years.

They are what they are why not accept that, if not book a suite or on another line.

[TMLAalum]

Would that photo apply to the shower in an OV or regular veranda on the Pursuit? It seems much better than some showers we've encountered ashore! 

[Bloodaxe]

7 minutes ago, TMLAalum said:

Would that photo apply to the shower in an OV or regular veranda on the Pursuit? It seems much better than some showers we've encountered ashore! 

 

Yes,  every cabin below suite level.

Edited August 19, 2019 by Bloodaxe

[hubofhockey]

5 hours ago, Bloodaxe said:

I believe in calling a spade a spade and all opinions should be welcome but I think more than enough has been said about the showers over the years.

They are what they are why not accept that, if not book a suite or on another line.

 

Not everyone knows what you know though and this is a thread by someone who hasn't cruised on Azamara.  I was mainly asking just to know what to expect and don't need to be told to book a suite or go to another line. I do appreciate the advice form EofH on the gym showers.  Thanks.

 

Also, thank you to Florisdekort.  I would have credited you with the photos, but just found them on google.  Also, the photo of the person standing in the shower is helpful to show an actual body in the shower.  I don't care about the feet as much as the size. 

Edited August 19, 2019 by hubofhockey

[ellbon]

3 hours ago, Belfastman said:

Totally agree negative comments are not welcomed - I once thought that this forum should be called 'Cruise Praise' instead of Cruise Critic.

I cruise many lines and I agree with you. I think on all  the lines i read posts  in if you do not agree you are flamed.  I did not use that size cabin but I do know i would not like it.

 

[cpgrneyes]

On 8/18/2019 at 9:53 AM, hubofhockey said:

As a soon to be first time Azamara cruiser, the biggest complaints I read about are the "too small" shower stalls.  My question is, do people with the small showers ever just go the gym to take showers?  I wouldn't do that in the morning, but in the afternoon, before dinner, that's something that would make sense to me.  

My DH does that, as he enjoys a steam too. As you say, not in the morning, but after a busy day OR a nap. The Veranda cabins do have a small shower, but it’s not something that impacts my vacation.

[tv24]

I know you like HAL.  We've sailed on HAL a lot and have always enjoyed our experiences on that line.  But we do prefer AZ even though it is usually more costly than HAL.  AZ is much more upscale in many ways, definitely in terms of the design and interior quality of the ships.  I also think the food quality is better by a bit.  But most of all, the ambience is more pleasant, more convivial, just a lot of friendly polite people.  Give AZ a test drive.

[caripoo]

It's worth not having a bizillion people on board!!

[marinaro44]

37 minutes ago, caripoo said:

It's worth not having a bizillion people on board!!

Exactly.  One laundry bag vs. a bazillion people.  Do I think it should be one bag per person per week?  Sure.  Is it a big deal?  No.  Would it drive me to mass-market Celebrity?  Get real.

[Granny DI]

We have sailed all the cruise lines including Azamara, Celebrity and Oceania. We prefer NCL’s Haven concept and Holland America’s Neptune lounge to any of the three above. Crystal is not worth the money and a very poor value for us.  We felt the Azamara Perry Golf Cruise was good except for the miniature bathroom. The Caribbean Cruise in a suite was not a good value. Oceania is the best value of the three small cruise lines, but not saying we prefer it over Crystal or Azamara. This is only my opinion and my experience. Food is subjective but I personally think it’s all the same with the exception of specialty restaurants on NCL. Not fans of hoards of people on the mega ships but have figured a way to avoid them on the mega ships. The hoards keep our cruise prices down. We avoid the buffets and MDR on the mega ships and only eat in the specialty restaurants. We use many other strategies to avoid the hoards. We can sail in suites on the mega ships but only ocean views on Crystal. You just have to decide what is important to you. 

[LuAnn]

Can a "So Cal" gal" chime in on the showers??? TBH...being able to cruise ...and have WATER...that the ship "makes"...and it is hot...and I'm not wasting the precious water we have here in SD...is a MAJOR event in my cruising adventure!! I know that may sound weird...but it is so great!!! :)

[Redtravel]

The shower is small. However, it is workable.  The shower curtain used to be rubbery. It stuck to you.  Now the shower curtain is a woven material that is not sticky. If the shower curtain bothers you, you can keep it open. Use the hand held shower and be careful directing the water. There is a drain in the shower and another in the floor near the sink. The shower in the gym is larger.  Some people use it. I used the shower in the cabin. 

[ellbon]

12 hours ago, LuAnn said:

Can a "So Cal" gal" chime in on the showers??? TBH...being able to cruise ...and have WATER...that the ship "makes"...and it is hot...and I'm not wasting the precious water we have here in SD...is a MAJOR event in my cruising adventure!! I know that may sound weird...but it is so great!!! 🙂

Not at all. Your state gone thru a lot

[critterchick]

On 8/18/2019 at 7:38 AM, travelberlin said:

If you have the opportunity to find an itinerary which is special, and the price relationship  makes sense to you taking into account what others have said, I would say give it a try. I belong to those who like very much Azamara. I used to cruise more often with Azamara but due to price increases, I have not been able to do so. Once in a while I find a good itinerary at a price I consider reasonable and up to now I have not been dissatisfied with the onboard experience.

Again, my recommendation is to give Azamara a try and see for yourself if it is for you worth it.

Ivi

 

We are in the same boat, pun intended. We have had 5 wonderful cruises on Azamara (and a sixth where I was ready to swim home from Cabo), but unless there’s a stunning itinerary at a good price, we are finished with them. The onboard experience lacks, well, much of anything to do. The casino is no more (it was more profitable to have extra cabins), the 54 Below entertainment was often dreadful and the price was insane (we got a good deal as part of an apology discount  for a truncated cruise). The included wines range from just ok to dreadful - at their prices, they should at least offer something comparable to what Celebrity include in their premium beverage package.  Ditto re the other selections. The food is excellent and the staff superb. But the staff on almost every cruise we’ve been on has been superb and, as another poster said, the specialty restaurants on a mass market line cost far less than booking with Azamara.

 

The itineraries have been brilliant, other than a Panama Canal transit in 2007 when the line was new. Being on a smaller ship that can navigate into small ports and having somebody plan late night and overnight stays is wonderful.  However, we are mostly independent travelers on land, and OP likes the ship excursions. On our recent Japan intensive cruise, there was a lot of complaining about the excursions - the problem with visiting the lesser-known ports was a lack of nearby attractions, and people reported spending 2-4 hours on a bus for a one hour experience. I imagine that excursions in other places are quite good.

 

My impression is that Azamara are still struggling to find an identity that matches the reality of their price structure.  I hope I’m around when they get there and we can return.

[Catchum]

We feel much the same, the cabins (both size and fixtures), entertainment and lack of a casino are all big negatives for us, the food is good but the service in the MDR too slow for us to eat their regularly and our experience in the specialty restaurants was not good. The included wine is a horrible mess, on a mass market line, if you find a wine you like in the package you have, then you can get it when you like from any bar you please, on Azamara unless you are one of the chosen then you simply can't have what you had yesterday. I know others will say differently but I have been told point blank that if I want the Merlot from yesterday I will have to pay for it.

 

Nice to have a small ship, friendly officers and not have to pay for coffee but really for us it is not worth paying any more for, than an inclusive package on a midsize ship, with a well equipped cabin, decent entertainment, a casino and a reliable supply of wine.

 

In short we will only consider a fourth Azamara if it is no more expensive then a main line competitor when all factors are added together.

[BBMacLaird]

3 hours ago, Catchum said:

we will only consider a fourth Azamara if it is no more expensive then a main line competitor when all factors are added together

 

Hi Catchum, I do hope that someday you'll find an Azamara itinerary at a price you are comfortable with. We'd love to welcome you back for a 4th voyage with us!

[Mackdogmolly]

We have thoroughly enjoyed our 2 Azamara cruises. No complaints. That said, we will have to monitor future itineraries very carefully for pricing. Love the product, we have to pinch our pennies 

[Grandma Cruising]

We like sea days and have found that relocation cruises on Azamara are very good value. We’ve done Athens to Dubai 3 times so far and have it booked again next year!